Why won't my chain spin?

[Brent Nowell]

I had this problem back in the day with a poulan pro, drive links had been peened in the center, and the lugs were peened as well. At the time it happened it threw the chain and then I noticed the problems. I bought another chain and same thing, then I filed the peened areas and it happened again. I eventually returned the saw got my money back and bought my 455 rancher by paying quite a bit more.

At the time I didn’t really know anything about chains, but now it must have been incompatible teeth on the clutch drum... still not entirely sure..

 

[CR888]

Warm up saw without bar & chain. Fit bar and chain saw with chain fairly loose. Set the master control to fast idle. Start saw & piss rev it a few times. Problem solved. I done this more times than I've had hot breakfasts.

 

[CR888]

Or you can spend an hour with a file or ball peen hammer. Same result.