Do chains stretch???

[geobckmstr]

I have a husky 372 xpg with a 20 inch bar, 2 chains of which i ran out of adjustment to the end of my bar slot,? did my chains stretch?? is my sprocket bad?? i cant tighten my chains to the bar anymore. what to do??

 

[Foxfire]

Yes they do stretch. You might want to take a look at the sprocket just to cover your bases. You can remove links yourself with the proper tools or take them to a shop and have them shorten the chains.

 

[blades]

Not so much stretch as wear in the links/rivets. the effect is the chain becomes longer, possible from over tensioning the chain on the bar. Someone posted the carlton chain manual a few days ago very good reading. a search might find it, other wise google carlton it might be available from them direct online I think it was a pdf file.

 

[haveawoody]

The easiest way to stretch a chain is keep cutting without bar oil.
Second easiest way is to keep cutting when the chain gets very dull.

Check your chains for sharpness and if they are still sharp it might be the bar or the main drive gear that has a problem.
If the chains are dull check the bar oiler for working opperation and the main gear for bad or worn teeth , if you were cutting to long on a chain then the solution is change or sharpen chains when you have to horse a cut.

Another thing you can check is the bar tightening screw, sometimes it gets stripped and just won't tighten down.
Or the tighten holder gets bent or worn/loose.

It might be a you thing but it might be an equiptment thing.
I tend to blame equiptment whenever i can LOL

 

[John R]

All the chains I have ever used stretch some, I have found the Stihl brand to stretch the least.
The Stihl branded chains seem to hold an edge better also.

 

[Whitespider]

When the chain lengthens to the point you have no adjustment left… that ain’t wear, that’s stretch. The normal need to occasionally adjust chain tension can be accounted for by wear, but running out of adjustment would require a massive amount of it… enough that the chain would likely fly apart, and it certainly wouldn’t be safe to remove links and continue using it.

I’ve said this before… every brand of chain I’ve ever used has stretched to that point, except for Stihl brand chain. Mind you, not every (for example) Oregon chain has stretched, but several have… I’ve never even come close to running out of adjustment using Stihl brand chain.

 

[Mac88]

Don't forget, if you tension it when it's hot, it's gonna shrink as it cools. Not good for the saw or the chain.

 

[stihly dan]

It;s not the chain, it's the saw. Get a stihl or dolmar and you won't have this problem anymore. The chains stretch in shame, from the saw there on.

 

[Philbert]

As noted, with use, the rivets and holes in the links wear making the chain a little looser. Not a big deal with one or two links, but on longer loops, this small amount adds up. Also, as the bottoms of the tie straps wear, the 'inner diameter' of the loop becomes slightly larger. Not uncommon on larger loops to take out a link or two over the life of the chain.

Good point on checking your drive and nose sprockets - as these wear, the chain will also fit more loosely.

RE: STIHL, they claim that they 'pre-stretch' their chains as part of their manufacturing process.

Philbert

Even though STIHL OILOMATIC saw chain is pre-stretched at the factory, new saw chain needs a first run just to “break in.” The break-in smooths out tiny irregularities on the friction faces and allows the chain to properly “seat” the rivets. The tension should be readjusted just before the chain actually goes to work. - STIHL Sharp Advice For Chain Saw Owners

 

[Mac88]

It;s not the chain, it's the saw. Get a stihl or dolmar and you won't have this problem anymore. The chains stretch in shame, from the saw there on.

I tried to give you some Stihl rep but all it would let me give was greensaw rep so I gave up.

 

[sb47]

The biggest problem with chain stretching, is a dull chain and the heat that builds up, taking the temper out and heat will make them stretch. Bar wear and chain wear will also make the chain get loose, along with sprocket wear. Adjusting the chain too tight will make them stretch and not enough bar oil or the wrong bar oil.
Proper adjustment, the rite oil, and stopping when the chain gets dull will go a long way in the life of a chain.
Also filling the rake’s to the proper depth will help.
It’s a constant maintenance on a saw chain that will produce the best results.

Keep them sharp, and the rake’s at the rite depth and lots of good oil will help the most.

 

[aokpops]

Chain stretch !I alway thought my bar shrank when it got hot . Now this is getting interesting

 

[Foxfire]

I thought that they only shrank when they get cold?

 

[Sagetown]

FoxFire mentioned your Drive Sprocket. It will wear grooves in the Spurs, and the chain becomes loose.
View attachment 278586

 

[aokpops]

I thought that they only shrank when they get cold?

I did to . But why doe.s the chain has to be loose when cold ?

 

[smokee]

It;s not the chain, it's the saw. Get a stihl or dolmar and you won't have this problem anymore. The chains stretch in shame, from the saw there on.

 

[haveawoody]

Foxfire,

I think you are right, when i go swimming with my saw it shrinks and all the other saws laugh LOL

 

[AIM]

I've never had one stretch beyond adjustment. Maybe I'm pitching my chains to soon?

Are you sure it is the correct chain for the saw?

 

[jthornton]

+1for the pins and holes wear and this wear increases the pitch length of the chain. Ok, I know this is semantics but the links don't stretch.

Tempering is a part of heat treating metal. After heat treating the metal you reduce the hardness by tempering. Depending on the metal you bring it up to as high as 640F to temper the metal. Tempering reduces hardness and increases toughness. So if you managed to turn your chain blue you got it hot enough to temper it.

I have ruined a bar before with frictional heat from too much tension, even though it got a small area of the bar hot enough to turn blue the chain seemed to not be affected in any way due to the larger mass of the chain vs the small area on the bar. I don't recommend this test...

John

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

The longer the bar, the more it becomes a factor. More links/rivets adds up after a while. I've had to shorten 2 loops of Stihl chain that is on my MS660 with a 36" bar. The original RSC chain that came with it and the one they threw in. In buying replacements they have one less link from the start and those I haven't had to. I guess they changed the recommended amount of links?