Breaking chains!

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The second picture, center chain, second drive link from the bottom is evidence that your sprocket is so worn, and the chain had just enough slack in it, that the chain jumped out and the tooth of the sprocket rode on the drivelink, instead of between them. (and crushed the bottom of the drive link) That's the binding you were feeling. And since the chain isn't a rubber band, something's got to give. In this case, the drive links.
 
Found!

I just noticed on the last set of pictures I posted, the the middle one tells the story!

The middle chain shows that the bottom of the drive link is getting ripped off, and the when it "catches", it must break!

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Thanks for all your help, I'll see if the local dealer has what I need in stock, if not I'll call Baily's

Still look to find out what a "floating rim kit" is, any clues?

Thanks,, Shawn
 
Yep, I just figured it out, but took me a bit to get the picture ready for print!

Thanks all!!

Shawn
 
A rim sprocket is a little different way to drive the chain. Instead of the chain being driven by the sprocket's teeth, they drive this wheel called a rim sprocket. It has holes in it to accept the drive links. So instead of replacing the entire drum (which a regular sprocket is attached to) you just replace the rim. It's a far superior system that should hold up alot longer than the spur sprocket you got now.

You'll need a conversion kit, so there is some upfront cost. I just changed over my 028, and the kit was like $63, but to replace rim sprockets later on is cheap. ($5~8)
 
Yikes! as stated wisely by folks, the drive sprocket was soooo worn that it was also wearing the rivets, screwing the drivers, and generally wreaking havoc with the whole chain. Driver sprocket=crapped, chains are now junk, and I'd be checking the bar for damage and wear, which I think will be there, so, replace that too. Iyiiyiyiyiyiiii, 'bout as zorched as I have ever seen! I'd also be checking the plates btw. Hm, almost like the wrong chain was driven for a while, dunno, a mess though. GAH! :cry:

:cheers: (and welcome to AS man! Enjoy your stay!) :)

Serge
 
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First.... Check the bar: take it off the saw and set it on its edge, it should sit straight up; then flip it and try the other side; then look down the grooves and make sure they're straight (bar's not bent) and the "fingers" of the groove are even and equal and there's nothing clogging up the groove. Then, examine the sprocket tip for ease of movement and non-grittiness of the bearings. If all this passes, clean the bar: grab a putty knife or something similar and clean out the groove and with a small awl or something clean out the oil holes. Bar rail unevenness can be fixed but if you don't know what you're doing, it'd be better to just get a new bar.

OK, now......

Call Baileys @ 1-800-322-4539 and order the following:

Replaceable rim drive system: RD 100961 and you want a 7tooth rim in either .325 or 3/8.

I would say .325 since the chain is thinner and a thinner chain will cut a thinner kerf - which takes less power and athus a smaller saw will cut faster. Unless your bar is 3/8 and it's in good shape and you want to keep it (but I'd really recc. to change it)...

Look over your drive bearing and get a new one if it's worn, part number in the above part's description.

Get a spare sprocket. Once the first sprocket starts to wear, you're going to want to change it. Nice to have a spare so you don't wait for one to come in the mail. I'd send you to the website (baileys-online.com) but I don't know what size sprocket your rim will take. The nice person answering the phone will know.

While you're on the phone, ask for a new washer and eclip and a couple extra bar nuts. You'll lose one of them one day and you're dead in the water without them. What I do i paint them all bright red so I can find it easy when i "lose" it.

Now, if you want a new bar, their ArborMax or Arbor Pro bars are pretty nice for the price. Pick the length the same size as you have now and get a couple loops of chain as well. If your wood is mostly clean (none of the following: shaggy, gritty bark; rocks; you cut a lot of downed wood, etc...) get 2 loops of round chisel and one of semi-chisel. If you cut mostly dirty wood, 2 semi and chisel (for the clean stuff).

Make sure:
- the pitch (3/8 or .325) is the same for the sprocket the bar and the chain.
- the gauge (.043, .050, .058, etc...) is the same for the chain and bar.
- the number of drive links matches the chain loops and the bar.

Asking the Bailey's person will get you all squared away.

