The chainsaw bars come in different sizes. Powerful chainsaws come with 20-inch bars and the less powerful ones come with 18 inches or lesser. The simplest way to know the bar size is by checking the user manual of the chainsaw. Every model comes with a user manual that specifies the length of the bar in inches.
Do not worry if you have lost your user manual. There is still another way. You can measure the size of the bar yourself.
Follow our step by step guide to measure your chainsaw bar within a few minutes.
Steps to Measure your Chainsaw Bar
- The usable length of the chainsaw bar is referred to as called length. First, you need to measure the called length.
- Using tape, measure the chainsaw from its front tip to the clutter closet.
- You have to always round the measurement to the nearest-highest even number in inches. This is because the chain bars are denoted only in inches of even numbers.
- For instance, if the length of the bar is 15 inches, you have to consider it as 16 inches. In the case of 16 ¾ inches, consider it as 18 inches.
Finding your Chainsaw Chain Size
Even without the user manual, there are two ways to determine the size of the chain. The chainsaw parts will have measurements stamped on them. You can either look for these numbers or measure the chain yourself.
Method 1: Locating the chain measurements
Hands down, this is the simplest method to determine the size of your chainsaw chain. You need to find three parameters to figure out the chain size. They are pitch, gauge, and drive links. You can find them near the back of the chainsaw bar at the place of mounting.
Method 2: Measuring your Chainsaw Chain Size
In this method, you manually measure the size of the chain. For that, you need to measure two parameters. They are pitch and gauge.
How to Measure the Pitch
Pitch is the distance between one drive link and another. To measure the pitch, calculate the distance between 3 consecutive rivets. Now, divide the value by 2. This will give you the pitch measurement. Most chains have a pitch dimension of ⅜ inches and .325 inches.
How to Measure the Chain Gauge
The width of the groove is referred to as the gauge. This is the area where the chain connects to the bar. Follow the steps below to measure the chain gauge.
- Clean the bar’s groove using a screwdriver or any cleaning tool.
- Try sliding a quarter, penny, and dime into the groove.
- Identify which one fits into the groove perfectly without applying any extra force.
- If the quarter fits into the groove, the chain has a .063 gauge. If the penny or the dime fits into the groove, the chain has .058 and .050 gauges, respectively.
The pitch and gauge measurement will give you the size of your chainsaw chain.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Using tape, measure the chainsaw from its front tip to the clutter closet. This is the usable length of the chainsaw and is referred to as the called length. Now, round the number to the nearest even number. It will give you the length of the chainsaw chain in inches.
The number of chainsaw bars denote the pitch, gauge, and drive link count. You can find these numbers near the back of the chainsaw bar at the place of mounting. These numbers will give you the measurement of your chainsaw chain.
Chainsaw bars come in sizes ranging from 12 inches to 40 inches. You can use an 18-inch bar on a 14-inch chainsaw. However, it is not advisable. You will not get the best cutting performance when the bar is larger than the chainsaw.
No, you should not run a chainsaw without the bar. If you run the chainsaw without the bar, the clutch and drive sprocket will disengage from the chainsaw. It will make the machine inoperative and can lead to fatal injuries.
Chain pitch is the distance between two drive links. To calculate the chain pitch, measure the distance between 3 consecutive rivets and divide the value by 2. Most chains have a pitch dimension of ⅜ inches and .325 inches.
Conclusion
As you can see, measuring the chainsaw bar and chain is easy even without the user manual. To calculate the chainsaw bar size, you have to measure the called length and round it to the nearest even number.
In the case of measuring chainsaw chains, you can either use the markings on the bar or measure the size yourself. You have to calculate the pitch and the gauge to measure the chain size.
If you have any queries or doubts, let us know using the comments section below. We will help you out. You can also use the comments box to post your thoughts and opinions about the article.
