When you choose a chainsaw tool, it means you are going to deal with tree trimming, felling, limbing, and pruning in your workspace. No doubt, it’s a difficult work, and it requires proper training, attention, hard work, and time management as well. So, being a normal person, it won’t be easier to use the chainsaw without fair guidance.
When you meet the overall requirements of using your chainsaw, you will be able to use it in your regular work. But buying an ideal chainsaw, along with measuring a chainsaw bar, is an important task. The most common issue we notice among the user is we can not identify the correct measurement of a chainsaw bar at that significant time.
For this, we seek help from various sources, and small problems become big in a short time. You will be more surprised to hear that using the wrong size chainsaw bar with your chainsaw will not fit properly, and it will cause several hazards anytime at any place.
This is why starting a journey with a favorite chainsaw should be a pleasant and memorable moment for all. To turn this dream into reality, you need to know how to measure a chainsaw bar first.
Easy Steps to Measure a Chainsaw Bar
Actually, the chainsaw bar is a metal shaped bar that covers the entire body with a chain wrapped around it. Not all chainsaw models fit different types of chainsaw bars.
For example, if your chainsaw can create massive power and speed, you can not install a low-category chainsaw bar in it. If you forcefully do that, the chain will not adjust with the tension of your chainsaw. As a result, it will kick back several times, make crooked cuts, create flame of fires inside the inner mechanism, and even you will counter with unusual noise as well.
To stay safe from all of these, you have to know the proper and identical ways to solve this issue. When you select a top-notch electric chainsaw, you have to adjust it to an 18" and a little shorter chainsaw bar. By measuring the length and width of your chainsaw, you can easily match the best chainsaw bar.
Now put your full attention here as we are going to discuss the easy steps to measure a chainsaw bar one by one below:
#Step No: 1- Measure The Length Through a Tape
First, it's important to check the cutting length of your chainsaw carefully. This step will tell you the exact size of the working part of the chainsaw and will help determine the expected chainsaw bar requirements. Before you start to check it, you should always take off the spark plug wire from the main power socket.
This essential action will ensure the discontinuation of the power connection between the socket and the main tool. Now place your on a flat surface, and loosen all the screws from the cutting part. Next, you need to take a measuring tape with an inch to inch indicator drawn on the body. Stretch out the tape and set the front side of the tape on the tip of the bar, and then measure the body to the cutting edge length.
Try your best to stretch out the tape until you meet the top tip sidebar. In the next work, note the measurement. Remember, this job is really sensitive, and the whole process will be wasted if you accidentally notice any inaccurate measurement. So, please give valuable time and proper attention to the work; you will definitely get the best result.
#Step No: 2- Remove The Guide Bar and Measure It
Once you have completed the previous step, your task is to remove the guide bar from the chainsaw manually. This step may seem complicated, but when you follow the steps we mentioned, you will find it a simple task. First, find out the powerful nuts located in the middle of your chainsaw. It might be clutching the cover tightly. Take a wrench in your hand and loosen them gradually.
After taking them out, the guide bar will now come loose from the saw. In the next step, take it out freely from the clutch cover. While doing this, never put your heavy pressure on the guide bar, as it is likely to break in this case. Instead, pull it to the opposite side, so it comes out quickly.
As the guide bar is a piece of sharp metal, it can harm your open hands accidentally. This is why we always suggest our readers put on construction gloves and use a soft cotton cloth while holding and stretching it from the edge.
Hope you take the guide bar successfully from the chainsaw. Now, your responsibility is to measure the guide bar from end to end. Make sure you note the correct length with the correct focus on the tape.
#Step No: 3- Measure The Chain of Your Chainsaw
After taking the guide bar, you must take off the chain bar accordingly. To do this, you should find another clutch cover holding nuts on the right side of your chainsaw. Just like the previous guide bar releasing process, use the wrench and loosen the screws slowly. While doing the work this way, you will find that the tension with the chain bar gets loose from the main chainsaw. Now, slowly pull out the chain from the clutch. During this sensitive work, never take off your gloves and do not touch the chain with an open hand because the sharp edge will injure your hands very badly.
In the next step, place the chain stretch on a flat surface. Then identify three rivets in a row. Measure the chain with three rivets step by step consequently. That means once you count three rivets from a row, then measure the next three on the right side. Gradually, count them all by following the same method.
After that, take a caliper and hang the chain with it so that you can measure the gauge of the chainsaw bar by looking at the digital display. Note that measuring the gauge of the chainsaw bar helps to determine the accurate depth of the drive links. This measurement is really important, like the length measurement.
While hanging the chain with the caliper, make sure you tighten the jaws perfectly with it: otherwise, it won't be able to show the exact thickness.
#Step No: 4- Start Counting The Drive Links of Your Chain
The drive links are another essential part of your chainsaw that you can't ignore in the middle of the measuring process. Interestingly, the process of calculating drive links is simple, but it's really fun to measure. When you look deeper into the chain, you will notice separate metal blocks on each layout.
