Chainsaw not cutting straight

[User00013]

Good afternoon

I am having some trouble with my Parker chainsaw it's been cutting way off. For the first inch or so its fine but then it cuts way off to the right if it could cut on you would nearly think it will cut a circle! I've also noticed it's getting difficult to even cut anything its basically just sitting there "cutting away" bit not going anywhere. I took the bar off and I noticed what looked to be wear on one of the sides of the bar where the chain runs along il try and post a picture here.

Is there any fix for this or other ideas what could be causing this? I am reluctant to spend any great deal on money on it as it was a cheap saw only £65.

Tia

 

[Mossypaw]

Maybe sharpened one side of the chain more than the other

 

[User00035]

Bar is knackered. Chain is probably knackered and has likely been poorly sharpened with the two sides not filed equally. Rakers possibly left too high as well.

Buy a new bar and a new chain and make sure the oiler is working properly.
Ideally buy a new saw...

 

[tusker]

First off I would say the bar is knackered. Usually when a saw is cutting off line it is the chain that has been sharpened incorrectly or is just the same as the bar (knackered).
Hope this helps. Tusker. P.S. most chainsaw accidents occur because of these simple problems, be careful and dont use it untill it is sorted

 

[VSS]

The reason for the curved cut is that you've sharpened the teeth on one side of the chain more than the other. Easily done, is it's natural to favour one side, depending on whether you're right or left handed.
The issue of failing to go through the timber may be because the lips of the groove in the bar through which the chain runs have become blurred, resulting in the bar being thicker than the chain, so it won't fit through the cut. Take the bar off, lay it flat and file away the burr then replace it the other way up to what it was.

 

[User00013]

Sorry I should have stated the chain is brand new I haven't sharpened it, it was cutting great the first wee while then went down hill...

 

[Craigsaun]

Give the chain a sharpening . You have probably cought some thing and that's taken the edge off one side . Also take the burr off the edge of the bar and put it back on the opposite way it was on that should do the job

 

[kes]

I had this problem once I had the chain on backwards and was having to press really hard to get it to cut at all. Never felt so soft.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Chain needs resharpening. Been there done that.

 

[Mossypaw]

What make is the bar and chain ?
The bar in the photo doesn’t look very even.

 

[Stalker62]

Conscious of photo angle and all that jazz about perception and depth...the bar in the photo looks shocking...

 

[User00013]

It's all Parker brand probably just cheap rubbish next time buy il a decent saw....

 

[nick.308]

if it was cutting fine then gone rubbish its coz you've knackered the chain again. Very easy to do. only takes a nail/stone/mud. I would have said its unlikely to be the bar if it was working ok. sharpening the chain properly is a fine art. also what brand of chain are you using. a cheap chain wont last well
im no guru but ive heard the angles the teeth are sharpened at are critical and if not copied will lead to unstraight cutting

 

[Jimboblincs2]

Try a new chain, if all good your chain has been sharpened unevenly.

 

[User00013]

The chain came with the saw I think it was orgeon or something to that effect. Are electronic chain shaperners any good? I seen lidl selling one a while back for £25

 

[The Singing Stalker]

The chainsaw gurus will spit and hiss over the electric sharpeners.
But if like me, you are cutting for your wood burner, I cut about 5 cubic meters a year, I find my cheap chainsaws work fine as does my draper sharpener.
i have been using the Draper Petrol chainsaw for a few years now and I also got a Cheap chainsaw for 80 quid off a friend, I also have an electric Makita chainsaw for around the house, not in the house, but it is ideal for chopping stuff whilst not being noisy.
With the sharpener you need to take your time setting the distance and gently bring the disc to the blade. You will get the hang of it quickly.
The one thing I would suggest Is that you get a white marker, mark the first link so you know when you have completed the circle. Take your time, you will get the hang of it and it is a lot easier than using a file. Or maybe I’m just a lazy sod.
and because you are taking the chain off you also get to clean the sawdust off.

 

[arron]

Bar needs dressing

 

[Malxwal]

Learn to sharpen the chain with the correct files. Oregon stuff is good, but a blunt chain is a blunt chain. Also as above, check the bar has no burred edges.
I tend to give the chain a quick sharpen every time I stop to fill the saw with fuel and chain oil.
Been there with cheap saws, and I still have them for emergencies, but I'd never buy anything other than a Husqvarna or a Stihl now.

 

[Home Loader]

With the bar off the saw and no chain try and stand it on its edges if it doesn't stand up at 90 degrees you can dress the rail down with a file to square it up. Then refit and file all the teeth to the same length start with the shortest one, this can be done by eye with experience but measure it if you aren't. After the bars square and the teeth are the same length the adjust the depth gauges / rakers. Check the tention and cut away

 

[Alantoo]

Sorry I should have stated the chain is brand new I haven't sharpened it, it was cutting great the first wee while then went down hill...

Give the chain a sharpening . You have probably cought some thing and that's taken the edge off one side . Also take the burr off the edge of the bar and put it back on the opposite way it was on that should do the job

Account Suspended

At £7.80 including return post it may be hardly worth your while buying a file and learning how to use it...get another couple of chains and have one on the saw one on the shelf, and one being sharpened...

I used these people when I was sawing up a root/butt and hit a ceramic tile that the ash tree had grown around 50 years ago...they managed to rescue both chains...I had no idea why the first one stopped cutting...saved me a lot of filing to get the symmetry back...well worth it.

Alan