Saw not cutting like it should

So when I first bought my Stihl MS 311 it could breeze right through everything I tried cutting. But now it doesn't want to cut in a nice easy rocking motion anymore. Even with a freshly sharpened chain, its like I have to push it through everything. It cuts great at the end of the bar and plunging but not at the back or middle of the bar. I know that I shouldn't have to fight it to cut. It also drifts down and left as I cut. Thats probably me, not holding it straight.
I will probably buy a new chain and see if things change, because that will tell me that I'm sharpening the chain wrong.
Maybe my bar is bent?
What am I doing wrong?

 

Just like you said, buy a new chain and see how it does... that will get you started.

 

Have you checked the rakers?

 

X2.

 

The saw should almost "self feed" in a larger round if you hold only the throttle at full speed. Try lowering the rakers Steve. I freehand file with round file alone so im not always religious about checking the rakers. What is your sharpening method?

 

Lay your file or any straight edge across the top of your teeth to check the gap or lack of between top edge of tooth and rakers

 

file the rakers

 

I think this fall will be a year I've had the 311, I haven't had the problems you're having. Like some of the members said in their post, check the rakers and make sure your chain is sharp.

I hand file my chains (freehand) and check the rakers when I feel they need it.

 

Can you post pictures up close of the bar, abs near the sprocket?

 

Yes, I have filed them down before

 

Yeah, I'll get some pictures of the bar in the morning.

 

Ok, I didn't get any pictures, but it seems I have taken my rakers down too far. But that didn't make any sense. It should be chewing right through, even bogging down and biting in too hard. Then I watched a video on you tube...


2 things popped out at me....
1. I have a bur on the edges of my bar, (I can fix that. )
2. My teeth are different lengths. The right teeth are shorter than the left teeth.

 

And thanks to Mike, I watched the video you sent me also!!

 

I am not the most technical guy, but I had a bar once where the rails wore down. When I put a new chain on it, the chain could kinda roll side to side. Furst chainsaw .....tons of hours... curious to see how you make out

 

Here is a picture of a new chain haging on a nail with an old chain. I knew that chains stretched but this is crazy. I never thought it would be so dramatic.

This old chain was starting to top out the tensioner.

 

Can you count drive links to confirm they are the same? Maybe you are running tension too tight. And the safety bumpers, too me, look discolored. A sign they have been heated up, probably from excessive force. I also see some damage on the cutter itself that needs filed off so it cuts properly. That side place angle is wayyyy steep and looks like it was sharpened on a grinder. A couple pics at different angles of those cutters would help us hone in on what to advise you to change. Pulling up extra hard on the saw while cutting creates a few issues. One being excessive friction (and heat) on the bar and chain. How do your bar rails look at this point? Paint gone and discolored?

 

Jason, is his new chain square grind?

 

Doesn't look like it to me. Stihl has a profile that isn't perfectly round. Look closely at any new RS, as below.

 

The RH cutters are rolled right over for sure, stone or metal hit? Chain sure looks like it got hot, I think Jason is right on.

 

The used chain may have issues...but SD Steve said he has issues even with a new chain....