Fitting different gauge bar & chain?

[TurtleWoods72]

Hello peeps,

 

Now I’ve changed my bar & chain combo a few times to go longer and shorter, no issues.

 

What I am curious about is whether I can fit a slightly different GAUGE bar & chain if the drive sprocket size matches the saw?

 

For example can a 3/8 0.050 (1.3mm) bar and chain be swapped out for a 3/8 0.043 (1.1mm) bar & chain without issues? 
 

My mind tells me it should all work and would just require the bar stud nuts to come further down the threads to snug up the 0.2mm thinner bar.

 

Am I missing something? 🤷‍♂️ 

[Tree monkey 1682]

 Used to be able to do all manner of weird bar and chain combos ,until oregon hovered up alot of the brands .

Main things the sprocket. 

Id have liked to put 0.43 on one of my saws but not sure if thats even possible!

[Mik the Miller]

The bar, chain and sprocket (spur or rim) must all match.

A narrower drive link will draw through a wider channel but it can catch on the walls and it's not something I would recommend.

[TurtleWoods72]

17 minutes ago, Mik the Miller said:

The bar, chain and sprocket (spur or rim) must all match.

A narrower drive link will draw through a wider channel but it can catch on the walls and it's not something I would recommend.

Yeah, I’m definitely not contemplating sticking a smaller chain in a wider bar, but from what you’ve said (if I understand correctly) if the drive sprocket size is correct, and the bar and chain match, it’s all good, right?

[Dan Maynard]

You're correct, yes. Drive sprockets only have pitch, so same one for different gauge chains. Bar and chain match pitch and gauge.

 

Not recommended to swap new chains onto old sprockets though, keep an eye on that. They wear together as a pair, so if you put a new chain on an old sprocket it will not make proper contact on the wear points and can mangle the chain, that's whether it's same gauge or not.

Edited 2 hours ago by Dan Maynard

[Mark_Skyland]

As above its worth replacing it with a new drive sprocket on unless its fairly new with no wear marks.