Oregon Scientific Harvester Handbook
Oregon® Mechanical Timber
Harvesting Handbook
Our handbook provides information we consider critical to the
performance (defined as production, reliability, and life of operation)
and safe use of Oregon Harvester Cutting Systems.
A Harvester saw chain based cutting system is composed of a drive
sprocket, guide bar, and a loop of saw chain, that is not hand-held,
and designed to work with mechanical harvester machines.
In offering this information, we do not assume any responsibility
for the design or manufacturer of equipment, nor the content of the
literature supplied.
Introduction
Safety Symbol
This safety symbol is used to highlight safety messages.
When you see this symbol, read and follow the safety message
to avoid severe personal injury.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Key Safety Information .................................. 1 – 4
• Chain Shot Warning ...........................................1
• How Chain Shot Happens ......................................2
• Minimizing the Risk of a Chain Shot Event .......................3
• Operator, Ground Personnel, and Bystander Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Guard and Shields ............................................3
• Windows .....................................................4
• A Cutting System .............................................4
Chain Catcher ................................................5
Chain Shot Guard ............................................5
Operational Recommendations
Operational Parameters, Service Life, and Safety .............7
Technical Data ..........................................7 – 8
Lubrication ............................................. 8 – 9
Chain Tension .........................................9 – 10
Saw Chain Speed ......................................... 12
Installation and Break-In .................................. 13
Best Practices ............................................ 14
• Daily Inspections ............................................14
• Replacement Schedule ......................................14
• Use Sharp Chain ............................................14
• Cutting Safety ...............................................15
Saw Chain
Terminology ..........................................19 – 21
• Saw Chain Pitch .............................................19
• Saw Chain Gauge ............................................19
• Parts of a Cutter .............................................20
• Parts of Saw Chain ...........................................20
• How a Cutter Works .........................................20
Oregon® Harvester Saw Chain
• 18HX .................................................. 21 – 22
• 19HX .................................................. 23 - 24
• 11H ................................................... 25 – 26
• 11BC .................................................. 27 – 28
Saw Chain Maintenance
Saw Chain Maintenance ...............................29 – 30
• Clean .......................................................29
• Inspect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
• Discard .....................................................29
• Repair ......................................................35
• Clean and Lubricate ..........................................30
Sharpening and Maintenance ..........................31 – 38
• Filing and Grinding Angles ....................................31
• Optional Sharpening Angles ..................................32
Sharpening and Maintenance Tools ....................33 – 34
• Multi-Purpose Tool Functions .................................34
• Sharpening Saw Chain with a Round File .......................35
• Sharpening Saw Chain with a Grinder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
• Setting the Vise Assembly ....................................36
Grinding Wheels .......................................... 37
• Vitrified Grinding Wheels .....................................37
How to Set Depth Gauges ................................. 38
Saw Chain Repair
How to Break Out Rivets .................................. 39
Joining Saw Chain ....................................40 – 42
Saw Chain Troubleshooting ...........................43 – 50
• Cuts Slow, Cuts Rough, or Won’t Hold an Edge ............ 43 – 45
• Cutters or Tie-Straps Wear Heavily or Break ...................46
• Drive Links Wear Heavily or Break ....................... 47 – 48
• Sharpening Drive Link Tangs .................................49
• Saw Chain Has Tight Joints ...................................49
• Saw Chain Cuts Crookedly/Leans to One Side/Cuts Unevenly ....50
Guide Bars
Understanding Bar Part Numbers ......................... 53
Guide Bar Types ......................................54 – 55
Bar Noses ................................................ 56
