chainsaw chain repair ?

[jCarroll]

I need to remove a link to shorten my chain. I know how to get a link out, but how do I reconnect the ends? Is there a repair link like on roller chain?

 

[Randy Shoe]

You'll need a new repair link and side strap. Take out one driver and use a hammer to actually rivet it back together. Better yet just take it to a saw shop and have them do it in about 60 seconds with the right breaker and spinner tool.

 

[D beatty]

I would take to the dealer you deal with. The Stihl dealer I deal would only charge me for parts and he has the tools for doing that I don't.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I stopped having the chains shortened. I think by the time the chain stretches enough to remove the link there is excessive wear on the drive link and it does more damage to the bar than the chain is worth. I throw them away at that point. My bars are lasting a lot longer now.

 

[Bret4207]

Any saw shop can do the job in no time for maybe a dollar or 2 and do it with the right tools. If they charge more than that look for another shop.

The bigger question is why do you need to shorten it? If the chain was made a link too long, it happens, that's one thing. Or if you changed drive sprocket types it might happen. But if it's stretched then you're either running the chain way too tight, have a lube issue, are running the cutters real dull, have drive sprocket issues, tip issues or the wrong chain maybe.

 

[mkirsch]

If a chainsaw chain is stretched to the point where it needs a link removed, it is worn out and needs to be replaced.

 

[JDemaris]

It's done with a rivet spinner. Easy to do when you have the correct tool.

 

[John A.]

jCarrol, That Chain is Wore-Out! Pitch it and get a new one.
PS if your saw Wants to cut to the Right/Left even though you are holding it straight! time to get a new Bar too. You will be happier! When was the last time you replaced it too??
Later,
John A.

 

[bill mart]

right or left cutting can also be the cutting teeth are not the same length (left facing cutters vs right facing cutters) bill

 

[bison]

(quoted from post at 06:44:10 03/10/14) right or left cutting can also be the cutting teeth are not the same length (left facing cutters vs right facing cutters) bill

That^^And or filed teeth on one side on a diff angle.

a stretched chain does more harm to the drive sprocket than to the bar.
A bar can be filed straight if one side is wore down more that the other.

My husky saw is 15 years old and still has the same bar it came with.
I wore out at least 15 chains on that bar..
I have them take a link out of a new chain right of the bat.
They are usually to long to start with.

 

[Chip812]

(quoted from post at 06:07:47 03/10/14) I stopped having the chains shortened. I think by the time the chain stretches enough to remove the link there is excessive wear on the drive link and it does more damage to the bar than the chain is worth. I throw them away at that point. My bars are lasting a lot longer now.

+1

 

[Donald Lehman]

Just paid $17.50 for a new 20 inch chisel chain and $17.00 for a new 18 inch chain at the local Husky dealer. Replace that worn out chain and save yourself the chance of a broken chain ripping a chunk outta your shin.

 

[D beatty]

Thats one of the reasons they make protective chaps. I wear them all the time when cutting wood. When a chain breaks they can do a lot of damage and it doesn't have to be an old chain, new one have been known to break.

 

[David G]

Buy a new chain, your life is worth more than that.

 

[Ian Beale]

IMO get a new chain if it has stretched that much. And ask yourself why it has stretched if you've still got tooth material left.

And, if you're a bit iffy with a chainsaw file, think about getting one of those now inexpensive chain grinders.

Magic in my experience.

 

[rustred]

not really, the links do break, and it is nothing at all to replace one. not going to throw away a good chain.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 06:44:10 03/10/14) right or left cutting can also be the cutting teeth are not the same length (left facing cutters vs right facing cutters) bill

You can have different length teeth as long as the cutting angle and depth gauges are the same. You can also have every tooth the same length and if the depth gauge is set deeper on one side it will positively cut towards that side. Same if one sides cutting angle is more aggressive than the others.

It's always nice to have the teeth about the same length, but it's not vital. It just makes life easier.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 06:30:07 03/10/14) jCarrol, That Chain is Wore-Out! Pitch it and get a new one.
PS [b:cdb6ac5e46]if your saw Wants to cut to the Right/Left even though you are holding it straight! time to get a new Bar too.[/b:cdb6ac5e46] You will be happier! When was the last time you replaced it too??
Later,
John A.

More likely it's time to uniform the teeth to cut the same angle and depth and dress the bar.

 

[RodinNS]

You can get repair links... but just get a new chain. If the chain is stretched that much that you need to remove a driver, then it's stretched more than enough to wear the sprocket, and you can be sure that the sprocket is worth more than the chain... and loose chains do bars no favors either. Chain is 20 bucks. Bar is 60 bucks. Do the math. 5 minutes with a loose dull chain will ruin a bar to the point that even if you draw file it flat again... it's annealed to the point that it wears much faster anyway. Junk chains are the most expensive thing you can mess with on a saw.

Rod

 

[D beatty]

Have you looked at the drive sprocket? If you have the correct bar and chain for your saw and you have no more adjustment left I would lay odds that the bar, drive sprocket,and chain all need replacing.

 

[jeffcat]

PLEASE take it to a good repair shop. He will have everything you need!