Chainsaw Bar and Chain Replacement

MN Pete

New User
Chainsaw bar and chain replacement

My gasoline motor died on my old chain saw so I bought a new battery operated one. Both have 16" bars with end sprockets. Since the old bar and multiple chains are good, can I swap the bar and chain from my old chainsaw to my new chainsaw? It looks like the bars are interchangeable. Are the drive sprockets unique for the different gauge bars and chains? I understand they would have to be switched as a set. Here are the chain sizes of the old and new saws.

Old Chainsaw Chain Part# 91PX056G
Pitch: 3/8" Low Profile
Gauge: .050"
Drive Links: 56
Chain Low Kickback


New Chainsaw Chain Part# 90PX056G
Pitch: 3/8" Low Profile
Gauge: .043"
Drive Links: 56
Chain Low Kickback
 
It might work, depending on what kind of sprocket it has, I see the gauge is different between the chains. One of the saws I have has a drive sprocket with just slots for the drag links, and a thicker one might not run in that. Other ones are open, can run any gauge.
 
Never heard of drag links on saw chain?? You mean drive links? Better put your mask on and go look at your chain again, 😂😂😂
 
Look for the opening in the bar for the chain oil. If it matches up you can swap without a problem. The chain gauge difference means you can't put one of the chains from your old saw onto the bar from the new one as the grove will be too narrow.
 
Russ, it is spelled "yall" and is just part of our language.LOL
Just like what some folks say "garden hose", we say "hose pipe".
My Mama being from London, had a lot of phrases that some folks would not understand.
Richard in NW SC
 
.050 vrs .043?

It will work for a little while. You tighten the chain and it will bind. You run it long and the clutch drum or sprocket will be destroyed.
 

Are you saying that even if I use the matching bar for the chain, it will still destroy the chainsaw? My intent is to use both the bar and chain from the old saw on the new saw.
 
No it will not damage the saw itself.

But running a .043 chain on a .050 clutch drum or drive sprocket will damage the drum or sprocket. And the nose sprocket on the bar if it .050.

Think of it as if trying to run a .420 motorcycle chain on sprockets designed to use .520 chain. Or vise versa.. That unnoticeable 3mm difference in pitch will damage the sprockets before you run through the gears.
 
(quoted from post at 01:46:52 09/28/20) Drive sprockets can drive any gauge chain, only the pitch matters.

Yep......I upgraded the bar and chain on my little Stihl MS-180 from .043" to .050" gauge......didn't need to change the sprocket; pitch was the same.
Altho an 043" chain may work on an .050" bar, I don't think the bar will last too long. Too much "slop".
 

I average about 4 chain replacements per bar replacement. You ca carefully refurbish a bar by closing the gap in a vise.

Took me 20 years to figure out that "Polk" meant a paper bag and not the purple berried plant that the birds like to decorate your vehicle with.
 

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