Bar Wear

[moecoors]

Hi folks, could anyone tell me how much wear in the bar groove is to much?
My chain can be seen to "squirm" on the top side of the bar when bucking. It definitely has more play than a new bar and chain, but cuts great. I suppose derailment is an issue if it is to sloppy.
How to tell when it's time to change?
Thanks,

 

[romeo]

It will stop cutting when its wears too much. Take it to your shop and see if they have a bar rail squeezer if it worries you. Or you can flip your bar upside down and buy some time.

 

[huskydave]

If you have too much side to side play in the groove or if the saw starts to cut uneven one rail may be wearing more than the other. dressing the rails is an easy thing you can do at home with a file but if your groove is too wide bring it to a dealer for servicing. I have seen some that are worn for about the last six inches only on one side only. flipping the bar will even out the wear.

 

[SawTroll]

.... Or you can flip your bar upside down and buy some time.

That should be done pretty often, from the bar is new - no reason to wait for problems to occur.

File off the "wire edges" that develops on the outside of the rails often, also.

 

[moecoors]

Thanks for the replies.
I took the bar off and laid it on the bench, put a wooden block on top and give it the hammer treatment. It worked like a charm. No dents and the chain is much tighter. No tight spots either. Luck or what?

 

[jhellwig]

What?

 

[moecoors]

Where?

 

[Urbicide]

When?

 

[Crofter]

Flipping the flippin' bar only works once if you dont correct the uneven wear. The next time you flip it will be like changing your dirty socks (left for right, time and again) after a while they start to hurt for a while after each change, Lol!

 

[stihlloggin]

That should be done pretty often, from the bar is new - no reason to wait for problems to occur.

File off the "wire edges" that develops on the outside of the rails often, also.

I agree with this method. I grind my chains and change chains several times a day each time flipping the bar. My bars wear good for along time providing i dont smash or bend them!!

 

[moecoors]

Right I'll be flippin the bar.
Think I'll try fresh socks ha.

 

[Crofter]

I flip my bars too; every time I change my sox! Lol! I agree routine flipping distributes normal wear over both sides of bar. I was just cranking Huskydave a bit. I dont totally agree that flipping cures uneven wear.

"If you have too much side to side play in the groove or if the saw starts to cut uneven one rail may be wearing more than the other. dressing the rails is an easy thing you can do at home with a file but if your groove is too wide bring it to a dealer for servicing. I have seen some that are worn for about the last six inches only on one side only. flipping the bar will even out the wear."
If a bar and chain does get to cutting crooked for any length of time you get uneven wear on one side of the bar rails, the chain rail and drive tangs, as well as lopsided internal wear inside bar rails. Just closing the rails and squaring them does not cure the wear on the inside of one rail or that on the chain. This has been hashed over a number of times on cutting crooked threads but has not been up for a while. The thread starter here was only talking about general loosness not cutting crooked so this is a bit off topic.

 

[jhellwig]

Right I'll be flippin the bar.
Think I'll try fresh socks ha.

Try flipping the statement.

Try a fresh bar.
I don't care what you do with your sock but you could probably flip those.