I think I need a bigger saw, advice wanted.

[CapitaineHaddoc]

A 7900 became difficult to find, and even ported, it will not be much faster than 372XP ported. But it is true that it has more torque, and it'll let you sell the 372.

Instead, I will choose a ported 390 if it is not too expensive. There you'll see a difference.

 

[wap13]

I sharpen my chains but the first time I ran the saw was with a brand new out of the box stihl rs chain. As to tuning I tune my saws too. I tune by ear and check with a tach. With the weather the way it is now it is set right at 13,500. I have kept it a little lower, for the initial break in but I got to run it a little today and it was running 13,440.

I put a 20" B&C on there with an 8 pin today and it was more impressive.

There is nothing wrong with the saw, chain, or tuning. I am sure some could eek out a bit more as far as chain sharpness or maybe tune it a bit better than I can but I promise it is not out of tune and the chain not dull.

I think I will just run it more and see how it continues to break in. I still want a bigger saw though, isnt that was AS is about?

Lets say I keep the 372, whats the next logical step up in saw size? I would think a ported 390 would smoke a 372 but a lot seem to think thats not much of a step up and should go with a 395 or 660?

 

[sawfun9]

Well if you run a 395, especially a ported one, I'd use 404 on a 24" bar.

 

[Evan]

Man specs would kill mW but I think the 390 and 660 are comparable. I could be wrong?

 

[timberland ts]

I have both a 372 and a 660 i run a 24" on the 372 and a 32" on the 660 buried the will be about the same with those bars. I love my 660.

 

[CapitaineHaddoc]

Man specs would kill mW but I think the 390 and 660 are comparable. I could be wrong?

You're right, up to 32" bar the 390XP be as fast as the 660. Maybe faster. And much lighter, best AV system, etc.

Beyond 32" the 660 will probably be better with his higher torque.

Take a 390 or so waiting a little and take the new 661CM

 

[luckydozenfarm]

I can't imagine a 660 not getting the job done on any tree other than something crazy huge like they have down in CA. I have a big-bore kit on my 660 and it's one of those saws that goes with me no matter what. A 24" bar on a 660 with a sharp chisel chain absolutely rips through wood. Any wood. If there was a better saw out there that can compete with it's power-weight ratio, it would be only by a hair.

I use mine to buck anything over 18" diameter and its like having my very own Star Wars light saber.

 

[nstueve]

who did your porting?

This is what I wondering... If it's a good porting job or not. There's lots of little stuff that a good porter would know to do but if it's a side job that didn't get the port timing right, set the exhaust to high, didn't cut the squish on it, etc etc etc... There's plenty of mistakes that could be made in a porting job. Maybe we need movies!!!

Anyhow, I love the 7900 for the AV and has plenty of torque for a 24 or 32. My 2 cents is that you'll get tired carrying a 90cc saw around when 70-80cc's should do everything you need (especially ported).

Lastly some others did mention chain sharpening. After seeing plenty of messed up chain this last year it does come to mind that chain can have significant bearing on how fast and hard you can cut. If you haven't you should check out Madsen's guide on sharpening chains. I would also check out the chain you're using it could be sharp as hell but proper raker height for different types of wood can kill speed. I would also try square grind/file chain in half skip on the 24 and full skip on anything longer. Less cutters to give parasitic loss of power and more clearance for chips at higher cutting speeds.

http://www.madsens1.com/mnu_main.htm

 

[Philip Wheelock]

A 372xp with a modest port should be making 15% min. over stock power - that's 6 hp or better with high chain speed. Perplexing why the OP wouldn't find that impressive; just have to wonder whether the port job was performed up to standard.

 

[scottfarm]

I just bought a new 372x-torq to replace my 28 year old 181se(135lbs compression) that I thought was getting tired. Never thought I would pay $769 for a chainsaw. I bought the 181 new in 1986 and have never done anything to it, have not even changed the spark plug. Big oak and hickory is all I cut. The 181 outcut the new 372, although the 372 seems to be running better and better as it breaks in. Is yours a X-Torq?

 

[sunfish]

Ported 372xp not impressive?

You need to send it back to whoever ported it!

 

[mdavlee]

I'm sure the porting is up to snuff. I think the OP was expecting a little more. I exchanged PMs back and forth with him and I'm not going to reveal who ported it either.

Next step up I think would be a 390 or 2188 ported. I do know a 390 beat all the 066/660 build off saws in the same cant.

 

[sunfish]

I'm sure the porting is up to snuff. I think the OP was expecting a little more. I exchanged PMs back and forth with him and I'm not going to reveal who ported it either.

Next step up I think would be a 390 or 2188 ported. I do know a 390 beat all the 066/660 build off saws in the same cant.

Expectations can sometimes really screw up a good thing! :msp_biggrin:

 

[wap13]

I'm sure the porting is up to snuff. I think the OP was expecting a little more. I exchanged PMs back and forth with him and I'm not going to reveal who ported it either.

Next step up I think would be a 390 or 2188 ported. I do know a 390 beat all the 066/660 build off saws in the same cant.

This.

I am not getting into who ported it. Too many pissing matches here about it but I can assure you he is a well respected AS member and will be getting all saws I want ported.

Again, the chain is sharp. I have used brand new stihl RS chain on the 24. I know some can get a chain sharper but I believe that is sharp enough to get an idea how a saw performs.

