modified saw comparison, Husky 346XP vs. Dolmar 5100

[skwerl]

Timistal finally got his new 5100 from Dave Neiger today and brought it over to do some comparisons. We compared it to two 346XP's, one modified by Dozer Dan and one modified by Dave Neiger. The 346 from Dave is fairly new, about 6-7 tanks of fuel through it. It's picked up a lot of power in the last two tanks. The 346 from Dozer Dan is 3 years old and is running an 8 pin sprocket, but it's a very strong saw and it's been my favorite for years. I was under the impression that it was faster than the new 346 until today.

I did all the cutting and Tim did the timing on his digital watch. Not exactly precise, but we were just trying to get a feel for how the saws compared. In order to make the comparison easier we were using a fairly large, dead oak log about 15" diameter. All three saws have 18" bars and .325 chisel chain. I'm not sure how much Dave ran the 5100 before shipping, but we took it straight out of the box to the test log.

DN 5100, 7 pin- 10 seconds
DN 346, 7 pin- 10 seconds
DD 346, 8 pin- 12 seconds

We ran the new 5100 against the new 346 one more time on a bigger log, about 20". We also ran my brand new 372 (one tank of gas, modded muffler) and my 2 year old Dozer Dan 372. Both the 372's have 24" bars and 8 pin sprockets.

DN 5100- 19 seconds
DN 346- 20 seconds

stock 372- 11 seconds
DD 372- 10 seconds

Hopefully by the time Tim gets his EHP 372 we will have a stopwatch and can do some more accurate time comparisons. I specifically wanted to test on bigger logs so any differences would be more noticable. Who cares if it cuts a 6X6 cant in 3.2 or 3.4 seconds? I'm not equipped to measure that small of a time difference.

 

[trimmmed]

Interesting, thanks for the info Brian

Congrats to Tim on his new 5100

Kudos to Dave Neiger, well done

 

[Dennis Cahoon]

Skwerl....Just goes to show you anybody can build a worksaw. hahahaha!

 

[bwalker]

Brian, where the stock 372's muffler modded?

 

[skwerl]

Oh, just for fun I also pulled out my 'new' (mostly built from new parts) 038 Magnum that I got from Thompson1600 a few weeks ago. It really woke up once I cut all the baffles out of the muffler. But the 20 year old saw with 7 pin and 24" bar and chain timed at 13 seconds in the big log. The old magnesium really cuts well.

Ben, I modded the muffler on the new 372, as I stated above.

 

[bwalker]

Ben, I modded the muffler on the new 372, as I stated above.

I missed that part. Once the new 372 breaks in that PP372 better look out.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Rocky, glad to hear it. Sounds like your having fun!
Pretty soon you'll be that fastest cutter from Miami Beach to Jacksonville!
Have you made any chain for racing yet? Making chain is alot of fun too and hope you get to build a 372 of your own soon.
John

 

[wagonwheeler]

All three saws have 18" bars and .325 chisel chain. I'm not sure how much Dave ran the 5100 before shipping, but we took it straight out of the box to the test log.
<snip>
We ran the new 5100 against the new 346 one more time on a bigger log, about 20". We also ran my brand new 372 (one tank of gas, modded muffler) and my 2 year old Dozer Dan 372. Both the 372's have 24" bars and 8 pin sprockets.

What bar & chain did you run on the 5100 & 346 in the 20"? It seems running the 18" bar would handicap them if you were having to reach over to cut before coming down. As compared to the 372's.

 

[timistall]

What bar & chain did you run on the 5100 & 346 in the 20"? It seems running the 18" bar would handicap them if you were having to reach over to cut before coming down. As compared to the 372's.

Well, we ran out of small wood. The bars were 18" and Skwerl wanted to push it. Besides, don't you know Skwerl is a "World Class Racer" He did have that look of "how dare you bring something as fast as my Husky"

 

[liketosaw]

Love my 5100

I just got my new 5100 from 166 at The Cutting Edge. I've only run a couple of tanks of fuel through it, but that saw is a screamer. I couldn't be any happier with it. It's a big step up from the 032AV that I was using. Good luck with the saw.

 

[timistall]

If you are running .325, do yourself a favor and try a loop of Stihl RS.

 

[liketosaw]

I'm running 3/8. Do you still suggest Stihl RS? I need to get a couple of extra loops.

 

[SawTroll]

Skwerl, as far as I remember you recieved a new pp 346xp from from DD last november.
What happened to that one?

I know it is not my business - just curious.:angel:

 

[SawTroll]

I'm running 3/8. Do you still suggest Stihl RS? I need to get a couple of extra loops.

Stihl RS is always worth trying, but how much improvement it will be does of course depend of what you are using now.

 

[rmihalek]

Maybe the DD372 needs new rings or something because the unbroken-in, muffler modded 372 is only 1 second slower.

I agree with the idea behind using big wood. It makes timing the cuts way easier. You could even try doing a three-cut hot start so you can practice switch overs as well, but then you're getting away from just a pure saw race and getting into a sawyer's race.

Good Show!