Steel Sleeve on Chain Catcher Roller?

[RedGas]

Hey, all,

I've had chains come off my 361 and they chewed up the metal hook chain catcher somewhat.

Was looking at my 660 which has the plastic roller chain catcher, and thought "I'll put a piece of steel tubing over that plastic roller, so that if a chain comes off, it won't tear up the plastic roller."

Is there any reason I should NOT do this? (Like, will I defeat the effectiveness of the plastic chain catcher getting torn up and thereby slowing down the chain?)

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

Better to chew up a chain catcher than chains?

 

[Canadian farm boy]

That metal sleeve over the plastic roller will make a mess of a chain. The plastic won't hurt the chain nearly as much. Roller chain catchers only cost a couple bucks and imo are a consumable item like a spark plug or a fuel filter.

 

[RedGas]

Good point -- I didn't think about the chain getting torn up. Figured the chain would be a lot harder than mild steel.

Just did the same thing on my Dolmar top-handle saw b/c the chain catcher is plastic and is part of the molded plastic clutch cover, and I don't want to have to try to find another clutch cover if chain comes off (saw is discontinued, and I have a bunch of $5 chains for it anyway)...

Thanks for the replies.

ETA: I found a piece of scrap CPVC pipe in the shop that fit nicely over top of the existing plastic roller. So maybe I'll get two chain catches per roller instead of just one. Looks like new 1122 656 6600 rollers are about $9 or so on ebay. Thanks again.

 

[Cat 525]

I usually never have any trouble tearing the rollers up!

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

My local stihl dealer price is $4.29
Adding bulk to your existing catcher will give all the teeth something to make contact with when the chain gets loose.

 

[RedGas]

Adding bulk to your existing catcher will give all the teeth something to make contact with when the chain gets loose.

Thanks for your reply, Jim. So are you saying that adding bulk to the chain catcher is not a good idea? Right now there's about 9/16"or 5/8" clearance between roller and chain.

 

[maulhead]

Put a piece of garden hose, or old air compressor hose, on it and call it good....

 

[Wood Doctor]

One has to wonder why a chain-catcher roller even exists. Most loggers I know unbolt that thing and throw it away. All it does is make it tougher for them to service and/or replace the chain, especially on a long bar.

 

[RedGas]

Not sure I follow. When you remove the clutch cover on mine, the chain catcher roller assembly goes with it...? (I had to figure this out today when I tried to remove the nut on the CC axle and realized the other end of the axle was just a beveled pin that fit into a hole...)

 

[Wood Doctor]

Not sure I follow. When you remove the clutch cover on mine, the chain catcher roller assembly goes with it...?

Yes it does. It stays with the clutch cover. So when you replace the clutch cover, you have to "thread the needle" in addition to the bar studs. Lots of sawyers hate that.

 

[Leafy]

Never had an issue with mine getting in the way. I like having all my appendages.

 

[Redfin]

Never had an issue with mine getting in the way. I like having all my appendages.

Chains have a tendency of aiming toward my junk when they toss.

Ill deal with a 1/3 less finger. Muh junk...

 

[Al Smith]

I've been at this stuff a long while and am 70 years old .I really don't remember in all those years since I was a teenager of throwing that many chains .However I've certainly found buried treasures on occasion and cleaned the cutters off ,bent the drivers and trashed the rims .

 

[huskyboy]

One has to wonder why a chain-catcher roller even exists. Most loggers I know unbolt that thing and throw it away. All it does is make it tougher for them to service and/or replace the chain, especially on a long bar.

Saws that have that done to them or the owner was just too lazy/cheap to replace it, have a lot of chain rash or case/clutch cover damage. Thrown chains are no joke.

 

[dahmer]

Most of the damage done to the chain would be really beating up the drivers, they aren’t near as hard as the cutters.

 

[fearofpavement]

Chains on modern saws move really fast. It doesn't make sense to defeat the simple technology that can help prevent or reduce injury from a flying piece of sharpened metal. While it isn't common, I have had several instances of thrown chains and about three cases of broken chains. The chain catcher did its job in each case.

 

[beaglebriar]

Chains have a tendency of aiming toward my junk when they toss.

Ill deal with a 1/3 less finger. Muh junk...

As much as you piss and moan, I figured you had an innie?

 

[Cat 525]

Hate those thrown chains that you can hear the drivers hitting the sprocket while it's spinning to a stop!

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

Chain catchers prevent damage to the saw more than they protect your leg.