Strange chain drive links?

[fearofpavement]

Came across this chain and have never seen one like it before? Why is it made like this? The drive links are rounded on some and hooked on others. Strange to me.

 

[Cut4fun]

Yep I remember when they tried that rudder. May still have some.

 

[Cut4fun]

2007 http://www.oregonproducts.com/pdf/2007_OregonShowcase.pdf
Just scroll down a bit to read on it.

 

[jakethesnake]

That is strange guess that idea flopped?

 

[Cut4fun]

yep

 

[Black Dog Chainsaw]

jesus... someone over-beaked the snot out of that chain!

 

[67L36Driver]

jesus... someone over-beaked the snot out of that chain!

Hand filed lots with a too large a file held low.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Oregon experimenting again. I've run into a few. Round driver every other or round every third? Seems like an attempt to extend drive sprocket and/or bar nose life. Might work. Might not.

 

[fearofpavement]

jesus... someone over-beaked the snot out of that chain!

Well, now that I know that this is a new and improved design, I'll put that puppy on the grinder and bring it back to earth... Should have a little tooth left by the time they get trued. I just had never seen chain like that and I've seen a lot of chains. Must have not caught on, eh?

 

[JeffGu]

 

[Wilhelm]

I see something like that for the first time and all I ever used (till recently) was Oregon.
That design can not be that much superior, if it was Oregon would implement it on their chains and others would have copied them.

I bet they had/have issues with oil not being carried along by those funky DL's.

If it indeed is superior over classic DL chains I would gladly give it a try!

Try whatever can be saved from that chain and report back!
Once You are done with it send it to @Philbert .

 

[SawTroll]

I see something like that for the first time and all I ever used (till recently) was Oregon.
That design can not be that much superior, if it was Oregon would implement it on their chains and others would have copied them.

I bet they had/have issues with oil not being carried along by those funky DL's.

.... .

....and/or that they left more debris in the groove, and actually "packed" it below reach of the other drivers? I remember this was discussed, but not the outcome of the discussions...

Anyhow, I suspect that the main issue was the odd looks, that scared buyers off.

I have used a few 73LGX chains that were/are that way, and didn't notice anything was different with how they actually worked.

 

[Wilhelm]

Didn't think of that, good point @SawTroll !

Without the tangs those DL's would push chips down into the groove instead of hooking them and carrying them (more or less) out of the bars groove.
Good observation.

 

[SawTroll]

Oregon experimenting again. I've run into a few. Round driver every other or round every third? Seems like an attempt to extend drive sprocket and/or bar nose life. Might work. Might not.

Actually 2 out of every 3 on the one in post #1 - but as I remember it, the ratio actually varied over time - or was it with chain model?

 

[skidooguy]

My 2171 came with that stuff on it when I bought it new in like 2007 ish. If I remember correctly I took it off because it didn't oil for crap and would get hot and get really tight from sawdust piling up in the groove. I have ran Stihl chain only since and not had any of the issues that I did with that style chain.

 

[SawTroll]

My 2171 came with that stuff on it when I bought it new in like 2007 ish. If I remember correctly I took it off because it didn't oil for crap and would get hot and get really tight from sawdust piling up in the groove. I have ran Stihl chain only since and not had any of the issues that I did with that style chain.

That's plausible, the ones I didn't experience any issue with were only 60dl (16"), and the bar was new.

Anyway, it was a rather short-lived "experiment", so there is no reason to avoid Oregon chain today.