Necessity of OUTER side plate on my 084, or other old ones...

[TruettB]

I've searched and searched but found nothing. Had trouble with the 084 throwing chains while working a monster mulberry log (yep), but I think I narrowed that down to a loose rear bar stud, which I believe I've cured (at least the Loctite has). Sheared off a couple of chain tensioner posts in the process.
At any rate, is there ANY real function to those outer side plates? I actually made one out of sheet metal, but none of the newer saws have them, so I think perhaps they are not vital to anything. Just don't want to miss anything, or have to weld on another chain tensioner post.
Thoughts? And thanks in advance.

 

[BobL]

At any rate, is there ANY real function to those outer side plates? I actually made one out of sheet metal, but none of the newer saws have them, so I think perhaps they are not vital to anything. Just don't want to miss anything, or have to weld on another chain tensioner post..

My 880 has outer side plates. They are pretty handy if the chain jumps the bar as a jumped chain can eat saw body and clutch cover pretty quickly.
On my BIL mill that bolts to the bar mount bolts I keep the inside plate but I use a custom clutch cover - well it's not really a clutch over as the clutch is quite exposed.
The outside plate is back int my home shop still attached to the stock clutch cover.