Saw Chain Performance - Shindaiwa 285s Owner's/Operator's Manual

Saw Chain Performance

Your saw's performance on the job
depends heavily on the condition of its
saw chain.
How the Saw Chain Works
As the saw chain is pulled through the
wood:
1. The depth gauge setting determines
the depth of cut for each cutter.
. The cutter's leading edge enters the
wood, causing the entire cutter to
"rock back" and lift away from the
bar.
3. The top plate peels the severed
wood chip away.
4. The chip is discharged out the rear
of the cutter.
Correct angle
on top plate
Top plate angle Cause
less than recom- File held at less than recom-
mended mended angle.
Result
Slow cutting. Requires extra
effort to cut.
Remedy
20
0
File cutters to recommended
angle.
Hook in side Cause
File held too low or the file
plate cutting
edge was too small.
Result
Rough cutting. Chain grabs.
Cutters dull quickly or won't
hold a cutting edge.
Remedy
Check file size. File cutters to
recommended angle.
18
IMPORTANT!
Most of the actual cutting is done by
the sides and corners of the individual
cutters!
Sharpening Technique
1. Using the appropriate round file,
sharpen all cutters to a 30
shown.
IMPORTANT!
File all cutters to the same angle and
depth! Unequal filing may cause the
saw to vibrate or cut erratically!
NOTE:
For consistent filing angles, use a filing guide.
. After all cutters are sharpened, use
a depth gauge joiner to measure the
height of each depth gauge.
3. As required, use a flat file to lower
depth gauges to the appropriate
0.05" (0.635 mm) height.
4. After all depth gauges have been
adjusted, use a flat file to round each
depth gauge leading edge to original
curvature and angle.
Correct Filing Technique
Slightly protruding
hook
or point (curve on
non-chisel chain)
Top of depth guage
at correct height
below top plate
Front of
depth gauge
rounded
Filing Problems
Cause
Top plate angle
File held at more than recom-
more than rec-
ommended mended angle.
Result
Cutting angle is very sharp
but will dull fast. Cutting ac-
50
0
tion rough and erratic.
Remedy
File cutters to recommended
angle.
Backslope on Cause
File held too high or the file
side plate cut-
ting edge was too large.
Result
Cutters won't feed into wood.
Slow cutting. Must force
chain to cut. Causes exces-
sive bottom wear.
Remedy
File cutters at recommended
angle. Check file size.
angle as
0
Using a Depth gauge joiner
Using a Flat File to Round the Front
Corner on a Depth Gauge
0.025"
Keep all cutter lengths equal
High depth
gauge
Low depth
gauge
Use a Filing Gauge
Cause
Depth gauge never filed.
Result
Slow cutting. Must force
chain to cut. Will cause
excessive wear on the cutter
heel.
Remedy
Lower gauges to recom-
mended setting.
Cause
Wrong gauge setting or no
gauge used.
Result
Rough cutting. Chain grabs.
Saw won't pull chain through
wood. Excessive wear on the
cutter heel.
Remedy
If depth gauges are too
low, the chain is no longer
serviceable.