SharkmanDan
ArboristSite Lurker
Im going to tell the story in long form, so that I don't potentially leave out any pertinent facts.
I have a Sears Craftsman 358.35098, 20", 50cc chainsaw. I got it lightly used, because the 18" Poulan Wild Thing, that used to get the job done on an occasional trim of my SoCal avocado tree (singular), was not adequate, for the 20 acres of hardwood forest I now live in, here in E. Oklahoma.
When I first got it, this Craftsman was a BEAST, of a saw, compared to the Poulan. Then, I had a very old, red oak, with a 48" base, that rotted and fell against the house. The Craftsman started getting a pretty good workout. I got 4 cords of wood out of it, still burned a bunch of scrap, and have two LARGE chunks 36"-42" diameter by 4'-5' long and a 10' stump, still standing, left.
Lots of wood!
While cutting one of those LARGE chunks, I noticed that the saw was cutting crooked. As it was cutting downward, it was turning to the left, as it descended in the wood, and it seemed to be bogging down. I was told by a local small engine repair place, "Oh, your bar is warped. You need a new bar."
So, I bought a new Oregon, bar/chain combo. After replacement, it is still doing the same. I took it to a different shop, and he said that it was never the bar, it was likely the chain, and me not sharpening it evenly. That made sense, as I recalled seeing some teeth longer than others, and some that were not the right angle.
So, they sharpened it, on their grinder, and I brought it home. It's still cutting crooked. The angles on the teeth, are all the same now, but some teeth are longer, some are pretty short. I guess that means time to chuck the blade, and get a new one. My fault. I didn't know how to properly sharpen it. But, I do now.
But, that doesn't tell me, why it is bogging down, even when I'm not cutting. Could the clutch be binding? Sprocket peened over? What should I look for?
I'm no experienced, old hand, at using a chainsaw. I'm learning. Until last year, I would cut a few branches, every three years, or so. I'm certain that I ruined my blade, because I learned how to sharpen it, by doing so wrongly, several times. I don't want to risk doing something else stupid, out of ignorance.
Thanks in advance for being patient enough to read my long story, and kind enough to answer.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I have a Sears Craftsman 358.35098, 20", 50cc chainsaw. I got it lightly used, because the 18" Poulan Wild Thing, that used to get the job done on an occasional trim of my SoCal avocado tree (singular), was not adequate, for the 20 acres of hardwood forest I now live in, here in E. Oklahoma.
When I first got it, this Craftsman was a BEAST, of a saw, compared to the Poulan. Then, I had a very old, red oak, with a 48" base, that rotted and fell against the house. The Craftsman started getting a pretty good workout. I got 4 cords of wood out of it, still burned a bunch of scrap, and have two LARGE chunks 36"-42" diameter by 4'-5' long and a 10' stump, still standing, left.
Lots of wood!
While cutting one of those LARGE chunks, I noticed that the saw was cutting crooked. As it was cutting downward, it was turning to the left, as it descended in the wood, and it seemed to be bogging down. I was told by a local small engine repair place, "Oh, your bar is warped. You need a new bar."
So, I bought a new Oregon, bar/chain combo. After replacement, it is still doing the same. I took it to a different shop, and he said that it was never the bar, it was likely the chain, and me not sharpening it evenly. That made sense, as I recalled seeing some teeth longer than others, and some that were not the right angle.
So, they sharpened it, on their grinder, and I brought it home. It's still cutting crooked. The angles on the teeth, are all the same now, but some teeth are longer, some are pretty short. I guess that means time to chuck the blade, and get a new one. My fault. I didn't know how to properly sharpen it. But, I do now.
But, that doesn't tell me, why it is bogging down, even when I'm not cutting. Could the clutch be binding? Sprocket peened over? What should I look for?
I'm no experienced, old hand, at using a chainsaw. I'm learning. Until last year, I would cut a few branches, every three years, or so. I'm certain that I ruined my blade, because I learned how to sharpen it, by doing so wrongly, several times. I don't want to risk doing something else stupid, out of ignorance.
Thanks in advance for being patient enough to read my long story, and kind enough to answer.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
