8 tooth spocket for 044 stihl

[docbar85]

Just purchased an 8 tooth sprocket and it is slightly different than the original, besides the extra tooth.
The old sprocket has hole in the middle of the slot where the chain engages in.
The 8 tooth has straight slot without the hole.
It would appear that the hole would help the chain engage in the sprocket. I have installed the srocket and ran it without cutting and appears to be O.K. . Can anyone shed a little light on this?

 

[docbar85]

You could be right, it is right in the middle of the slot and it is round. I can't see how the chain would wear a hole as round as it is, it appears to be machined. Do the sprockets you have seen just have slots? Will I notice much difference with this sprocket in performance? I am running a 20" bar, sometimes a 25" bar. Thanks.

 

[lucky]

depends, if your chain is sharp and you cut mostly softwoods it probably won't bog at all. I was cutting oak the other day with an 044 20 inch with 8 tooth sprocket and square filed chain. it cut like crazy until the chain started to dull, thats when it began to bog a little. The 25 inch bar may be enough to slow it down in hardwoods though. say, doc did you get that dual port muffler done? lucky

 

[docbar85]

Thanks Squirrel, hopefully it is the right srocket.

Lucky, I took a die grinder to the existing port and opened it up to at least a 5/8. I ground it all the way to the back, top and bottom of the deflector and to the front a little, may have to add a little deflector on, have not run it much since the mods. to see how the exhaust is going to be directed. Considering the original hole I believe was around a 3/8" I have more than double the exhaust area. When I first fired it up the chain started to advance a little at idle, one would think this made it happy. Will have to do some adjusting on the idle.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

If you add a port right in front roughly 1/2" X 1" it makes a big difference on an 044. This is provided that the muffler doesn't have an internal baffle.

 

[docbar85]

There is nothing inside. 1/2" by 1" seems like a lot but I'm sure you know more than I do. Bouht it back in 97 and just recently learned about this mod. Just seems to be so many opinions about what is the proper size.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Originally posted by docbar85
There is nothing inside. 1/2" by 1" seems like a lot but I'm sure you know more than I do. Bouht it back in 97 and just recently learned about this mod. Just seems to be so many opinions about what is the proper size.

That is about the size that I have used. Start a little smaller if you feel that is too big. Just make sure you deburr the area that you cut/grind and clean the muffler out real good before you reinstall it.

 

[lucky]

The 25 inch chain/bar combo may or may not work because of the increased sprocket size. an 84 dl chain fit on my 044 with 7 tooth sprocket and 25 inch stihl bar but when I switched to the 8 tooth the chain no longer fit. its ok though ???? safety chain anyway not sure where it came from.
I used 3/4 inch tubing to make the twice-pipes for the muffler maybe its too much i don't know. runs good, sounds good.

yes brian you can let the saw do the work, but its more fun to push a little and buzz through a log with a razor sharp chain.
I like to see the look of horror on the faces of women and children. No, seriously though, docbar with your setup, and a sharp chain you'll surely impress your friends next time you get together to cut some wood.

 

[docbar85]

Will idle it back a little and give it a run this weekend.

 

[Tony Snyder]

There should be no problem at all with the solid sproket.

I would question the wisdom of an 8 tooth sprocket, particularly in hardwood. By changing to 8 tooth your are in effect trying to fix something that aint broke. Seven tooth works fine.

In general I have not had great experience with gearing upward on long bars. Of course it depends on many variables, not the least of which is the available torque in your powerhead.