Husqvarna Chain Catcher Replacement

This Husqvarna chain catcher is the small hook or bracket under the bar that grabs the chain if it breaks or jumps off. Chain catchers get chewed up by thrown chains and should be replaced when worn or broken.

What the chain catcher does

When a chain breaks or comes off the bar, it can whip back toward the operator's right hand. The chain catcher sits just below the bar on the clutch side and is shaped to snag the chain before it gets that far. It is one of the standard safety features on a modern chainsaw.

Each time it catches a chain, it gets gouged. After a few hits it may be worn down to nothing.

The chain catcher is easy to overlook because it sits out of sight under the bar. Make it part of your routine check along with the chain brake, throttle lockout and muffler. A missing catcher often goes unnoticed until the next thrown chain, and that is the wrong time to find out. Keep a spare in the saw box along with a bar nut and a fuel filter.

Checking and replacing it

Look at the catcher whenever you change a chain. If it is cracked, bent, worn through or missing, replace it. Most are held by a single screw or are part of a small bracket. Check your saw's parts listing, since catchers differ between models.

Keep chain tension right and chains sharp to reduce thrown chains in the first place. More parts are in our chainsaw parts section.