Finding Chain length for old bars

[Sty57]

How do you guy figure out chain length "DL" for older bars?
I have a few older Homelite hardnose bars but no chain for them.
Is there a way to mount the Bar and get a measurement so I can have some chain spun up?

 

[Genius]

I am interested too. This is what I do, I am curious if there is a simpler way.

I am assuming you do not have a breaker or spinner? I mount a bar on the saw and take a open loop and put it on the saw. Then I'll break the chain and make a loop.

I have also used a big loop of chain. (Say if you have a 16" bar, I'd use a 20" loop). Put that loop on the saw and count how many excess DL you have.

A lot of times putting in the number stamped on the bar in Google will give results.

 

[Czed]

I do it the lazy way I take saw with bar to my dealer he's awesome he runs the loops and writes a card for how many I'll need next time.I run a lot of echos and older saws that don't have the dls stamped on the bar and the echos always have a weird link count.

 

[mdavlee]

I have one dealer who will do that now. We did have 3 until 2 years ago. I use the Genius method sometimes if I have one I don't know. Washers and the bar nuts can hold the bar on so you can wrap a loop around so you don't need 3 hands. Vise grips can also hold the chain on unless the bar is PSP material.

 

[Red97]

Lay the loop over the bar and pinch it together with 7 drivers hanging off the tail. Add 1 if using an 8 pin rim.


That is how many drivers you need for the new chain.

 

[fearofpavement]

Lay the loop over the bar and pinch it together with 7 drivers hanging off the tail. Add 1 if using an 8 pin rim.


That is how many drivers you need for the new chain.

This is true much of the time but it does depend on the bar/powerhead combination in some cases. For most of the Stihl saws I have 7dl works.

 

[Sty57]

Ok thanks for some tips.

But is there a way to do it without having a chain?

 

[fearofpavement]

Ok thanks for some tips.

But is there a way to do it without having a chain?

Not unless you can identify the bar model. If you knew what bar it was, then you could probably find specs on it.

 

[countryhog]

Mount bar. Wrap starter rope around it. Mark where overlap starts. Measure length. Divide by 0.375. Voila

 

[fearofpavement]

Mount bar. Wrap starter rope around it. Mark where overlap starts. Measure length. Divide by 0.375. Voila

That will get you close but keep in mind that 3/8" chain isn't really.

 

[Jon1212]

Many times I have been able to find drive link information on the Oregon website, under the parts look up tab.

 

[Sty57]

Mount bar. Wrap starter rope around it. Mark where overlap starts. Measure length. Divide by 0.375. Voila

That's what I was thinking of trying.
I have a few old Homelite bars that have no info on them.

If I know what the dimension is between three rivits.
It should come out close.....right?

 

[countryhog]

Like was just said - it'll get you close. Be thoughtful when mounting the bar to allow for some variance