That was a brand new chain. Must have been the operator then.
I have actually seen a chain put on backwards. Don't ask me how I know.
I've seen several chains put on backwards. And have also seen more than my share of supposedly locked up chainsaws, brought in by inexperienced operators who never bothered to read that chapter in the owner's manual that talked about the CHAIN BRAKE!
You should see the looks on their faces when I pull the handguard back until it clicks, and hand it back.. "There you go"