Guide Bar Mount Types
and Drive Sprocket Tooth Counts ......................56 – 70
• .404"-Pitch Guide Bar Mounts .............................57– 61
• .404"-Pitch Jet-Fit
® Guide Bar Mounts .................... 62 – 63
• 3/4"-Pitch Guide Bar Mounts ............................ 64 – 78
• 3/4"-Pitch Symmetrical Two-Ended Guide Bar Mounts ..........73
• 3/4"-Pitch Asymmetrical Double-Ended Mounts ............74 - 75
Guide Bar Maintenance
Basic Guide Bar Maintenance Tasks ...................77 – 78
Replacing Nose Sprockets on
HS Harvester Guide Bars ..............................79 – 80
Replacing Nose Sprockets with Replacement Nose Kits on
RH, SM, and SN Harvester Guide Bars ..................81-82
Guide Bar Troubleshooting
Guide Bar Rail Conditions .............................83 – 86
Guide Bar Nose Conditions ............................87 – 88
Guide Bar Mount Conditions ............................... 89
Jet-Fit® Guide Bar Mount Conditions ...................... 90
Drive Sprockets
Drive Sprocket Types ................................... 91-93
HarvesterLok® Information ............................... 93
Common Drive Shaft Configurations – .404" ................ 94
Drive Sprocket Alignment ..............................95-96
Troubleshooting Drive Sprockets .......................... 97
Hydraulic Pump Information .............................. 98
Notes ................................................. 99-101
1 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Key Safety Information
SHOT CONE ZONE SHOT CONE ZONE
WARNING: There is risk of serious injury or death to the
machine operator, ground personnel and bystanders from
chain shot. A Chain Shot Event (CSE) occurs when a piece or
pieces of cutting chain from the end of a broken saw chain in
mechanized timber harvesting or processing is ejected at a
high velocity. Chain shot typically originates near the drive end
of the cutting system but can also originate from the guide bar
tip area. Saw chain pieces usually travel in the cutting plane of
the guide bar, but can deviate to either side (see illustration
below). Although the "Shot Cone Zone" reflects the most likely
chain shot path, deflections can occur, substantially expanding
where chain pieces may travel. To minimize risk, operators
should keep out of the Shot Cone Zone, ground personnel and
bystanders should be at least 230 feet away from cutting
operations and out of the Shot Cone Zone.
Chain Shot
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
2
Key Safety Information
How Chain Shot Happens
1. The saw chain breaks
2. After a saw chain break, the “free” end of the saw chain begins
to whip away from the break.
3. If the saw chain is not contained by the saw box or a chain
shot guard, the broken saw chain’s free end can speed up
rapidly, carrying immense dynamic energy.
4. At the peak of the whip, saw chain pieces may break loose
and be ejected at high speed.
3 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Important Safety Information
Minimizing the Risk of a Chain Shot Event
To minimize your risk of a chain shot event:
• You should follow the recommendations of your equipment
manufacturer and those contained in this handbook.
• Your machine should be equipped with appropriate window
enclosures, chain catchers, chain shot guards, and snow
holes (shielded or closed) near the cutting system on the
saw box.
Never use saw chain that has:
• Broken, cracked, or damaged components.
• Excessive saw chain stretch.
• Loose rivet joints (if the rivet rotates, the joints are too loose).
Operator, Ground Personnel, and Bystander Safety
• Never engage in a cut with yourself, ground personnel,
or bystanders in the Shot Cone Zone (see pages 1 for
complete illustration).
• Always cut as close to the ground as possible to reduce the
distance that any potential ejected pieces could travel.
Guards and Shields
• Equipment should be equipped with appropriate guards,
shields, and window enclosures to minimize the exposure of
the operator, ground personnel, and bystanders to the cutting
plane and Shot Cone Zone of the cutting system.
• Ground personnel and bystanders should comply with
the setback requirement defined by your equipment
manufacturer (at least 230 feet or 70 meters).
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
4
Important Safety Information
Windows
• The glazing of the operator's enclosure window should
comply with local codes for impact resistance. The glazing
should be replaced if any scratches (or other damage)
obstructs the operator's effective viewing of the cutting
operation.
• It should be noted that the UV portion of the light spectrum
degrades the properties of polycarbonates (i.e. through
time your protection decreases). Consult your equipment
manufacturer or replacement glazing supplier for
recommended replacement interval.
