Problem

[TaNK_Em]

Hello, I have a poulan pro chainsaw. Its seem some use and I am having a problem with the chain staying on the bar. I put the chain on correctly and tighten it to where it needs to be. After cutting for a short amount of time the chain will come off the bar. Any ideas?

Kevin

 

[tek9tim]

Do a search for throwing chain. You'll get all kinds of information. To sum it up: 98% of the time a chain is thrown, it's operator error rather than hardware problems. Make sure to clean up the burrs off of your drivers, make sure the bar's in good shape, put on a new sprocket, and if you still have trouble, it's you, not the saw.

 

[GASoline71]

Tim beat me to it...

Agreed... most of the time it is the operator and their cuttin' "style".

When is the chain coming off... in the cut? while buckin'?, limbin'? or when you are not cuttin'?

Gary

 

[computeruser]

Welcome to the site!

Check your chain for burs on the drive links. Check the bar for straight, true rails with clean grooves. Make sure the sprocket nose on the bar is spinning nicely. Also make sure that the drive sprocket is not unduly worn.

Fit everything up with the clutch cover OFF, tighten the bar nuts down on the bar. Don't run the saw this way, obviously, but rotate the chain by hand and make sure that it looks like the chain is feeding onto the bar straight and true.

Let us know how this stuff checks out.

 

[dtnodya]

Make sure you are using the right size chain for the bar.

 

[Jacob J.]

Tim got it on the money. The number one cause for consistent chain throws is a badly worn sprocket. Number two is an excessively worn bar. Number three is damaged drivers resulting from the initial chain throw.

 

[TaNK_Em]

Thanks for the quick replies and thanks for welcoming me. Not to sound cocky, but I don't think its operator error. I just went out there and took a look at it. How loose is the bar sprocket supposed to spin by hand? Right now it doesn't spin all that freely. It is the stock bar that came with the chainsaw. It has happened to be while bucking and limbing.

- Kevin

 

[Dan Forsh]

The nose sprocket won't spin freely, but you should be able to turn it with little resistance

 

[TaNK_Em]

Ok, it spins without resistance but it sounds like its rubbing with some debris in there dirt, etc. There are some marks on the clutch from the chain is this normal wear and tear?

 

[Fish]

What type of bar tensioner does it have? Post some pics or Model numbers. Do you have a slot in the bar to tighten the chain? Or do you have
a screw in the sprocket cover or saw?

 

[TaNK_Em]

Poulan Pro PP-4218 18' inch bar. It has the bar with the slot in it to tighten the chain.

Kevin

 

[spike60]

Another thought is that your chain tensioner is bad. The tensioner usually has 3 parts: the bolt or screw, the stud that engages the bar, and some kind of retainer to keep the bolt from moving. Sometimes it is a nut, and on many electrolux products it is a small nylon piece that fits in a groove in the screw. That nylon piece, (if you have one), can wear out allowing the whole thing to move. No matter how hard you tighten the bar nuts, the chain still loosens up and gets thrown. I had one in the shop last week, and it was driving the guy nuts.

 

[spike60]

Poulan Pro PP-4218 18' inch bar. It has the bar with the slot in it to tighten the chain.

Kevin

Ok, I see my last post was off the mark!!!

Those bars have their own stories though. Do you notice the chain getting loose before it gets thrown?

 

[scottr]

Poulan Pro PP-4218 18' inch bar. It has the bar with the slot in it to tighten the chain.

Kevin

Kevin , that's the Intenz bar . Are you running the standard 91VP safety chain ? If the grooves on the drive sprocket are .020" deep then it's time to change the sprocket .

 

[TaNK_Em]

Yeah, I hate the stupid chain tensioner built into the bar. And I have noticed even after tightening the chain it will come loose and fly off. It is the stock chain, a Oregon one. So do you guys think I should just get a new bar and chain or take it back to Lowe's with the warranty.

- Kevin

 

[scottr]

Yeah, I hate the stupid chain tensioner built into the bar. And I have noticed even after tightening the chain it will come loose and fly off. It is the stock chain, a Oregon one. So do you guys think I should just get a new bar and chain or take it back to Lowe's with the warranty.

- Kevin

Kevin , here's a thread that you might find interesting . http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=19326

 

[TaNK_Em]

Thanks, Yeah it is a stuid design. I own quaility products like Stihl and Shindaiwa, but a poulan pro chainsaw. This was a mistake its the second one I have owned and the first one was returned with some other problems. The Stihl MS 361 is what I have my eyes on right now, and I want the poulan pro gone! I dont cut down trees for a profession, not yet at least. But I want a professional grade product when I need one. So have we come to conclusion that the bar and chain should be replaced on the poulan if i cant get it under warranty and or return?

 

[scottr]

Kevin , it's posssible that you have thrown the chain and damaged the bar rails and the chain drivers . That does not make something a bad design . Limbing can easily derail a chain . Look at the bar and chain closely to see if there is damage . Have you set the depth gauges (rakers) on the chain to .025" ? From what the IPL on the PP4218AV shows me is that the clutch cover does not have the option to add a bar adjust kit to eliminate the Intenze bar .

 

[TaNK_Em]

I'll take a look at the depth gauges tonight, I was looking at the saw and my drive sprocket seems pretty worn also.

- Kevin

 

[scottr]

Kevin , I looked up the IPL for the P3416 and it looks like the same clutch cover as your PP4218 but the green one has a bar adjust kit . If you go to poulan.com and type in model number P3416 you can look at the parts manual .