Cut wandering.

[Pa Pa Jack]

I have a Husky 455 Rancher. I have been cutting firewood lately and have had no issues until yesterday. I put on a brand new chain when I noticed the saw was really slowing down. With the new chain, the saw will not make a straight cut through a 16 inch log. It wanders to the right as if it wants to cut a circle no matter what I do. I flipped the bar over thinking that maybe it was the problem, but it made no difference. Now the saw revs much higher but cuts much slower. The chain is a H47s Husky brand and is still very sharp. Any ideas?

 

[DT86]

I've never seen or heard of a defective new chain but it sounds like you have one. The only time I've had one cut in a circle is if it was very dull on one side or had teeth broken.

I wonder if its on backwards? We've all probably done that once or twice in a hurry.

 

[Bluegill2]

Bad chain, or wrong gauge, .050 instead of .058?

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

the chain is the same as I have always used. 3/8 .050/1.3mm 72 links.

I had made several cuts before it began acting up. I thought I might have hit metal in the wood. These tress are from an area where we have found old barbed wire embedded in trees. I checked the chain and it is still very sharp and getting good oil. Even the bar has only been on the saw for about 3 cords of wood.

The first thing I checked was to make sure I put the chain on right. I am glad to hear I am not the only one that has put a chain on backwards.

 

[Furu]

If you have not already done so inspect every cutter individually. Look for damage or differences in size. As your bar ages ( you said it was pretty new) it can cause the same issue. Take off the chain and see if the bar has any asymmetry in the groove or if there is a rolled ridge on one side. Running a dull chain can take a new bar and quickly cause wear that can cause your described effects. Dressing the bar, if that is the problem, is not expensive or that hard to do,
First though if you think you hit metal inspect every link and cutter to ensure they have no anomaly either from damage or defect.

 

[turnkey4099]

Several cuts before acting up, cutting in curve says dull chain every time. It only takes a few dinged up cutters to cause the problem and usually they will be allon one side. Rarely is the problem due to a worn bar - does happen but the default cause is "chain". Resharpen it or put on anohter chain and see what happens. Since the chain is new with little use you can get away with locating the dinged up cutters and just sharpening them if there are only a few.

Harry K

 

[Scotty Dive]

If you have ruled out the bar and the chain is not nicked/dull, the double check the chain width. I had the same problem and tried 3 new chains only to finally figure out the chains were the wrong width and rode the rail wrong. Drove me nuts

 

[Deere Dude]

Is the bar fitting flat on the surface it is bolted to?
I had that happen once, and found there was a little bitty ridge or collar on the bolt that the bar would be bolted to. The bar would hang up just a smidgen but it was enough to cut off on a 20 degree angle in a log.

 

[LD1]

x2 on dinged up chain.

Have it sharpened and see if the issue goes away. This is the cheapest way to quickly rule out the chain

 

[Timm250]

I had a new Oregon chain doing this & I found a couple of the links where the pins had not been flattened when it was put together. It gave me fits & I took it to the shop to be sharpened & it still cut to one side. I was about to give up & put another chain on when I saw that 2 pins had not been flattened.

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

I had time today to check out the chain. It does seem to me that one side is a little duller than the other side. I sharpened it and went to reinstall it. I noticed some of the pawls that catch the drive sprocket would not go into the bar slot without a little effort. It seems that they have a bur on them. Is there some simple way to burnish these burrs off? Is that normal? I checked the other chains I have that need sharpened, and they also have burs in the same place. They will not easily go into a brand new bar I have sitting on the shelf. I can only believe that this is not good. The drive sprocket shows slight wear, but I would think that is normal after cutting several cords of wood.

 

[Furu]

I had time today to check out the chain. It does seem to me that one side is a little duller than the other side. I sharpened it and went to reinstall it. I noticed some of the pawls that catch the drive sprocket would not go into the bar slot without a little effort. It seems that they have a bur on them. Is there some simple way to burnish these burrs off? Is that normal? I checked the other chains I have that need sharpened, and they also have burs in the same place. They will not easily go into a brand new bar I have sitting on the shelf. I can only believe that this is not good. The drive sprocket shows slight wear, but I would think that is normal after cutting several cords of wood.

Changing out your drive sprocket after wearing out two chains and on every bar replacement is a good technique. They are cheap. Run a groove cleaner through your bar groove and see if there are any anomalies with it as well.

