Husqvarna 455 Rancher & 460 Chain Size: Plus 435 and 440
Share
Walk into just about any farm shed in Australia and you'll find one of these four saws: a Husqvarna 455 Rancher, a 460 Rancher, a 440 or a 435. They're the Husqvarnas we get the most chain questions about, so this page covers all four properly, exact pitch, gauge and drive-link counts for every factory bar length.
The short version: all four run .058" (1.5 mm) gauge, which is Husqvarna's house spec. That means the chain you need comes down to two things, pitch and drive-link count, and both are in the table below. And if you're cutting hardwood or dirty timber week in, week out, our GoldStrike tungsten carbide chains are built on the Husqvarna 3/8" .058" (1.5 mm) spec, so they're a straight swap onto a 455 or 460.
Got a different Husqvarna? Our complete Husqvarna chain size guide covers the whole range, from the homeowner 120 series through to the XP professional saws. This page just goes deeper on the big four.
Quick Answer: Chain Sizes for All Four Models
| Model | Engine | Bar length | Pitch | Gauge | Drive links | Factory chain type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna 435 / 435 II | 41cc | 16" | .325" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 66 | Semi chisel |
| Husqvarna 440 / 440 II | 41cc | 16" | .325" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 66 | Semi chisel |
| Husqvarna 440 / 440 II | 41cc | 18" | .325" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 72 | Semi chisel |
| Husqvarna 455 Rancher | 56cc | 18" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 68 | Full chisel |
| Husqvarna 455 Rancher | 56cc | 20" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 72 | Full chisel |
| Husqvarna 460 Rancher | 60cc | 20" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 72 | Full chisel |
| Husqvarna 460 Rancher | 60cc | 24" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 84 | Full chisel |
A few things worth noticing in that table:
- All four saws run .058" (1.5 mm) gauge. No exceptions, on any factory bar length.
- The 435 and 440 run .325" pitch. The 455 and 460 run 3/8". The pitch steps up when you move to the Rancher models, so chains are never interchangeable between the two groups.
- A 455 Rancher with a 20" bar and a 460 Rancher with a 20" bar take the exact same chain: 3/8", .058" (1.5 mm), 72 drive links.
- The 435 and 440 share a chain on 16" bars: .325", .058" (1.5 mm), 66 drive links.
The Three Numbers That Matter
Every chainsaw chain is defined by three measurements, and all three have to match your bar:
- Pitch: the spacing of the chain links. On these four saws it's either .325" (435 and 440) or 3/8" (455 and 460).
- Gauge: the thickness of the drive links, which has to match the width of your bar groove. All four saws here run .058" (1.5 mm).
- Drive links: the tabs on the underside of the chain that ride in the bar groove. The count sets the chain's length, and it changes with bar length.
Bar length on its own tells you almost nothing. An "18 inch Husqvarna chain" could be a .325" 72-link chain for a 440 or a 3/8" 68-link chain for a 455 Rancher, two completely different chains that happen to suit the same bar length. If you want the full background on how these measurements work, our guide to pitch, gauge and drive links explained walks through it step by step.
Model by Model
Husqvarna 435 chain size (435 and 435 II)
The 435 is a 41cc saw that ships with a 16" bar, and it takes a .325" pitch, .058" (1.5 mm) gauge chain with 66 drive links. The factory chain is a semi-chisel, a sensible fit for a saw that mostly does firewood, storm cleanup and odd jobs around the block, because semi-chisel teeth hold their edge a bit longer in less-than-clean timber.
The 435 II takes exactly the same chain as the original 435, so don't stress about which version is sitting in your shed.
Husqvarna 440 chain size (440 and 440 II)
The 440 is the 435's twin, same 41cc engine class, same chain spec. On a 16" bar it takes the identical chain to the 435: .325", .058" (1.5 mm), 66 drive links. The 440 also comes with an 18" bar option, which runs the same pitch and gauge but needs 72 drive links.
