best bar/chain combo for 660?

[stihlaficionado]

What is the BEST chain/bar combination for a 660? The trees are 3 - 3 1/2 feet in diameter, all hardwoods(mostly oak/maple), several acres worth. Stock saw.

thanks,

mark

 

[Nicholas]

A stock MS660 should work fine with a 3/8-7T rim, a nice 28"-36" Cannon/Woodman Pro bar, and a some of that good Calton/Woodman pro chisel skip chain. Call up the friendly folks at Bailey's they'll have what you need.

Your MS660 will work better with a dual port muffler cover, mod or cut out the inner muffler basket, polish up the exhaust port w/flapper wheel on a die grinder, disabling the carb limiters, ans square grind the chain.

Nick

 

[Lakeside53]

for that size wood... 36 inch Stihl ES bar with 3/8 full skip RSC, or Full skip RM if dirty wood.

 

[1953greg]

+2

A stock MS660 should work fine with a 3/8-7T rim, a nice 28"-36" Cannon/Woodman Pro bar, and a some of that good Calton/Woodman pro chisel skip chain. Call up the friendly folks at Bailey's they'll have what you need.

Your MS660 will work better with a dual port muffler cover, mod or cut out the inner muffler basket, polish up the exhaust port w/flapper wheel on a die grinder, disabling the carb limiters, ans square grind the chain.

Nick

everything except the bar length. 24" will cut anything, anything you are capable of handling if you had to ask.

 

[stihlaficionado]

saw will be stock...NO MODS. My mod days ended 25 years ago with the 2-stroke dirt bikes I owned.

as to the 24" bar length...so there is some concern about lobbing my extremities off?

Actually I was leaning toward the 36"

 

[RiverRat2]

saw will be stock...NO MODS. My mod days ended 25 years ago with the 2-stroke dirt bikes I owned.

as to the 24" bar length...so there is some concern about lobbing my extremities off?

Actually I was leaning toward the 36"

I run a 24 on one of my 066's and a 32 on the other and run fullcomp Chisel in hard woods Oak and Hickory,,, I have a 36 but I havent used it yet... both dual ported muffler mods

Flush cut a big chest high yellow pine stump getting ready for grinding last Friday had to be 42-48" DBH with the 30" bar, made a pass on one side, set my wedges just to keep it from pinching and done no problemo,,,,

 

[Cam501]

for that size wood... 36 inch Stihl ES bar with 3/8 full skip RSC, or Full skip RM if dirty wood.

not all regions can get RM in skip. It's not available to dealers in my region.

 

[1953greg]

saw will be stock...NO MODS. My mod days ended 25 years ago with the 2-stroke dirt bikes I owned.

as to the 24" bar length...so there is some concern about lobbing my extremities off?

Actually I was leaning toward the 36"

lobbing is not the point. lugging is. no need to lug around any more bar than absolutely necessary.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

36.

Can you even put a smaller bar on a 660?

 

[stihlaficionado]

Bars and Lugs

Seems rather sad that a 660 should wear anything but a 36. I visited a local stihl dealer that sold an 880 with an 20" bar :jawdrop: Must have looked rather odd.

I understand the lugging issue...during hurricane Ivan it was the wrists and forearms that ached the most though.

mark

 

[B_Turner]

My 066 (and 395) often run a 36 or 42 inch bar, but that makes the saws a bit akward when that length is not needed.

For more versatility, I recommend running a 32 incher, or if you really are itching for a longer bar a 34 incher. 36 and up just make routine work more difficult and you aren't likely to run into anything a 32 won't handle (60+).

But is sounds like you are really wanting a long bar anyway, so do what's fun. I solve the issue by having about 20 bars.

I'm with you on saws with really short bars. I don't understand why someone would want to tote an 066 using a 20 inch bar, because for example my 7900 will smoke with a 20 inch bar and is much less tiring over a day.

 

[Gologit]

saw will be stock...NO MODS. My mod days ended 25 years ago with the 2-stroke dirt bikes I owned.

as to the 24" bar length...so there is some concern about lobbing my extremities off?

Actually I was leaning toward the 36"

Don't think of the dualport muffler as a mod...think of it as a "performance addition". It will really let the saw run cooler and easier. A 36" bar is a good match for that saw but it wouldn't hurt to have a couple of smaller ones around, too.

 

[Cam501]

Seems rather sad that a 660 should wear anything but a 36. I visited a local stihl dealer that sold an 880 with an 20" bar :jawdrop: Must have looked rather odd.

I understand the lugging issue...during hurricane Ivan it was the wrists and forearms that ached the most though.

mark

most of our customers with 660/066 run a 28 or 32. We're not a huge dealer overall but we're the biggest stihl dealer in our area and we only sell 1-2 36" bars a year

 

[oldsaw]

Get a 36 and a 24, then all bases are covered. I often run a full comp 36 in oak and walnut with no problems, but the thing will be an animal with a 24. So much so that I bought a 16" bar for it this week.....dang, no smilie for an "evil laugh". Anyway balance is about spot on with the 24, but hard to beat the 36 when the log calls for it.

Mark

 

[sILlogger]

logging in southern IL

i cut timber down in southern ill and i rarely run over a 24" bar on a 395/066, ive cut 5 1/2 footers with this setup, im a fan of a windsor speed tip with oregon 72LG. you'll just about have to bore cut all of those trees to keep from splitting them, unless u really wanna stay with them and chase them off the stump.

just a piece of my mind

 

[Freakingstang]

I have 3 bars for my 066. The one I use the most is a 28". The one I use the least, is a 36", but it is nice to have. Actually I only have two bars for it, as the third bar found a home on my 7900. The 066 balances almost perfect with the 28", but sometimes a 36" is needed in hardwood country for the root flair of bigger stumps. A 20" with an 8 T rim also makes for a lighter weight, fast cutting trimming saw.... lol

 

[oldsaw]

A 20" with an 8 T rim also makes for a lighter weight, fast cutting trimming saw.... lol

Now THAT'S what I'M talking about!!!

Mark

 

[GASoline71]

36.

Can you even put a smaller bar on a 660?

HAHAHA! I thought the exact same thing!

Go big or go home!:biggrinbounce2:

Gary

 

[Timberhauler]

I usually keep a 28 on my 660 and 395....It's rare I run across a tree I can't handle with that bar....But I do have a 32,36 and 42 for each saw....I keep a 48 inch bar on my 088.

 

[oldsaw]

I usually keep a 28 on my 660 and 395....It's rare I run across a tree I can't handle with that bar....But I do have a 32,36 and 42 for each saw....I keep a 48 inch bar on my 088.

My 066 came with two 36s. It sees much more 24" time since it is "semi-retired" from mill duty and is now my falling/bucking saw for stuff too big for my Super XL. Funny how that size limit keeps getting smaller....

Power rules...

Mark