How big of a bar can it pull?

[sean donato]

Umm, yeah, showed perfectly the saw has too much bar on it. Race saw, fire wood saw I value my equipment and time more then that....

 

[Sidecarflip]

Hi people, Andrew here with another question!

So.. as you may know i own a Stihl MS 362 but i was just sitting there and wondered.."How big of a bar can it actually pull?" I mean from time to time you i see some big trees on my propriety and i was just wondering "how i am gonna take care of them if they fall?" so the question is: Could the 362 pull a 24 inch bar? Also, a big tree fell on my fence from my neighbor's part of the forest and it was big. So big that i could't take care of it and the guy had to call some guys with bigger saws(like 70cc or smth idk) to take care of it so yeah..

Thank you in advance!!

I believe you are wrong. The people who engineer the saw powerhead know how much horsepower and torque and horsepower a stock, modified (new engine) will output and they calculate how long a bar can be and the optimum chain length and cutter profile that works best with the powerhead and that is what they recommend, plain simple. If you wish to run something longer or more aggressive, that is entirely up to you as the end owner/user. Specs as to output or bar length or chain aggressiveness is entirely up to you as their specs are just their advice and that advice is based on engineering principles and nothing more, and certainly someone's conjecture.

The engineers that build the saws know a helluva lot better about their capabilities than you do so long as the saw is STOCK and UNMODIFIED and run under optimum conditions.

That applies to any machinery or machine tool or your pickup truck or lawnmower or even your toothbrush. Everything you use has been engineered to run in optimum, engineered conditions, even the condom you might use, is engineered not to fail when used properly...lol Nothing worse that a failed rubber at the moment of truth....

 

[muddy42]

Personally I like to run fairly short bars for a given cc, more like dividing by 3 than by 2. So I use a 15 inch bar on a 50cc saw, 20 inch on 76cc and 36 inch on 120 cc saw (in a mill). Its mostly personal preference, but I think its also kinder on the engine and I mostly cut hardwood.

 

[Hermio]

A good general rule of thumb is to take the CC of the saw and divide it in half. And that'll be around your max bar length typically. The 362 is a 59cc saw. So I'd go with a 28 inch bar max. In my own experience, I've run a 59cc Echo 590 with a 36 inch bar on it, bucking up 50+ inch pecan. Of course, it was slower (and lighter) with that bar than a bigger saw would be, but it got the job done without TOO much frustration. The problem you'll run into using an oversized bar is that it's hard on an underpowered saw. I broke several chains while I was running that setup and stripped a sprocket, as it couldn't power through like a bigger saw and would grab and bog if you tried to feed it too fast, resulting in more stress on everything.

So a 500i could pull a 40"? I have not tried a long bar on mine, but most on this forum seem to say that 36" is a bit too much for it. Of course, if you don't lean on it, it just might.

 

[Hermio]

It was struggling bad.

The more important question is why run a bar you can't oil?

I would not call that struggling.

 

[Hermio]

Personally I like to run fairly short bars for a given cc, more like dividing by 3 than by 2. So I use a 15 inch bar on a 50cc saw, 20 inch on 76cc and 36 inch on 120 cc saw (in a mill). Its mostly personal preference, but I think its also kinder on the engine and I mostly cut hardwood.

I run 20" on my 500i. I usually don't need more. I also have a 25", and it handles that buried in hickory. I am sure it could handle a longer bar, but I don't need it. I just like the fast cutting speed i get with a "short" bar.

 

[lone wolf]

I run 20" on my 500i. I usually don't need more. I also have a 25", and it handles that buried in hickory. I am sure it could handle a longer bar, but I don't need it. I just like the fast cutting speed i get with a "short" bar.

Sure, makes it a lot faster to sharpen also.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Hi people, Andrew here with another question!

So.. as you may know i own a Stihl MS 362 but i was just sitting there and wondered.."How big of a bar can it actually pull?" I mean from time to time you i see some big trees on my propriety and i was just wondering "how i am gonna take care of them if they fall?" so the question is: Could the 362 pull a 24 inch bar? Also, a big tree fell on my fence from my neighbor's part of the forest and it was big. So big that i could't take care of it and the guy had to call some guys with bigger saws(like 70cc or smth idk) to take care of it so yeah..

Thank you in advance!!

Hi people, Andrew here with another question!

So.. as you may know i own a Stihl MS 362 but i was just sitting there and wondered.."How big of a bar can it actually pull?" I mean from time to time you i see some big trees on my propriety and i was just wondering "how i am gonna take care of them if they fall?" so the question is: Could the 362 pull a 24 inch bar? Also, a big tree fell on my fence from my neighbor's part of the forest and it was big. So big that i could't take care of it and the guy had to call some guys with bigger saws(like 70cc or smth idk) to take care of it so yeah..

Thank you in advance!!

As big of bar as you want brother! The bigger the better! Go big or go home! You can't run with the big dawgs, if your just gonna sit on the porch!
I tend to go as big as I possibly can! Now don't you worry about git'n enough of that ol lube oil to your bar either brother! Its over rated and ain't that important.



Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[Tulameendude]

Most of the big stuff is split in to fire wood as soon as it gets to the yard. Or put aside for Milling.

Bottom line!......The OP asked about "how long of a bar he could run on his MS362" I offered a video of my MS361 running a 28" in 26" of Southern Yellow Long Leaf Pine. A similar saw with close to the same power or even bit less.
I couldn't give a Sh.iT if you, or anyone else is impressed with how fast it cut. This saw is NOT a "race saw", it is a work saw with simple mods, the chain is not a "race chain" it is regular off the reel chain.
So the OP can now make a more informed decision about weather or not he wants to try a long bar on his saw, with out all the BS theory crafting

Most of the big stuff is split in to fire wood as soon as it gets to the yard. Or put aside for Milling.

