Can you fix a pinched bar?

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Husky Joe

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I was felling a tree the other day and it changed its mind about which way it wanted to go. Needless to say, I was able to get out of the way but the bar got pinched. Think I can do anything with it? :bang:
 
I was felling a tree the other day and it changed its mind about which way it wanted to go. Needless to say, I was able to get out of the way but the bar got pinched. Think I can do anything with it? :bang:

Maybe i am not the biggest specialist here but the pinched bar i had a few times, i widened the groove with a screwdriver that i tapped gently into it until the chain slided again. Must say the pinches were not very long.

greetings from Holland.

Jos.
 
Just take a larger flat head screwdriver and drive it into the area where the rails are pinched and continue driving it through. Do so at a angle so that the screwdriver travels along the rails and it will open the rails as it goes. Don't worry if the rails spread too far, you can correct them with some light taps of your hammer later on an anvil or vise.

I've corrected a pinched bar out in the woods on a stump with a falling axe and scrench.
 
I have the bar rail closer from Bailey's, which of course means I frequently need to use my Craftsman or KT "bar rail openers" when I have been over zealous. For light work, I just tap them in by hand, for a more serious operation I will use a hammer to tap it along. You might be amazed how flexible that material really is once you start working at it.

Mark
 
Thanks for the replies---I'll go to work on it with a blowtorch and a pair of pliers (sorry, quote from "Pulp Fiction"). Hopefully I just saved $50. :msp_smile:
 
Most people rework the bars cold. They don't use a torch.
 
Just take a larger flat head screwdriver and drive it into the area where the rails are pinched and continue driving it through. Do so at a angle so that the screwdriver travels along the rails and it will open the rails as it goes. Don't worry if the rails spread too far, you can correct them with some light taps of your hammer later on an anvil or vise.

I've corrected a pinched bar out in the woods on a stump with a falling axe and scrench.

Best advice yet.
 
Most people rework the bars cold. They don't use a torch.
AND if they bend them,they could use one of these.
GUIDEBARSTRAIGHTENER003.jpg

GUIDEBARSTRAIGHTENER002.jpg

GUIDEBARSTRAIGHTENER004.jpg

;)
 
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