Chainsaw Repair

http://www.belsaw.com/
(800)468-4449

The Foley Belsaws were popular chainsaw chain sharpeners back years ago. The used ones go for pretty good money 250-300. Most of these are rather old and may possibly have had a lot of usage. The length of the arm on the 308 makes the pivot point sensitive to wear. There were two popular models for chain sharpening, the 307 and 308. The 308 seems more popular. The grinding wheels are still available and are 5 X 1/2 X 3/16 and 1/8. These grinders have a arbor spindle and a belt drive with the motor back near the pivot of the arm. The 308 has a chain fastened to the vice that goes down to a foot peddle for clamping the saw chain.

Foley Chain Mate $100 OBO

Was just hobby use in a home

http://swva.craigslist.org/tls/3415526621.html

You get beyond the 307/308 & Chain Mate Foley Bellsaws and they get mighty complicated with all kinds of attachments and more $$$$

I was looking at the Foley Belsaw 306 at cut4fun's house yesterday. The layout is a lot like the 308 in that there is a grinding wheel arbor and belt drive to the motor mounted back closer to the grinding head pivot point in order to make the grinding wheel end lighter and easier to move. The ratio of the pulleys is 1:1 and the belt appears to be 1/4". There is no belt tension adjustment but checking the integrity or slippage of the belt on the pulleys, I could not get it to slip. The motor is a Dayton brand fractional hp version but I didn't write down the specific model.

The design of the chain sharpener is sturdy but simple. I would expect the chain teeth to stop in the same position every time as well as the grinding wheel head to come to the same height for each tooth. There are adjusting bolts for the chain stop position and wheel height as well as the angles. However, I would recommend a handy angle finder if you are adjusting for different types of chain. As for simple, the arbor bearings are Oilite bronze bushings with a grease Zerk. The bushings are the flange type and should be readily available from the hardware store.

This 306 grinder is a significant improvement over the Foley Chain Mate model yet I would stihl rate it as not a professional, day in day out, production device. However, it would be a nice firewood guy's home sharpener.

I picked my 308 w/foot pedal for $168 well used but still pretty tight.  I needed grinding wheels for it.  Cheapest place is directly from Foley IIRC they were $6 and ship was very reasonable.  Was patient and picked up a new CBN 3/16" on Ebay for $60 BIN.  That was the only one I've seen on there.  But I always say when I miss a deal "There will be another one".
Shep