Sorry, I misspoke. 55 link would be for a 16" bar with 9 sprocket teeth. I should have asked for both saw and bar sprockets. Even better, is it a Stihl bar? Can you read the p/n on it? It seems there's a bar (3005 008 4813, 3/8, .050, 9 tooth sprocket) which calls for either a 55 or 56 link chain. Odd, perhaps they made a change at one point which requires the additional length. But, I'd think they would have changed the p/n. Someone knowing more than me might be able to advise. Did you count the drive links on the old chain? Did you back off the adjuster all the way? Is it being blocked by sawdust?
We have tools and basic/intermediate mechanical skills between the two of us. What exactly is the r&r procedure? Even removing the clutch, it seems if we could get the chain on, it would probably be super tight, which doesn't sound right.
Stihl shows a similar bar (as mentioned above) using 55 or 56 link chains. I think that means one or the other, not either. Guessing something changed along the way - a slight change in the bar (despite the same p/n), or (perhaps more likely) a mid-model change to the adjuster mechanism. I'm too lazy to research further. It seems the OP needs a 56 link chain, since the 55 won't even force-fit.
