If you’ve spent any amount of time watching loggers work, you’ve undoubtedly seen a chainsaw equipped with an upside down chainsaw bar. Why will some folks use an upside down chainsaw bar when logging, limbing, or bucking firewood? Though your chainsaw applies oil to the bar to reduce the friction between the bar and the chain, over time, the areas of the bar that experience the most pressure will wear out faster as you might expect. Every chainsaw bar has been designed to be mounted right-side up or upside down. The reason for this is that it allows the user to extend the life of his chainsaw bar by 50%. Flipping the bar will give the heavily-used areas some relief from wear and tear. Using upside down chainsaw bars from time to time keeps your cuts more efficient and accurate. Since chainsaw bars can range anywhere between $30 – $60 and up, you might appreciate getting as much life out of your bar as possible.
If you’ve ever passed through logging country, you might have seen loggers using a chainsaw with all of the logos and words on the chainsaw bar upside down. Chainsaw bar rails – Chainsaw bar rails are a slot or groove around the perimeter of the chainsaw bar where the saw chain itself rides while the saw is in operation. Since a chainsaw accident is potentially deadly, chainsaw operators must scrutinize their chainsaw before every operation to ensure that no part of the chainsaw is worn or damaged and in need of attention.
When pruning we tend to use the end of the bar as we stretch to reach the limbs of the tree and then the third area is on top of the bar when there is the chance of the wood pinching the bar as the branch of the trunk begins to fall. The idea behind flipping the bar is to spread the wearing areas of the bar so that the bar not only lasts twice as long, but it also ensures a safer operation of the saw. Although flipping the bar will almost double the life of the bar there will come a time when the chain begins to wonder, and the safety of the saw is reduced.
The need to flip your chainsaw bar is better demonstrated when you consider the fact that the majority of the chainsaw’s cutting action takes place at the base of the bar. While the chainsaw attempts to mitigate this by applying oil to the bar for friction reduction, with the passage of time, the part of the chainsaw bar that experiences more action would expectedly wear out much faster. This means that as you flip the chainsaw bar, you regulate the wear and tear on the bar, making it uniform and extending the life of the chainsaw bar by at least 50%. How Often Should I Flip my Chainsaw Bar? Others suggest a more relaxed approach advising that you flip the chainsaw bar only when you are changing your chainsaw blade. In all, how often your flip your chainsaw bar is dependent on your schedule and importantly, your chainsaw use. As a quick tip, if your chainsaw bar does not have logos or any unique identifier that helps you determine the side, you can get a marker or paint to make markings on the sides of the chainsaw bar. In conclusion, flipping your chainsaw bar could make all the difference in the longevity of your chainsaw bar as well as that of the chainsaw itself.
Flipping the bar gives you twice the life as the top doesn’t wear nearly as fast if at all. You can tell bars that haven’t been flipped, they cut curves in your trees and eventualy only cut half way thru your tree then bogs down. Probably not, my way has just become a habit – and I said I am probably overdoing it – but it doesn’t “Cost” anything, when the bar is off anyway, for cleaning……. ciscoguy01.
why turn chainsaw bar upside down Related Question:
How often should you flip the bar on a chainsaw?
Some professional loggers would advocate that you should flip your chainsaw bar at the end of every use, particularly when you are cleaning up. Others suggest a more relaxed approach advising that you flip the chainsaw bar only when you are changing your chainsaw blade.
Why is there a hole in a chainsaw bar?
The hole is part of the manufacturing process when the bar is made at the factory. The milling and heat tempering machines anchor to it and the tail slot. Making a living with a saw since age 16.
Why does my chainsaw blade dull so quickly?
Is the wood that you’re cutting with the chainsaw particularly dirty? Many chainsaw enthusiasts have noted that their blades dull faster when they’re cutting muddy wood. If the logs that you’re cutting up are muddy, then perhaps that is the sole reason why your blade is dulling too fast.
Is it OK to run a chainsaw without the bar?
I do not recommend letting it run for more than 5 minutes. Without a chain, the chainsaw will cause the engine to rev higher. This can eventually overheat the engine’s components and increase wear and tear.
What chainsaw chains do professional loggers use?
Full-chisel teeth chains are usually used by professionals on large saws. Semi-chisel teeth are rounded, so the risk of kickback is less, and they stay sharper longer. Semi-chisel teeth cut slower but are a better choice in dirty wood than full chisel.
How do you know if your chainsaw clutch is bad?
Does the engine loose revs, or the engine keep revving and just the chain stops? If the engine is still running at normal revs, and the chain slows down, then it’s a problem with the clutch. Worn out, gummed up, jammed springs etc. If the engine looses revs under load then it’s more likely a fuel or carb problem.
Is it OK to drill a hole in a chainsaw bar?
Re: Drilling a Chainsaw Bar Drilling that bar may not be as difficult as you think. It will be best if you use a drill press, start with a pilot hole, and then drill to the size you need. Make sure you have a sharp bit, run at the lowest speed you can, and use cutting fluid.
Why does my chainsaw cut curves?
Two main reasons will cause the chain to cut on a curve. The most common reason is from improper hand filing. If one side of the teeth is more heavily damaged, sharpening them down will make them smaller than the other side.
How long should a chainsaw chain stay sharp?
A chainsaw may only need to be sharpened once a year if it is rarely used, but a tool that is frequently used will need to be sharpened regularly to ensure that the blade doesn’t get too dull. On average, a chainsaw blade will retain its sharpness for about 3 hours of actively cutting through wood.
Is it OK to cut wet wood with a chainsaw?
Can you cut wet wood with a chainsaw? Yes, you can cut the wet wood with a chainsaw. Besides, there is a misconception that wet wood can impact the chainsaw bar and chain. But actually, the damp wood will not dull the chainsaw any faster than using it on other types of wood.
Why does a chainsaw chain need oil?
Oil helps lubricate the chain and also helps keep the dust down during operation. In sappy wood situations it keeps the chain from getting gummed up.
Does a chainsaw need chain oil?
To work properly, chainsaw chains and bars must be lubricated.In the past, most operators have used petroleum-based oils. When a chain saw is used, virtually all of the lubricant ends up in the environment. Every year thousands of gallons of chain-and-bar oil are carried into the forests and none returns.
Is a full chisel chain the same as a ripping chain?
In reality ripping chain is a semi or micro chisel chain filed to 10 degrees rather than 30 degrees. Full chisel filed to 10 degrees tends to cause a lot of vibration when cutting planks with a chainsaw although some people do find a chisel cutter is better in certain woods.
Does skip tooth chain cut faster?
A skip chain has fewer cutting teeth than a conventional chain which means it won’t be dragging as many teeth through the wood you’re cutting. Less drag on the chain means less power is needed to cut through the log. That means the motor on your saw runs faster which keeps it in a more efficient power curve.
How can you tell if a centrifugal clutch is bad?
When heat damage occurs, the clutch will never disengage and the machine will start taking off by itself as soon as you start the engine. You can see heat damage inside the clutch drum, the metal turns from black to a blue color. The clutch must be replaced if it has heat damage and won’t disengage.