3/8" Husky Sharpening Filing Guide Doesn't Fit?

[user 122190]

3/8 Semi Chisel, guide on a chain I was about to sharpen, the chain had previously been sharpened poorly.

Edited to add, chains sharpened with that guide cut well, self feed, throw good chips, and cut straight, I do like them for the results they give in the field, and to develop muscle memory.

My 2c. That file is not fitting into the cutters gullet correctly. It should be flush up against the entire leading edge of the cutter, and the gullet. At best your cutting is being done entirely with the tip of the cutter. Cheaters for your eyes, lots of light, the correct size file, ditch the guide, and I bet you will be surprised at the improvement in the chains cutting.

 

[trains]

My 2c. That file is not fitting into the cutters gullet correctly. It should be flush up against the entire leading edge of the cutter, and the gullet. At best your cutting is being done entirely with the tip of the cutter. Cheaters for your eyes, lots of light, the correct size file, ditch the guide, and I bet you will be surprised at the improvement in the chains cutting.

As mentioned, the picture is of a chain I am about to sharpen, it was poorly sharpened before, some teeth looked like they were sharpened with different sized files, yes the picture shows the file up against the tooth, and it dosent match the shape in the tooth.
Using husky files in 5.5 as suggested, sorry I cant find any pics of after it was sharpened.
Here is another tooth off that chain before I got to it.

 

[user 122190]

As mentioned, the picture is of a chain I am about to sharpen, it was poorly sharpened before, some teeth looked like they were sharpened with different sized files, yes the picture shows the file up against the tooth, and it dosent match the shape in the tooth.
Using husky files in 5.5 as suggested, sorry I cant find any pics of after it was sharpened.
Here is another tooth off that chain before I got to it.

View attachment 751627

Yup, looks like you started with a real poop show. I/We have all seen worse. Chainsaws can be fun to use when all is correct, and especially with a sharp chain. To many become discouraged with saws before they ever figure that out, and learn to sharpen the chain and to do it correctly. I now understand the answer to why there are so many chain sharpening gimmicks out there. This one amazes me the most. This is truly for the once a year chainsaw user.

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpener-Pr...VZDR?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&psc=1

 

[Brent Nowell]

There was a powersharp thread here in this forum. The general consensus was that it actually wasn’t that bad

 

[SteveSr]

Yup, looks like you started with a real poop show. I/We have all seen worse. Chainsaws can be fun to use when all is correct, and especially with a sharp chain. To many become discouraged with saws before they ever figure that out, and learn to sharpen the chain and to do it correctly. I now understand the answer to why there are so many chain sharpening gimmicks out there. This one amazes me the most. This is truly for the once a year chainsaw user.

https://www.amazon.com/Sharpener-Pr...VZDR?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&psc=1

How can this possibly work? It looks like it only hits the OUTSIDE of the cutter. All other methods file/grind on the INSIDE of the cutter.

 

[SteveSr]

Here are some better photos of exactly what I am seeing. This time the gauge is pointing the correct direction but that doesn't seem to matter for bar fit.


Here the rear of the guide is resting on top of the tie straps. the front of the guide is up in the air (like I don't think it should be).


This shows that the front of the guide is hung up on the tie strap rivets. This can only get worse as the chain wears/stretches.

 

[SteveSr]

3/8 Semi Chisel, guide on a chain I was about to sharpen, the chain had previously been sharpened poorly.

View attachment 751622 View attachment 751623


Edited to add, chains sharpened with that guide cut well, self feed, throw good chips, and cut straight, I do like them for the results they give in the field, and to develop muscle memory.

So what brand and model chain is that? is the guide setting flat on BOTH sets of tie straps? Can't tell for sure from the photo but it looks like it isn't.

 

[Ronaldo]

How can this possibly work? It looks like it only hits the OUTSIDE of the cutter. All other methods file/grind on the INSIDE of the cutter.

That requires special PowerSharp chain that is actually designed to sharpen on the top of the cutter.

 

[SteveSr]

That requires special PowerSharp chain that is actually designed to sharpen on the top of the cutter.

Alright I can now die in peace... I have heard everything!

 

[trains]

So what brand and model chain is that? is the guide setting flat on BOTH sets of tie straps? Can't tell for sure from the photo but it looks like it isn't.

Its 3/8 Husky semi chisel chain as previously mentioned, and you can see the husky name in the chain in the first pictures, yes the guide when correctly fitted to the chain rests on the top of the tie straps/ drive links. When fitted correctly, it sits snug and holds the chain captive so the file does not rock and thus gives a good filed surface, as mentioned before, when fitted correctly, it appears to have a slight angle that follows the tooth, so as the tooth length shortens with filing, the file is brought down at the same time.

hope that helps you.

Edited for clarity

 

[MGoBlue]

Take a flat file and ever so gently widen the gap so it slides down.

When I get the chance, I could show pics of mine on RS.

 

[SteveSr]

Take a flat file and ever so gently widen the gap so it slides down.

I could do this but then the guide would no longer slope backward towards the back of the tooth which would be a new issue. Based on this video directly from Husky it appears that the guide is supposed to have the front nose off of the tiestraps.

 

[SteveSr]

Here is another issue shown in this photo...


In this photo the rear of the guide is sitting on the tie straps. The front is up off the tie straps due to interference between the guide and rivets.

This chain was previously sharpened with the Stihl file guide that attaches to the round file. Here you can see that the top of the tooth meets the file at about mid-diameter which appears to be WAAAYY too high. Even if the front of the guide was modified to sit on top of the tie straps I think it would still be too high.

I am beginning to see the universal simplicity of the Stihl file guide that is attached to the file itself and indexes directly from the top of the cutter.

 

[user 122190]

I am beginning to see the universal simplicity of the Stihl file guide that is attached to the file itself and indexes directly from the top of the cutter.

Even simpler is no guide. Use your eyes and know what you are looking at, and your hand and arm will improve to make steady, level, smooth passes with the file. Once you achieve this you will be a pro.

Check out Buckin Billy Ray Smith on YouTube. He is the master with the files and his chains cut so sweet.

His alias is Cleetus, but only for entertainment.

 

[Yotaismygame]

Like others have said, just open it up a little more and youll be fine. I used one of those guides for a bit and they work great. Can be tight on some chains. Really that guide plus Buckin helped me learn how to hand file. The raker gauge is great.

 

[SteveSr]

The raker gauge is great.

That is why I originally got interested in these guides but would like to be able to use the whole thing.

 

[MGoBlue]

Widen, not change how high the roller guide sits. Here’s RS.
I square file now or I’d put a file in there for reference and I don’t have a loop of stihl on a bar at the moment.

 

[Alongshot]

I bought the same guide around a month ago. Had the same problem on Husky chain the rear would not seat properly. I put a piece of flat stock in the front grove then shimmed pieces of paper. Tried on the rear grove and couldn't get as many pieces of paper in so it was slightly narrower on the rear grove. I contacted Husky support was a waste of time. Ended up just softening up the corner edges of the rear grove and that fixed it. Probably a bad batch of casting them.

 

[Yotaismygame]

You can buy the full version of that raker gauge from bailey’s.

 

[SteveSr]

I contacted Husky support was a waste of time.

I did the same thing this morning. Good thing I am retired and have some time to waste! Gentleman was pleasant but clueless... Sent me a link to mostly NON-Husky sharpening videos on YouTube. Finally found the one I posted on the official Husky YouTube channel.