7 or 8 tooth rim

EDMman · Mar 26, 2003

Long time reader. First time poster. (There coming out of the woodwork now.)What are the pros/cons of using 7 or 8 tooth rim sprockets? Torque,speed ect. Putting a 20 in. bar on a 394,wondering what wood be best. Thanks!

dbabcock · Mar 26, 2003

There are others here who can give you specific instances where one would be better than the other. A stock 394 running 3/8" full comp should be able to handle an 8 with a 20" bar and give you faster cutting times than a 7. Ultimately, higher chain speed is what you're after. If you run the saw with a 7 and the motor is running faster than it's peak torque RPM, then a switch to an 8 will bring the RPM down to where the motor is making more torque. The type of wood that you cut, how large it is in diameter and your chain characteristics (particularly, raker depth) have a lot to do with the choice. Why not make a few cuts with each sprocket and find out? You'll probably find conditions where either is a good choice. Oh yeah, welcome aboard!

rbtree · Mar 26, 2003

I have run 8 tooth on stock or lightly modified 044's and 372 Huskys with no problemsat 24 inch bar length. But I mostly cut softwoods. 8 tooth on a 394 would work on 28 inch in hardwoods. In fact I think my 066 dual port muffler stock 066's came with 8 tooth, even on 36 inch bars. Maybe that is too much for them, but they have always worked for me. That 066 has more pep than the current 066 or the 394.

rupedoggy · Mar 26, 2003

RB where have you been? I haven't seen you in a coons age. When are you going to crawl out of the tree hole and stop pointing to your cap? Speaking of 8 tooth sprockets, don't you owe me one? Mike

JT Lafitte · Mar 28, 2003

My 066 came with the 8 tooth, and I run a 28 inch bar and a 24 inch Bow with a full comp RS on it in hard woods (Oak) without any problems. I will try a 7 tooth in the morning and check the results.
JT

rbtree · Mar 28, 2003

Hey Ruuuuuuuup,

Ummm..you owed me a kick in the pantseat, wasn't it?

Anyhow, gypo made an extra 24 tooth sprocket for his 89.231 hp 088, sent it to me, but it was a tooth too big for my 44.99 hp 3120...you want it???

Actually, I'm headed to Garberville tomorrow to meet up with the famous Jerry Beranek ,and a bunch of other arborists. We are hazard pruning the Famous "Tree House Redwood", that has been hollowed out with a treehouse inside. Jerry's plan is to have 6 climbers in the tree at a time, some assisting each other, plus ground crew. Even so, the job is expected to take three days. Wow!!

He is producing a video, plus Stihl and New England Ropes are sponsors, so I can't use my hopped up Huskys... OH woe is me... and them...poor fellas gonna hate to be left home....

Rog the dodg

I'll surely be posting pics when I get back.