Chainsaw05/04/2024

How to measure pitch and gauge on a chainsaw chain

Chain pitch

Pitch is the distance between:

  • the rivets on the chain
  • the powerhead drive sprocket teeth
  • the guide bar spur sprocket teeth

The pitch measure is often printed on the bar’s tail, on the chain’s drive link, in the operator’s manual or on the rim of the spur on the chainsaw.

On the X-CUT chains, the pitch is stamped on the drive link.

See example below where 8 stands for pitch and 5 for gauge, meaning the pitch is 3/8".

Also, the pitch is often stamped on the drive sprocket or the clutch drum of the chainsaw.

If you are uncertain of your chain pitch size, we advise you to contact your nearest dealer for further support.

Gauge

The gauge is the thickness of the lower part of the chain drive link and the width of the guide bar groove.

The gauge measure is often printed on the bar’s tail, but you can also find it in the operator’s manual.

On the X-CUT chains, the gauge is stamped on the drive link.

See the example below where 8 stands for pitch and 5 for gauge, meaning that the gauge is 1.5 mm = .058".

If you are uncertain of your gauge size, we advise you to contact your nearest dealer for further support.

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