Broken oregon chain

[bjam1964]

Stihl chain is fast and efficient until sharpened for the 3rd or 4th time - from there on I find it loses performance (doesn't clear chips as well) and tends to loose teeth.

 

Oregon is slower (cutting performance) but keeps clear and consistent over many sharpens.

 

Nearly all broken chains are caused by worn sprockets, worn and uneven bars, poor chain lubrication or cheap chain and contact with anything that is not wood!

[Big J]

I've had two chains snap in the last week (after having had nothing for over two years) - spoke to an engineer friend of mine who said that the very cold weather causes the steel to become quite brittle. One of the hazards of thinning in minus 10 conditions then!

[3dogs]

Stihl chain is fast and efficient until sharpened for the 3rd or 4th time - from there on I find it loses performance (doesn't clear chips as well) and tends to loose teeth.

 

Oregon is slower (cutting performance) but keeps clear and consistent over many sharpens.

 

Nearly all broken chains are caused by worn sprockets, worn and uneven bars, poor chain lubrication or cheap chain and contact with anything that is not wood!

 

Or bad sharpening ie filing down into tie strap

 

Or tie strap on the wrong way when made up. Rivet hole beveled on one side to accept rivet.

[bjam1964]

I accept your point about bad sharpening causing loss of performance.

 

As well as sharpening my own fleet of 16 saws , I also sharpen commercially for many other customers and tree surgeons in the area. The chain grinder and hand finishing techniques have been perfected over 12 years with very few justifiable complaints. Even if the Stihl is sharpened to within an inch of its life, as the top plate receeds the cutting performance seems to be compromised more than the equivalent Oregon chain. I don't know why ?

 

Tie straps supplied with most reputable chain reels have a visual indication of which side faces outward - could be worth checking your new chain just in case.

[Digbee]

Whilst this topic is about Oregon chains, I just ruined my new (2nd use) Powersharp chain.

Got squished, and jumped off the bar - It happens (probably did not notice it needed tightening up. Anyway noticed when went to put it back on the lower part of some of the chain toes have been cracked off. This not only means it won't go round the end of the bar very well, but as its burred the metal, on the chain it won't fit in the bar. Did not even get to do the fun re-sharpening.

[skyhuck]

Whilst this topic is about Oregon chains, I just ruined my new (2nd use) Powersharp chain.

Got squished, and jumped off the bar - It happens (probably did not notice it needed tightening up. Anyway noticed when went to put it back on the lower part of some of the chain toes have been cracked off. This not only means it won't go round the end of the bar very well, but as its burred the metal, on the chain it won't fit in the bar. Did not even get to do the fun re-sharpening.

 

Can you not just file off the burr's?????