 

[scollins]

I have a Husky 455 Rancher. I have been cutting firewood lately and have had no issues until yesterday. I put on a brand new chain when I noticed the saw was really slowing down. With the new chain, the saw will not make a straight cut through a 16 inch log. It wanders to the right as if it wants to cut a circle no matter what I do. I flipped the bar over thinking that maybe it was the problem, but it made no difference. Now the saw revs much higher but cuts much slower. The chain is a H47s Husky brand and is still very sharp. Any ideas?

Have the chain sharpened or replace it with the correct one.

One more thing.

Take a small flat file and file off all the "burs" off the saw bar and that the edge is filed "flat". Look at the edge of the bar. The only "groove" in it should be where the chain runs, Make the the sprocket turns. Clean out the bar groove with a putty knife and compressed air. I have to replace my bar every couple of years because of heavy cutting in oak. When the cutters are different on one side than the other, after hitting a rock or too many sharpenings, yes, the cut wants to go crooked. Thyat is also putting a lot of wear and tear on you and the saw.

ALWAYS wear ear plugs.

SC

 

[jymbee]

I wonder if its on backwards? We've all probably done that once or twice in a hurry.

Put a chain on backwards?! Are you serious?? What kind of a dumbell would ever... uh, oops. Never mind. Just remembered that I did exactly that as recently as last week. (again!). Sheesh... :laughing:

 

[Lou66]

Put a chain on backwards?! Are you serious?? What kind of a dumbell would ever... uh, oops. Never mind. Just remembered that I did exactly that as recently as last week. (again!). Sheesh... :laughing:

I am with you Jymbee,, you would have to be a moron to put a chain on backwards,, beside if you did,, all you would need to do is turn around and cut the tree behind you.. duh.. lol.. that when you like being my yourself,, hey they will fit either way,, Lou

 

[jymbee]

I am with you Jymbee,, you would have to be a moron to put a chain on backwards,, beside if you did,, all you would need to do is turn around and cut the tree behind you.. duh.. lol.. that when you like being my yourself,, hey they will fit either way,, Lou

Not unlike the VERY old (but funny) joke where a new carpenter's helper was going thorugh a case of nails, picking them up one at a time and tossing out about half of them. After watching this exercise for a time, the carpenter asked him why he was throwing out perfectly good nails? The guy replies: "Well, the head was on the wrong end."

"IDIOT", the carpenter replies-- "those are for the OTHER WALL!"

 

[scollins]

Put a chain on backwards?! Are you serious?? What kind of a dumbell would ever... uh, oops. Never mind. Just remembered that I did exactly that as recently as last week. (again!). Sheesh... :laughing:

Just put the transmission on the saw in reverse and you can cut with the chain on the other way.:cool2:

SC

 

[jymbee]

Just put the transmission on the saw in reverse and you can cut with the chain on the other way.:cool2:

SC

Well thanks for NOTHING!! It took me quite awhile to do just that. Been picking sawdust out of my hair & teeth ever since... :thumbdown:

 

[Gary Fowler]

Wearing of the sprocket is a good sign that you are using the wrong chain. Once my brother in law had a saw shop put on a new chain when he had his pole saw in for tune-up and shortly afterwards I noticed the sprocket notched badly. I checked the new chain against the old one (factory original) and the links were just a bit off. In about 10 links the chain was 1/4" different in sprocket location. He had to order a new sprocket and chain for it.
Recently I picked up one of the cheap HF chain saw sharpeners and decided to sharpen up some of my old chains that were doing the exact same thing the OP had. While sharpening them, I found that one chain had about 3 teeth that had hit something and were really dull. Finished with the sharpening, I took off my brand new chain and put on one of the resharpened ones. Man does it cut good now. I couldnt believe how well it cut and with the very first time using the electric saw sharpener. The Folks that claim that the high dollar ones are better must be getting some really really good results with those. My HF one paid for itself in the first sharpening. MY new chain cost $24.99 purchased at Sears which was the same as my HF sharpener + shipping. After sharpening 2 chains, I am over $20 in the black on that purchase.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Wearing of the sprocket is a good sign that you are using the wrong chain. Once my brother in law had a saw shop put on a new chain when he had his pole saw in for tune-up and shortly afterwards I noticed the sprocket notched badly. I checked the new chain against the old one (factory original) and the links were just a bit off. In about 10 links the chain was 1/4" different in sprocket location. He had to order a new sprocket and chain for it.

Worn sprocket is caused by using a chain with the wrong pitch. Also, a worn out old chain can stretch enough that its pitch gets off. This is more of an issue with the frugal types who keep sharpening their chains forever and ever.