Chainsaw bars

Bro. Noble · January 26, 2003, 08:21:35 AM

It's easy to get into an interesting discussion on what kind of saw is the best. How big of a saw a guy needs, and how to modify a saw to get a little more power out of it. There have been a few posts on chain types and and a little on grinders and sharpening. The recent one on bar oil is the closest to a post on bar maintenance that I'v seen.

I used to teach veterans agriculture classes. One of the sessions that drew the most interest was on chainsaw maintenance. They all brought their saws in and I brought in a chainsaw guy. Except for a couple, these class members weren't loggers but mainly used their saws for firewood and cleaning fencrows. The chains and bars on almost everyone of them were a real mess. The bar rails were uneven and had soft spots and chunks out of them from being too hot. Running the chains some of them had would ruin a bar in short order.

How about one of you chainsaw guys giving us some tips on bar maintenence-----how to spot bar wear or damage, what to do about it (prevention and repair), when to replace the bar and other stuff I don't know enough about to ask.

Noble

DanG · January 26, 2003, 09:00:25 AM

Great idea, Noble. 8) That will help us all.

Sometimes the Forum goes a little dead, and I think it is more from a lack of good questions, than anything else. If you guys have questions, don't be afraid to ask. These guys know their stuff, and sure ain't afraid to share their knowledge.

Oregon_Rob · January 27, 2003, 12:35:38 PM

I am no expert, so I have two of my bars being rework by these guys http://www.chainbar.com
I have heard they do good work, resize the groove, flatten, grind.... All real cheap.
Since they are only about 25 miles away, I drove over and dropped them off and will pick them up the end of this week. I bought my 372 from a local logger and the 32" bar was in some rough shape, the bar was worn away near the tip. The guy is going to build the bar back up with hard face material, and rework the entire bar for $21. He expects the general recondition on my 24" to be somewhere around $11.
I do the normal file the burrs down..., but think it will be worth the $$$ to have these guys do a good once over.

Larry · January 27, 2003, 03:17:38 PM

Never heard of building up a bar with hard face material but it sounds like it is a good idea. I bought a bar rail closer a few years back and it works good to tighten up the groove. I looked in the Baileys catalog and they have them for $24.95 and Madsens probably have them to.
Larry

Kevin · January 27, 2003, 04:05:26 PM

Everyone should have one of these ...

http://store.wtsherrill.com/pgi-Product%20Spec?15055

johnjbc · January 27, 2003, 08:58:26 PM

I have been able to tighten up a bar grove with a vise. You need to find a piece of metal the right thickness to use as a spacer so you don't get it to tight. A piece of power hacksaw blade is about the right thickness. Only works once or twice until the bar groves becomes keyhole shaped and don't support the chain. Then you will cut curves
John

Kevin · January 28, 2003, 04:17:46 AM

John,
You can use an old chain that matches the bar, the drivers are the proper thickness.

Oregon_Rob · January 29, 2003, 12:36:31 PM

8)
I just picked up my bars and they look real nice!
Both bars (24 & 32) had been ground both sides, Looks like some the slot was deepened, edges ground and on the 32" there was a lot of metal missing near the tip. They added hard facing and built the area back up to be even with the tip, and all was ground flush again.
They look great! If you bar looks tired, give it a shot, the link is in my post above.

Total cost $23.00

whitepe · January 30, 2003, 03:00:54 AM

Don't have much to say about chainsaw bars but
back in November I visited my first cigar bar. It had a nice
pool table too! 8)

Bro. Noble · January 30, 2003, 03:50:10 AM

I hope you didn't get oiled :

Noble

OneWithWood · January 30, 2003, 07:53:55 AM

Or grooved! :D :D ;D

whitepe · January 30, 2003, 09:21:21 AM

Actually I am not a smoker so I didn't have any cigars. :D
However, I did have some 12 year old Macallan.
Check it out on www.themacallan.com
Real smooth 8)

Bro. Noble · January 30, 2003, 10:49:51 AM

I used to keep a little home-made stuff around to give visiting flatlanders a treat. Looked for it one day and couldn't find it. Asked my wife if she'd seen it. She said she threw it out a long time ago. She said it had been around for three or four years, she smelled it and was sure it had gone bad. :'(

Noble