Question on a stretched chain.

I got careless while dorking around limbing a downed oak tree, not noticing my chain was loose, and off it came. Put it back on and its tight in one spot. It was a fairly new chain, sharpened once. I set it aside for repair?
The drive sprocket looks okay, but there is about 1/16'' of play (in & out). This could be normal I hope! Its a Stihl ms261-cm. This is more end play then on my older ms180 drive gear.
Now to my question,
Are the newer stihls designed with more back and forth drive gear play, then the older ones?
Or did I damage it and need to replace it?
Thanks for your time.

 

If your talking about the rim being able to move in and out against the washer and circlip its supposed to have play. This is normal and you want it this way.

 

Not sure what you mean by tight in one spot when talking bout your chain. Is a link binding up?

 

BTW throwing chains will happen occasionally, not great for the saw, but usually pretty harmless in the scheme of things.

 

When I put the chain back on and adjusted the tention. Spining it by hand is where there is one spot where it gets tight.

 

Maybe the link your talking about is messed up on the driver underneath the cutting tooth...?

 

Thanks!

 

If so file it smooth so it will go easy through the bar groove...

 

Ya, I will inspect it better in the shop. Thanks.

 

Will do. Stuck at work, but when I get home I will fix it.

 

Ya i'm thinking the drive tooth is buggered up a little and not clearing the bar groove...maybe its ok though

 

Thanks again! 29 degrees now and 10 degrees forcast for tonight here in S.E. Kansas. Stay warm up there in Wi. And have a happy Safe New Year!

 

Ok, thanks. I hope this advice will take care of your chain.if not keep posting, a pic might be useful

 

Yup, this is a common occurrence on a thrown chain. Just check the suspect areas drive teeth for burs and file them smooth again.

 

I have an 18" chain that is like this. It would get bound up in one section. The only explanation I have for that is just what $ooline is saying here. I still have the chain. Did not trade it in with my old saw. If someone wants the chain from here, they are welcome to it. I went to a 20" bar on my new saw and when I go to an inexpensive lighter back up saw it will be with a 14 or 16 inch bar. I never did fix it before I traded.

 

Rather than file off any raised bits on drive link(s), I take a couple of hammers, use one as an anvil and peen down the raised areas. Why throw away valuable steel?

If you throw chains with any regularity, it's likely because the bar is mounted to a flexible plastic chassis, rather than to engine casting.

 

Yea like others say the drive link is most likely burred. Is that what you found? And also the drive sprocket does have some in and out play and thats normal.

 

I'll probably get a few dander's up with this but.........

When I throw a chain and it boogers up one of the drive links, I put it back on a little loose, rev up the saw and let the bar clean it off. Takes about 2 seconds. I don't worry about the bar taking much abuse. As hard as I use my saws, a bar will usually only last a couple years anyway.

OK. I'm ready for the shellacking.

 

I did this a few weeks ago as I was in the field and had one chain and no files with me at the farm period and just started my work.

 

I remember how it happened now. I was idling the saw and started to limb the log when the chain jumped off. My own fault again!
I have not worked on it yet. Just changed out the blade for now. Happy New Year to all!