026.. is a 20" Bar too much?

[Happyjack]

4-2-02


Hi,

I own a Stihl 026 with a 16" bar and run a .325 chain.

I was wondering if a 20" bar would be too much for the saw?

I know that Stihl recommends you can run up to a 20" bar, but I wanted to speak with someone who actually has cut with one.

The reason I'm looking for a larger bar is because I need to fell some trees that are 20-25" in diameter. I realize I can drop them with a 16" bar and with different cutting techniques. However, I wanted to keep the cuts square, and thought a larger bar would be a good soloution. What do you think?


Sincerely,

 

[Mack]

Your 026 should do just fine with a 20inch and .325, under most conditions.
I do think the 026's are best off with an 18inch though. A lot can depend on the operator.

 

[eyolf]

I've got a couple of 3 cu in saws, and while you do tell the difference, they do OK with 20" bar.

I used to be a little skeptical of the .325 chain, but it isn't really any harder to file than 3/8", and seems to cut really well. I ordered a brand-new Jonsered 2149 last summer and got two bars, a 16" and a 20"...the 20" was a laminated bar and came with the .050 reduced kerf chain.
I've also used regular chain, but one can also tell the difference in hardwoods...the narrow kerf chain seems to cut a little easier.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a second bar setup.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Before I got the 670 my 55 saw regular duty with .325 and did it fine. Dont worry about it

 

[mryb]

HappyJack...
If you live on the west coast, you could push it to the limit at about a 36" bar.
If you live on the east coast, 12-14" would be the max....Rick:jester:

 

[John in MA]

See the "Canadian Huskies" thread for examples of the West vs. East saws.

 

[builder]

I run a 20" .325 full comp semichisel with a 7 tooth sprocket and feel it's about optimal in softwoods and smaller hardwoods.go for it.

 

[treeclimber165]

I just brought home my boss's 026 with a 20" bar to service it for a crane removal tomorrow. I'm going to need it in the tree, and I haven't gotten mine yet (should be here by Thursday). It's almost new, still has the origional chain and bar. I filed down the guides on the safety chain (gonna get REAL chain next time) and opened up the outlet on the exhaust a little bit with a wide screwdriver. I also threw away the spark screen (which was already clogging up). I'll let you know tomorrow how it handles a 20" bar.

I've owned a couple 026's in the past, always ran 18" bars. I'm expecting this one to do fine with a 20", especially after all I've heard about how much more power is available on these saws with muffler mods.

 

[Methoss084]

Years back in the Tool Rental business we ran O26's with 20" bars and .325 chain they worked pretty well. Just be ready for a noticeable decrease in power while your in the cut with the 20" bar.

Happy sawin'
Josh

 

[Happyjack]

Thanks for all the feedback ! This is a great website!

 

[treeclimber165]

Well, I used the 026 with a 20" bar today. Handled it ok, but I think it would be more efficient with an 18". When blocking up a long Live Oak trunk side by side with an 046, I was cutting about 80% of his speed. If it hadn't kept bogging in the extremely hard wood, I'd have kept up with him.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

20" bar to big for 026

I have owned an 026. I find it to be a great saw. Currently I am using a Shindaiwa 488 which is the same size as an 026.I run one with an 18" bar, and one with a 24" bar. The 24" bar saw was a pet project of mine. I adapted a bar from a Jonsered 2150 turbo chainsaw. Bailey's just started carrying .050 gauge .325 Full Skip Full Chisel chain in their WOODSMAN PRO line. This combination works well. This saw won't run like a Stihl 044 or a Husky 372, but it's light especially when working up in a tree.

 

[treeclimber165]

Well, I got MY 026Pro delivered UPS yesterday. It had a 20" bar and 3/8" chain on it. A little too much IMHO. I went to .325 pitch, a little narrower for faster cutting. I equipped it with an 18" bar, Stihl 26RS chain (74 links) and 7 tooth sprocket. I am doing a big removal tomorrow, gonna match it up against the boss's 026 with 20" bar, .325 pitch. I'll let ya know how they match up. Both saws are just about new, so powerheads should be comperable.

 

[Happyjack]

Brian,

I would be interested to hear how you make out. Have fun with your new saw. Break her in right.

 

[treeclimber165]

Well, another day running a couple (almost) new 026's
My new one is running a tad lean, gonna have to change high end jets I think. %^&^&* non-adjustable screws!!! It came from Montana so the elevation change is substantial. It ran like a banshee till I got into some bigger wood and it started warming up and leaned out on me. My boss's 026 with 20" bar seems to be pulling better since I opened up the muffler.

I've had a couple emails from members not wanting to post asking me about mods to the 026 mufflers. It wasn't hard. I simply pulled the front off the muffler, removed and tossed the screen, drilled a 3/8" hole directly above the existing hole, cleaned it up and re-assembled. Oh, and I used a big screwdriver to pry the deflector flap open wider. Power increase is substantial.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Need I say more? Once a Putz always a Putz.
John

 

[Lumberjack]

Perhaps you posted on the wrong thread? This one is in the archives from almost 2 years ago.

Carl

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

It's too easy...

 

[tony marks]

we all know what thatdang new 026 did to rocks hinking.. stihl lost an believer ..
or so it seems..just glad i found one with old jet system.. real good sawwith 16 inch,,my preference