You'll find these sizes in our .325" pitch chainsaw chain range. And if you're running the 18" setup and want to see how it compares across brands, our 18 inch chainsaw chain guide covers every common saw at that length.
Husqvarna 455 Rancher chain size
The 455 Rancher is the classic Australian farm saw, 56cc, sold with either an 18" or 20" bar. Both take 3/8" pitch, .058" (1.5 mm) gauge chain, and the factory chain is a full-chisel:
- 18" bar: 68 drive links
- 20" bar: 72 drive links
The 20" setup is the most common one we see. Either way, you're shopping in the 3/8" pitch chainsaw chain range, just count your drive links before you order, because the 68 and the 72 look nearly identical hanging on a nail.
Husqvarna 460 chain size (460 Rancher)
The 460 Rancher is the 455's bigger brother, 60cc, sold with a 20" or 24" bar. Same 3/8" pitch, same .058" (1.5 mm) gauge, full-chisel from the factory:
- 20" bar: 72 drive links, the exact same chain as a 20" 455 Rancher
- 24" bar: 84 drive links, for bigger felling work
If you run your 460 on a 20" bar (most people do), anything that fits a 20" 455 fits your saw. For the full cross-brand picture at this length, see our Husqvarna 450 chain size guide.
Why Husqvarna Runs .058" (1.5 mm) Gauge
Gauge is the thickness of the chain's drive links, and it has to match the width of the groove machined into your bar. Husqvarna standardised on .058" (1.5 mm) across its mid-range, farm and professional petrol saws, in our fitment data, everything from the 435 up to the 572 XP runs it. Stihl, by comparison, runs .063" (1.6 mm) on its equivalent saws. That one number is the main reason a chain off your mate's Stihl won't run properly on your Husqvarna, even when the pitch and bar length look the same.
Two exceptions worth knowing about in the Husqvarna lineup:
- The homeowner saws: the 120 Mark II, 130, 135 Mark II, 235 and 240, run a lighter 3/8" LP chain in .050" (1.3 mm) gauge. If there's a little Husqvarna in the shed alongside your Rancher, their chains are not interchangeable.
- The T540 XP top-handle arborist saw also runs .050" (1.3 mm) gauge.
Why the wrong gauge matters: a chain that's too thin flops sideways in the groove, cuts crooked, wears the bar unevenly and is far more likely to throw itself off. A chain that's too thick simply won't seat in the groove at all. Stick to .058" (1.5 mm) on all four saws in this guide and you'll have no drama.
Standard vs Tungsten Carbide on These Saws
Every chain size above is available in standard steel and tungsten carbide tipped versions. The fitment is identical, same pitch, same gauge, same drive-link count, the difference is the cutting teeth.
- Standard chain: cheaper upfront and easy to touch up with a round file, but it dulls quickly in dry hardwood, dirty bark or anything that's been lying on the ground.
- Tungsten carbide tipped chain: lasts up to 10x longer between sharpens. Built for exactly the work these saws do in Australia, ironbark and box firewood, fence-line scrub, storm cleanup where the timber's half full of dirt.
The 455 and 460 are particularly well suited to the upgrade because they run Husqvarna's 3/8" .058" (1.5 mm) spec, which is what our GoldStrike tungsten carbide range is built on, match your drive-link count (68, 72 or 84) and it's a straight swap. Carbide does need a diamond wheel rather than a standard file when it eventually goes blunt, but you'll be sharpening far less often. For a deeper look at what actually holds an edge in our timber, read our guide to the best chainsaw chain for Australian hardwood.
How to Double-Check Before You Order
Count the drive links
Lay the chain out and count the small tabs that run along the inside, the ones that sit down in the bar groove. That's your drive-link count. Count twice (it's easy to lose your spot) and mark your starting link with chalk or a texta. This is the single most reliable check, because drive links can't lie, bar stamps wear off, but the link count never changes.
