Chain comes off my Husky455

[s219]

When the chain comes off I have to file the part of the chain that slides in the bar as there are burrs on these parts and will not fit in the bar.

Check your bar, tip sprocket, and drive sprocket carefully then, as they may have damage that is putting you in a never ending repeating loop of problems.

The sprocket does occasionally get jammed up with saw dust and will not turn until I clean it out (never had that problem with the Poulan either).

Could be the cause of the chain jumps. Most of the time when a tip sprocket jams, it's because the saw chain is dull and creating sawdust instead of chips. Make sure you are spraying confetti chips when cutting.

The oiler does work because it leaves a small pool of oil when it sits for an hour or more.

That's not necessarily a sign of the oiler working -- in fact it could be the opposite. Make sure you see at least a mist, if not droplets, spraying off the bar tip when revved up. If not, work backwards to see where the oil flow might be restricted.

 

[dgeesaman]

I'm sure most of this has been covered, but:
- make sure the bar oiler holes are clear. I hardly knew they existed when I got my first saw, and they clog up quickly. Poke them clear with a wire or blast clear with shop air.
- check the bar edge for wear and file off any step. If you've always been mounting the bar the same way, compare to the opposite side.
- when tightening the bar nuts, hold the tip of the bar upwards.
- check the chain teeth that engage the sprocket and make sure they aren't damaged.
- is your chain sharp, and resharpened frequently? With a sharp chain you shouldn't need more than the weight of the saw to make a cut.
- check the sprocket that runs the teeth. if there are notches within the notches it's worn and should be replaced.
- I take a thin metal measuring scale and scrape the channel in the bar to clear out the wood gunk.
- I always oil the sprocket and make sure it will rotate freely.
- Check that the chain rides on the nose sprocket and doesn't touch the bar there.
- Re-check chain tension after the saw warms up. Also look for oil on the chain as evidence the oiler is working.

It's a huge list of things but basically be aware that the chain, bar, sprocket, etc are constantly wearing items and if you take care it's entirely manageable.

 

[gwiley]

With the saw not running see how much play is in the chain. You should be able to pull it up off the bar about 1/8". Check side to side play - saw bars wear out and need to have their groove closed or the bar replaced - especially if you run the saw in dirt. I have run nothing but Husqvarna for years, 10 cords per year with no problem. I prefer the 372 but the rancher is a decent saw.

I replace the bar once every year or two and try to remember to flip it every now and then to even out the wear on the top and bottom.

Once a chain gets thrown and the drive links damaged I throw the chain away - at $100 or more to replace the bar it just isn't worth trying to run a damaged chain. I keep a spare chain with me on cutting trips so that I am not forced to try to run a damaged chain.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Lots of good thoughts already offered. I'll just add that I've had a Husky 455 Rancher for a few years now and it has performed flawlessly. Easily the best chainsaw I've ever owned.

As an aside, I bought a Stihl HT131 pole saw last year. It has also been a great saw. I recently had a limb fall on the shaft and put a slight bend in the extension tube. When looking for parts and repair procedures it became abundantly clear that Stihl has NO INTENTION of letting the saw owner do anything beyond adding oil/gas or changing chains. This has really set me back on whether or not I'll ever purchase another Stihl product.

 

[yomax4]

I had a saw throw the chain when the bar groove was packed with oily saw dust. It makes it so the chain rides higher up in the grove making it easier to derail at the tip sprocket. I'm always surprised how much crap I can dig out the bar channel.

 

[Egon]

Chances are the bar, sprocket and chain are not compatible. There may be replacement parts required for all to run well!

 

[kenmac]

I agree with others .. Something isn't right.. I have owned my rancher for about 20 yrs.. Never had a problem.. I can say the rancher has more compression than my 326.. I have to eat my Wheaties B-4 pulling the cord