The Sizes of Chains on Stihl Chainsaws

Stihl is a producer which doesn’t only generates chainsaws, but also makes all the replacement parts needed for the saw, including chains. As with any brand of chainsaw, selecting the correct chain for a Stihl is determined by knowing three different measurements and creating one calculation. Stihl prints the information on the series packaging so you can choose the string that fits perfectly to your chainsaw version.

Length of the Chainsaw Bar

Bar dimension is the distance from the point at which the chainsaw’s bar first emerges in the casing, to the tip of the bar. The string rotates around the bar as it cuts through wood. Stihl chainsaws come in sizes that vary from 12 to up to 47 inches. Chainsaw bar lengths are generally expressed in 2-inch increments, most often as an even number. Bar length is 1 element of choosing a Stihl series, but other measurements more accurately determine a precise fit.

Drive Links

Drive hyperlinks are the protrusions found on the bottom of the series. Start looking for them with off the chainsaw and its own spark plug cable removed from the plug, preventing an accidental startup. Lift the string slightly away from the bar and the drive links become evident. These hyperlinks, also called drive lugs, traveling in a groove along the edge of the chainsaw bar. They engage the saw’s drive sprocket, which is what powers the series. Count the number of drive connections in the whole chain. Stihl chains have between 44 and 138 total drive connections in them.

Pitch of the Chain

The series holds together with a series of rivets. Chain pitch is the distance between any three of those rivets divided by 2. Stihl generally sells chains with one of three pitch measurements: 3/8-inch, .325 inches or .404 inches. Stihl uses a coding system which consists of a single letter or digit which explains the series’s characteristics. For example, 3/8-inch pitch chains have a”3″ stamped on the series and printed on the package. Other pitch sizes comprise .325 coded as 2, and .404 coded as 4. Stihl also utilizes 1 for 1/4-inch pitch chains, none of which look on its own series chart, as well as 7 and 6 to 3/8-inch and 1/4-inch PICCO chains respectively. PICCO is a trademarked cutting profile used on some Stihl chains.

Chain Gauge

The gauge of the series is truly the thickness of a drive link. This dimension ensures that the chain will ride round the bar without slipping or binding. Gauge is a little dimension, generally either .043, .050 or even .063 inches on Stihl manufacturer chains. Some Stihl chains use a .058 or a .080 chain gauge. Stihl stamps the last digit of the series gauge dimension (expressed in millimeters) on every drive link.

Additional Chain Codes

While they don’t specifically describe how big a Stihl chain, the company also stamps other codes on its own chains and string packaging. These codes refer to the form of these cutters — the sharpened portions of the string that dig into the wood — or other string traits, like the form of the ties which hold the drive connections together. For example, a code of”C” means that the chain cutters are made in such a manner that vibration is reduced and more comfortable for the chainsaw operator.

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