How Do You Know When a Chainsaw Sprocket Is Bad

The bulldoze sprocket is perchance the most disregarded part of a chainsaw's cutting organisation. Although it could be considered the hardest working wear point after the chain, it rarely gets the attention it deserves. Quite literally, the drive sprocket's job is to transfer all the momentum and torque from the chainsaw's engine direct to the cutting chain.

Supersede a chainsaw bulldoze sprocket after wearing out ii chains or if it is damaged. If you use multiple bondage in a cut session instead of re-sharpening a single chain, supercede the sprocket when replacing the bar. Sprockets prematurely worn or damaged by improper use, frequent chain derailments, or the use of damaged or miss-sized bondage should be replaced immediately to preclude damage to other components like the chain's driver links and the bar's rail groove.

Check the bulldoze sprocket for wear as part of your pre-outset process and concatenation sharpening routine. On a stopped saw, manually rotate the chain around the bar several times to feel for any binding, clunking, or slipping. The chain should move smoothly with picayune effort. When flipping the bar look at the sprocket for damage or excessive clothing.

Why Is Replacing Your Drive Sprocket Important?

• A drive sprocket's pitch changes as information technology wears. Over fourth dimension this will cause loss of power and excessive wear on the chain and bar.
• Severely worn sprockets will make tensioning the chain harder, causing more frequent chain derailments. On a larger saw "throwing a concatenation" can bend concatenation links, ruining fifty-fifty a brand new concatenation.
• Generally speaking, it is quicker and cheaper to replace the drive sprocket than to fix the damage a worn one tin crusade.

Signs That Your Drive Sprocket Has Worn Out

If y'all adopt to employ several bondage out in the field rather than sharpening one chain continuously until it is worn out, yous will need to inspect the drive sprocket more critically. I like to use multiple chains as it promotes flipping the bar on a regular ground, but obviously, it takes much longer to wear through a batch of chains. Because of this, I change my drive sprocket whenever I supersede my bar.

Visual signs of sprocket wearable:

Spur sprocket:

• Teeth should be smooth and consistent. If the teeth have get chipped it is time to supervene upon.
• Excessively deep grooves caused by the chain'due south driver links. See example. Some scoring is normal, but a deep groove is non.
• The concatenation has become is too long and will no longer tension correctly

Spur Sprocket Diagram

Figures A & B shows a typical spur sprocket
Effigy C shows a heavily worn spur sprocket that should be replaced

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Rim Sprocket Diagram

Figures A & B shows a typical rim sprocket
Figure C shows a heavily worn rim sprocket that should be replaced

Rim sprocket:

• Channels should not exceed the vesture indicators. Similar to cutters on a chain, rim sprockets have wear indicators on the left and right sides of each channel to indicate when to supervene upon them.
• The sprocket should exist symmetrical without warping side to side.

Tactile signs for Both Sprocket types:

• The chain feels like it is slipping or skipping nether load
• Gradual loss of torque
• Increased vibration while cut
• Frequent chain derailments

When information technology is time to replace your chainsaw's sprocket there are a few boosted items you might consider.

Types Of Chainsaw Bulldoze Sprockets

There are ii types of chainsaw drive sprockets in a variety of gauges, pitches, and molar configurations (6, 7, or 8) to arrange different chains, bars, and performance needs. Your chainsaw volition come from the manufacturer with either a spur or rim sprocket that works with the rest of your cutting components.

• Spur Sprocket: an open, star-shaped sprocket that is integrated into the clutch pulsate to create one rotating office.
• Rim (floating) Sprocket: a closed, channel sprocket that slips over a splined hub on the clutch drum, remaining free-floating.

Figure A: Spur Sprocket is a unibody part integrated into the clutch cover
Figure B: Rim Sprocket is a stand-alone function that slips over a sprocket on the clutch cover

Spur vs. Rim Sprocket – Is Ane Better?

Both rim and spur sprocket types do their chore very well, but in that location are maintenance and functioning differences to consider when changing your bulldoze sprocket style. Spur sprockets are more durable, but rim sprockets are easier to replace and provide a slight increment in performance. In arborist and logger circles, many of these subtle differences are heavily debated. Call up Ford vs. Chevy, Stihl vs. Husqvarna, Coke vs. Pepsi. Notwithstanding, there is understanding that you shouldn't consider switching your sprocket blazon until your electric current sprocket is worn out. The benefits are not worth the cost of replacing a functional sprocket. Read my opinion on which bulldoze sprocket is best

What to Consider When Replacing or Switching A Drive Sprocket

If you decide to change your drive sprocket type, the new sprocket must be compatible with the chainsaw'south chain and bar's pitch and approximate. Additionally, yous will demand to ensure the new clutch drum is compatible with your brand of saw.  Simply like bars and chains, pitch and gauge must match. Getting it wrong can cause serious harm to the other cutting arrangement components. Check out our chainsaw cutting arrangement components article for more information on getting information technology right.

Should Yous Changing Your Sprocket's Tooth Count

Chainsaw drive sprockets most commonly come in 6, seven, or 8 tooth variations. Irresolute a chainsaw's bulldoze sprocket'due south tooth count is often chosen "gearing". Changing your chainsaw'due south gearing volition change the cutting characteristics of your saw. More teeth volition increment chain speed while fewer teeth will increase torque. The pros and cons are very similar to changing gears on a bike. Showtime gear provides a lot of ability to get up hills easily but is very slow on the flats. tenth gear is fast on the flats, merely impossible to power upwards hills. Check out our drive sprocket speed computer to see the departure.

Unless you are a professional or have very specific cut needs, it is best to stick with the tooth count that came from the mill. Or at the very least, talk with your local dealer to come across which sprocket tooth count is correct for your needs.

Pro Tips

• If your chainsaw uses a rim-blazon drive sprocket, add a spare sprocket and retaining prune to your field service kit. There is nothing worse than being out in the woods. Miles abroad from civilization and your saw is out of service because one tiny, but important part failed.
• If your chainsaw uses a spur-blazon drive sprocket yous tin add a spare to your field service kit, only the fix isn't so easy in the field.

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How Do You Know When a Chainsaw Sprocket Is Bad

Source: https://timbertherapy.com/when-to-replace-your-chainsaws-drive-sprocket/

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