Effects of wrong chain gauge

[mlk]

I have a bunch of .058 chain but only one saw that uses a .058 bar. How would .058 chain run in a .063 bar? If the cutting was even slightly worse I won't try it, but if the only effect would be shrtened chain life it would be worth it for me. Has anyone tried this before?

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

ive heard of 3/8 ths chain being used in 4 something or other gauge what i mean is ive heard of 3/8 chain being used in big 42 inch husky bars although ive never tried it ..i think the main problem would lie with your sprocket ..no doubt youll get a lot better post than mine hopefully

 

[Crofter]

I think you will find it pretty sloppy and any dullness will make chain cut hopelessly to one side or the other. It will be hard to sharpen on the bar too as the chain will lay over on the bar. Probably will be a bit more likley to derail so safety??

Frank

 

[mlk]

Gauge is the thickness of the drive link. .063 and .058 are two common gauges. Pitch is the linear distance between drive links - 3/8 and .404 are two of the more common pitches.

 

[rb_in_va]

mlk,
How many drive links are your chains? I have a 36" 3/8 .058 Oregon Pro bar and the saw shop said that .058 was very uncommon. At least here in the east anyway. So I bought a 28" .050 bar (and paid way too much BTW). I should have got one from Jeff S. Later, Roger.

 

[mlk]

My .058 chain is all .404 pitch, bought for use on 3120XP's. I have about 200 feet of it. I had thought about trying some .404 .058 chain with Stihl saws (066 and 075) with .063 bars. Even though Stihl lists a designation for Stihl chain in .058 gauge (the number 5 would be stamped on the drive link tang), as far as I know they never made any .058 chain or bars.

 

[Lawn Masters]

Using a .058 chain in a .063 gauge bar would be like trying to use a 404 chain on a 30cc saw, it just wont work. You would only succeed in wearing the bar rails out sooner, derailing the chain with great ease, cutting perfect o's in logs and/or killing yourself. other than the above mentioned issues its not a problem, if you want to spend more money to buy a new bar really soon. Just buy a bar thats the right gauge or some chains that are the right gauge for the bar. you'll be glad you spent the money now for the right parts that fit properly instead of having the wrong gauge chain and bar.

 

[geofore]

200' of .058

I'd either buy the right bars to run it or trade it here for the chain you need for the .063 bars. The .058 is stock on the Dolmar 7900 but I run the .050 set up on mine so it won't help me but a lot of others run the .058. I have a 16" .060 bar that I run it on but it is wobbly doing that. Best to get the right bar or trade it for some .063 chain for your .063 bars and avoid the headaches of cutting half moons.

 

[Crofter]

You have enough chain to wear out a few bars. Probably easier to get new bars to fit your Stihls in .058 than it will be to swap the .404 chain. Stihl may not have equiped saws new with.058 but any number of aftermarket bars are available.

Frank

 

[tony marks]

its probably gonna cut like an old wore out bar..with the saws u got.. the set up
would be rite if it were mine..kinda like buying an new high end car,, and putting old wore out tires on it..jmo

 

[Lawn Masters]

Tony, I coouldnt have said it better myself. WELL DONE!

 

[Bradley]

Got some mis-labeled chain last year. Was .058 and I put it on a saw with a.063 bar. I was ready to throw the whole affair in the dumpster until it dawned on me what it was. Every cut was crooked and it was almost impossible to sharpen ( which I tried thinking that I must have hit something dulling the chain immediately). Took the chain back and my dealer swapped it out with an apology.

 

[mlk]

Well I guess that answers the question. I plan on getting some .063 chain for the 075 and leave a 3/8 sprocket on the 066. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Bill G]

There are several people on ebay trying to pass off .058 as fitting Sthil saws. It is true Stihl does make .058 to sell on comp saws but not on there own. I guess you could hunt down a Oregon, Windsor, or GB bar that may have the Stihl mount with .058 rails but what would be the point. It makes no sense. There was even a guy the other night with an ebay id of "chainsawbars" or something. He was trying to sell a 3/8LP bar for a 021. He said it would fit ALL Stihl saws as long as you change dthe sprocket. I guess the fact the bar mount is completely different never crossed his mind.

Bill

 

[Lawn Masters]

Obviously not, the smaller stihls sometimes have those little mounting holes, the BIG ones have the 14mm holes and the others have the 12.1mm holes. I'm sure there are some morons out there that think a 9mm bar will fit an 090 without a problem.