KAKEI guide
Count the drive links
A step-by-step way to count the drive links on a chainsaw chain, with a table of typical counts by bar length for KAKEI chains.
Drive links are the teeth on the underside of the chain, the ones that ride down in the bar groove and get pulled by the sprocket. Cutters and tie straps do not count. Only the drive links do.
- Lay the chain flat on a bench, cutters up.
- Mark one drive link with chalk or a paint pen.
- Count every drive link going round until you are back at the mark.
- Count a second time. An off-by-one loop will not tension.
Typical counts on our chains by bar length
| Bar length | Drive-link counts we make (pitch, gauge) |
|---|---|
| 4" | 28 (1/4" .043") |
| 6" | 28 (3/8" LP .043"), 37 (1/4" .043") |
| 8" | 33 (3/8" LP .050"), 33 (3/8" LP .043"), 34 (3/8" LP .043"), 47 (1/4" .043") |
| 10" | 39 (3/8" LP .050"), 40 (3/8" LP .050"), 40 (3/8" LP .043"), 56 (1/4" .043") |
| 12" | 44 (3/8" LP .050"), 44 (3/8" LP .043"), 45 (3/8" LP .043"), 64 (1/4" .043") |
| 14" | 50 (3/8" LP .050"), 50 (3/8" LP .043"), 52 (3/8" LP .050"), 52 (3/8" LP .043"), 59 (.325" LP .043"), 72 (1/4" .043") |
| 16" | 55 (3/8" LP .050"), 55 (3/8" LP .043"), 56 (3/8" LP .050"), 56 (3/8" LP .043"), 57 (3/8" LP .050"), 64 (.325" LP .043"), 66 (.325" .050"), 67 (.325" .063") |
| 18" | 61 (3/8" LP .050"), 62 (3/8" LP .050"), 66 (3/8" .050"), 68 (.325" .050"), 68 (.325" .063"), 72 (.325" .050"), 74 (.325" .050"), 74 (.325" .063") |
| 20" | 70 (3/8" .050"), 72 (3/8" .058"), 72 (3/8" .050"), 76 (.325" .058"), 78 (.325" .050"), 80 (.325" .050"), 81 (.325" .050"), 81 (.325" .063") |
| 22" | 86 (.325" .058") |
| 24" | 81 (3/8" .050"), 84 (3/8" .050") |
| 28" | 91 (3/8" .050"), 93 (3/8" .050") |
| 36" | 114 (3/8" .063") |
Notice how one bar length can carry several counts. A 16-inch bar takes 55, 56 or 57 links on 3/8" LP chain and 64, 66 or 67 on .325" chain. The difference comes from the bar nose and the sprocket, and only the count tells you which one is yours.