New to forum...just bought MS390...

[Lobo]

Alright most of the stuff I'm cutting doesn't use half the bar's capacity, and speed is not that big a concern. What I do worry about is damaging the bottom end of the engine from lugging. Some of you guys have told me that .325 chain is not as good as 3/8" but I've used it and been real happy with it before, something like Stihl 23RS or Oregon 33-34-35LG. Does Stihl even make .325" tips for the ES or would I be forced to buy an Oregon Bar set up this way? I know the .325" isn't quite as good, but for what I do it's good enough...what I guess I'm tring to find out is if running .325" will take enough load off the saw to make the 28" bar feasible and if so is there any safety or mechanical problems that would arise from using .325 in this application. I kind of have myself in a pickle having bought the 28" bar and not wanting to put it on the shelf or beg the dealer to take it back and set me up with a smaller bar, which would mean money out of his pocket.

As I said before StihL's .325 has the same tooth width as the 3/8, in RS i am talking about. The .325 should be more than sufficient in a 20 inch config.

Personnally I would try a NK20 or LP in 95VP up to 24 inches, however not sure Carlton or Oregon make it in 23-24 inch length. You could also try a Carlton 23 inch PS bar with .325 semi-chisel, that should work out nicely.

 

[16gauge]

The skip tooth is the way to go with the 28 inch bar....not for everyday use but in green pine or fir will throw the chips. This opinion is based on a Stihl 031 and Homelite 330 that wouldl handle a 16 to 20 inch chain with not "bogging". Tried longer bars on both of these without success. The longer the bar and chain the more power is lost to spinning of the mass and not as much power left to do the work....IMHP

 

[geofore]

Ben, I know you use modded saws and you think all my modded saws are chiseled over muffler modded mutts, but I was directing this to Deisel's problem and trying to be kind about his choice of the MS390. He really needs to go with the 20" bar setup. If he wants to use the 24" or 28" bar he needs to jump up a size or two in saws. As for the chain, I run both .325 and 3/8 on the 346XP's I have. I would tell Deisel to stick with 3/8 on a saw over 50cc. I don't think he's aware all my saws are modded as are your saws. I didn't figure he had come down with the "itius" yet being he's trying to run a 28" bar on the MS390.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Air chisel porting.

LMFAO!!!

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Ben you need modded saws for the work you do, Deisel doesn't say he's into this day in and day out. Otherwise he's going to end up with sawitius (one modded saw is not enough) like Rahtreelimbs.

Nothing wrong with sawitius!!!

Easy cure.................buy more saws!!!

 

[Husky288XP]

Or you could learn to live with what you got.

 

[Diesel JD]

Yeah I know I really needed the MS440, but since I don't make a living with a chainsaw how could I possibly justify it? I was just shocked that since the 025 could spin the 18" Bar with .325" pitch and Rollomatic E and seemed like it could easily handle a 20" bar just couldn't accept the mount, that the MS390 wasn't well capapble of handling the 28" bar which is not off spec for that saw. I'm also kind of confused as to how the full skip chain will help with the bigger bar. This saw is also stock and I guess i just expected a little more out of it than it can deliver. I'm prob. going to go with either a 20" a 24" bar and save the big one for when one of the big spruce pines goes down or other opportunities arise to cut big softwood. I think the skip chain prob. won't work in hardwoods which is what I mostly cut, hickory, black jack oak, small live oaks, water and turkey oak etc. Thanks!
J.D.

 

[J_Ashley]

Diesel, the Skip chain will put less load on the saw in the wood becuase you are only making half the number of cuts, have half as much drag, and therefor regain a few RPM's and a little HP as well. In your situation, I'd go back to the Stihl dealer and get an 18" or 20" bar for that 390. I've got a 290 with a 20" bar, and with the Stihl RS chain it's no slouch in hardwoods. After you downsize a little you'll notice a difference in performance, probably what you were expecting in the firstplace.

Justin

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

...the MS390 wasn't well capapble of handling the 28" bar which is not off spec for that saw. I'm also kind of confused as to how the full skip chain will help with the bigger bar....I think the skip chain prob. won't work in hardwoods which is what I mostly cut, hickory, black jack oak, small live oaks, water and turkey oak etc. Thanks!
J.D.

