Chainsaw Repair

Chain - Grinders - Filing - Wood Milling - Tools - Welding - Machinist - Mowers - Tillers => Chain - Bars - Grinders - Filing => Topic started by: TommyC on March 30, 2013, 07:45:41 pm

Title: Ponderable about chains & teeth
Post by: TommyC on March 30, 2013, 07:45:41 pm
OK, this isn't unique to Poulans but I did come across something today as I was sharpening my chains (for my 2300CVA) that made me scratch my head.  My saw has a 16" bar.

• One chain I have has 28 teeth, one every other link

• Another chain I have has 18 teeth, one every 3rd link, except (brace yourself): one tooth was skipped.  It's missing!  Was never there.

Why would any chain for a 16" bar be any different that the 1st chain I described (18 teeth; one on every other link)?

I don't remember how/where I got the 2nd chain but you can be sure I'll never get one like that again.  What moron would manufacture a chain w/ only 18 teeth - one on every 3rd link?  And why would a tooth have been skipped?
Title: Re: Ponderable about chains & teeth
Post by: Cut4fun on March 30, 2013, 08:13:16 pm
They come on smaller saws. Got a few of those 3/8LP skip chains too. 
Title: Re: Ponderable about chains & teeth
Post by: 660magnum on March 30, 2013, 09:56:14 pm
OK, this isn't unique to Poulans but I did come across something today as I was sharpening my chains (for my 2300CVA) that made me scratch my head.  My saw has a 16" bar.

• One chain I have has 28 teeth, one every other link

• Another chain I have has 18 teeth, one every 3rd link, except (brace yourself): one tooth was skipped.  It's missing!  Was never there.

Why would any chain for a 16" bar be any different that the 1st chain I described (18 teeth; one on every other link)?

I don't remember how/where I got the 2nd chain but you can be sure I'll never get one like that again.  What moron would manufacture a chain w/ only 18 teeth - one on every 3rd link?  And why would a tooth have been skipped?

I felt the same as you but I was over a guy's house and he had a whole bank barn full of split firewood and it was all cut with one Poulan Wild Thing using those Chinese skip tooth chains. I made a cut or two with his Wild Thing and it wasn't bad at all.

But like you said, I would never out right buy one of those chains. But If you get stuck with one in a horse trade, go ahead and use it up.
 
Title: Re: Ponderable about chains & teeth
Post by: TommyC on March 31, 2013, 08:18:32 am
Very interesting.  Sounds like I may have unwittingly bought a Chinese knock-off.  Shame on me!
Buyer beware, right?
Title: Re: Ponderable about chains & teeth
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 31, 2013, 09:48:59 am
Very interesting.  Sounds like I may have unwittingly bought a Chinese knock-off.  Shame on me!
Buyer beware, right?

Not necessarily.   I think I have a oregon that came in on a trade  thats 3/8LP full skip type chain.
The orgeon ones couldnt be bought, they came on saws only that I know of.
Title: Re: Ponderable about chains & teeth
Post by: 660magnum on April 02, 2013, 02:58:19 pm
How the cutters end up on a loop of chain is sort of like matching edges on wall paper.

There is a certain number of links before the chain repeats itself. On a regular full compliment chain I think it comes out to be four drive links?

So on a full compliment chain with a cutter every other tooth, The total diver link count has to be divisible by four for there to be a even left-right cutter tooth match.

60 / 4 = 15 so that would come out a perfect left-right cutter arrangement with regular chain. 72 / 4 = 18 and this one would too.

With half skip and full skip chain the match is longer or greater.

For example, with semi skip chain, the DL match count is 5 so if your driver link count on your loop for your chainsaw bar is not evenly dividable by 5, You will be missing a cutter or have two left or right hand cutters next to each other or a sometimes dummy link depending on who put it together.

With full skip chain the even match number is 6
Title: Re: Ponderable about chains & teeth
Post by: Cut4fun . on April 02, 2013, 03:07:32 pm
I'm just saying it isnt necessarily chinese chain as you stated. I have some weird oregon chain here that cant be bought, only comes on small saws.