Saw not cutting straight

[DHansen]

Eliminate the possibility.  Measure the drive link and make sure it's not a .050" chain. Try one more new chain and eliminate that possibility as well. Double check the most common issues.

[fluidpowerpro]

Well guys, many of you were right.

Had some time to putz with this again today.

Since the bar I bought came with a new chain, I figured I'd put that one on a try it.

It now cuts straight.

Shame on me for assuming that since I had put on a new chain it was not the issue.

Looking at the chain, for the life of me I cant see anything obvious. The teeth seem to all be ground at the same angle. 
I measured the gauge and that is correct (.058"). Pitch looks the same.

Well at least now I have a new bar and oil pump....

Live and learn....

Thanks to all for your suggestions and patience with me.

[Old Greenhorn]

Well your issue was one that has happened to many of us and could happen to any of us. When taken along with the fact that we all know you are not a newbie to all this stuff, we kind of felt there was something going on. We (I) was pretty sure it wasn't 'user error'. Bottom line is that it came down to the chain...period.

 Now it's time for the autopsy. That last chain (new) you had on, who made it? That would be my first question and I think we'd all like to know that for reference at least. Second, what happens if you run that 'bad chain' around the bar and hit it with some file strokes as you normally would using whatever sharpening is normal for you. I think it would be interesting, now that you've proven the cause, to see if you can fix it with that other chain. I have long suspected, but never proven, that these chains can take on some damage as they travel around in their little boxes.
 If you have the time to follow up, it would be interesting to learn what happens.

[Old Greenhorn]

As suggested earlier I  tried flipping the bar today. No luck, still curved in the same direction.
Tried cutting.up, on the top of the bar. Still curved but opposite way.
The chain I'm using is new but I suppose weirder things have happened and it could be bad.
I'll try a second new chain tomorrow.

I just was doing a 'self audit' to see if any of my comments or suggestions were way off the mark on this one. I came across this bit of data on the problem and now, given what we know now, I am wondering this: If the chain is the cause of the problem, why does it curve in the opposite direction on the upcut instead of to the same side as the downcut? I am assuming one ide of the chain is "bad/dull/damaged" and now wondering what else it could be.

 Does anyone have theories on this since we have most of the gurus involved in the discussion? Once again, I am stumped.

[thecfarm]

Gald all is good now.

[TreefarmerNN]

As suggested earlier I  tried flipping the bar today. No luck, still curved in the same direction.
Tried cutting.up, on the top of the bar. Still curved but opposite way.
The chain I'm using is new but I suppose weirder things have happened and it could be bad.
I'll try a second new chain tomorrow.

I just was doing a 'self audit' to see if any of my comments or suggestions were way off the mark on this one. I came across this bit of data on the problem and now, given what we know now, I am wondering this: If the chain is the cause of the problem, why does it curve in the opposite direction on the upcut instead of to the same side as the downcut? I am assuming one ide of the chain is "bad/dull/damaged" and now wondering what else it could be.

 Does anyone have theories on this since we have most of the gurus involved in the discussion? Once again, I am stumped.

Good question.  I don't have an answer but perhaps someone else does.

[fluidpowerpro]

The first new chain that cut curved is an Oregon. 
The 2nd new chain that cut straight is an Aussie.

I wouldn't normally buy an Aussie, just because I dont  know them, but that's what came with the bar, so that's what I  had on hand to try.

My plan is to tag the chain to keep track of it and hang it on my "dull" nail in the machine shed. When the nail gets full  I'll  sharpen a batch of chains and hang them on the "sharp" nail, so I guess that's when I  will see if I  did anything to fix it.

[doc henderson]

It would be easier to figure out if we actually knew what was wrong with that bar and or chain.

[doc henderson]

so, the gauges were all the same on all the bars and chains?

[fluidpowerpro]

Yes, all are .058. 
Forgive me for not being anxious to investigate more. I'm just glad its cutting straight again. Maybe I'll dig into it more st some point  but not tomorrow.  

[barbender]

Honestly, I wouldn't want to look at it for a while either.