.325 chain on big saws ???

[rahtreelimbs]

I was just curious if anyone out there has tried .325 chain on the bigger pro saws ( 044, 372 and up ). Seems to me this combo might cut quicker especially if you ran a 9 tooth sprocket. Let me know what you think.

 

[BillW]

Why would you want to slow down the chain? ..,. "if you ran a 9 tooth sprocket"
Fewer drive teeth make it faster.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Bill W.

A 9 tooth sprocket is as big as you can get on .325 for the bigger saws. The usual size is 7 or 8 tooth. As a matter of fact the .325 tooth sprocket is the only one that OREGON makes for the bigger spline on these saws.

 

[treeclimber165]

I think you got it backwards, Bill W.
With a 9 tooth sprocket, the chain advances 9 teeth per engine revolution. With a 7 tooth, the chain advances only 7 teeth per engine revolution.
A 9 tooth would be faster than an 8 or 7 tooth sprocket.

 

[jokers]

Hi Rich, tell ya what I`m thinking. The 044 and 372, just to name a couple, have plenty of jam to run 3/8's in most situations, so what would you gain? Higher chain speed doesn`t necessarily equate to faster cutting, in fact there are times where a faster chain speed will cut slower and with more chatter due to the rhythm of the cutter rocking in the kerf being disrupted. Most everybody realizes that the cutters must rock back on their heels to take a bite, right? Given that saws of this size and larger are intended for bigger wood and longer bars, you would also have to contend with chip removal being a bigger problem on the shorter pitch chain, since the cutters are closer together. This correlates with your findings on running skip chain on longer bars. If you were to use your 044 for snedding only, maybe it would be beneficial, but then who would use a saw this large for snedding. All this supposition on my part has to be tempered by the fact that I have never tried it. Maybe you will and let us know how it goes? Russ

 

[treeclimber165]

I gotta agree with Russ on this one. I only pull out the big saws on big trunks, and have found that the only thing preventing the saw from cutting faster is chip removal.

A .325 skip perhaps? Does anyone make such an animal? Since a .325 removes a narrower cut, there would be less volume of chips.......

 

[rahtreelimbs]

treeclimber165

Bailey's is offering a .325 full skip- full chisel Woodsman pro chain. I 'm running some on one of my smaller saws. Good stuff!!!

 

[BillW]

OOps!!! treeclimber your right... a .404 chain 6th would be 404.0 fpm/Krpm; a 7th 471.3 fpm/Krpm and an 8th 538.7.

 

[Newfie]

Maybe I am an idiot but wouldn't .325 on a big saw have a greater tendency to break. I thought that was why they had the heavier stuff like 3/8 and .404, to deal with the greater stresses. More of a question than a statement?

 

[jokers]

Hi Newfie, the tie straps and drive tangs are the same gauge(thickness) as you would find on 3/8's. .325 is normally a lower profile, narrower kerf chain. Puts less stress on the powerhead. Everybody has to start their knowledge base somewhere, I hope noone needs to feel like an idiot for any question they ask. Sometimes even the obvious isn`t so obvious. Russ

 

[sritzau]

Side Question

This is a nubie question. What's the difference (if any) between limbing and snedding? I had never heard of snedding before.