Having issues with stretching chains out on my saws and wondering what the problem is? This isn't specific to any one saw, it's an issue I've dealt with for years and many different saws (Husqvarna, Echo, Poulan, Craftsman) . Tried many different brands of chains, always made sure they were oiling properly, ran them loose, ran them snug, never "tight". Always ends up where I'm spending more time tightening chains than cutting, and eventually they stretch to where I run out of adjustment and I have to replace the chain. People talk about sharpening chains, heck I stretch them out before they get dull.

Preach to me!

I know, "Stihl".......... But we're not talking about which saw to buy.

Metal expands when it gets hot and shrinks when it gets cool.

Thinner the metal quicker it heats up.


Best chains are oilomatic by stihl


I’m done with any chain Oregon makes, including Echo

It’s a curse I tell ya!!


I can’t help much but my 24” stretches bad. That’s the only saw I’ve had that problem with though. Same saw with the 20” bar is a non issue. I’m curious as to what you find.

I have never had that problem. Get the right length chain, make sure your oiler works.

Dad showed me how to sharpen a chain saw chain using a proper sized round file when I was young, also have to use a small flat file to trim the raker teeth every now and then. Touch up the chain with a file on every tank. Takes about five minutes and good to go. Plus make sure the oiled is working. Have chains that cut “many”’cords of wood that teeth finally got worn down to where the chain needed to be replaced , as teeth were worn to the point of being not much left. Never had one stretch to the point of not being able to use.

As a teenager, I cut miles of senderos through the of mesquite, with some oak mixed in, with a chain saw in South Tx. The metal they were made of back then did not stretch like the POS stuff they sell today.

Put on a new chain...run it about 5 - 10 min, tighten ONCE, then it was good until it needed sharpening. And I remember going all morning, and sharpening when I stopped for my sandwich, then going all afternoon. All you had to do was keep it out of the sand.

I'd pay a $100 for a chain that was as good as what we had in the 70's

Back maybe you just hit on something. KEEP IT OUT OF THE SAND! And let the chain cut don’t force it.

My Stihl chains don’t seem to stretch, but my neighbor’s Craftsman seems to stretch chains. There may be a solution for the cheaper chains. Years ago a grumpy old woman at a tractor place, where I went for a new chain, said to loosen the chain when I was through cutting and they wouldn’t stretch.

Stihl Oilomatic are the only chains I have, on Stihl saws. I have three Stihl saws. I do not have a chain stretching problem. The chain on the little 193T arborist saw has been sharpened so much I am almost to the line on the teeth where you stop, and retire the chain.

Proper chain tightness is snug to the bar, but still able to pull the chain away from the motor on top of the bar, making the chain move in the direction of travel it does during operation. But tight enough, that when you grab the chain at the center of the top of the bar, you can almost make the guides clear the groove in the bar, but not quite.

I've never had issues with Oregon or Husqvarna chains stretching.

I don’t know anything about various chains but I use the smallest Echo saw and never have that problem.

Find a hardware store that has chain saw chains that are cut to length, I think the brand is Black Diamond, it will come on a spool like wire.

Been running my Sthil saw for almost 15 years….never had an issue with chain stretch….