Removing Handle Wraps from an 066 Magnum

[Beast12]

I haven't looked at it but I was wondering if someone knows the answer.

My dad bought 2 066 Magnums about 3 or 4 years ago. They are the Arctic saws with the wraps (meaning the handles stick out on the right side about 3 inches). It is not really a BIG deal except I NEVER use this part of the handle. Is there a way to remove it without messing up the heated handles?

-Matt

 

[clearance]

Matt- I am suprised you never use all off the handle, can't stand a big saw without a wrap handle, luckily I haven't had to use that many of them. It sure makes putting in undercuts easier for starters, and when you have to buck lefthanded. If it ain't broke don't fix it, maybe you can get someone to show you how to use the full wrap to your advantage.

 

[Beast12]

Well, it is not really a big deal but I would like to put a 20-24" bar on it for cutting smaller wood and stumps. The handle wrap kind of gets in the way for cutting close to the ground. I can honestly say I have never used it.

-Matt

 

[Lawn Masters]

If you're that unhappy with it, just buy a replacment handle. you can always sell the wrap handlebars to recover the money spent buying half wraps.

 

[Newfie]

Matt, in my experience w/ B.C. at this site, the logging world revolves around that province and they don't understand that things are actually done differently with slightly different tools. Maybe they don't get out much.

Clearance, I think half wrap handles are more common elsewhere than full wrap handles are in your neck of the woods. Guess its what we are used too as opposed to the opposite, eh?

 

[clearance]

Newfie-I really don't understand, guess I don't get out much. I have a 371 and a 394 with wrap handles that I use for falling and bucking. I have a 372 and a 034 that I use for little trees and firewood that have half handles. When I am at work I use a 288 that has a wrap handle and a 372 that doesn't. I find it easier to fall with a wrap handle, not that easy with a half wrap. I suppose because you can stand on either side of the tree with a wrap to put in the undercut, without a wrap its kind of uncomfortable and hard on my wrists. Then again we must be backwards out here on the westcoast using humboldts.

 

[Newfie]

I think it really comes down to the scale of operation. You guys in the PNW have much bigger trees on a regular basis. I would imagine that the trees we "log" on the east coast, you guys treat as junk to small to deal with. Different strokes for different folks.

Full wraps suck when trying to alap a stump.

 

[Beast12]

Full wraps suck when trying to alap a stump.

That's the big deal about it for me. But, I will check them out tomorrow and see what happens.

-Matt

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

SawTroll and I go back and forth (in a friendly way) about full wraps. I love them, and have them on each of my saws, and my manner of cutting reflects my being so used to them. I use the full wrap portion all the time, for the reasons clearance mentioned. And yes, to each his own.

But back to the 066 question at hand, I agree with the idea of selling it and just buying a half wrap for it. A full wrap will sell on ebay...especially to us PNW guys!

Jeff

 

[Pacific]

Here in B.C. most fallers saws have full wrap handles its really rare to see a 046 or 66 without a wrap. Most fallers don't buck off stumps flush and excavation and logging contractors rip stumps out with excavators.

For me if I'am flush cutting a stump I don't want to be that low to the ground anyhow why run the risk of hitting a rock or running the chain through the dirt.

If you really want to take the wrap handles off take the saw to a Stihl dealer and see if they can change them to flush handles. Do you really need the heated handles ?

Last thing do you really need a 066 for the work you are going have you considered trading the 66 in on a 044 or 46. You do know running a 66 with a bar shorter than 28 is a waste of a saw if that is your plan.

 

[Molecule]

Once you learn to cut from the pull side of the bar, or once you'be been slammed by the recoil from the chain snagging God knows whatever gets in trees, while cutting from the top of the bar, you may wish you had your full wrap handles back.

It's dangerous to life and limb that a Stihl customer can *not purchase a 440 fellers saw with a full wrap handle anywhere within the domain of its Mid-Atlantic distributor, or in fact any Stihl distributor east of the Mississippi. !-!-! IMHO, any large saw (70cc+) with a 24" bar and without a FW option should be *illegal. Even in normal position, the FW handle is a just little higher but gives you better control of the ... beast.

The idea that the half-wrap handle, will "gain" you a net of 2" on the clutch side, so that you cut a stump 2" closer to the gound, and that this "gain" is therefore worth the drop in strength and control that the FW handle during felling and bucking, gives is just pure bull. Anyone that hardup to spare the belts on a stump grinder should just get out small shovel and take 5 minutes to scrape away another 2" of topsoil around the stump. It may spare your bar and chain from the rocks too! In an urban situation, IMHO a stump should be either 3" up, so that it can be easily seen, or dead flush (less than 1"). In between, landowners trip and break their hips, the mowers get destroyed, etc.

It's also ironical that, fellers in the wide open spaces of Canada are now trying to copy the urban fellers, and the urban fellers, * because they understand the danger of cutting the holding strap on a large faller from the wrong side of the bar *need a FW handle -- so they can flip the saw over and cut from the pull side of the bar for safety reasons. Sometimes, because of fencing or other obstruction, the only escape route is to the left (looking back at the tree from the target zone.) That is probably true for falling in Canada as well.

 

[Beast12]

Do you really need the heated handles ?

Last thing do you really need a 066 for the work you are going have you considered trading the 66 in on a 044 or 46. You do know running a 66 with a bar shorter than 28 is a waste of a saw if that is your plan.

Where I live it gets cold in the winter. The heated handles are GREAT!

I do realize that the 066 with a shorter bar is a waste of a saw but it is kind of an "extra" saw.

I put a 20" bar and chain on it and that thing RIPPED through the wood. I can probably live with the full wrap handle. I even used it today just for fun! That part of the handle doesn't come off so I either keep the full wrap (probably will) or remove the whole thing.

It is not really a big deal I was just wondering.

-Matt

 

[Pacific]

We don't need heated handles out here on the West Coast of B.C. it never gets that cold our best friend here is good rain gear

I did have to wear long underwear couple days this year because it got down to a chilly -5 cel. Most 066 Mags are spec'ed with 32" bars full wrap handles then the baby brother 046 Mags are spec'ed with 28" bars and full wrap handles both saws come with bucking teeth.

I can't remember seeing a 044 with a full wrap handle most of them are not used much now since the 46 came out.