I have a Husqvarna chain (16" .325 .050 66dl), and was wondering if it was compatible with a Stihl chain (16" .325 .050 67dl)? Can I use these chains with any 16" bar?
The 16" part is practically meaningless. Any bar between 15 and 17 inches (front of powerhead to tip of bar) will be called "
16-inches". That's why we count drive links.
I had 2 STIHL saws, that used the
exact same chain (0.325 pitch, 0.063 gauge), that each had a '16-inch' STIHL brand OEM bar, that used totally different drive link counts. The MS250 used 62 drive links, and the MS260 used 67 drive links. But if the
pitch,
gauge, and
drive link count are the same, you can run any brand of chain, just like you can mount any brand of tire on your car if the numbers on the sidewalls are the same.
Sometimes a one drive link difference can be taken up with the tension adjuster. Sometimes it can't. Some companies will have weird drive link counts just so you go back to them to buy new chains. For example 56 DL is one of the most commonly available 3/8 low profile chains. Many ECHO saws require 57 DL.
It is possible to add or remove links if the chain is in good shape otherwise - a good chainsaw dealer can do that for you for a few bucks.
Philbert
