Chain tensioning

[Alinicoll]

I`m afraid on that i just sort of pull it and see if it feels ok

[Alinicoll]

listen for the frog croking

 

what!!!

[Mozza]

Its all personal prefference, i was taught to show 2 or 3 links when the chain is pulled but over the years ive come to prefer them slightly slacker, only a touch like, maybe 3 to 4 or 4 to 5 links to show when pulled (depending on bar length), I cant really give an answer as to why i prefer it this way, i just do!!

[skyhuck]

I like my chains like my eggs, not too stiff or too sloppy, but just right

[Dean Lofthouse]

Same as Bob, taught to place on a flat surface and tension till the bar raises and stops, longer bars I hold the tip and aid the lift, you should be able to push the bar down and it spring back up, then tighten locking nuts whilst holding up the bar tip

[MattyF]

I like to do mine so tight that they make the bar nose sprocket glow red and smoke then after 10 mins use the chain snaps this way i never have to sharpen my chains and have a good excuse to put a new one on.

[tommer9]

I was taught that the snap test is fairly irrelevant on anything over abou 20" bar length, and also the end of the bar will lift under that lenght when correctly tensioned, but the best way was to rotate the chain and feel the resistance, as on a big bar it could be correctly tensioned yet it would stil be possible to lift the shain off the bar as in a snap test, but lots of links would be exposed.

 

My mate used to work on boats in Brazil- tallships etc_ and when he was about 18 ish he was over there in a yard, a bit green still, and thought he knew it all.......The locals were using saws with 3' bars, wearing flip-flops and shorts only, and the chains were hanging so loose off the bars you could fit your arm between bar and chain. Horrified he shouted to one guy to stop as it was soooo dangerous........"you cant cut curves unless it is that loose" came the reply!!

[Alinicoll]

"you cant cut curves unless it is that loose" came the reply!!

 

Thats brilliant!!

[Ben]

First method I was shown was to hold the tip of the bar up and turn the adjusted screw until the chain meet the bar and then turn it a quarter turn more.

[tractor dave]

First method I was shown was to hold the tip of the bar up and turn the adjusted screw until the chain meet the bar and then turn it a quarter turn more.

 

:dito: