Straighting a bent chain...

[Banjo picker]

Some how the 36 inch chisel tooth chain that i occasionaly use on my 460 has got a slight twist in it...can i take it to the anvel an straighten it out?  Or will i only succed in then runing the bar as well?  Tim

[Rocky_J]

I hope you aren't thinking of trying to straighten the chain while it's on the bar.
I've straightened out a few chains that weren't too bad with no problems. If the chain is kinked badly though, it may create a weak link bending it back straight.

Another option is popping out the bent links and replacing them if you have access to a chain breaker and spinner.

[Al_Smith]

If you just have a few drive links twisted a vice will usually straighten them out .

If however you bent the drivers up in the chain it's self it might not be a bad idea to just change them rather than take a chance of breaking a chain .That would not be good .

If you have a bunch of them screwed up it might be a better option to cut the chain down to a shorter usable length you could use and just replace the long loop with a new one . A driver and the tie straps are something like close to a buck a pop .If you have  10-12 screwed up you have half the price of a new chain in repairing it .

At like 22-24 cents per driver a 36" loop of Oregon from Baileys or some other supplier is not that much as compaired to paying twice that at a saw shop .

[mike_van]

I've taken some bends out with the chain off & just using my hands to bend the oposite of where it's bent. No hammer or vise needed, if it's that bad, you probably can't fix it. 

[Banjo picker]

Its not that bad really,, I would not have noticed it if the logger that brings me most of my lo9gs had not seen it and pointed it out to me ....now I am pair of noids. :D :D  Tim

[Frickman]

I just bend them back by hand. If I can't bend them back by hand I may beat on them. If they're real bad I'll junk them or save them for cutting up firewood and put them on an old, worn out bar. I never put any chain I question on a newer bar.

[Banjo picker]

I hope you aren't thinking of trying to straighten the chain while it's on the bar.
I've straightened out a few chains that weren't too bad with no problems. If the chain is kinked badly though, it may create a weak link bending it back straight.

Another option is popping out the bent links and replacing them if you have access to a chain breaker and spinner.

No i wasn't gona straighten it on the bar. :D  but the hand thing isn't working either...so I think I will take the above advice and just change out a half dozen drivers which I think will be enough to get it done...Thanks   Tim

[frndly neighborhd loger]

i use 2 pairs of small visegrip clamped an the connectors to bend it back into shape.while its on the bar,that way you can see which way it need to be bent. don't bend radically back and forth or the chain could break or weaken.

[rickywashere]

if its bent very much it will never saw exactly right best bet is take it to almost any saw shop and get couple links put back will save many headaches  down the road

[rebocardo]

I use a 6" vise. Once done make sure you test each link by bending the chain 90 degrees to simulate it going around the sprocket and nose. If the chain/rivet binds it will derail the chain or break, from personal heart stopping experience  ;)

[madhatte]

^

Seconded on the "heart-stopping experience"

Take that chain to a saw shop and have the offending links replaced.  If you can do it yourself, all the better.