Mounting Cannon S2 (big Stihl) 42" bar on MS661 (small Stihl)

[Canadub]

So I'm retiring my old 051av milling saw and bought a new MS661CM with 36" bar. Most of my milling will be fine on a 36" bar, but I have a 42" Cannon SuperBar (.404/.063) I just bought for my 051av that's only been used 2 times and I'd like to run it on the MS661 with my 48" Granberg Alaskan mill.

I actually talked to Cannon yesterday and ordered the spring bushing adapters so I can mount a 14mm stud bar on the 12.3mm MS661 studs, but was warned about needing the Granberg auxiliary oiler to run that bar. I know that the oil holes on the 051 and MS661 will be in different places. What I'm curious about is has anyone drilled out a big mount bar to work with the oiler holes on the MS661 successfully? Cannon seemed to think this wasn't possible, but as long as the new oil hole makes it to the groove in the bar, that should be fine, right?

I don't mind adding an auxiliary oiler to my Granberg mill anyway (more oil is more better, right?) but it would be nice to have oil from the saw actually make it onto the bar as well.

Also, the MS661 runs a 3/8" pitch sprocket, and I ordered a .404 7 tooth so I can run my two brand new .404 milling chains for the 42" bar until they're worn out. I also ordered a 3/8" tip sprocket for the Cannon bar so that if I want to convert the 42" bar from .404 to 3/8" pitch in the future I can do that. For anyone who does a lot of milling, does running 3/8" chain really make that much of a difference over .404 chain in terms of saw power? (I know it saves kerf material in each cut, but that's pretty negligible at .029" per cut)

 

[SeMoTony]

So I'm retiring my old 051av milling saw and bought a new MS661CM with 36" bar. Most of my milling will be fine on a 36" bar, but I have a 42" Cannon SuperBar (.404/.063) I just bought for my 051av that's only been used 2 times and I'd like to run it on the MS661 with my 48" Granberg Alaskan mill.

I actually talked to Cannon yesterday and ordered the spring bushing adapters so I can mount a 14mm stud bar on the 12.3mm MS661 studs, but was warned about needing the Granberg auxiliary oiler to run that bar. I know that the oil holes on the 051 and MS661 will be in different places. What I'm curious about is has anyone drilled out a big mount bar to work with the oiler holes on the MS661 successfully? Cannon seemed to think this wasn't possible, but as long as the new oil hole makes it to the groove in the bar, that should be fine, right?

I don't mind adding an auxiliary oiler to my Granberg mill anyway (more oil is more better, right?) but it would be nice to have oil from the saw actually make it onto the bar as well.

Also, the MS661 runs a 3/8" pitch sprocket, and I ordered a .404 7 tooth so I can run my two brand new .404 milling chains for the 42" bar until they're worn out. I also ordered a 3/8" tip sprocket for the Cannon bar so that if I want to convert the 42" bar from .404 to 3/8" pitch in the future I can do that. For anyone who does a lot of milling, does running 3/8" chain really make that much of a difference over .404 chain in terms of saw power? (I know it saves kerf material in each cut, but that's pretty negligible at .029" per cut)

You have it right from what BobL has stated regarding .404 kerf to 3/8's. Sharp cutters with the right depth gauge set is most important in efficient use of power. What I have used to mod oil holes is a diamond grinding set fitting my dremel. They were 30 bits for less than $10 U.S. from Amazon. Also used the same for finishing the 6mm hole in center of bar tip to gain 1 1/2" roughly in what the mill can reach, after using a smaller drill bit to start hole.
Mill safe & enjoy

 

[Canadub]

Thanks, I picked up a Windsor bench grinder recently that should help significantly in the sharp cutters with correct depth gauge department.

So you're saying you used a diamond grinding bit in your dremel to elongate the original oil hole in the bar to match up with the new needed location? I'm not sure I follow on the bar tip hole to gain extra mill width. As it is, with the dogs removed I'm getting 38" of capacity on my Granberg mill, which for my neck of the woods, is PLENTY. Don't get too many big diameter logs 'round my parts in the eastern foothills of the Rockies.