Gauge for directly measuring chain wear

A gauge for directly measuring wear of a chain as a function of chain pitch, comprising:

• a body member having first and second end portions;
• a first indicator being positioned on the first end portion and alignable with a first preselected point on the chain;
• a scale having at least first, second, and third gradations and being positioned on the second end portion at a location sufficient for placing the first gradation a preselected distance from the first indicator substantially equal to an integer multiple of the pitch of the new chain, said second gradation being spaced an incremental distance from the first gradation equal to the elongation of the multiple portion of the chain when worn a preselected amount, said third gradation lying between the first and second gradations;
• and
• a cursor having an indicator and being movable along the body member to a position at which the cursor indicator is aligned with a second preselected point on the chain, said second preselected point being spaced from the first point a distance substantially equal to an integer multiple of the average pitch of the worn chain, said cursor indicator and scale being positioned one relative to the other at a location sufficient for automatically selecting the one of said second and third gradations corresponding to the increase in the pitch of the worn chain in response to moving said cursor along the body member to the second preselected position.