• Before upgrading, always check with your equipment
manufacturer as it may change the operational integrity of
the operator enclosure.
Cutting System
A saw chain based cutting system is composed of a drive sprocket,
guide bar, and a loop of saw chain.
• The illustration below is a representation of the drive end of
a cutting system and how the chain catcher and chain shot
guard interrelate.
• Every equipment operator should be aware of the safety
equipment that should always be present in the saw box.
Consult your equipment manufacturer if any of these devices
appear damaged or are missing.
Drive
sprocket
Direction of chain travel
Bar groove
Guide bar
Chain
catcher
Chain
shot
guard
5 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Chain Catcher
A chain catcher prevents a saw chain that has escaped from the
bar groove from being “thrown” from the saw box. Chain catchers
resemble a sturdy spool and are placed in line with the drive
sprocket. A small gap on one side of the chain catcher allows
installation and removal of the saw chain.
Chain Shot Guard
A chain shot guard is a piece of material mounted behind the drive
sprocket; it performs two functions:
1. It absorbs the energy of a broken saw chain coming into
contact with the saw box, reducing the risk of ejected parts
during a chain shot event.
2. It acts as an extension of the saw box, reducing the risk of a
thrown loop of saw chain (or saw chain parts) escaping the
saw box.
Important Safety Information
Chain
catcher
Chain shot guard
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
6
Operational
Recommendations
7 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Cutting Systems Operational Parameters, Service Life,
and Safety.
Recommendations for saw chain speed and guide bar feed load
(listed in our Technical Data tables) are intended to provide a
balance between performance and cutting system life.
WARNING: Exceeding recommendations may result in
cutting system wear and shorter service life. Exceeding
recommendations may increase the potential for chain shot
events and potential injury or death. At no time should you
exceed recommended maximum chain speed.
Technical Data (English Units)
Oregon Saw Chain Part
Number
.404" Pitch 3/4" Pitch
18HX 19HX 11BC 11H
Operating Parameters
Guide bar/saw chain oil
oz./cut 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.4
Power, hp min/max 5/65 20/65 5/90 10/100
Force on guide bar to tension
saw chain, lbs.
110 110 150 150
Guide Bar Feed Load, at Center, lbs.
Min/max 30/200 30/200 30/300 30/300
Recommended 150 150 200 200
Saw Chain Speed, Ft./Min
Min/max 3000/8000 3000/8000 1500/7000 1500/7000
Recommended 8000 8000 6000 6000
Operational Recommendations
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
8
Lubrication
Your cutting systems operates in challenging environments and
depend on sufficient lubrication to minimize wear and extend the
life of operation.
Both bar and chain oils and grease can provide adequate
lubrication to the cutting system when used correctly.
When using grease, ideal settings can vary based on temperature
and other work-site conditions. Always begin by consulting your
manufacturer’s recommendations.
Regular inspection of your cutting system will let you know if any
adjustments are needed.
• Both hydraulic fluid and used motor oil are not approved
lubricants and their use can the warranty of your cutting
system.
• Hydraulic fluid does not provide sufficient properties for
preventing wear of your cutting system.
• Used oils may contain acidic compounds and abrasive
particles that can compromise the cutting system's
effectiveness and increase wear.
Operational Recommendations
Technical Data (Metric Units)
Oregon Saw Chain Part Number
.404" Pitch 3/4" Pitch
18HX 19HX 11BC 11H
Operating Parameters
Guide bar/Saw chain oil
mL/cut 3 3 10 10
Power, at saw motor kW min/max 5/50 15/50 5/65 5/75
Force on guide bar to tension
saw chain, N
490 490 668 668
Guide Bar Feed Load, at Center, N
Min/max 100/900 100/900 100/1300 100/1300
Recommended 700 700 900 900
Saw Chain Speed, m/sec
Min/max 15/40 15/40 10/35 10/35
Recommended 40 40 30 30
9 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
At startup:
• Adequate time must be allowed for your lubrication to reach
your cutting system.
