Chain saw cuts at an angle
I have seen this problem of a chain saw cutting at an angle brought up again and again on forums, and result in a variety of answers about sharpening the chain, or replacing the bar and/or chain. In a number of these requests for solutions, none of the advice has solved the problem. I have used chain saws for about 45 years now, and there is a condition that some chains develop with the pitch of the teeth or the guides...or both...that will cause them to cut to the left or right at an angle (usually left). While I have not figured out what causes this, I have solved the problem of correcting it. First, turn the nose of your bar and chain toward you on a bench, look down it like sighting a gun and take a look at each tooth and guide. If the saw is cutting left, the teeth or the guides (or both) on the left (while you are looking down the bar from its tip) will be pitched differently than the teeth and/or guides on the right. The pitch of those teeth or guides (those little ears that stick up about on-fourth inch in front of each tooth) will be:
1) too much in line with each other, or
2) the teeth or guides will be less pitched than the teeth or guides on the right side of the chain.
Solution: take a large pair of lineman's pliers or similar pliers and pitch those teeth and guides to match those on the right side of the chain. Also, make sure the curved part of your chain teeth peek out around the outside edge of those guides. If the guides are directly in line with your teeth, they will hinder cutting by the teeth. You can do this with the chain on the saw if you don't have too much slack between the bar and the chain. Last, make sure that the chain guides are not as tall or taller than your teeth. If they are, you will need to file them down a little (with a flat file) until the teeth are slightly longer than the guides. Afterward, make sure the teeth on both sides are equally sharp, and go cut a straight cut!
TennesseeBob
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