Oregon chain

[6sunset6]

A while ago I got an Oregon chain for my Sthil 026   Put it on today   too short    All the numbers are correct.
I guess I should count the links.   Anybody else have an issue like this?   IF it is short a link is it worth it to take it to a saw shop and get a link added?

[beenthere]

"is it worth it?"

What say you? Not much good if it is too short so...;)

Maybe check if the seller knows it doesn't fit and exchange it for one that does. What were the "numbers" for what you rec'd?  Something must not be "correct".

Good luck.

[lumberjack48]

Not a big issue guy, have somebody add a link or 2, or swap for the right driver count.   8)

[snowstorm]

A while ago I got an Oregon chain for my Sthil 026   Put it on today   too short    All the numbers are correct.
I guess I should count the links.   Anybody else have an issue like this?   IF it is short a link is it worth it to take it to a saw shop and get a link added?

the 026 sthil uses one more driver than a husky that size

[6sunset6]

I just counted drive links on the Oregon chain and a new Stihl chain    .325 pitch, 67 drive links.    Both numbers correct on both chains.   However  the stihl chain is  very slightly longer  tooth to tooth. Over 67 links
Never mind   I think I found it. The Oregon chain had a one link  frozen at an up angle .   I don't know why I did not see it on the saw.   Resulted in 1/4   link short .  I hope .  Two chains sitting on top of each other on the kitchen table seem to be the same. I will post again if it is still a problem. 

[John Mc]

Aren't the stihl chains "prestretched"? If so, that might account for the slightly longer link spacing.

[Clam77]

Don't think they are John... atleast I've never had one that was.  They all stretch a little eventually..

[John Mc]

I though tomeone on here once said that that was why Stihl chains did not stretch as much when new...

[sawguy21]

I will wager that the stuck link is where it was joined. Somebody got careless.

[Al_Smith]

They just spun it too tight .Put it in a vise and straighten it out .Put it on the saw and run it .BTW there isn't any difference in the  lengths  no matter who made it unless it's from some third world country .67 drivers is 67 drivers .

[JohnG28]

JohnMc, I've run Stihl and WoodlandPro (Carlton I believe) and I do think the the Stihl chain stretched less, at least initially. I'm not in any kind of production though, just small time. Like the WoodlandPro just as much though.

[Al_Smith]

 :D Baileys had a sale a couple years back on Woodland pro so I bought a half dozen loops .Not paying attention to what I was doing I filed them like I do Oregon 72 with a compound angle .

Good heavens I could have cut faster with the chain on backwards .Frustrated I about gave because I know how to file a chain or thought I did .Good ole Frank W .aka Crofter showed me the error of my ways  in with  that tooth design it files like Stihl at 90 degrees top instead of 10 up .Live and learn they say .

As for Oregon I've used it for years with no problem .Stihl markets better chain regarding length of service but it costs twice as much .Probabley a toss up in cost  when you figure length of service .

[Al_Smith]

Tid bit of info on this .I'm told the process Oregon uses to assemble the chain is to assemble everything then grind as assembled .

Stihl I'm told grinds the cutters first then assembles the chain .

Couple years back Baileys had a bunch of .404 Oregon round chisel that wasn't quite up to par right out of the box .Cut okay just not as fast as normal .After a few filings like most chain however it came in and did just fine .

[John Mc]

Al -

I did the same thing with the Woodland Pro - sharpening to Oregon specs. I suffered through about half the life of the chain before I figured it out. It was probably a post here on FF that tipped me off to check out the sharpening specs. I would not have figured it made that much of a difference until I experienced it.

John Mc

[lumberjack48]

I've used Oregon, Stihl, and Carlton chain, they all cut very good when filed right I never knew there was a difference in specs, but then I'm not using a grinder, hand filing by eye ball, by my specs.
I've never used the Woodland Pro, it must have a little different profile cutter, interesting.  :P