In cold weather, or when using a new guide bar or saw chain, your
system will require additional time. Follow these guidelines:
• Run the saw chain slowly while cycling the guide bar until
lubricant can be observed leaving the tip of the guide bar.
• With oil-based lubrication systems, ensure a fine screen is
installed in the fill port to minimize debris.
• Use a light/winter-weight lubricant. If possible, increase your
per-cut flow rate.
• Some oiling systems can actually deliver
less oil when the control is simply
“turned up,” beyond a certain point.
This is especially the case with fixed
displacement, frequency/pulse type
systems.
• If the pulses are set to occur too frequently, it is possible that
the oil doesn’t have a chance to flow into the pump cylinder
before it is cycled.
• If your equipment has this type of system, always visually
verify correct lubrication on the cutting system after making
changes.
• Periodically cycle the cutting system without cutting (air cuts)
in order to increase the amount of lubricant present and to
ensure the system is working.
Chain Tension
Exceeding recommendations will shorten your cutting system’s
life of operation.
The recommended amount of force applied by the guide bar to
tension saw chain:
• .404"-pitch saw chain is 110 pounds (490 N).
• 3/4"-pitch saw chain is 150 pounds (668 N).
0° C -32° F
Operational Recommendations
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
10
Operational Recommendations
Manual Tensioning Systems
• Saw chain should be tight enough to pull the chassis of the
saw chain firmly against the perimeter of the guide bar.
• Tension needs to be checked regularly.
• Only tension saw chain when it is cool. Steel expands
when hot and contracts as it cools. As a result, it could
cause damage to your guide bar or saw motor if tensioned
when hot.
• At shut down or breaks, relieve saw chain tension to prevent
damage to the cutting system (saw motor, bar tip, saw chain
chassis) as the saw chain cools and contracts.
• In cold weather, maintain proper tension. Check tension often
with manual tensioning systems.
Checking Tension
To check for proper tension, grasp the saw chain at the mid-span
of the guide bar and pull the saw chain away from the bar rails.
• For hard nose guide bars, the drive link tangs should nearly
come out of the bar groove.
• For sprocket nose guide bars, the saw chain chassis
should come out of the bar groove/away from the bar
rails approximately 1/8 inch ( approximately 3 mm). When
released, the chassis should snap back against the bar rails.
1/8"
11 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Automatic Tensioning Systems
An automatic tensioning system is the most effective means
to keep proper saw chain tension, especially if it is designed to
compensate for the saw chain’s high speed around a guide bar
(the saw chain will lengthen as its speed increases).
The system can be optimized to respond to the changing loop
length as your saw chain goes from rest, to full speed, to rest.
As your saw chain speeds up, your guide bar will need to move
forward to maintain proper tension. Otherwise, tension will
decrease as much as 50 percent and can result in a thrown loop
of saw chain. As your saw chain slows to a rest, the chain will
decrease in length, and the guide bar will need to move back.
Otherwise, the excessive tension will potentially damage your
cutting system.
Refer to our Technical Data Tables (page 7) for the
recommended amount of force applied to the guide bar to
properly tension your saw chain.
Operational Recommendations
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
12
Saw Chain Allowable Spindle RPM
Drive
Sprocket Teeth
RPM
(.404" Pitch)
RPM
(3/4" Pitch)
Maximum Recommended Maximum
7 - 6500 7600
8 - 5700 6700
9 13100 5100 5900
10 11800 4500 5300
11 10700 4100 4800
12 9800 3800 4400
13 9000 3500 4100
14 8400 3200 3800
15 7800 3000 3500
16 7300 - -
17 6900 - -
18 6500 - -
19 6200 - -
20 5900 - -
21 5600 - -
22 5300 - -
• Recommended and Maximum .404" saw chain speed:
8000 ft/min (40.64 m/s)
• Recommended 3/4" saw chain speed:
6000 ft/min (30.48 m/s)
• Maximum 3/4" saw chain speed:
7000 ft/min (35.56 m/s)
Operational Recommendations
13 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Installation and Break-In
The critical time for saw chain occurs during the break-in period
for a new (or newly sharpened) saw chain.
