I have a husky 440e and 18" poulon saw.
When either bar gets mostly into a tree, it won't go any deeper. See sawing helps a little but not much.The depth gauges are ok. What is causing this?
Thanks.
First off, have you tried a new chain?
Kinda sounds like one side of the chain is cutting better than the other. Making it bind up in the cut.
One is new
Try sweeping the cut. Let up on the bar, and kind of pull it to you. The idea is to get rid of chips in the kerf. Maybe it's binding.
Sounds like there is a burr on the bar which is hanging up in the cut.
When was the last time you sharpened the chain?
What was your procedure?
Can you show a picture of the chain?
Questions abound!
If the chain is new and bar isnt bent its either than your rail height is uneven or your rails have spread open or both. Or you have the wrong gauge chain on it.
The chain is leaning on the rails so that the chain sideplates are no longer parallel to the bar sideplates which steers the kerf off track. eventually the bar cant make the turn so to speak. Itll get real hot and refuse to throw chips, just dust. Usually the nose will cut a little better. Check how much the chain can rock on the bar side to side. Dress the rails and close them up if needed. Keep the oiler and bar groove maintained and free of sawdust.
Is it cutting straight, maybe a narrow kerf chain on a regular bar. Steve
Do you use plastic wedges to keep the tree from setting on your bar?
Only time I have seen this happen is when the chain or bar is messed up and causes the cut to be curved. The flat of the bar will only go so far into the curve before it binds (can't move a flat object through a curved cut).
I would say your bar is bent. Even a small bend will mess you up. Take the bar off and lay it on a level surface. Press down on various spots. Any wobble and you have a bend.
Mountain
As others have already noted: it's most likely an unevenly sharpened chain and/or bar rails worn unevenly. Either one will cause the saw to cut on a curve. It my cut fine when the bar is only partway into the kerf. However, as you go deeper, and especialy as the chain on the back side of the bar enters the kerf, it will bind up.
Basically you are forcing the straight bar into a curved cut. It's kind of like what happens when you try to cut too tight of a radius with a jigsaw: it binds up.