MS261 3/8 pitch bar and chain?

[lambs]

For what its worth, I am converting my 036 Pro from an 18" 3/8pitch .050 gauge to a 20" .325 pitch .063 gauge set-up. Everybody around me here runs the .325 pitch chain and I am getting ready to buy a roll of full chisel .325 and a breaker/spinner. I have a 7-tooth rim, but I think that 036 can pull an 8-tooth just fine. I will try the 7 first and if it feels like it will handle the 8-tooth with a razor sharp chain then I will switch that out later. I am now cutting 50-60 ricks of firewood per year and I find the .325 pitch chain to work very well for my saws!

I would think an 036 Pro would have plenty of power for a 20" bar. I wonder which sprocket is bigger between the .325 x 8 and the 3/8 x 7. They might be very close to equal.

Please update us again after you convert and let us know what you think!

 

[Brushwacker]

I would think an 036 Pro would have plenty of power for a 20" bar. I wonder which sprocket is bigger between the .325 x 8 and the 3/8 x 7. They might be very close to equal.

Please update us again after you convert and let us know what you think!

.325 8 is slightly bigger then 3/8 7 . Hard to tell a difference in performance on 034-036 saws. Go to a .325 7 and the biggest thing I notice is an increase in fuel per amount of wood cut.
I usually prefer an 16" 3/8 on 026 and similar power saws but I use .325 also, 8 tooth preferred. I agree .325 is a bit smoother but maintaining 3/8 pitch I find easier.

 

[FishNJ]

For what its worth, I am converting my 036 Pro from an 18" 3/8pitch .050 gauge to a 20" .325 pitch .063 gauge set-up. Everybody around me here runs the .325 pitch chain and I am getting ready to buy a roll of full chisel .325 and a breaker/spinner. I have a 7-tooth rim, but I think that 036 can pull an 8-tooth just fine. I will try the 7 first and if it feels like it will handle the 8-tooth with a razor sharp chain then I will switch that out later. I am now cutting 50-60 ricks of firewood per year and I find the .325 pitch chain to work very well for my saws!

Just set an 036 up same way. 20 / 325 / 8T. My 029 pulled the same B&C with the 7T fine and with 2 bars and 10 chains already and less than $100 in the 036 I didn't see the need to reinvest. Read on here someone times is out and the 325-8 was just a little faster than the 3/8-7 on a muffler modded 036. Haven't cut yet. Just completed building the 036. Anxious to see...




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[SawTroll]

Just set an 036 up same way. 20 / 325 / 8T. My 029 pulled the same B&C with the 7T fine and with 2 bars and 10 chains already and less than $100 in the 036 I didn't see the need to reinvest. Read on here someone times is out and the 325-8 was just a little faster than the 3/8-7 on a muffler modded 036. Haven't cut yet. Just completed building the 036. Anxious to see...

At least there is nothing wrong with using it - provided you use proper .325 chain (lots of crap out there).

 

[FishNJ]

At least there is nothing wrong with using it - provided you use proper .325 chain (lots of crap out there).

Stihl RS all the way. a few years ago i found some guy on eBay selling NIB stihl chains for $12 each. needless to say, i stocked up...

 

[lambs]

Stihl RS all the way. a few years ago i found some guy on eBay selling NIB stihl chains for $12 each. needless to say, i stocked up...

I'm with you on that, but I have to say the Husky chain cut just fine. My only quibble was that it stretched a bit, but I expected that. It also wants different filing angles (55/25/10 I think) than what I am used to with Stihl RS.

 

[Knobby57]

261 with a 18" 3/8 ... No problem at all . Keep the chain sharp and you won't have to lean on it


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[lambs]

261 with a 18" 3/8 ... No problem at all . Keep the chain sharp and you won't have to lean on it

I like the idea. I'm staying with 16" to help avoid burying the nose in other logs. I sure wasn't leaning on it Saturday; it was self-feeding very well.

 

[Ronaldo]

My 261 has been muff modded and base gasket removed, but even in stock form it pulled a 16" b/c set up just fine.

 

[VinceGU05]

my old saws (08s and s10) run 404 chain on 18" and they aint no power house.

 

[Brushwacker]

my old saws (08s and s10) run 404 chain on 18" and they aint no power house.

I ran an S10 , was quite surprised how well that old techology did run and cut wood. Forgot if it had 3/8ths or 404, I think it had an 18-19"ish bar & chain.
Back in the 80's about 90% or more of the bars & chains I saw on 032's were 20" 3/8. Surely it will not strain modern 50cc saws I would think. The spring AV might not like the weight of 20" but 16" should work sweet, it does on 026's.