We recommend transporting your new (or newly sharpened) saw
chain to the job site in a container with lubricant. Leave them in
the container until they are needed.
• If you do not transport your saw chain as suggested above,
then lubricate your saw chain prior to use.
After installation, increase the saw speed gradually for the first
2 to 4 minutes of running while cycling the guide bar. Do this until
you observe lubricant leaving the tip of the guide bar.
For manual tensioning systems, check and adjust as necessary.
1/8"
Operational Recommendations
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
14
Operational Recommendations
Best Practices
Daily Inspections
Check your safety devices at least once per shift :
• Chain shot guard
• Chain catcher
• Shields on snow holes
• Windows
• Cutting system
Run chain and guide bar in sets to equalize wear across the
cutting system.
Replacement Schedule
.404" Pitch
• 1-2-10 (1 drive sprocket, 2 guide bars, 10 loops of saw chain).
3/4" Pitch
• 1-2-6 (1 drive sprocket, 2 guide bars, 6 loops of saw chain).
Use Sharp Chain
Replace saw chain at least once or more per shift. Maintaining
sharp chain on the cutting system will pay off in many ways:
• Sharp chain cuts faster.
• Less energy (pressure and time) overall is used to complete
a cut, so wear on the entire cutting system is reduced.
A slightly dull chain can be lightly sharpened instead of needing to
be ground back significantly. It is best to lightly sharpen a slightly
dull chain often to provide more and faster cuts.
Replace the saw chain at least once per shift. This can vary
significantly with the type of timber being cut, the terrain, and
other environmental factors.
If the cuts are getting slower, it’s worth the time to get out of the
cab and exchange the chain for a sharp one.
15 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Cutting Safety
• Ensure you and all other personnel are clear of the Chain Shot
Zone (see pages 1).
• Always cut as close to the ground as possible. This should
reduce lubricant mist and wood chip dust on the cab and
radiators, reduce timber cracking during cut-to-length
processing, and reduce the range of any broken cutting
system components.
WARNING: There is risk of serious injury or death to the
machine operator, ground personnel and bystanders from
chain shot. Do not exceed our recommendations for saw chain
speed, feed-force, lubrication, tension, and maintenance.
Notice: Following these best practices consistently will
increase your safety and the life of your cutting system.
Operational Recommendations
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
16
17 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Saw Chain
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
18
Saw Chain
19 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
Terminology
Saw Chain Pitch
Saw chain pitch is the distance between any three consecutive
rivets, divided by two. Oregon Harvester saw chain is available in
both .404" and 3/4" pitch.
Saw Chain Gauge
Saw Chain Gauge is the term used to describe the thickness of the
drive link tang, which fits into the groove of the guide bar.
Oregon Harvester saw chain gauges are:
• 0.080" (2.0 mm)
Oregon has an 18X or 19X stamped on the drive link tang.
• 0.122" (3.1 mm)
Oregon has an 11 stamped on the drive link tang.
Ensure you use the correct recommendations for your saw chain
(refer to the tables that follow).
A
B
N
o
25 = .025"
30 = .030"
50 = .050"
60 = .060"
D
C
N
o
A. Top plate angle C. Top plate cutting angle
B. File guide angle D. Depth Gauge Setting
OREGON
18X 18X 18X
OREGON
÷ 2
Tang
Saw Chain
Saw Chain
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
20
Saw Chain
Parts of a Cutter
Parts of a Saw Chain
How a Cutter Works
Understanding how cutters work can help you realize why proper
saw chain maintenance is so important.
1. The depth gauge rides on
the wood and controls the
bite of the working corner.
2. The working corner and
side plate sever the wood
fibers across the grain.
3. The top-plate cutting angle
chisels out the severed
wood fibers, lifting them up
and out of the kerf.
