New bar and old chains... they don't go together!

[Rob D]

Hi all - am going to try and do a more in depth post another day... Since manning the whatsapp I've found many of our customers are using old chains on new bars and not changing the drive sprocket/rim often enough. Old chains may have peening to the drive links - on a nice shiny new bar the friction generated is huge - heats the rails after a few minutes and the bar is written off [or it will still work but will not last long before chunks fall out of it].

 

• Don't use old chains on a new bar
• Always check your drive sprocket/drive rim for wear
• Keep all the old stuff together and use it together - don't mix it into your new stuff!

 

I'm seeing so many knackered drive sprockets/rims [but generally the reply is 'not had the saw long mate only light work etc etc'] and issues where the bar is getting overheated and blued through using old chains.

 

[spudulike]

See this stuff all day, I keep a good stock of drum sprockets for 201s and 200s plus a good selection of rims as most come in knackered as the owners are oblivious!

 

[Rob D]

Yep - it would not bother me so much but when you get the 'mate I thought these Sugi bars were good? only had light use for 2 weeks and look at the state of it!' - and then when you point out how shagged their gear is - they still don't get it!

 

It is coming sadly to me saying - please don't buy off us again. How do you point out to folks that they haven't got a clue how to look after this part of their gear?

[spudulike]

I usually find sarcasm is quite effective. I said to one customer that the issue with his saw was the lack of a compressor, He totally missed the joke and said which part of the saw was a "compressor".......made me chuckle!

 

On the other hand - one customer sent three saws in, I gave him the usual....you can grow spuds on those saws, he sent me a pic of his new compressor and every machine thereafter was nice and clean...Mr Harrison, you are a gent

[Khriss]

Its the rule of Three in forestry, three files to a chain, three chains to a bar ( and sprocket) three bars to an overhaul.  AV mounts / filters and bands.  K

[Rob D]

Yep - I know I was equally as bad when I was on the tools full time and makes me feel somewhat abashed! I'm doing a vid soon to illustrate the issue though.. all these customers were perplexed as to why they were having issues... [permission granted by all - no naming and shaming]

Worn Rim 1 (1).jfif Worn Rim 2 (1).jfif Worn Rim 2 (2).jfif Worn Rim 6 (1).jfif Worn Spur 4.jfif

[Khriss]

All that cack on saw is from blunt teeth ( an the wear pattern) chainsaws are nearly self cleaning with sharp teeth = no dust just shavings. K

[Rob D]

1 minute ago, Khriss said:

All that cack on saw is from blunt teeth ( an the wear pattern) chainsaws are nearly self cleaning with sharp teeth = no dust just shavings. K

Yep but again it's assuming folk clean the saw regularly - some don't and in the end you are bound to get some build up. It's not the wear that's the issue - it's the wear and being ignorant of it that's the issue. Chain sharpening on the whole seems pretty good though [better than mine in most cases!] but the bar and sprocket maintenance is truly shocking.

[Khriss]

When am instructing our candidates, always say "  i will show you how to sharpen - but its an art to get teeth razor sharp - am it will take time and practise but when you cracked it, its like a knife thru butter"    k

[spudulike]

Go on, name and shame....that will teach them I am not sure what people get taught but some can't even adjust an idle let alone tell if a sprocket is worn or not. Bet most don't even know what those lines on the Oregon Powermatch Rims actually are!