Would you repair/use this bar?

[MagraAdam]

Hey guys,
I was at the tip the other day and as I'm adding some scrap metal to the pile I look down and see a Stihl chainsaw bar sitting on the ground. I pick it up and it's a 25 inch 063 3/8 bar (and my MS361 runs 063 3/8's 20 inch now) in what looks like pretty good condition. Normally you can't take things from the pile but the attendant said "just take it" so I did. On further inspection the bar has some damage. It looks like someone pinched the bar then tried to widen the rail gap with a flat head and when that failed they tried to use an angle grinder to widen the gap and failed. Attached you can see that the rail does have a low spit where the problem is, and then the inside of the rails has been ground out to a depth of about 2mm. the undamaged part of the rails has a depth of 7mm.

I'm thinking about dressing the bar down that 2mm, then I think I'll have to lower the bottom of the groove in a long gentle sweep.

Given that I don't have any 25 inch chains currently, is it worth trying to fix this bar?

Thanks guys,

Adam

 

[Mad Professor]

Rail looks pretty screwed in one picture, #4

How wide are the grooves and depth?

I've saved some ugly bars, but that one looks like toast.

 

[MagraAdam]

Rail looks pretty screwed in one picture, #4

How wide are the grooves and depth?

I've saved some ugly bars, but that one looks like toast.

which bit specifically did you want me to measure?

 

[tfp]

They probably have a running bet going at the tip for how long before you bring it back

 

[Oregon85]

I would, only because my neighbor has a machine shop. Other than that it’s probably 22.50 for a new tip and another 12 to fix the grooves on a 75ish dollar bar brand new.

 

[MagraAdam]

I would, only because my neighbor has a machine shop. Other than that it’s probably 22.50 for a new tip and another 12 to fix the grooves on a 75ish dollar bar brand new.

It's a $125 bar here in Oz, and the tip seems fine to me.

How would you suggest fixing the rail? If I could fix it for under $20 then I'd be happy.

 

[Oregon85]

It's a $125 bar here in Oz, and the tip seems fine to me.

How would you suggest fixing the rail? If I could fix it for under $20 then I'd be happy.

My neighbor has a tool where hard metal is inserted in the groove and the outside are squeezed it can probably be done carefully with the right size sheet metal in the groove and a vise.

 

[Mad Professor]

which bit specifically did you want me to measure?

View attachment 911006

You want the rails square right to top. or the chain will wobble. Depth needs to be > drivers

 

[Piotr Pakula]

It is a pity that people repair or remake them without experience, then they put them on the stake. I also have two from the pile. There are theories ;-) that everything can be fixed

 

[MagraAdam]

You want the rails square right to top. or the chain will wobble. Depth needs to be > drivers

Yep, I'm aware of this

 

[MagraAdam]

My neighbor has a tool where hard metal is inserted in the groove and the outside are squeezed it can probably be done carefully with the right size sheet metal in the groove and a vise.

so for a pinched bar is the hard metal inserted into a section that's not pinched then slid along to widen the gap?

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Yep, they are expensive out here in the colonies..... mainly because of the base colour and the black writing on them- at the end of the day it is a 20" laminated bar and a forked one at that.
Needs some dedicated love to get it back close, used to be most any saw shop had the gear to do that for you, nowadays- not so much. If you can level the rails and recut the driver groove, maybe you are on a win?
What is an Oregon bar worth, or Sugi Hara bar, or any other bar not Stihl branded worth in Tazzie?
Personally, I would have left it where you found it- if you do not run 25's already and need to buy new loops to run through a dodgy bar.

 

[MagraAdam]

Yep, they are expensive out here in the colonies..... mainly because of the base colour and the black writing on them- at the end of the day it is a 20" laminated bar and a forked one at that.
Needs some dedicated love to get it back close, used to be most any saw shop had the gear to do that for you, nowadays- not so much. If you can level the rails and recut the driver groove, maybe you are on a win?
What is an Oregon bar worth, or Sugi Hara bar, or any other bar not Stihl branded worth in Tazzie?
Personally, I would have left it where you found it- if you do not run 25's already and need to buy new loops to run through a dodgy bar.

I'm not sure I have anywhere that sell Oregon bars or non-branded bars around here. A cheap one online is $100 with shipping.. https://www.chainsawspares.com.au/24-25-hurricane-pro-chainsaw-bar-only-for-stihl-3

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

I'm not sure I have anywhere that sell Oregon bars or non-branded bars around here. A cheap one online is $100 with shipping.. https://www.chainsawspares.com.au/24-25-hurricane-pro-chainsaw-bar-only-for-stihl-3

Yeah you might want to look a bit further and for more serious names than HURRICANE- all that means is someone is buying in cheap as chips bars from Asia and adding a substantial markup!

 

[Stihl99]

IMHO
Scrap the bar the structural integrity is shot, the layer fab and welding is destroyed, now there is a weak and collapsing area there that is not worth the risk of running it on a saw.
If you do file it out to allow the chain to run through it and that area of the bar takes a hit you could hurt yourself or damage your saw.

 

[tfp]

GA Spares supply a lot of mower shops in Oz, they have sugi hara bars. If you have a local dealer it might be an option. I used to get Oregon bars from them but they aren’t listing any on their website.

 

[deye223]

24 inch bar on a 361 is a bit ambitious unless you really know how to sharpen a chain and keep it sharp stick with the 20"

 

[67L36Driver]

IIWM (if it were me), I’d dress the bar square and then deal with the pinch.

A BFH and chisel can widen a pinched groove.

As far a being too shallow in one spot, just mark it and use it with that side up.

It ain’t rocket science.

 

[67L36Driver]

IIWM (if it were me), I’d dress the bar square and then deal with the pinch.

A BFH and chisel can widen a pinched groove.

As far a being too shallow in one spot, just mark it and use it with that side up.

It ain’t rocket science.

 

[GeorgiaVol]

I would forge a knife out of it.
Love that "forged in fire" show. Lol