Saw chain longevity cutting in the forest

[Huskybill]

Food for thought,,
I’m not sure if anyone has compared how long saw chain lasts per cutting season. Doing firewood there isn’t that much profits to begin with. We save $$ where we can, cost cutting, but keep the same output. I was running the husky 2100’s (99cc) using the .404” chisel chain, vs the husky 266 using 3/8” chisel chain. I start cutting around the end of september to the spring thaw, mud season.
Both saws were used pretty much even, between felling, bucking, limbing. My 2100/.404” one saw chain lasted the whole season if I didn’t hit anything. Now the 266/3/8” went through two chains per season again if I didn’t hit anything. I was running two 2100’s, one 266 and one 240.
What got me interested in comparing the .404” chain to the .375” chain was the 404 chain having longer teeth. I’m sharpening all my chains by hand.
I been thinking about using 404” chain again on my 385 and 575 saws.

I purchased chain loops on sale, 25’ rolls of chain on sale., bars on sale, clutch drums and drive rims on sale. I saved $$ were I could.

 

[pioneerguy600]

If your saws have the torque to pull .404 chain and you don`t mind handling the bigger saws necessary then there is no issues with doing so. I have cut more wood with .404 chain than I have with 3/8" chain but the saws are getting heavier every passing year.
Have you compared fuel usage differences between the saws?

 

[user 122190]

I like to save money where I can, but considering the physical labor involved in felling, bucking, splitting and stacking 8+ cords of wood a year, a dollar or two doesn't mean a thing to me anymore.

 

[Huskybill]

Decades ago Husqvarna sent a new cylinder and piston designed to test here. Only a few dealers received them. One was put on my 2100. She performed better and was more fuel efficient. Of course when the test was over the cylinder and piston were returned. But the piston was arrow to the front marked wrong. The ring gaps were going in the exhaust port. So noticing this error in marking we installed the piston correctly. I think we had the only test that didn’t blow up.

And yes there is a fuel consumption difference between a 1200 and a 266 but time wise the 2100 cuts faster on the bigger wood. I’ve seen 2100’s drag dull chains through the wood too. By the end of the day that one last cut. when we get into the bigger diameter hardwoods the bigger power heads rock.

I know the feeling as we get older the saws get heavier. I think the saw manufacturers are targeting the mid to lower end high rpm saws now because they are lighter and have a higher rpm. I been watching the Husqvarna factory guys on you tube. With the 562xp and 372xp.
My son ran his 460 rancher this weekend and he loves it. I told him wait till we put the skip tooth chain on it. That’s another post later. The 460 rancher replaced his 20year old Poulan wild thing.

 

[Huskybill]

we burn wood to save money every dollar saved adds up. Time is money too. I hate wasting time waiting for a saw to cut.