Chainsaw doesn't cut on level

Echo CS-400 with Oregon semi-chisel 91VXL chain. Spits out big chips, but doesn't want to cut when perfectly level - tilting it up or down works fine. I've sharpened it, both on the bar and off (with the HF disk / grinder chainsaw sharpener.), flipped the bar, etc...

I have to think it's the rakers? They were a tiny bit long, (Hand filed with Oregon guide at 0.025") Small improvement, but still doesn't want to cut when completely 'flat'...

Top of chain cuts great, as does the tip...

Any other ideas?

Thank you for the replies, I'll take a closer look at the bar..

Good call on the bar having a lip. It took some significant grinding / filing to remove it. I never knew to even watch for that condition on the bar...

I did notice that there were sparks coming from under the bar when cutting, guess that should have been a clue!

Question: How does the lip interfere with the chain and or cutting?

Pretty sure it was the lip on the bar. The chain cut great, just not when the bar was flat - large chunks of sawdust... Lots of life left in this chain. I'll verify in daylight tomorrow. (I do have spare chains and a spare / new bar in the box for those 'emergencies' when you get the bar pinched deep in the woods...) That's why I was baffled - Chain looked and felt very sharp. Thanks to the experts here, I learned something!

...and even when it's worn down to tiny teeth, it still works for clearing brush and crap that you don't want to wreck a good chain on.... ;-)

clemsonfor said:

For the guy just buying chain, you realize you can sharpen a chain till the teeth are gone right? If your hand filing has it so outta each it like its dull a shop can get it like new for $5-7 usually. Yea its an old chain. But most of us here can run a same chain for years.

Click to expand...

Thanks to MasterMech and clemsonfor their insight, I tried the saw tonight and it cuts like a champ after removing the 'lip' on both sides, top and bottom, of the bar!

Thanks for the help!