chain saw bars

has anyone ever split the guide bar in 2?
my dealer said it was common on husky factory bars
just seamed odd to me
the replacement bar is much heavier and stronger

Sure have. The bars that come with new saws are sometimes cheaper, lighter laminated bars, and they will spread apart if the rivets give way.

A sturdier construction is a solid-piece bar, in which the body is milled from a soild piece of steel. These usually have laminated replaceable tips, however, which will spread apart when they fail.

Nothing wrong with laminated bars--they cost less, but you have to replace them more often.