Replacing a Chainsaw Chain Today? What That Dl Number Means Right Now
By James H. Sterling
Drive links do not cut wood. The cutting happens on top of the loop, where hardened cutters slice wood fibers and depth gauges control bite depth. Drive links perform three entirely different mechanical functions underneath.
First, they act as the transmission teeth. As the clutch drum spins, the drive sprocket teeth hook directly into the drive links, propelling the loop around the bar at speeds often exceeding 45 to 60 miles per hour. Second, drive links track the chain within the guide bar groove. Their lower tangs remain submerged in the channel, preventing the chain from derailing under lateral pressure. Third, drive links carry lubrication. Most manufacturers design these lower lugs with small oil channels or reservoirs that scoop bar oil from the oiler port and spread it along the bar rails, keeping friction temperatures low and extending metal life.
If a chain lacks the correct drive link count, the saw's tensioning pin will reach its adjustment limit before the loop sits flush against the rails.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
