Husky 394 chain won't stay tight.

Chain never stays tight on the saw-not a new chain, so it's not stretch...bar is good, screw tightener isn't damaged. What else could it be?:chainsawguy:

Check the flatness of the cover area that clamps the bar they sometimes distort and do not lay flat to clamp a wide enough area to stay tight.

Are you saying the chain is loosening because the bar is moving backward or that the chain length is growing? You could also check the sprocket for wear and the bar esp the tip. With longer bars, say 36" and longer, the chain will grow quite a bit from cold to warm and stretch for many hours of cutting. Does everything match up ie sprocket, bar, chain regarding pitch and gauge and is the drive link count correct for the bar. Also make sure the tensioner is not bottomed out.

Raise the nose of the bar when tightening

This will help eliminate any slack when you put it in the wood.

ericjeeper said:

This will help eliminate any slack when you put it in the wood.

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Yes, good one. I put the tip on a log, hold the trigger handle with one hand and tighten the bar nuts with my other hand (with the wrench that is, I ain't that strong).

Your personal strength shouldn't be a factor in cranking those bar nuts down... there's something amiss. One other thing you might to do is make sure the tail of the bar is wiped down.

eriklane said:

Chain never stays tight on the saw-not a new chain, so it's not stretch...bar is good, screw tightener isn't damaged. What else could it be?:chainsawguy:

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I would double check the tensioner maybe it's stripped or acting like it is working when the bar and cover is not on,but add weight and it isn't?Just a thought.

kevlar said:

I would double check the tensioner maybe it's stripped or acting like it is working when the bar and cover is not on,but add weight and it isn't?Just a thought.

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Yup, very good thought. I think in theory the bar shouldn't be moving back any if the tensioner is working properly. Be where I'd be checkin' out first if stretch is not in question.



Serge

I agree to carefully inspect the tensioner bolt. They sometimes break on the 394/5 especially if the bar nuts get loose. I had it happen to me once, and now the bolt is one of the parts that always is in my toolbox.

Lack of good lubrication can create some issues on chain tension as well. Let us know what you figure out.

B_Turner said:

I agree to carefully inspect the tensioner bolt. They sometimes break on the 394/5 especially if the bar nuts get loose. I had it happen to me once, and now the bolt is one of the parts that always is in my toolbox.

Lack of good lubrication can create some issues on chain tension as well. Let us know what you figure out.

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Right said; I've broken at least 2; I have a spare, and I made sure that the dealer has a couple in stock just in case; I wish the darn thing was on the side, where it should be; I hate having to loosen the entire mill setup to tension the chain. I actually took a big nail, heated it up, & ground a screwdriver edge with it. Makes it a little easier.