How to fix bent bar

[livemusic]

A felled tree mishap a few years ago bent a 20 inch Stihl Rollomatic E bar. I eyeballed it against a protractor and it looks to be 10 to 15 degrees. Can this be fixed, and, if so, how? Do saw shops exist any more that do this if I can't tackle it? I could buy a new one for $40, so, a repair would need to be cost effective if I couldn't make DIY work. Everything looks fine except the bend, lol, and this bar only had a couple hours on it, it was new! Bummer!

 

[beaglebriar]

Someone with a press could straighten it. If it were mine I'd rig it up in the log splitter with a couple pieces of 2x4 and attempt to press it flat. With some patience I bet it can be done.

 

[Cat 525]

There are bar shops but it's not cost effective unless it's 28" or longer.

 

[Al Smith]

You could definitely unbend it with a log splitter but I'd idle it down a tad bit .

 

[countryhog]

Did one in my bench vise once. Cince it down just below bend and judiciously pull on it. Easy does it. Mine cuts well

 

[460 magnum]

I like the log splitter idea.

 

[Al Smith]

Before I retired I had access to both a hydraulic press and a manual arbor press .I'd straighten mower blades and only a few chainsaw bars .So now I might delve into a splitter because I have none of the former mentioned .

 

[livemusic]

You could definitely unbend it with a log splitter but I'd idle it down a tad bit .

What does "idle it down a bit" mean? You mean throttle down the splitter motor?

I guess you guys mean put it between two 2x4's and press down? All in one fell swoop, lol, or what?

Does one need to get the bar pretty much straight or is there some wiggle room for a little wavy imperfection?

Thanks.

 

[huskyboy]

Did one in my bench vise once. Cince it down just below bend and judiciously pull on it. Easy does it. Mine cuts well

Exactly what I do, or I step on the bar with my weight with the tip propped up on some foot steps or something. Log splitter idea sounds pretty good too.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I have straightened several 20" bars with a woodworkers bench vise. It's a heckuva vise and bench as shown in my avatar. I usually bend it back the opposite direction with a piece of scrapwood on the far right and let it sit overnight. Slow fatigue usually brings it back unless it's really been whacked such as by running over it with a truck.

 

[Al Smith]

What does "idle it down a bit" mean? You mean throttle down the splitter motor?



Thanks.

Well in my case my home built splitter has a super duty Parker -Hannifen 5" cylinder .It will put out the same pressure at about idle as it does wide open throttle .It would just be easier to handle at a much slower speed I should think .Mine has an actual throttle and I very seldom operate it above about 2/3 wide open .While it's not" lightning " fast it's faster than me .Plus I don't have the pressure set at the full 3000 PSI ,no sense in it .

 

[Lightning Performance]

Cut a slot in stump. Get a big crest wrench. Go slow.

I straighten tailgates with pu trucks by backing up on them with low air pressure in the rear tire. Try that first on plywood. Get out a tight bend with some mild heat first. Then, sandwich it between plywood and run that bar over. Felling wedges will warp that ply as needed. Been there done this on the jobsite.

Almost every long bar is slightly bent. The suns heat bends them out of whack.

Straighten used bars in a big ol Wilton vice most times or run them over first.

 

[Al Smith]

I've done it with a big vise and a 36" aluminum pipe wrench .Can be done ,doesn't mean it's easy .

 

[Lightning Performance]

I've done it with a big vise and a 36" aluminum pipe wrench .Can be done ,doesn't mean it's easy .

You got off easy. All my pipe wrenches are cast steel

 

[pro94lt]

Vise, and if it’s bent close to the power head the receiver in a truck actually works lol. But a press is the best

 

[countryhog]

@livemusic
Looks like ur not the only one to bend a bar

 

[Al Smith]

I think the worst one I had was a little 12" .043 groove from a Stihl 200T ,freebie .They must have used it for a pry bar,twisted .I took it to work and used the largest Wilton vise made and the largest Crescent wrench I'd ever seen borrowed from a millwright .I got most of it out .