new bar for MS361

[stihlaficionado]

Am looking to buy a replacement bar(20") for my ms361. A local stihl dealer wants $52.00. Seems a bit high...Can anyone recommend another brand?
Or should I just cough up the $$.

Am new to the site. Not a logger, but regularly cut several cords a year, as well as fell/buck whatever comes my way. Have visited the site many times over the years as a quest...Great entertainment!!! And VERY informative. My girlfriend on the other hand...

thanks for the advice...
mark

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Stihl makes nice bars and chain. They're what I use. I enjoy their quality and think they're worth it. That said, alot of guys use Oregon bars. Pretty much any bar will work. It's just a matter of how long you want it to last.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

 

[computeruser]

If its a solid (ES) bar, then that's a fair price. If it is the laminated (E) bar, you'd be getting taken for a few more dollars than you should.

You can find cheaper bars out there - Oregon, Windsor, GB ProTop - but you'll save maybe $10. But truthfully, if you're only buying one bar and it is going to last you a few years, then I really don't see the point in spending very much time or energy trying to pinch pennies that tightly.

 

[deezulsmoke]

If you are not in to big of a hurry, I would watch ebay if I were you. There are some pretty good prices on bars along with some prices that aren't. I just got a brand new 28" stihl es bar off of ebay for forty bucks. I just had to watch for a few weeks before I found a good deal. Just a thought, but fifty bucks for a new bar with a replaceable tip is not to bad (es bar). Also might want to check with Baileys, they were running some specials on there pro tip bars that were really good prices.

 

[Trigger-Time]

I try to support my dealer, and I know you are looking for a 20" bar
but I just bought a New Stihl ES 25" off e-bay, delivered for $40.24

 

[Biketrax]

deez and trig

Which saw are you guys putting that bigger bar on?
Would it be the 361? how big a bar can that 361 take?
or is it for one of your bigger ones?
thanks

 

[stihlaficionado]

Stihl makes nice bars and chain. They're what I use. I enjoy their quality and think they're worth it. That said, alot of guys use Oregon bars. Pretty much any bar will work. It's just a matter of how long you want it to last.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

Thanks, Jeff...
I will probably go with the Stihl bar(ES)

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Thanks, Jeff...
I will probably go with the Stihl bar(ES)

They're fine bars, and are genuing Stihl, and not a rebadged other brand. They're the step below Cannon bars, but those are up into three figures. $XXX

 

[stihlaficionado]

What a great response time...

thanks to all who contributed...

mark

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

how big a bar can that 361 take?

!8"-20" with ease. 24" readily, and a 28" when you need to in soft wood.

 

[deezulsmoke]

Which saw are you guys putting that bigger bar on?
Would it be the 361? how big a bar can that 361 take?
or is it for one of your bigger ones?
thanks

I run a 20" bar on the 361 normally and I ordered the 28" just for occasions in bigger stuff. Stihl says you can run upto a 28" on the 361. I would probably go with full skip chain on 25" and up for the 361. I am pretty sure that Lake said the 361 and 28" bar is a pretty regular order for the west coast guys.

 

[zemmo]

Some people are raving about the GB Titanium bar, although I haven't tried it. It's available thru NWCS and cuttinscott, for under $50.

 

[SawTroll]

With the bar prices refered in this tread, I wouldn't think twise about getter another brand than Stihl - they are really nice....

....but here an 18" Rollomatic E is about 150 USD. :angry2:

I bought it anyway though, in spite that the Oregon Pro-Lite would have been about 60% less.

I prefere laminated bars as they are lighter, and usually makes the saws balance better.

 

[SteveH]

6 months ago, new Stihl ES 20" from a John Deere place [my dealer was gone on vacation or something] that also handles Stihl saws was something like $55. For what it's worth, I've used other bars [Oregon, etc.] that are significantly lower in price. Nowadays I stick with the Stihl as it works out a little better, in the long run, on price as they last me much longer than the others I've tried. Just my experience. I figure my dealer's price would have been a few bucks less than the Deere place. They are a bit higher on supplies and parts.

 

[B_Turner]

I run a 20" bar on the 361 normally and I ordered the 28" just for occasions in bigger stuff. Stihl says you can run upto a 28" on the 361. I would probably go with full skip chain on 25" and up for the 361. I am pretty sure that Lake said the 361 and 28" bar is a pretty regular order for the west coast guys.

I would have guessed that even over here anyone running a 28 inch bar would typically want at least a 440.

 

[deezulsmoke]

Thats why I went ahead and bought the 28" bar, I plan on getting a 441 or 460 soon. Just cant make up my mind which one, I am leaning towards a 460.

 

[deezulsmoke]

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=37979

Here is a link with a 28" bar on the 361 done by Caseyforest.