===

About the only hard part of replacing the parts is the swap of the drum. Clean your crankshaft and bearing; put a dab of grease (axle grease) on the bearing and when you put the drum back on, line the groove/notch with the oil pump spring. If you rotate the drum while applying light pressure, it will just snap into place. Put the sprocket, washer and eclip back on and before you put the bar back on, start the saw and run it a little (not wide open) to see if the oil pump is putting out oil. When it does, you can put the bar and chain on it and go make some chips.
 
First.... Check the bar: take it off the saw and set it on its edge, it should sit straight up; then flip it and try the other side; then look down the grooves and make sure they're straight (bar's not bent) and the "fingers" of the groove are even and equal and there's nothing clogging up the groove. Then, examine the sprocket tip for ease of movement and non-grittiness of the bearings. If all this passes, clean the bar: grab a putty knife or something similar and clean out the groove and with a small awl or something clean out the oil holes. Bar rail unevenness can be fixed but if you don't know what you're doing, it'd be better to just get a new bar.

OK, now......

Call Baileys @ 1-800-322-4539 and order the following:

Replaceable rim drive system: RD 100961 and you want a 7tooth rim in either .325 or 3/8.

I would say .325 since the chain is thinner and a thinner chain will cut a thinner kerf - which takes less power and athus a smaller saw will cut faster. Unless your bar is 3/8 and it's in good shape and you want to keep it (but I'd really recc. to change it)...

Look over your drive bearing and get a new one if it's worn, part number in the above part's description.

Get a spare sprocket. Once the first sprocket starts to wear, you're going to want to change it. Nice to have a spare so you don't wait for one to come in the mail. I'd send you to the website (baileys-online.com) but I don't know what size sprocket your rim will take. The nice person answering the phone will know.

While you're on the phone, ask for a new washer and eclip and a couple extra bar nuts. You'll lose one of them one day and you're dead in the water without them. What I do i paint them all bright red so I can find it easy when i "lose" it.

Now, if you want a new bar, their ArborMax or Arbor Pro bars are pretty nice for the price. Pick the length the same size as you have now and get a couple loops of chain as well. If your wood is mostly clean (none of the following: shaggy, gritty bark; rocks; you cut a lot of downed wood, etc...) get 2 loops of round chisel and one of semi-chisel. If you cut mostly dirty wood, 2 semi and chisel (for the clean stuff).

Make sure:
- the pitch (3/8 or .325) is the same for the sprocket the bar and the chain.
- the gauge (.043, .050, .058, etc...) is the same for the chain and bar.
- the number of drive links matches the chain loops and the bar.

Asking the Bailey's person will get you all squared away.

===

About the only hard part of replacing the parts is the swap of the drum. Clean your crankshaft and bearing; put a dab of grease (axle grease) on the bearing and when you put the drum back on, line the groove/notch with the oil pump spring. If you rotate the drum while applying light pressure, it will just snap into place. Put the sprocket, washer and eclip back on and before you put the bar back on, start the saw and run it a little (not wide open) to see if the oil pump is putting out oil. When it does, you can put the bar and chain on it and go make some chips.

Mostly agree except in your first paragraph I would say that one of the first things to check is the width of your bar groove as in the case of such dire damage to the chain drivers, that will be where the wear will be, iow, doesn't much matter if the bar looks straight and true, if the inner space is screwed then so is your next chain. Just my worthless 0.02$ fer da evenbujining. And btw it looksd like the tips are knocked offa the bar spocket anyways, throw it away or use it as a filing stand......:biggrinbounce2:

:cheers:
 
Mostly agree except in your first paragraph I would say that one of the first things to check is the width of your bar groove as in the case of such dire damage to the chain drivers, that will be where the wear will be, iow, doesn't much matter if the bar looks straight and true, if the inner space is screwed then so is your next chain. Just my worthless 0.02$ fer da evenbujining. And btw it looksd like the tips are knocked offa the bar spocket anyways, throw it away or use it as a filing stand......:biggrinbounce2:

:cheers:

Good catch. I knew I left _something_ out...
 
Sorry but this thread seems to reek of BS to me...:dizzy:

The sprocket is worn so friggin' bad you should not run the saw again with it on there... period.

