Are chain saw blades directional?

[SR5]

One other point on chainsaw chains - sharpening them is an art. As you remove a bit of metal from each chisel tooth, you have to keep the angle of the chisel consistent and the depth of the chisel consistent with the other chisel teeth. You accomplish the latter by removing just a bit of metal off the top of the proceeding tooth, so that the “bite” remains consistent.

Part of my army engineers course was to learn how to sharpen a chain saw. Considered an essential skill that all Sappers needed.

Knowing how to sharpen a chain requires knowing how they work. And it’s pretty clear you don’t.

Ouch! The honest feedback of a military officer. One of the things I miss in my civilian job.

 

[Jetronic]

This is probably a 15 or 20 year old model that comes in quite handy the few times I need to cut branches that are too big for a pole lopper and as a small saw without the pole attachment. The only thing that bugs me is the chain oiler. You fill the tank with a few ounces of oil, and after you put the saw away you have a puddle of oil underneath the next day. Have been storing it an a cat litter box, but still annoying. Do newer saws still have this issue?

Is the seal around the oil port to the blade damaged?

 

[atikovi]

Is the seal around the oil port to the blade damaged?

Pretty sure it did this since new, so doubt it. The oiler pump bulb is broken so that may increase the problem.

 

[UncleDave]

You'd need 4x the power and 4x the fuel, and would have a hard time not being taken for a ride.

Been giggling about this for a day.

Taken for a ride is absolutely what could happen.

Karma gods please forgive me. Having poked fun at atikovi in earlier replies, I confess that while changing rear tractor tire widths decades ago, I remounted the tires (chevron treads) backwards. Grrrrrr.

I did this with sand tires once - the quad slid around in the corners great, but as you can imagine grip wasn't stellar.
I wont tell anyone you did it - if you keep my secret (with 100 of our closest bitog friends).

 

[RhondaHonda]

Flip the chain around. The other thing you will need to do is properly tension the chain. Rule of thumb I use is to pull the chain down in the middle of the bar and make sure the link is still engaged. As the chain warms up it will tighten up, so checking after some cutting is probably best. A chain that is too loose can come off, a chain that is too tight is hard on the drive.

Just my $0.02

I have the opposite experience. My chains get looser as I use the saw.

 

[spasm3]

I don't know about his pole saw. But most bars have 1/2 to 3/4 inch travel up and down when the bar bolts are loosened. You want the bar held up as you tension the chain, and up as you tighten the bar bolts.

 

[AZjeff]

RE sharpening: every so often a light swipe on the rakers with a flat file will increase the bite. Haven’t sharpened a chainsaw in years probably forgot how.