Skip should work just as it does in hardwood as it does in softwood.

Here's a whole thread on it-
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=23956

And as far as Stih's specs, take those with a grain of salt. It does say the 390 can do a 28" bar, but it also says the 361 tops out at 20", and the 361 is far and away a more capable saw. I run a 24" on my 361 in softwood, with a muffler mod, and while it works very well for me, most would say that's too much for that saw, let alone the 390.

Jeff

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Diesel, the Skip chain will put less load on the saw in the wood becuase you are only making half the number of cuts, have half as much drag, and therefor regain a few RPM's and a little HP as well.

Justin

Justin, first welcome to the site. Second, read the thread I linked to in my above post. I got lambasted for making the statement you just did. While it will technically put less load on a saw, I guess the virtue of a skip is for chip clearance in a long bar application. I run skip on all my stuff, as that's the local practice out here on anything over 24", and that's how I like to do it...I just don't like to tell anyone on here anymore because apparently I'm using skip tooth for the wrong reason, and I was as wrong as could be and was thus corrected in short order!

Jeff

 

[Diesel JD]

Yeah I agree the MS361 and the old 036 Pro were way better saws than my MS390, but.....doesn't the 390 have more CID? I thought it came down to simple HP...no replacement for displacement? Maybe I thought wrong? I will read up on teh skip chain...but I will say I have never seen it run in FL. Lots of gritty and abrasive wood on construction sites...bow bars and hardnoses are common.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

...no replacement for displacement

True to a certain extent, but alot of it comes down to variables as carburation, exhuast design, ports, engine design and so on. I'm not an expert on any, but the 361 with less displacement than larger saws puts out more power. We've got saw techs, engine builders and racers behind every corner here, so I'm sure one will chime in with specifics.

Jeff

 

[neverenough]

Yeah I agree the MS361 and the old 036 Pro were way better saws than my MS390, but.....doesn't the 390 have more CID? I thought it came down to simple HP...no replacement for displacement? Maybe I thought wrong? I will read up on teh skip chain...but I will say I have never seen it run in FL. Lots of gritty and abrasive wood on construction sites...bow bars and hardnoses are common.

The 390 has more displacement, but less power. I think the 390 also turns a little less rpms too.

 

[neverenough]

And as far as Stih's specs, take those with a grain of salt. It does say the 390 can do a 28" bar, but it also says the 361 tops out at 20", and the 361 is far and away a more capable saw. I run a 24" on my 361 in softwood, with a muffler mod, and while it works very well for me, most would say that's too much for that saw, let alone the 390.

Jeff

I was going to post close to the same thing, so, I agree with this.

 

[SawTroll]

If I recall right, the 038 super, and Mag was a 72CC saw, with around 5HP or so, maybe a tad more. ........

Right in, 038 Mag is 3.8kw/ 5.2 hp.

 

[SawTroll]

Diesel, the Skip chain will put less load on the saw in the wood becuase you are only making half the number of cuts, ......Justin

Skip chain does not have half the number of cutters. Full skip has about 66% compared to regular chain, ans semi-skip about 80%. The exact numbers depend on the number of drivers involved.

 

[SawTroll]

So in your opinion the 28" bar is too much? Why would .325 be a bad idea?

The number of cutters will be higher, and there will be less room for ship clearing in the chain. It will thus bog easier than 3/8" - so you will have the reverse effect compared to a skip chain.

 

[Diesel JD]

Thanks Saw Troll. Somebody finally explained why the .325" trick won't work. This brings up a question, about the extra displacement/less HP with the MS390. Is there a way I can squeeze a little extra HP out of her. Something simple like intake and exhaust mods? It's interesting to see what you guys who use these for a living think.

 

[Lobo]

Just a simple of muffler mod. (opening up the muffler) will probably make all the difference in the world.


There is 0.3 hp difference stock between the Canadian and USA versions, the muffler mod should get you at least that and probably more.

Search this site for ''muffler modifications''.

 

[buck futter]

You said your wood is normally about 14" I would go for the 18" bar keep it 3/8 so you dont have to change the sprocket, it should do well

lucky