32" on a MS460?

[John Ellison]

I am with you PWB. I started with long bars and ran nothing but, that was all I had. Then with a move and being in a different situation, I still used them because short bars felt funny and it was easier on my back, or so I thought. If you never do bend over you probably do have back problems. For me a long bar does not "save" my back. To each their own but by changing my cutting style I really appreciate shorter bars now. But if you are in a situation where you need a longer bar there is no substituting with a short one.

Woops, off topic again. Guess I need to start reading the original post better.

I run a 32" on my 460's with semi skip occasionally, but it is in pine. Even in softwood if I really needed 32" regularly it would be on a 660.

 

[PWB]

We're definetly off topic, oh well!
I've got a lower back that I can ALWAYS feel,(too much abuse when I was younger?) maybe that's why I'm a lot more careful than I used to be. We've all been told use the legs, not the back how many times? It works.........
Bending from the waist,or just using the back to support big weight in front of you is just asking for it......

 

[blis]

IMO, its better for back to bend over once a while and i myself wont find it that taxing to my back to bend with 13" bar... but some like daughter others like mother....

 

[Lakeside53]

Don't bend the back - bend the knees (sorry, my wife is a yoga instructor.. )


I like shorter bars, and when bucking (on the ground) like the bar to be level in the wood for most of the cut, then tilt down at the end to finish (assuming I'm not rolling the log over) - less chain in dirt 'cos I know where my tip is.
Conversely, when limbing a big truck by walking it (western conifers), a long bar is a god-send - body balance is most important...


As for the topic - a 32 inch on a 460 is not problem out here - softwoods.

 

[Lakeside53]

but some like daughter others like mother....

Hmmm.. you'll need to explain that to me... I have my own interpretation, but ...

 

[rxe]

My 046 used to run a 25" bar, but I've put an 18" on it recently, and it is a lot nicer. In dry hardwood, the oil pump (on max) only just kept up with demand.

I really don't get the idea of using a long bar to save my back when cutting stuff on the ground. I don't like the lack of control, not really seeing where the tip is and all that weight. If I'm going to cut small bits of firewood on the ground, I'll pick up one of the "brash" saws: 009 (12") or 024 (14"). Having done a full days work thinning with a 046...and an 024, I can confirm that my back likes the smaller saw every time. It is a bit slower though!

Don't get me wrong, I do like long bars when needed - I have a 48" on an 880 for the really big stuff....but normally this runs the 25" bar.