Read the bar stamp
Most Husqvarna bars have the specs stamped near the tail end, where the bar bolts to the saw, look for markings like "3/8 .058 72". If they match the table above, you're set. If the stamp's worn smooth, fall back to counting drive links.
A note on bar mounts
If you're replacing the bar as well as the chain: our fitment data flags both the 455 Rancher and the 460 Rancher as POH-mount saws, so a replacement bar needs to match that mount pattern, not just the length. Chains don't care about the mount; only bars do. If you'd rather not juggle the details, a matched bar and chain combo takes the guesswork out of it.
Common Mistakes We See
- Buying by bar length alone. "An 18 inch chain" isn't a spec, an 18" 440 chain and an 18" 455 chain are different pitches and different drive-link counts.
- The 72 drive link trap. A 440 on an 18" bar and a 455 or 460 on a 20" bar all use 72 drive links, but the 440's chain is .325" pitch and the Ranchers run 3/8". Same count, different chain. Check pitch as well as links.
- Borrowing the homeowner saw's chain. The little Husqvarna 135 in the shed runs .050" (1.3 mm) gauge, it won't run properly in a .058" (1.5 mm) bar groove.
- Fitting a Stihl-spec chain. Stihl's equivalent saws run .063" (1.6 mm) gauge, too thick for a Husqvarna bar groove, so it won't seat.
- Assuming the 455 and 460 always share chains. Only at 20". The 455's 18" chain (68 drive links) and the 460's 24" chain (84 drive links) don't fit anything else in this lineup.
FAQ
What chain size does a Husqvarna 455 Rancher take?
3/8" pitch, .058" (1.5 mm) gauge. With the 18" bar it's 68 drive links; with the 20" bar it's 72 drive links.
Will a 455 Rancher chain fit a Husqvarna 460?
If both saws are running 20" bars, yes, they take the identical chain (3/8", .058"/1.5 mm, 72 drive links). The 455's 18" chain won't fit either of the 460's factory bar lengths.
Do the Husqvarna 435 and 440 use the same chain?
On 16" bars, yes, .325" pitch, .058" (1.5 mm) gauge, 66 drive links. The 440's optional 18" bar takes a longer 72-link version of the same chain, which won't fit a 16" 435.
Can I run a tungsten carbide chain on these saws?
Yes. Carbide chains use the same pitch, gauge and drive-link counts, you're changing the tooth material, not the fitment. They last up to 10x longer than standard chain, which matters on saws that live on hardwood firewood duty.
How do I work out what bar length I've got?
Measure from where the bar enters the saw body out to the tip, then round up to the nearest even inch. Or skip the tape measure and count drive links, on a 455 Rancher, 68 links means the 18" bar and 72 means the 20".
TL;DR: Quick Reference
- Husqvarna 435 / 435 II (16"): .325" pitch, .058" (1.5 mm) gauge, 66 drive links
- Husqvarna 440 / 440 II (16"): .325", .058" (1.5 mm), 66 drive links, same chain as the 435
- Husqvarna 440 / 440 II (18"): .325", .058" (1.5 mm), 72 drive links
- Husqvarna 455 Rancher (18"): 3/8", .058" (1.5 mm), 68 drive links
- Husqvarna 455 Rancher (20"): 3/8", .058" (1.5 mm), 72 drive links
- Husqvarna 460 Rancher (20"): 3/8", .058" (1.5 mm), 72 drive links, same chain as the 20" 455
- Husqvarna 460 Rancher (24"): 3/8", .058" (1.5 mm), 84 drive links
Not sure which one fits? Send us your saw model or a photo of the bar stamp, call 0431 183 421 or email farmandacreco@gmail.com and we'll point you in the right direction. Ready to order? The GoldStrike tungsten carbide chainsaw chain range is built on the Husqvarna 3/8" .058" (1.5 mm) spec, match your drive links and you're away.