Chainsaw Spike Bar

[Billhook]

A friend and I run two chainsaws, his a Stihl MS391 and mine a Stihl MS340.  They are both on the same 20 inch bars with the same chains  Mine cuts like a goodun, his is awful.

I sharpened both chains and could not figure out what was wrong with his.  At 64 cc it the 391 should have out performed the 340  which is only 56cc.  It also would not cut straight even when we changed the bars over.

Had a better look today and discovered his chainsaw spike bar had been damaged.  It was not obvious to casual observation but once pointed out it could easily be seen that a couple of teeth at the bottom were slightly bent and one had a broken tip.  The saw had been damaged when a large log fell on it and bent the bar, but a replacement bar seemed to be all that was needed.

I never thought these spikes could have so much influence on the performance.  Anyone else had the same problem?

[Stere]

So does if it cut straight with new dawgs?

 

Didn't think they woulds make go  skew whiff...

[skc101fc]

So does if it cut straight with new dawgs?
 
Didn't think they woulds make go  skew whiff...

If leaning/pulling really hard cos teeth are dull, on a saw with dogs on one side only, you can twist the saw in the cut, causing curved cuts. Natural instincts with dull chains is put on more pressure with inevitable more wayward cuts ?

[skc101fc]

Not saying your sharpening is out, more like if he's racing against you to prove his saw's the best , is he piling on the pressure?

[Billhook]

9 hours ago, skc101fc said:

Not saying your sharpening is out, more like if he's racing against you to prove his saw's the best , is he piling on the pressure?

We changed blades, so teeth, blade and sharpness cannot be the difference, nor can the way we hold the saw.

Only just discovered the potential problem , so have not visited the saw shop to buy a new  spike bar.

Will report when fitted.

I have a feeling that if the spikes are causing the saw to pull to one side, it will make the saw work harder and make it feel lacking in power.  Only one way to find out!

[Billhook]

10 hours ago, Stere said:

So does if it cut straight with new dawgs?

 

Didn't think they woulds make go  skew whiff...

Nor did I , hence my post here to find out if anyone else has had the same problem

[Stubby]

10 hours ago, Stere said:

So does if it cut straight with new dawgs?

 

Didn't think they woulds make go  skew whiff...

I think they do . in the same way when you dig into a bit where the root flare comes out you have to make sure you are only leaning on the one spike or it will try to pull on the piss .

[Khriss]

Absolutely sure both chains same? Only thing  i could think was a guage difference 050 in an 058 rail fr example. Not experienced this happening myself, good bar n chain n all sharp n tidy just should work!  K

[Bob_z_l]

After reading all of this and reading again....

"The saw had been damaged when a large log fell on it and bent the bar, but a replacement bar seemed to be all that was needed."

 

Are you sure the bar studs on the wonky saw haven't been damaged? if one was pulled up a bit the shoulder part might change the way the bar interacts with the spikes.

 

Only wonky cuts I ever get are from bad chains. 

 

 

Hope you figure it out. following with interest. 

[peatff]

Your MS340 is in a better saw than the MS391 even when the bar is straight.