In order to count and mark the drive links block, take a marker and check them accordingly. Placing the chain on a flat surface will ensure a better focusing result. Take the marker in hand and start putting dots on each point. After marking all the drive links of the chain, now count the dotted marks one by one. Indeed, this method works really great in measuring the length of the chain bar.
#Step No: 5- Complete The Work
If you follow all the steps with full attention and perfect timing, we hope you will get the correct measurement in your hand. Remember, accurate results will only come when you measure each part inch by inch. So, don’t make a hurry while doing this work. Once you have successfully measured the chainsaw bar, you can now buy the ideal chainsaw with your own knowledge.
Tips to Measure a Chainsaw Bar
You have noticed that we talked about all the steps in the safest and easiest ways in the main section, but still, there are some important tips left that will make the work more professional and interesting as well. So, we request you to check these special tips accordingly so that you upgrade your skill a little bit higher than others.
No matter where you work or what power tools you deal with, ensure proper safety around your work. Safety equipment is always available to remove the tension of injuries. Additionally, the safety kit is a part of professional training. So, if you skip it, you can not enjoy the work with complete flexibility. Inside the safety tool kit, you can keep ear protection, a dust mask, a pair of construction gloves, goggles, and a protective shield to ensure better protection at work.
Before you detach the essential parts from the main saw, always ensure that you have switched off the power tool or disconnected it from the main power source. This is really important to avoid unexpected hazards in your work. Also, the chain bar is a sharp and hard piece of metal, so you should let it move with the blowing wind. Because this unconscious work always creates unexpected events.
While detaching every part, ensure you do not forcefully take them out from the tool or do the work in a hurry. Indeed, this is a perfect example of patience at work. If you can not control your temper and focus, you will not get ideal results at last.
Another thing you may notice when measuring the chainsaw bar is that you should not start the process while your chainsaw is wet. Actually, the remaining water or oils in the chainsaw always make it troublesome at work. Even sometimes, using a wet saw is likely to slip several times, which can cause serious accidents to the tool and your body. That's why it's always best to clean the equipment before you do a test.
Sometimes, having a skilled person on hand is always an advantage to enjoy safe and clean work. So, you can invite a qualified person for this sensitive action.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Answer: There is no fixed time to measure a chainsaw bar. But if you are willing to buy a new chainsaw for your workspace, you must calculate the measurement carefully. This suggestion works really great for perfect adjustment between the guide bar and the chain bar. Moreover, if you fail to measure the chainsaw bar, the tension of your saw won’t fit with it ideally. As a result, you will notice unexpected kickbacks, crooked cuts, and flames of fire during your work.
Answer: Actually, the measurement of the bar length means measuring the height from the top tip sidebar to the cutting edge length. This part is really important to count the length part thoroughly. While checking the exact measurement, you should always focus on the measurement tape and note down the proper length number. Such as, if the measurement of the chainsaw bar is pointed at 14 ¾ inches, the length will clarify the point of 16 inches.
Answer: Actually, the written number in a chainsaw bar indicates the number of drive links that will support the guide bar. Following the size of your chainsaw bar, the calculation of the drive link will vary from one to another. That means if anyone owns a high length of chainsaw, he will definitely need higher numbers of drive links written in the bar.
For example, if you notice your bar has 60 stamped set numbers, that means you have to install a 60 drive link chain. Notably, drive links start from 28 and can go up to 210 by following the size of the bar.
Answer: Actually, it depends a lot on your work purpose. No doubt, a longer chainsaw bar is compatible with a bigger size chainsaw. That means if you select a massive and powerful size of chainsaw, you can install a great size of chainsaw bar up to 210 inches. Moreover, a longer chainsaw bar must contain a similar range of drive links as well. It uses more power and speed while spinning the metal bar. Commonly, the gas-powered chainsaw is a perfect example of a longer size chainsaw.
Answer: Technically, the answer is no. Usually, a top-notch chainsaw bar can last up to 6-8 months of regular use. At the same time, a chain of chainsaw bars needs to be replaced 3 times during the mentioned period. That means you can change your chainsaw bar after replacing three chains in a row. Sometimes, the replacement number of chains may go high if you use a durable and powerful chainsaw. So, if you want to get the best service, use a top-notch chainsaw bar in your tool.
Final Overview
Hard work, proper attention, accurate time management, and using high-quality tools can make the work experience cool and easier as well. After reading the article, we hope you fully understand all the meaningful steps to measure a chainsaw bar. We tried our best to describe every part with accurate information so that you won’t face any difficulties in reality. While doing the process, use proper safety equipment to stay safe all the time.
That's all for today. If you have any questions related to the topic, please write in the comment section below. Our response team will reach you with an acceptable solution soon. Till then work safe, stay safe always.
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