stonykill
ArboristSite Guru
sure it is, look at the writing on the bar, then look at the chain, its on backwards alright.
Newbie...cutting questions
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sure it is, look at the writing on the bar, then look at the chain, its on backwards alright.
blis
Addicted to ArboristSite
Tzed250
Addicted to ArboristSite
Powerhead is near the welcome mat, back of chain is to the welcome mat. Cahin is on correctly.
SawTroll
Information Collector
+2, just look at where the "man with hat" is in the other pic.....
Junkyard Jim
ArboristSite Member
are my eyes playin tricks on me
My eyes may be playing tricks on me but using the mat and the boards on the porch for scale, it looks like that is two different bars on what may be the same powerhead...... I did drink a little last night so maybe my eyes aren't focusing right yet
My eyes may be playing tricks on me but using the mat and the boards on the porch for scale, it looks like that is two different bars on what may be the same powerhead...... I did drink a little last night so maybe my eyes aren't focusing right yet
SawTroll
Information Collector
The Aspen here is notorious for picking up sand from the ground, and the same may be true with the Willow, but I really haven't noticed it here.......:greenchainsaw:
livewire
Addicted to ArboristSite
Powerhead is near the welcome mat, back of chain is to the welcome mat. Cahin is on correctly.
My thoughts too!
You can barely make out the sawdust near the powerhed that's more visible in the other pic. Chain is good!
EDIT: Farmer dude is at the tip on the right side of the bar, and at the powerhead on the left side of the bar.
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stonykill
ArboristSite Guru
if the pic is taken from the left side of the saw, that puts the man in the hat at the powerhead end, which makes the chain backwards.
Look at the first picture, 4th picture was taken from the left side as you hold the saw. Chain's on right. If it was on backward it would take all day to make one cut. Steve
SawTroll
Information Collector
If that is the case, it has to be extremely dull, but it really doesn't look like it is.
RS/RSC, or RM/RMC if the wood is dirty, are the chains to use.....:greenchainsaw:
stevew
ArboristSite Lurker
Chain backwards...my luck...anywho here are more detailed pics of chain taken on side of saw with chain tensioner nuts on it. Pics 3 & 4 are best.
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Sprig
Addicted to ArboristSite
Dull and loose imo. Anyways, nothing wrong with those saws as far as I've heard but from what you say its near new and doesn't sound like its even broken in yet, give it time and keep your chains sharp and tensioned properly. My experiences with willow haven't been fun but more because of the soggy mess, it was not hardness, and yup it can be twisty stuff too. Take care to watch for embedded rocks etc. if its been dragged around or on sandy soil as mentioned by others, only takes a pebble to muck up a decent chain, and quickly at that!
And welcome!
Serge
And welcome!
Serge
Highclimber OR
ArboristSite Operative
The saw is a beast. Come on man it's a Stihl and the gentleman who said they sell millions for a reson is right on. The pic definitely looks like the chain might be on backwards, remember the cutting action move clockwise. The guys who sold it to you may not have known what they were doing(at least that is the case around here). I recommend a full- skip tooth chain, the saw shop will know what you are talking about, and remember that dirt is your #1 enemy. I am familiar with willow and will say that it is a pretty heavy water tree and does not make good firewood. It can burn just season the hell out of it. Anyway looks like you got a good saw and the wedges sound like an idea. Whatever makes your life easier and is safest. Good question and best of luck from Oregon.
Those are nice clear pictures. Your chain is on right. As blis said the rakers look high. I'd take it in and get it sharpened and have them take the rakers down if needed. Also buy a new chain so you can switch when one gets dull. Like Spig said all it takes is a little dirt or a rock to dull them up in a hurry. Steve
stonykill
ArboristSite Guru
yes the chain is right. All the above advice is great. Not sure of the diameter of the willow you are cutting, but here its not uncommon for the base of the willow to be 40 inches or so. Your bar looks like it might be a 24, not sure tho, but in any case if it is, thats a little long for that saw. Even if its a 20 inch bar, which is a good size for that saw, if you have the entire bar buried in the log, the cutting will go a lot slower. Get yourself a few new chains, and change them as the sawing slows down. Then either learn to sharpen yourself, or have them sharpened. Good luck and enjoy your saw. Its a good all around saw.
SawTroll
Information Collector
Yes, they do look high, at least in parts of the pictures, but it could just be the lighting when the pics were taken.
By now, I suspect that the chain is just dull, and maybe borderline long for the powerhead.
Skip chain may be a good idea.
High rakers can be there right out of the box - my last 3 new Oregon 73LP chains needed 5-10 strokes on the rakers, before they were right.......
It never happened to me before.
tawilson
Addicted to ArboristSite
I don't think it's been mentioned yet, but keep track of how much oil you are using per tank of fuel. Was the chain that loose in pic 3 when you started? If not, somethings stretching it. Do you pick the tip of the bar up when you tighten?
If the oilers ok, I'd guess a newly sharpened chain will do wonders for you.
If the oilers ok, I'd guess a newly sharpened chain will do wonders for you.
SawTroll
Information Collector
If you don't sharpen yourself, you need to keep several spare ones, and change to a new one when the one in use get dull.
The best way is to learn how to sharpen though, and touch the chain up every (or every second) tankfull - that way they will never get really dull, unless you hit something hard........
The best way is to learn how to sharpen though, and touch the chain up every (or every second) tankfull - that way they will never get really dull, unless you hit something hard........
