When to replace a bar

[david1332]

How can you guys tell when exactly you need to replace a bar or just a sprocket nose?

For some reason one of my saws keeps cutting to the left. At first I Thought the chain was just sharpened unevenly however when I replaced the chain it was fine for a while but slowly started to arc to the left again. My chain also sits on the bar weird ( leans to the right) . I am going to take a level to the rails later. Maybe I just have it too loose? Idk I've never had this problem before and honestly take very good care of my bars and haven't had to replace them. However my guys aren't so nice to them and you can tell which one I primarily use ( 201tc and 441cm) and which ones they use (echo cs-400 & 590

 

[user 122190]

I nearly destroyed a bar once. Over heated it, and the rails became uneven. A neighbor took it off my hands and filed the rails even, and as far as I know it is still going. Answer, IDK.

 

[Jimmy in NC]

Check rail evenness with a square. I use a Pferd hand guide and level them. It is slow but I know where I am. A good disc sander or belt sander with a solid and accurate fence/table can also be used. A bar should run until the drivers are holding the tie straps up off the rails.. aka groove isn't deep enough any longer.

 

[Jimmy in NC]

FWIW I rarely pitch a replaceable tip bar and most of my bars are out of other's junk piles. I square and dress them, new tip, and keep getting it.

 

[hotshot]

Put a staight egde ruler against a left side cutter & the ruler should have clearance & shouldn't contact the bar top.

http://www.madsens1.com/bnc_bar_maint.htm

 

[svk]

If they rails are worn to the point the drive links are bottoming out then pitch it. Otherwise it usually can be repaired.

 

[HarleyT]

How can you guys tell when exactly you need to replace a bar or just a sprocket nose?

For some reason one of my saws keeps cutting to the left. At first I Thought the chain was just sharpened unevenly however when I replaced the chain it was fine for a while but slowly started to arc to the left again. My chain also sits on the bar weird ( leans to the right) . I am going to take a level to the rails later. Maybe I just have it too loose? Idk I've never had this problem before and honestly take very good care of my bars and haven't had to replace them. However my guys aren't so nice to them and you can tell which one I primarily use ( 201tc and 441cm) and which ones they use (echo cs-400 & 590

Put up some pics!!!!

 

[happysaws]

Also, check to see if the bar has burred rails. If you can feel the burr with your fingernail, file them off.

 

[HarleyT]

Since it was OK for a while, put up some pics of the chain too!

 

[madhatte]

Immediately retire any bar that has cracks in the rails, especially parallel to the rails.

 

[david1332]

Will do!

 

[david1332]

Immediately retire any bar that has cracks in the rails, especially parallel to the rails.

That much I know. It doesn't have any cracks or burs. I believe it's the rails being uneven after reading the link hotshot put up

 

[madhatte]

That's not uncommon. Just know that if you've gotten the rails hot enough to spread and burr, they've likely gotten hot enough to crack, so be sure and look long and hard as you do the refurb. You'll see this happen most commonly on bars used on fires, or following an oiler failure.

 

[wde_1978]

I have an aftermarket bar that crapped out in under a year - groove is too wide so the chains drive links are no longer properly supported.
This bar is no longer in usage and marked for recycling.
It wasn't worth its cost which was 1/3 of the cost of a Dolmar branded Oregon bar.

For comparison and example that I basically know how to maintain a bar, I am still successfully using the factory original bar on my PS-6400!
I had to deepen the groove twice in 11 years.
Regular maintenance consists of leveling and deburring the rails with a flat file, free handed.

By my limited experience a chain cutting crooked is primarily caused by a not so perfectly sharpened chain.
Secondarily and often an additional cause is a worn bar.

A bar is scrap once it can no longer be fixed cost efficiently, which in my case is a slapped out groove.

 

[CR888]

A true bar should stand up on a flat level surface if it falls over you know which side is high/low. Most quality solid bars can be put back onto service if the links are'nt bottoming out but laminates with chipped noses etc usually have less repair options and get the bin sooner.

 

[HarleyT]

Pics!!!

 

[david1332]

Sorry forgot about it, too busy with the job. But I did inspect them and just decided to replace both of the bars. The rails on one were really uneven and upon further inspection of the2nd I had to grind down too much of the side rails to keep them. Thanks guys for the input

 

[jr27236]

David,
I guess you run a tree service from what I read? Bars should be part of your maintenance. Dressing them and making sure to flip them on each chain change out will help them go a long way. (At least I'd do that)

 

[CR888]

I find with bars 'a little attention often' is better than waiting for big burrs to form before you touch it. A raker file & 2 mins can do a lot to keep a bar in good condition.

 

[david1332]

I find with bars 'a little attention often' is better than waiting for big burrs to form before you touch it. A raker file & 2 mins can do a lot to keep a bar in good condition.

I just bought a bar rail dresser from pferd on treestuff.com I will be touching them up often from now on!