Chainsaw chains....snapping

[jj3500]

With the rigors that the chains sees during its lifetime. Has anyone experienced a chain actually breaking? Whats the possibility?

 

[JustWood]

When you bend a bar obviously the chain also bends. When bent back ( the chain) and run it you can almost always count on it breaking where it was bent. I have used literally 1000"s of feet of chain and as far as I can remember this is the only time I've had one break.

 

[jebatty]

Been using various chainsaws for 19 years - never had a chain break. Cut about 10 cords of firewood/year, plus trees for lumber. I keep my chains sharp, maybe that helps.

 

[Apprentice_GM]

I've had a chain break. Don't really know why. It was worn - the shop wouldn't sharpen it any more (I usually hand sharpen with every tank but occasionally get a shop sharpen) but it had a mm or so to the wear line. I always wear gloves and a helmet with ear muffs and a pull down mesh visor, plus my prescription glasses, so plenty of PPE, but gave me a shock anyway.

I don't quite understand the previous post about bending the bar - do you mean pinching the bar? Twisting it? Or actually bending it, like if it was in a cut (and off) and you pushed against it sideways - so then when using it and looking along the bar it looks like my golf shot (hook or slice)?

 

[savageactor7]

Been cutting since 70's and never ever had a chain break...and that would include my junk chains I use to cut down the stumps below ground level.

 

[smokinj]

never had one break, but like any chain it can be done

 

[Gooserider]

I've had one break - it was a cheapo Home Depot "Power Care" chain on my Pull-on, which has a habbit of throwing chains if you look at it funny. It is quite possible that it broke at a point where it had been tweaked in a previous throwing incident, but all I can say for sure is that one of the rivets sheared, I ended up with a single side plate on each end of the chain.

Not a big issue though, as the "chain catcher" did what it was supposed to do - I didn't realize the chain was broken till I got the saw back to my workspace and started trying to put it back on...

Gooserider