All those chains are garbage... toss them out. Don't try to salvage any of them. Go spend the cash on new chains. Also a new sprocket... rim or spur... don't matter, just go get a new one.

Your sharpening is not all that good either. Seriously... not tryin' to be an ass... but have someone else sharpen chains for you (not the ones you posted pictures of either). Then learn the right way. Your file angles are way steeper than they should be. There is a lot of saw "dust" on your saw. A properly filed chain does not make dust... it makes chips. So you either are not filing properly, or forcin' the dull chain to cut. Also causes heat.

Your bar is probably shot too... have it checked or buy a new one. Make sure your oiler is working properly. Runnin' with little or no oil casues heat and premature wear on parts.

Good luck...

Gary
 
Sorry but this thread seems to reek of BS to me...:dizzy:

The sprocket is worn so friggin' bad you should not run the saw again with it on there... period.

All those chains are garbage... toss them out. Don't try to salvage any of them. Go spend the cash on new chains. Also a new sprocket... rim or spur... don't matter, just go get a new one.

Your sharpening is not all that good either. Seriously... not tryin' to be an ass... but have someone else sharpen chains for you (not the ones you posted pictures of either). Then learn the right way. Your file angles are way steeper than they should be. There is a lot of saw "dust" on your saw. A properly filed chain does not make dust... it makes chips. So you either are not filing properly, or forcin' the dull chain to cut. Also causes heat.

Your bar is probably shot too... have it checked or buy a new one. Make sure your oiler is working properly. Runnin' with little or no oil casues heat and premature wear on parts.

Good luck...

Gary

Well Gary . . . You must have a good nose, as I can't smell anything! I have been completely up front and honest.

To address some of your "points"

I'm not running the saw. The sprocket has already been taken off! I have order a new one with bearing, and a new bar, and chains from Bailey's!

I take it you didn't like my sharpening job! I would say that 80% of what was cut was "chips" the width of the teeth, and about 1/2" - 5/8" long yes there is some dust, but I also am cutting mostly dead and down pine that has been dead a few years! I plan on continuing to sharpen my own chains, I trust in time I will become better at it. But really now, a chain is $8.95 at Bailey's
and if I "ruin one" learning, it doesn't seem like the end of the world, to me anyhow! (for notes sake, those 3 chains you saw were in well used condition when I got them with the saw on ebay, and when I put them on the saw, they cut crooked, pulled to one side or the other, I at least got them to cut straight!)

And no I am not "forcing" it through, if I am cutting just straight down, then basiclly only the weight of the saw is on the chain, I just guide the saw, and make sure it doesn't hit the ground!

I stated earlier that I am using about 3/4 of a tank of chain oil to a tank of gas, this seams about right to me, how about you?

Shawn
 
Seems just fine Shawn...

Sounds like you have all the bases covered. I can't file a chain anyways... my girlfriend does it for me.:help:

Then again... I have never "broke" a chain either...

Gary
 
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One thing most don't concider is that as the sprocket wears, the pitch changes. As worn as that sprocket looks, it would be like running 3/8 in a .404 sprocket.
Glad you're getting a new one.

Andy
 
I'm not running the saw. The sprocket has already been taken off! I have order a new one with bearing, and a new bar, and chains from Bailey's!

Gee, I need to call up the Dawg and get a cut... :hmm3grin2orange:
 
Shawn,

Check your messages, I sent to a private message yesterday.
:cheers:

Yes, Thank You! I got it yesterday, but I'm sorry I hadn't responded to it, (I'm a baker, and I was busy with baking bread, I have a wood fired brick oven that I bake the artisan bread in, that is why I cut wood to keep feeding it!) I appreciated Yours, and everybody elses help.

Thanks again everybody!

I should be having a brown truck coming hopefully tomorrow or Thursday with a box of goodies, I'll let you know how it cuts! (I don't believe I have EVER cut with a NEW Chain!)

Shawn
 
You guys have given 7shawnT some excellent advice on how to solve the problem. I know he has learned a lot from this thread. You guys seemed soooo shocked about the pictures posted by 7shawnT. There is a huge part of the chain saw market segment that has the very same issues. I see it daily as I examine chains sent in for "warranty".
Keep up the good advice!!!
 

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