There is nothing wrong with the saw. It is strong. Just not a strong as I would have thought given the hype about the 372. I think I am just and CAD victim.... I must have worded the original post wrong. I am in no way unhappy with the saws performance. I thought that a ported 372 would cure my need for a more powerful saw but it seems to have made it worse....

Thanks for all the info in the thread. I think a 390 maybe what I am looking for, though will keep an eye out for a 7900, 385, 2188 or 660. After handling the saw yesterday it is pretty lite for the power it makes.

I weighed it today with a 20" bar and 3/8s .050 chain. Not full of oil and fuel but had some in it and was just a hair of 20lbs. My dads 550 was there with a 20" bar an 325 cain. Weighed it to and came in a just a hair over 15lbs. Not as much difference as I would have thought.

 

[rburg]

If you like the way the372 handles, I believe you would like the 390.

 

[bcaarms]

Something missing from the cutting experience ?

After I ran the tlandrum 385 I have to be careful how I think of my other saws. One thing that has helped me is concentrating on the pile of wood chips at my feet after the cut. If they are large and uniform then the saw is performing as it should and my expectations need to be balanced against the other part of the equation which is how much fun is it to "lug around".

I know nobody else would do this, but I have a set of 30db ear muffs I wear over a set of Bose ear buds. With Def Leppard jamming out "Hysteria" and the chips flying I really dont get too dissappointed even when Im running my 27CC Echo.

Results may vary.

 

[JakeG]

I know I dont NEED a bigger saw than the 372 but looking for something to handle a 28" bar well make me giggle like a school girl when running smaller bars.

The quoted statement brought up a few questions I feel need to be answered before making a proper recommendation.

Are you felling or mostly bucking? When you use a saw, are you having to walk 100-500 yards with it, ppe, 2-5 gallons of fuel/oil, gallon of water, etc or can you pretty much drive up to it?

Also, you said you want a saw that makes you giggle. Well, what makes you giggle??

Speed or Torque? Do you want a high revving light saber or would you rather dog in, lean on it and watch the chips grow?

My 394xp will never rev like my 562xp. But with a 28" b/c you can REALLY LEAN on it and she'll just keep chuggin away which sounds absolutely fantastic. However, I've had to pack it into the woods and lug it around 6-8 hours at a time, day in and day out in a felling situation and it's a heavy HEAVY SOB. Probably 2 pounds heavier than a 390 and maybe a pound heavier than the 660.

About chains... Imo, and to an extent... they get better with time. As if they break in.

 

[stihl for life]

my ported 372 xp rips this hard wood up here in south western ont. wearing a 24 inch bar it cuts much faster the my ported 660 . i would pick up my 372xp over my 660 when im logging

 

[SierraWoodsman]

The 395 is not a slow revving saw, even factory stock. Might not spool up like a 346, but then again it's 94cc's too.
In your case a 390 ported should cure your need for more power. (I'm not sure what to tell you if it doesn't.)

Owning both 390/395, I think it's fair to say the 390 will handle just about anything. Also, the 390 will beat you up less and you will likely get more work done
at the end of the day because of that alone. In the end I still bet you use that 372 more
than the 390 because of weight issue. This is of course "After" testosterone levels come back down to normal

 

[wap13]

The quoted statement brought up a few questions I feel need to be answered before making a proper recommendation.

Are you felling or mostly bucking? When you use a saw, are you having to walk 100-500 yards with it, ppe, 2-5 gallons of fuel/oil, gallon of water, etc or can you pretty much drive up to it?

Also, you said you want a saw that makes you giggle. Well, what makes you giggle??

Speed or Torque? Do you want a high revving light saber or would you rather dog in, lean on it and watch the chips grow?

My 394xp will never rev like my 562xp. But with a 28" b/c you can REALLY LEAN on it and she'll just keep chuggin away which sounds absolutely fantastic. However, I've had to pack it into the woods and lug it around 6-8 hours at a time, day in and day out in a felling situation and it's a heavy HEAVY SOB. Probably 2 pounds heavier than a 390 and maybe a pound heavier than the 660.

About chains... Imo, and to an extent... they get better with time. As if they break in.

That is a good thought provoking post.

I am mostly bucking.

For the most part I can drive right up the trees I want to cut up. If I had to hike in very far I would alway go for a smaller saw and take a little more time in the cut. If or when I get a bigger saw it would be mainly for bucking stuff that I wouldnt need to pack the saw in for.

Even before this post I have been thinking about why the saw may not be as impressive as I would have thought and I think your question about speed or tq is it. I like to be able to really lean on a saw. So for me tq seems to be king. That is likely also why I like tractors and hot rod diesel trucks instead of high revving small blocks.


bcaarms you bring up a good point too about the experience. I have a 30cc dolmar that I really enjoy. The reason is that I expected it to be a turd when in fact it cuts really well for such a little guy and handles like a scalpel. I too look at the chips at my feet as one measuring stick for a saw, chain, etc etc and after cutting yesterday and noodling some bar length pecan I cant complain.

I want to stress again the saw runs well and is strong. I think I am just looking for the next step up in performance. The word "need" in the title was in jest. I dont NEED a bigger saw. I dont NEED a 372 but I enjoy running a saw and cutting wood and it seems the stronger the saw the more I enjoy it.

Thanks for all the replies.