| How to Use the Oregon Selector Guide | ... or watch our "How To" Video! |
The selector guide is set up for you to use quickly and accurately provided you know three things: your saw’s make, model, and guide-bar length. If you don’t know all three of those characteristics, you should go to your nearest Oregon dealer, with your saw in hand, for help.
How Do I Know What Size Bar I Have?
Your bar's cutting length (or "called length") is different from its total or overall length. The cutting length is the distance from the front of the saw to the tip of the farthest cutter, rounded to the nearest inch. This called length is the number used in the selector guide to describe the bars that are available for your saw. Be careful; a bar made by Oregon may take a different drive link count than that of another producer. Here’s a tip: if you have an Oregon bar, look at the ten-digit number stamped on the motor end; the first two digits, such as 16, tell you the called length.
What is Chain Pitch?
Chain Pitch is the size of the chain, and is definedas the distance between any three consecutive rivets divided by two. Oregon chain is made in several pitches - 1/4" is the smallest, 3/8" is the most popular, 3/4” is thelargest. Pitch is important because the drive sprocket must be the same pitch as the chain, and if applicable, the bar nose sprocket. The easiest way todetermine the pitch of your chain is to look at the number stamped on the drivelink.See the chain-pitch-and-gauge chart below.
What is Chain Gauge?
Chain Gauge is the Drive Link's thickness where itfits into the bar groove. The gauge of the chain and the gauge of the bar mustmatch. Oregon has several gauges for hand-held chain saws - such as, .043”, .050",.058” and .063". Normal wear can make it difficult to accurately measure chain gauge on a worn chain. Always order by the number stamped on the drive link of your old chainto assure correct gauge. See the chain-pitch-and-gauge chart below.
| Chain Pitch and Gauge Chart | ||
| Oregon® part number (stamped on Drive-link) | Chain Pitch | Chain Gauge |
11 (harvester only) | 3/4” | .122” |
16 (harvester only) | .404" | .063" |
18 (harvester only) | .404" | .080" |
20 | .325" | .050" |
| 21 | .325" | .058" |
22 | .325" | .063" |
25 | 1/4" | .050" |
27 | .404" | .063" |
33 | .325" | .050" |
34 | .325" | .058" |
35 | .325" | .063" |
50 | .404" | .050" |
51 | .404" | .058" |
52 | .404" | .063" |
58 | .404" | .058" |
59 | .404" | .063" |
68 | .404" | .063" |
72 | 3/8" | .050" |
73 | 3/8" | .058" |
75 | 3/8" | .063" |
90 | 3/8" | .043" |
91 | 3/8" | .050" |
95 | .325" | .050" |
How do I measure the length of my chain?
The length of your chain is determined by countingthe number of drive links in your chain. Your drive link count has a direct correlation toyour bar’s length. Be careful; a bar made by Oregon may take a different drive link countthan that of another producer. Here’s a tip: count the number of drive links in the chain you have now, and write that number down someplace where you can find it. Or, ifyou have an Oregon chain in an Oregon box, the drive link count is stamped onthe flap; you can save that flap for future reference.
What is the drive sprocket?
The sprocket and the clutch drum are connected to the saw motor.The sprocket is designed todrive the proper-pitched chain around the guide bar.
Certain provisions of the safety standard known as"ANSI (American National Standards Institute) B175.1 - Gasoline powered Chainsaws - Safety Requirements" containrequirements designed to reduce the risk of injury from chainsaws sold in theUnited States. The followinginformation should be used as a guide for the selection of appropriatereplacement chains in order to maintain compliance with the ANSI B175.1standard (United States only).
The ANSI standard B175.1 divides all chainsaw power heads into two groups:
- Under 3.8 cubic-inch (62cc) engine displacement, the chainsaw MUST meet the low kickback provisions of the standard.
- 3.8 cubic inch (62cc) and larger, the chainsaw MAY OR MAY NOT meet low kickback provisions of the standard.
Any chainsaw that does not qualify as a low kickback cutting system will bear a warning such as:“WARNING – This chainsaw is capable of severe kickback that could result in serious injury to the user. Do not operate this chainsaw unless you have extraordinary cutting needs and experience and specialized training for dealing with kickback. Chainsaws with significantly reduced kickback potential are available.”
Be sure to read the labels on a chainsaw before purchasing one.
When replacing chain on saws less than 3.8 cubic inches (62cc), any low-kickback chain of the proper pitch and gauge can be used. Oregon identifies and labels all low-kickback chain with green labels and all NON low kickback chain with yellow labels. Oregon safety features greatly reduce the hazard of kickback while maintaining high cutting performance. However, ALL CHAINS CAN KICKBACK, which may result in severe personal injury to the saw operator or bystander.
Replacement guide bars and the ANSI standard
The ANSI standard states:
Because of differences in replacement guide bars, the following guidelines shall beconsidered to determine kickback energy:
- Sprocket nose guide bars with the same effective length, the same number ofsprocket nose teeth, and the same pitch may be considered to have equivalent kickbackenergy;
- A hard-nose guide bar having the same effective bar length, and the same or smallernose radius as a sprocket-nose bar, may be considered to have equivalent or lesskickback energy than the sprocket nose-bar;
- Kickback energy of all guide bar types may be considered to be less for smaller noseradius sizes.
What is Kickback?
Kickback is the violent backward and/or upward motion of the chainsaw guide bar occurring when the chain near the nose or tip (see picture) of the guide bar contacts any object, such as another log or branch, or when the wood closes in and pinches the cutting chain in the cut.
1. Manufacturer: The brand name of the saw
2. Model: The number or name of the saw
3.Bar length: The cutting length (or “called length”) of the saw bar, measured from the front of the saw to the nose end of the bar. This is not the same as the actual length of the saw bar, which is usually 4-6” greater than the cutting length.
4.Pitch: the size of the chain, measured by determining the distance between three rivets and dividing by two. The drive sprocket and bar nose sprocket are teamed with the chain, and must be the same size or pitch.
5.Gauge: the thickness of the lower portion of the chain drivelink, the part that fits into the saw bar. The chain gauge and the bar groove gauge, or width, must be the same.
6.Select low-kickback (blue/green label) or professional (yellow label) products
7.ANSI Color: Blue indicates low-kickback; yellow indicates professional, not low-kickback use.
8. Part Number: The Oregon part number of the product.
9. Descriptive Information. For example, the brand name of the product, e.g., SuperGuard™.
10. Drive Link: see explanation above
11.Pitch: see explanation above
12.Gauge: see explanation above
13. Sprocket teeth: the number of teeth in the drive sprocket, at the motor end of the unit.
14. File size: Sharpening file diameter
15. To place parts in your shopping cart, check the box(es) in the row containing the Oregon part(s) you want to purchase. This list can then be loaded into the shopping cart if you want to place an order.
16. Notes field: Look in this area for important messages about part information. For example, if you choose a .050” gauge chain and a .063” bar, you will see the note: Please see your Servicing Dealer to verify pitch, gauge, and motor mount . You can still choose these parts because it's possible to be buying for two different saws, but you will be notified that there is a discrepancy.
17. Clicking the "Compare Items or Create Shopping List" button will bring up a list of the parts you selected under the Shopping Cart column. If you have selected more than one Oregon chain, bar or sprocket in the Shopping Cart column of check boxes, you will have an opportunity to compare parts.