Bottom line!......The OP asked about "how long of a bar he could run on his MS362" I offered a video of my MS361 running a 28" in 26" of Southern Yellow Long Leaf Pine. A similar saw with close to the same power or even bit less.
I couldn't give a Sh.iT if you, or anyone else is impressed with how fast it cut. This saw is NOT a "race saw", it is a work saw with simple mods, the chain is not a "race chain" it is regular off the reel chain.
So the OP can now make a more informed decision about weather or not he wants to try a long bar on his saw, with out all the BS theory crafting.

Well said LoanOak!! I agree!

 

[Kodiak Kid]

My 361 pulling a 28" bar with ease.
Large carb/ with MuffMod.

That doesn't look like a 28". Maybe it's deceiving though.

*edit: My bad, I guess it dose look 28". I thought it was more along the lines of a 24"

 

[jellyroll]

As big of bar as you want brother! The bigger the better! Go big or go home! You can't run with the big dawgs, if your just gonna sit on the porch!
I tend to go as big as I possibly can! Now don't you worry about git'n enough of that ol lube oil to your bar either brother! Its over rated and ain't that important.
View attachment 1153893


Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

Reminds me of Piltz on ebay who puts long bars on small saws.

 

[fields_mj]

I think what Andrew is really wanting to know is how long of a bar his saw CAN run if he happens to need to make a few cuts on a big tree trunk to get it out of the way. He's not trying to figure out what size bar he can run on it day in and day out.

This becomes a question of whether or not the oiler can provide adequate lubrication, which is at least somewhat dependent on what bar oil you are running. The general consensus has pretty much always been that the 036/ms360/ms361/ms362 CAN oil a 28" bar if you are using a good bar oil. You will need to use a good bar oil, go easy with it, keep the chain sharp, don't run your depth gauges shorter than OEM specs, and keep your RPMs up, but the saws CAN run and oil a 28" bar. I'd also recommend using a semi or full skip chain. It will drastically reduce the workload on the powerhead.

It certainly makes sense to get a 28" bar and chain instead of buying an entire saw just to make 10 or 12 cuts. Use your regular bar to cut EVERYTHING you can. I'd even go so far as to make the initial cuts on the big stuff with your shorter bar, and just use the 28" bar to cut what you have to. FWIW, if you do buy a 28" bar, that bar should also fit an MS441, MS462, MS661, and their predecessors and clones.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

On a more serious note Gentleman. I'm all about shorter = bigger power gains and faster chain speed vs longer. Unless you absolutely need a longer bar for the class saw your running and size wood your cutting. Step down rather than up!

Hopped up pro modified 260 Pro. 50cc
16" .50g
.325 full comp round tune


Stock 360 61cc
20" .50g
.325 full comp round tune


Hopped up pro modified 1st edition 046 76cc
24" .63g
3/8 full skip square tune.


Hopped up pro modified 661 91cc
28" .63g
3/8 full skip square tune


When dink'n around with firewood. All these power saws cut just fine to my likings.

However, nothing like the 170 with a 62"
Like I mentioned earlier.
Go big or go home!



In an industrial setting as a production timber faller. Nothing but a 90cc with a minimum" of a 32" bar will do for the timber I work with.
Just my two cents Gentleman.




Cut safe, stay sharp and be aware.

 

[sean donato]

On a more serious note Gentleman. I'm all about shorter = bigger power gains and faster chain speed vs longer. Unless you absolutely need a longer bar for the class saw your running and size wood your cutting. Step down rather than up!

Hopped up pro modified 260 Pro. 50cc
16" .50g
.325 full comp round tune
View attachment 1153941

Stock 360 61cc
20" .50g
.325 full comp round tune
View attachment 1153940

Hopped up pro modified 1st edition 046 76cc
24" .63g
3/8 full skip square tune.
View attachment 1153947

Hopped up pro modified 661 91cc
28" .63g
3/8 full skip square tune
View attachment 1153942

When dink'n around with firewood. All these power saws cut just fine to my likings.
In an industrial setting as a production timber faller. Nothing but a 90cc with a minimum" of a 32" bar will do for the timber I work with.
All just my two cents Gentleman.



Cut safe stay sharp and be aware.

You forgot the super ms 170 with the 60" bar, lol.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

You forgot the super ms 170 with the 60" bar, lol.

Oh, you mean "The Judge" That's in my previous post on this thread. How could you miss it Big Sean D? You hit the like button on it!

 

[sean donato]

Oh, you mean "The Judge" That's in my previous post on this thread. How could you miss it Big Sean D? You hit the like button on it!

I didn't miss it in the first post, it just should have been in that last one. you know, for size comparison without having to scroll up.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

I didn't miss it in the first post, it just should have been in that last one. you know, for size comparison without having to scroll up.

Good Idea. Reckon I'll edit it!

 

[Seachaser]

I keep a 20” on mine. Mine is ported, but I have longer bars on my bigger saws.
I have a Husqvarna ranch saw with a similar size engine. It’s had a 24” since I bought it. I don’t see any problem OP.

 

[Lightning Performance]

Currently running a 60" on my 200T trimming.

In a side note anyone who thinks a 361 or 2 will oil like an 034-360 is way off.

Just get a bigger bar with less cutters if you want to cut faster mang.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

Currently running a 60" on my 200T trimming.

In a side note anyone who thinks a 361 or 2 will oil like an 034-360 is way off.

Just get a bigger bar with less cutters if you want to cut faster mang.

I would say get a longer bar with less cutters if you want to cut efficiently in bigger wood with most or all the bar buried, but that's just me.