Bar Length vs. Performance

[Chainsaw Pete]

Obviously, putting a very long bar on a low powered saw will result in slower chain speed and cutting. I wonder what the effect is if you move up in bar length within Stihl's recommendations for a given saw. Yesterday I was trying to cut the base of a dead trunk away from the remaining live trunk. The 20" bar on my MS250 was just too short, and sawing from the opposite side was awkward and partially blocked by the live tree. My MS311 also has a 20" bar, but Stihl says it can take a 25 incher.

Can my MS311 run a 25" bar?
What kind of performance drop does one see going up a bar size or two? Having a longer bar for the occasional large stump would be useful. I'm ignoring the increase in saw weight - the longer bar would not be used most of the time.

 

[Evan]

What do you gbain by running a longer bar. What is the typical size of the trees you handle.? Where I cut I cut Pine and fur I usually shoot for fur so I don't I'm not cut super hardwood so I run 70cc size with one side has 28 one has a 32.

The 311 isn't a bad saw saw I have Granite with a 25 inch in the same Pine and first type stuff it's not my top choice but it will definitely get it done

For the 311 to be my main saw for what I do I'd be severely handicapped

 

[Chainsaw Pete]

What is the typical size of the trees you handle.?

I mostly mop up downed trees after a storm for friends and neighbors. We took down easily a dozen trees when we bought this house 23 years ago. I've also downed trees at my shooting club. Recently, I've been bucking trees and taking down several at a friend's farm. This summer, I spent two days in the woods at a friend's 65 acre property clearing downed trees. My main saw is the 250, for larger trees I use the 311.

The longer bar will let me trim stumps down a lot lower. I had an 042AV Stihl* w/ a 25" bar that I used on the larger trees in our yard, but that saw has not been running for years. A longer bar will let me trim a trunk near the base (see my first post above). I'd use it occasionally, when I hit a larger tree. My friend's farm has some dead or knocked over trees that will demand a bar longer than 20" and some will not permit sawing from both sides.

*subject of another thread

 

[NSEric]

With skip tooth chain the 25 inch bar will work just fine on the 311.
I find saws run out of oiling ability and get front heavy before they run out of power for slightly longer bars.
Keep an eye on the bar to see if it's getting enough bar oil.