How To Measure Chainsaw Bar

The bar of a chainsaw can be small in size, but considering its importance, it’s very crucial part of the entire functionality of the tool. So, everyone who’s about to deal with chainsaws should have a firm idea on how to deal with this tiny part of steel.

The objective of this post is to start with how to measure chainsaw bar length that makes a great fit with the saw itself. Grab a cup of coffee, go through the entire article, and soon all of your confusions will be wiped away.

So, let’s start with some basics-

What Is A Chain Saw Bar?

First thing first, a chainsaw is one of those widely used saws that has various uses for construction workers, plumbers, handymen and many more.

And the oval-shaped piece of the structure that comes out of the main motor of the saw is named the chainsaw bar. The function of this bar is to let the saw chain rotate around it. And the bar plays a strong role to keep the chain at its place with stable velocity and position.

However, we are about to learn the easy steps on how to measure chainsaw bar. And this task is considered to be an important one.

Tools that You Need to Measure the Bar Length of a ChainSaw

Measuring the bar length of a chainsaw requires these few tools in hands-

Let’s proceed to the detailed process now, after making sure that you have collected those couple of tools-

How To Measure Chainsaw Bar

It’s required that you be so careful while doing this process of measuring the bar length of a chainsaw. If you promise to maintain that much precautions, let’s proceed to the step by step guide to the process-

Step 1: Take Off the Spark Plug and Prevent Power Input

The first task is to take the power plug out and turn the spark plug off. You will find a spark plug right behind the power outlet. Turn all sort of power input off so that the chainsaw won’t be able to start accidentally and proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Measuring the cutting length of the bar

Next task is metering the area from where the bar disappears to the very tip of the bar with the help of a measuring tape. Maybe the measurement won’t come in a round figure. You can note that as the nearest round digit.

As an example, if the measurement comes out to be 15.4/5 inches, take it as 16 and note that measurements for further procedure. Most common bar lengths are 16, 18, and 20 inches.

Step 3: Measuring the full length of the bar

After having the cutting length the next step is to measure the full length of the bar for getting the substantive measurement. For this step, you have to find out casing holding screws.

You have to unscrew them with a ratchet and then the entire bar will be appear. Now measure the total length of the bar from the very end up to the tip with the same measuring tape. Usually, there is difference a between the cutting length and the total length of 2 to 3 inches.

So now you have the actual length of your chainsaw bar; you can now easily replace it. Chainsaw replacement bars are available in both local workshop store and online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay. No mattered wherever you chose to make the purchase, make sure that you know the right size that you need for your chainsaw.

Over and above, you may have some other questions related to the chainsaw in your mind. Well, in this part we will give answers on some critical parts of a chainsaw. So keep reading.

What is Chain Pitch and Gauge for a Chainsaw

Chain Pitch

Pitch is very crucial part to know about of a chainsaw chain. Some manufacturers seal the pitch size on the saw bar or you can find it in the user manual. But when you don’t have any of them then you need to measure it for replacing your bar and chain.

It’s the average of distance between any three successive bolts of the bar. The way of getting the value is, you have to measure the length of any three successive bolts, and then divide the value by 2. If the value comes something with decimal points, try to make it as round figured as possible.

Ideal values of bar pitches are 3/8 inches, ¼ inches, 0.325 inches, and 0.404 inches.

Gauge

Like the chain pitch, the gauge is also important to know about. In an easy word, the gauge can be referred as the width of chain drive links. It’s basically a measurement of the inner tooth’s estimated thickness. Though considering the wide variation of chainsaw drive bars, the specific value of the bar gauge differs a lot, but most common values are 0.063 inches, 0.058 inches, 0.050 inches, and 0.043 inches.

Drive Links

When you are thinking of buying a replacement chainsaw chain then you must know the number of drive links of your previous chain and also for measuring the gauge size you need the number.

Drive links are those that fit the chain to the saw guide bar. The measurement of 2 feet chain or 3 feet chain won’t be effective as the gauge size and the drive links differs. In the simple sense, you can call it chain teeth that attach the chain to the chain bar.

So measuring the number of drive links is easy. Just put the entire chain on a table and count the teeth!

Bottom Line

Dealing with a complicated tool is a hard nut to crack. There are many complex features that require trial and error for several times till you gain a certain level of expertise.

However, tasks like measuring such values require a good precision level in dealing with measuring tools like measuring tapes and scales.

As a workman, we think you have plenty of previous practices with these measuring tools and beyond.

Best of luck with your workmanship!

Jake Leach

Jake Leach, a gardening power tools researcher, resides in the USA together with his loved ones. In childhood, he saw his dad perform gardening staff all day long. After Jake was 25, he wished to help his dad by discovering what tools could make gardening simpler. From then, he is currently performing his research and discovering what tools may be the very best for any job that is gardening. He is now 30 and expert enough to look for the best gardening tools available on the market.