Intenz, internal tensioning bars
Yes Fish, I did send Che the bars she requested.
No Netree, it was not a slow day when I designed the Intenz bars. They overcame the number one customer problem for infrequent chain saw users and the major reason for returned products.
BPTREE, the Husky 335 is a professional arborist saw and some arborists have experienced bar slippage due to professional saw techniques used when only holding the saw with one hand. This type of professional usage is a gray zone for the Intenz bar. Works for some but not for others.
TONEMAN, The Echo saws with a shoulder on the saw studs did present some problems with the Intenz bars. If the bar was not fully against the saw pad, the bar rack engaged the smaller diameter threaded part of the stud. When the saw stud nuts were tightened up, the bar rack was deformed against the shoulder and would not function properly. After seeing this problem we worked with Echo to change the stud design.
Tjena Mange,
I'm the engineer that people have been commenting on. I designed the Intenz bars and would be happy to profile their intended use, and areas where they will not work satisfactorily.
A major chain saw manufacturer came to OREGON with a major customer problem, their users could not properly tension the chain on a chain saw. They challenged OREGON to overcome the problem.
To those on this web site it might sound ridiculous not being able to tension a chain saw properly. You guys probably learn it right after you learned to tie your shoes in kindergarten. But for the infrequent user, chain tension is a major issue. They usually start by running it too loose and the chain gets beat up and throws. Then they crank the chain down until the bar bows, the chain turns blue, and the nose bearings turn into dots. The infrequent user does not have the mechanical background and will not read instructions. It’s so bad that many chain saws sold to infrequent users come with the bar and chain assembled. Why pre-assemble the bar and chain thus incurring the extra labor cost and larger packaging? The infrequent user has a 50-50 chance of getting the chain on facing the correct direction, no joke. These are the people Intenz bars were designed for, they need something easy, fool proof (I’m not insulting my customers, just using a common phrase), and fast (or they will not tension as often as they should).
The rack and pinion system in the Intenz bars is designed to deliver the proper chain tension on bars from 10” to 20” long when a scrench (a tool usually included with the chain saw) is used to turn the pinion on the side of the bar. The rack forks contact the forward saw stud and spread out. The angle of the rack forks is critical in preventing the infrequent user from over tensioning the chain. The forks spread out and lock up against the inner bar core and saw stud when proper tension is applied to the chain. I’ve attached a features and benefits sheet that shows the internal parts of the bar. The bars are intended to be used with chain that is rated as blue label for kickback. This is chain for the infrequent user so it is not aggressive.
Occasionally we still run into someone complaining the bar slips, but after a conversation we convince them they need to tighten the saw stud nuts as normal, instead of leaving them so loose they fall off. Try and keep a straight face when you explain that to a customer.
Intenz was not designed for heavy professional use, bars longer than 20”, or aggressive chains. The more aggressive chains and resulting professional saw handling techniques may cause slow bar movement. Most professionals require a finer chain adjustment and often use long bars.
Consumer Reports magazine from May of 2001 rated saws with Intenz bars and advised its readers to look for the added features of side saw tensioning. Side saw tensioning is more convenient, faster, and eliminates contact with the hot muffler and bucking spikes.
One last note: Many millions of these bars have been sold with a substantial decrease in returns because the infrequent chain saw users get the proper tension and don’t burn up the bar noses.
If you have any questions about using Intenz bars on specific saw models please email me.
Regards,
Oregon Engineer