KAKEI Chainsaw Chain 16 Inch 3/8″ LP Pitch .043″ Gauge 55 Drive Links Review

If you own a Stihl MS170, MS171, or MS180c, you already know the pain. A genuine replacement chain costs almost as much as a budget saw.

So when a three-pack shows up on Amazon for under thirty dollars, you pause. Is it too cheap to trust? That single question is what most people search for before they click buy.

This review answers it. I put the KAKEI 16 inch chain on a small Stihl, ran it through fresh wood, and tracked how it held an edge. I also pulled real owner feedback from forums and verified the specs so you buy the correct gauge the first time.

In A Nutshell

• Spec match matters most. This is a .043″ gauge chain. Your bar slot must read .043″, not .050″. Mixing them is the number one cause of bad reviews.
• Fitment: Built for Stihl MS170, MS171, MS180c and equivalent bars. It cross-references Stihl 61PMM3 55 and Oregon 90PX055.
• Cut quality is genuinely good. Owners report it cuts wood like butter and stays sharp through hardwood for the price.
• Three chains per pack. You get a working chain plus two spares, which beats one premium loop at the same cost.
• Semi-chisel teeth handle dirty wood and dull slower than full chisel.
• The catch: It is low-vibration, low-kickback homeowner chain, not a pro racing loop. It also ships from China using imported steel.

What You Get In The Box

The pack arrives in a flat cardboard sleeve. Inside sit three chains, each coiled and bagged separately. No oil-soaked mess, no tangled loops.

Each chain has its own label printed with the spec. That small detail helps because you can store the spares without guessing later. The presentation feels plain but functional, which fits a budget consumable.

There is no booklet, no sharpening file, and no bar included. You are paying for chains only. For a replacement-part purchase, that is fair and expected.

Reading The Specs Before You Buy

This is the part that saves you a return. The chain is 16 inch length, 3/8″ low profile pitch, .043″ gauge, and 55 drive links.

The most common mistake buyers make is gauge. A .043″ chain is thinner than a .050″ chain. If your bar slot is .050″, this chain will rattle loose and damage things. Check the stamp on your bar first.

Drive link count must also match at 55. Pitch and gauge alone are not enough. All three numbers have to line up with your saw.

KAKEI Chainsaw Chain 16 Inch 3/8″ LP Pitch .043″ Gauge 55 Drive Links

This loop is the semi-chisel version of KAKEI’s 16 inch lineup. Semi-chisel means rounded cutter corners. That shape dulls slower in dirty wood and survives the odd dirt hit better than aggressive full chisel.

The marketing line calls it German steel durability. The honest version is that it uses imported European steel, assembled in China. The steel quality is decent, but treat the “German” wording as sourcing, not a Solingen knife.

It meets ANSI B175.1 kickback requirements, so it is tuned for safety over raw speed. For a homeowner clearing brush and bucking firewood, that trade is the right one.

Top 3 Alternative For KAKEI Chainsaw Chain 16 Inch 55 Drive Links

If you want options before committing, these three fit the same 16 inch .043″ 55 drive link setups.

Oregon AdvanceCut 90PX055 16 Inch Chainsaw Chain (3-Pack)

Cutwin 16 Inch Chainsaw Chain 3/8″ LP .043″ Gauge 55 Drive Links

16 Inch German Steel Chainsaw Chain 55 Drive Links (5-Pack)

Installing It On A Stihl

Fitting took about five minutes. The chain dropped into the bar groove cleanly with no forcing, which told me the gauge was correct on the first try.

Tensioning behaved normally. I set it so the loop snapped back against the bar with a light tug. A new chain stretches early, so I checked tension again after the first few cuts and nudged it.

One tip from experienced users: let the weight of the saw feed the cut. Pushing down hard is unnecessary and actually slows this chain.

How It Actually Cuts

This is where the KAKEI surprised me. Out of the bag, it bit fast and threw real chips, not dust. On softwood it sailed through, and on seasoned hardwood it held a clean line.

Owners back this up. One ran a loop all day and found it cut better with light pressure. Another reported a single chain bucking over a cord of Doug fir and ponderosa while still cutting fast.

It will not match a tuned professional chain for speed. But for a homeowner saw, the cut quality clearly beats the price.

Edge Retention Over Time

Sharpness is the real test of a cheap chain. The semi-chisel teeth held their edge longer than I expected through mixed wood.

Forum users noted the chain stays sharp even cutting hardwood. That matches my run. It dulled gradually rather than going soft after one log.

When it does dull, it files normally with a standard 4 mm round file. The steel takes an edge without fighting you, which matters since you will resharpen these rather than baby them.

The Downsides You Should Know

No chain is flawless, and this one has clear limits. Be honest with yourself about how you cut before buying.

A few one-star reviews mention bar or sprocket wear. Digging in, most trace back to gauge mismatches, not the chain itself. Put a .043″ chain on a .050″ bar and you will chew up parts.

This is also a safety-tuned homeowner chain. Heavy daily pros and racers will want something more aggressive. And the country-of-origin is China, so if you only buy domestic, skip it.

Who This Chain Is For

Buy this if you run a small Stihl or compatible 16 inch saw and cut firewood, storm cleanup, or yard trees on weekends. The three-pack value fits that user perfectly.

It is also smart for brush and dirty wood work where you expect to hit grit. Cheap spares mean you grind away damage without crying over a forty dollar loop.

Skip it if you are a full-time arborist or you demand the fastest possible cut. For everyone else, the math works.

Final Verdict

So, is it worth buying? For the budget homeowner, yes. The KAKEI 16 inch chain cuts well, holds an edge reasonably, and gives you three loops for the price of one premium chain.

The honest framing is this: it is a good-value consumable, not a lifetime tool. Match the .043″ gauge and 55 drive links exactly, feed it with the saw’s weight, and it earns its keep.

It will not convert a Stihl loyalist away from genuine chain. But as a reliable spare or a daily firewood loop, it punches above its low price.

Expert FAQs

Will this fit my Stihl MS170 or MS180c?

Yes, if your bar is 16 inch with a .043″ gauge slot and takes 55 drive links. Always confirm all three numbers stamped on your bar before ordering.

What is the difference between .043″ and .050″ gauge?

Gauge is the thickness of the drive links. A .043″ chain is thinner and only fits a .043″ bar groove. Using the wrong gauge causes a loose chain and damaged bars or sprockets.

Is the “German steel” claim real?

Partly. The product uses imported European steel, but the chains are assembled in China. Read it as sourcing language, not a country of manufacture.

Is semi-chisel better than full chisel?

For most owners, yes. Semi-chisel teeth stay sharp longer in dirty or seasoned wood and resist dulling from grit. Full chisel cuts faster but needs cleaner conditions.

How do I sharpen this chain?

Use a standard 4 mm (5/32″) round file matched to 3/8″ LP teeth. The steel files easily, and keeping the rakers set right keeps the cut fast.

Why do some reviews say it ruined their bar?

The common cause is a gauge mismatch, not a chain defect. Buyers put a .043″ loop on a .050″ bar. Verify your bar spec and this problem disappears.

---

Disclosure: This content is part of an Amazon Creator Connections campaign, meaning I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Using these links costs you nothing extra but directly supports my blog and future content.