Perfect Bar Length for MS 361?

[Log Splitter]

Is anybody running a 361 in southern hardwood? I cut a lot of hickory, mostly 18-24 inch DBH. I was wondering if the 361 would pull a 20" bar running RS chain in hardwood without bogging too much.

I'm not saying I did not buy enough saw when I bought the MS 270 last fall, or that the 270 does not still have a place in my collection. I'm just sayin' if I was to buy a 361 would y'all recommend a 20" bar on it for my type of firewood cutting.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

With full skip, properly sharpened, saw tuned, muffler mod.....yeah it'd do it. Maybe not with the same flare of a 440, but it'd pull it.

.....but I think most here would recommend the 18". What do you have on the 270? Do you need two 18" saws?

Jeff

 

[Peacock]

I've personally used a rather green 361 with 20" RSC in hickory and oak up 30". It cuts it surprisingly well! Remember, these things aren't Huskies.....they actually have torque!

 

[manual]

Is anybody running a 361 in southern hardwood? I cut a lot of hickory, mostly 18-24 inch DBH. I was wondering if the 361 would pull a 20" bar running RS chain in hardwood without bogging too much.

I'm not saying I did not buy enough saw when I bought the MS 270 last fall, or that the 270 does not still have a place in my collection. I'm just sayin' if I was to buy a 361 would y'all recommend a 20" bar on it for my type of firewood cutting.

Good upgrade,
I use a ms361 with a 18" bar on oak. I have stopped it right in its tracks many of times. in bigger wood. ( Strictly operator error).
I have found that when I use the Carlton file plate to set my rakers at .020", The first time out the chain grabs, second sharpening,and not adjusting rakers, I have no problems. So in conclusion I have found the the Ms361 works best at .015-.018 raker depth.

 

[computeruser]

It will be fine with that setup, especially with a muffler mod.

 

[Stihl_Learning]

It will be fine with that setup, especially with a muffler mod.

+1
on the 361 with a muffler mod
John

 

[2000ssm6]

I've personally used a rather green 361 with 20" RSC in hickory and oak up 30". It cuts it surprisingly well! Remember, these things aren't Huskies.....they actually have torque!

LOL, you get rep for that

 

[manual]

Remember, these things aren't Huskies.....they actually have torque!

LOL, you get rep for that

Why would think that ? Because of the sound.:deadhorse:

 

[robby26wi]

if you can hold the rpm's the torque isnt that important....O wait my dolmars have boatloads of both lol...

 

[Peacock]

if you can hold the rpm's the torque isnt that important....O wait my dolmars have boatloads of both lol...

The ability to hold the RPM is because of torque. Especially at low RPM.

 

[Peacock]

Why would think that ? Because of the sound.:deadhorse:

No, just picking.

 

[ShoerFast]

Log Splitter

Keep in mind that you can adjust the depth gauges as you go to better match the cutting you do. It seems there is an unlimited amount of final "power matching" that can be done with the thickness of each chip.

 

[Log Splitter]

With full skip, properly sharpened, saw tuned, muffler mod.....yeah it'd do it. Maybe not with the same flare of a 440, but it'd pull it.

.....but I think most here would recommend the 18". What do you have on the 270? Do you need two 18" saws?

Jeff

The plan is to replace the 18" bar on the 270 with a 16" and use it for most of the limbing work.

Sounds like most agree that the 361 will work out OK but there will be at least a muffler mod in my future. The bar will be buried a lot when bucking the larger rounds.

Maybe I should just go ahead and spend the money on a 440 and not have to worry about still being underpowered. Before I found this site I saved a lot of money cutting my own firewood. I'm not so sure anymore.

I had a Mac 610 a few saws back (threw a rod). It was a 60cc saw and as I remember it handled the hickory pretty well. The problem with it was it was a heavy back killer, which is why the 361 is so appealing with its great hp to weight ratio.

 

[West Texas]

With a good sharp chain and a muffler mod, the 361 is definitely not an underpowered saw. I cut hard dead oak trees off local ranches for firewood and run an 18" bar on one for limbing and longer bars on the other for felling. Because I have a muffler and woods mod on both saws, they will easily run a 24" bar in hard wood. I run a 3/8 x 8 drive sprocket on the 18" bar and a 3/8 x 7 drive sprocket on the longer bars. And I'm addicted to square chisel chain, regular comp and semi skip.

 

[stihl 440]

18"

When I get my 361, I'm going to put a 18" stihl ES bar on it. This is the combination I would reccomend. I'm going to use it as my limbing and medium timber saw. :rockn:

 

[manual]

Log Splitter

Keep in mind that you can adjust the depth gauges as you go to better match the cutting you do. It seems there is an unlimited amount of final "power matching" that can be done with the thickness of each chip.

I think we are on the same track.

 

[2000ssm6]

Why would think that ? Because of the sound.:deadhorse:

just a joke, besides everyone knows the 361 is the king of it's class:jester:

 

[manual]

No, just picking.

just a joke, besides everyone knows the 361 is the king of it's class:jester:

You guys are killing me.

 

[SawTroll]

The ability to hold the RPM is because of torque. Especially at low RPM.

At all rpms.......:biggrinbounce2:

 

[Highclimber OR]

I back that up, Stihl is the King.