Shindaiwa 502s, 69033-94310 Saw Chain Performance, How the Saw Chain Works, Sharpening Technique

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.

2.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.

IMPORTANT!

Most of the actual cutting is done by the

sides and corners of the individual cutters!

	CHN-09
1	2	3	4

Sharpening Technique

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.

1.Using the appropriate round file, sharpen all cutters to a 25° angle as shown.

2.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 .025” (0.64 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.

Using a filing gauge

25°

Using a depth gauge joiner

CHN-18

Using a flat file to round the front corner on a depth gauge

CHN-19

Correct Filing Technique

Correct angle

on top plate

Slightly protruding hook or point

(curve on non-chisel chain)

Top of depth gauge at correct

height below top plate

	Front of depth
CHN-08	gauge rounded

A

Keep all cutter lengths equal!

	0.025” (0.64 mm)	0.025"
A=B	B
		CHN-01

Filing Problems

Top plate		Cause	Top plate angle	Cause	Hook in side	Cause
angle less than		File held at less than recom-	more than	File held at more than recom-	plate cutting	File held too low or the file
recommended		mended angle.	recommended	mended angle.	edge	was too small.
		Result		Result		Result
		Slow cutting. Requires extra
				Cutting angle is very sharp but		Rough cutting. Chain grabs.
		effort to cut.	50°	will dull fast. Cutting action		Cutters dull quickly or won’t
	20°	Remedy
				rough and erratic.		hold a cutting edge.
		File cutters to recommended		Remedy		Remedy
		angle.
				File cutters to recommended		Check file size. File cutters to
				angle.		recommended angle.
Backslope on		Cause	High depth	Cause	Low depth	Cause
side plate cut-		File held too high or the file	gauge	Depth gauge never filed.	gauge	Wrong gauge setting or no
ting edge		was too large.		Result		gauge used.
		Result		Slow cutting. Must force chain		Result
		Cutters won’t feed into wood.		to cut. Will cause excessive		Rough cutting. Chain grabs.
		Slow cutting. Must force chain		wear on the cutter heel.		Saw won’t pull chain through
		to cut. Causes excessive bot-		Remedy		wood. Excessive wear on the
		tom wear.			CHN-05	cutter heel.
				Lower gauges to recommend-
		Remedy				Remedy
	CHN-03			ed setting.
		File cutters at recommended				If depth gauges are too
		angle. Check file size.				low, the chain is no longer
						serviceable.

17