Working (cutting)
corner
Top plate
Rivet hole
Heel
Toe
Depth gauge
Gullet
Side plate
Rivet
Drive link
Left-hand
cutter
Depth
gauge
Right-hand
cutter
Tie-strap
Saw Chain
21 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
18HX – Harvester Saw Chain, Micro Chisel® – .404"
Features and Benefits
• Micro Chisel cutters have small-radius working corners for
excellent performance and ease of maintenance.
• Patented saw chain steel that provides greater durability,
especially in cold cutting conditions.
• Blued cutters provide superior corrosion resistance and
improved strength.
• Wider, tougher coined drive links are thicker above the groove
for increased strength.
• Larger rivets for reduced saw chain stretch.
• Wider kerf for reduced guide bar binding.
• LubriTec
™
tie-straps help keep oil where it’s needed – on the
saw chain.
No. Gauge Pitch Standard Sequence
18HX .080"
2.0 mm
.404"
Oregon® Harvester Saw Chain
Saw Chain
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
22
Micro Chisel®
Cutter
End View Harvester ONLY
File File
File
Guide
Depth
Gauge
5-3/4"
Grind
Wheel
4-1/8"
Grind
Wheel
70502 12211 31686 38850 OR534-316 OR4125-316
596397 Harvester multi-purpose tool
|X|
A B
C
D
7/32" 35° 10° 80°
.050"
1.27 mm
3/16" 35° 10° 60°
.050"
1.27 mm
Oregon® Harvester Saw Chain
Saw Chain
23 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
19HX – Harvester Saw Chain, Chamfer Chisel™ – .404"
The 19HX chain is optimized for modern high-flow, high-power
heads and saw motors for faster cutting speed. It features tall
chamfer chisel cutters that combine best-in-class durability with
improved chip clearance, to deliver faster and more consistent
cuts in all types of wood.
Features and Benefits
• A new, taller and more aggressive chamfer chisel cutter is
designed to deliver faster cutting speed compared to 18HX.
• Oregon's largest and thickest .404" components are designed
to provide improved strength and superior durability
compared to 18HX.
• Patented saw chain steel that provides greater durability,
especially in cold cutting conditions.
• Blued cutters provide superior corrosion resistance and
improved strength.
• Recommended for use with rim-type sprockets only.
No. Gauge Pitch Standard Sequence
19HX .080"
2.0 mm
.404"
Oregon® Harvester Saw Chain
Note: Operating Parameters for this chain requires a minimum of
20 horsepower.
Saw Chain
Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
24
Chamfer Chisel™
Cutter End View Harvester ONLY
File File
File
Guide
Depth
Gauge
5-3/4"
Grind
Wheel
4-1/8"
Grind
Wheel
70502 12211 31686 38850 OR534-316 OR4125-316
596397 Harvester multi-purpose tool
|X| A B C D
7/32" 35° 10° 80°
.050"
1.27 mm
3/16" 35° 10° 60°
.050"
1.27 mm
Note: The use of any other than Oregon 19HX part numbers for
repair or joining loops is not approved and voids the product
warranty. The effectiveness and durability of a chain loop
assembled with anything other than these genuine and approved
replacement parts cannot be guaranteed and is the responsibility
of the those servicing the chain.
Oregon® Harvester Saw Chain
Saw Chain
25 Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook
11H – Harvester Saw Chain, Semi-Chisel – 3/4"
The 11H semi-chisel cutter features more aggressive design for
maximum performance on more powerful machines.
Features and Benefits
• Semi-chisel cutters make 11H an aggressive,
high-performance saw chain.
• Tested, proven chassis delivers superior strength and
outstanding durability.
• Patented saw chain steel that provides greater durability,
especially in cold cutting conditions.
• Advanced chrome plating process for excellent stay-sharp
and edge-holding durability.
• 11H cutters are designed for longer stay-sharp, and feature
an offset footprint to help minimize guide bar “knife-edging.”
No. Gauge Pitch Standard Sequence
11H .122"
3.1 mm
3/4"
Oregon® Harvester Saw Chain
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