Stihl 034 whats the biggest bar and chain?

[mowoodchopper]

For every day use, I agree with the others. 18"~20" is great. You could go up to a 28" on occasion if you really needed to, but you're probably not going to like it with that set up.

As far as the saw goes, I agree, probably one of the best saws Stihl ever made. Good enough that they never really did away with them, they just let them evolve into the 036, 360, 361, and now the 362. I still like the older 034 through 036 better for some reason. And Troll doesn't know what he's talking about on this one. Nothing wrong with running a 16" bar on an 034, but it will pull an 18" just as fast and just as strong, and a 20" isn't that far behind it. I run my 036 with a 9 pin rim and a .325 chain on a 18" bar, and love it. I knock the rakers down on a couple of chains that I use for bucking, and I just love to bury the bar in a nice piece of white oak or ash. It all just depends on whether you want another 2" of bar and chain weight to carry around out on the end.

Mark

:agree2: 100% Mark hit the nail on the head!!!!

 

[Brushwacker]

I am not saying this to be critical but for me that 2" bar length multiplied by 3 or 4 hours of use with the chainsaw = much less bending of the back and knees + the 2" of reach saves me very many steps in the course of that much time meaning I am stationary with the chainsaw more of the time then I would be with 2" less while cutting the same wood. Saves time moving around also meaning the saw spends less time getting to the cuts and more time in cuts verses time being moved from cut to cut by the feet. Usually am moving in a tangled mess, sometimes uneven ground which makes the foot work more difficult then walking on flat clear ground. My body notices it a lot processing trees such as grow in my area into firewood from felling to limbing and bucking. If I were just bucking logs lttle or no bigger then the bar I am sure it wouldn't be as significant but my back would be doing some extra bending still. There are situations where a short bar has significant advantages and if your build is 2" shorter then mine I could see why you might prefer 2" shorter. I'm 6' and a 22" bar fits me just about perfect with Stihls standing straight up bucking wood on the ground and the tip just missing the ground. Been that way ever since I started cutting wood for sale in my early 20's, with the big old Homelites. I tryed shorter bars then and it felt like more work for me just like it does today . Presently I run a 22" on an 044 and 20" on an 034, have 026's with 16 & 18". I run 25" , 28", 32 " on my 660 depending on how big the wood is. 24-25" would be my second favorite on most any Stihl saw that pulls it well in all around felling bucking and limbing. I have an Efco 165 I use mostly as a back up with a 24", pretty near the same power as an 034. 20 or 22 would probably better suit it for its power but I like it well this way when I have a lot of reaching high limbs.

 

[amateur cutter]

Ya did good. I have a 034 and its not going anywhere for 250.00, hell to buy a new saw today as good would cost you 500 or more, you did good!! Stay with a 18-20in bar, best set up on it is a 18in bar and 33rsc66 chain, great firewood combination...

I couldn't agree more, I run an 034 AV Super with 18" & 3/8 rsc chain. Great combo, handles nice, makes good power, & the oiler is far superior to some of the newer saws imo. $ 250.00 isn't a bad price for a decent cond. 034. A C

 

[Plankton]

I ran my recently restored 034 super today for the first time. I have a 24" bar w/ full comp 3/8 chain on it. It pulled just fine through 20" falling cuts all day, was still high enough RPM's for quick limbing without leaning over too much.

If you don't mind leaning over and have small trees to fall/buck then by all means go for a 18" bar. But if you want to run a long bar on it you definitely can.

On a side note, the oiler ROCKS! It has no problem oiling a 24" bar with some to spare on max. I had it just below max all day today and it kept my bar cool.

 

[woodyman]

I was thinking 16" to 18" for an 034 and up to 20" for an 034 Super.I sold my 034AV which I ran an 18" bar on.You want a bigger bar get a bigger saw.I run an 20" on my 7900 for most of my cutting.Is this what your saw looks like?

I don't know if mine had the stiff AV on it but it sure vibrated compared to my 346 and 7900.

 

[bbplayer546]

stihl 034

yea thats what it looks like, and i ran the saw yesterday and was cutting witha 20inch bar and skip tooth chain. prob one of the best firewood saws i have. and i have a

Husky 338xpt
Husky 345
Husky 450
Stihl 011AV
Stihl 045AV
Stihl 045AV Pro 5 electronic
Stihl 056AV Super

 

[Brushwacker]

yea thats what it looks like, and i ran the saw yesterday and was cutting witha 20inch bar and skip tooth chain. prob one of the best firewood saws i have. and i have a

Husky 338xpt
Husky 345
Husky 450
Stihl 011AV
Stihl 045AV
Stihl 045AV Pro 5 electronic
Stihl 056AV Super

:agree2: 034's are very verstaile limbing,felling or bucking average trees. They don't take a lot of space in the truck or tool box making it easiar to pack another saw along. Works good along with a smaller saw when its mostly limbing and smaller wood or its powerful enough to have as a backup for a bigger saw on tougher jobs.
Vibration dampning isn't the best, but if you keep it maintained I find it adequately comfortable to run well over a few hours a day with no problems.

 

[mowoodchopper]

yea thats what it looks like, and i ran the saw yesterday and was cutting witha 20inch bar and skip tooth chain. prob one of the best firewood saws i have. and i have a

Husky 338xpt
Husky 345
Husky 450
Stihl 011AV
Stihl 045AV
Stihl 045AV Pro 5 electronic
Stihl 056AV Super

That 450 husky is a sweet little saw too, smooth and torquey , I sold mine and my 346. I dont miss the 346 but I do the 450, hell of a saw for the money!

 

[Kwdog75]

but i dont understand, if the stihl company says you can run up to a 28 inch bar and chain on it, then why would i not do that?

They say say you can run up to a 28 inch bar so you can kill that saw and have to buy another one. Call it, job security for Stihl employees. I will be running an 18 inch b/c one mine.

 

[sunfish]

but i dont understand, if the stihl company says you can run up to a 28 inch bar and chain on it, then why would i not do that?

My question to you, is why would you want a bar that long????????

 

[mowoodchopper]

My question to you, is why would you want a bar that long????????

My wife always ask me the same thing, I dont have an answer, except to show it off!

 

[sunfish]

My wife always ask me the same thing, I dont have an answer, except to show it off!

 

[quikduk]

Mine came with a Stihl 28" bar and I didn't know it should be shorter till now. It does give you arm pump after a day or so...:greenchainsaw:

 

[ms290]

i ran an 034 with a 20 inch but that was in with .325 pitch chain. it pulled that like a friggin monster. very nasty with that combo. made my 290 i used to have feel like a joke. but i have since moved up and now run a 441. i just got my 066 build done so moving up agian. when my friend gets the parts for his 034 i will build it as well and when its complete i will put on the 25 inch 3/8 bar and see how it pulls it.

 

[mowoodchopper]

i ran an 034 with a 20 inch but that was in with .325 pitch chain. it pulled that like a friggin monster. very nasty with that combo. made my 290 i used to have feel like a joke. but i have since moved up and now run a 441. i just got my 066 build done so moving up agian. when my friend gets the parts for his 034 i will build it as well and when its complete i will put on the 25 inch 3/8 bar and see how it pulls it.[/QUOTE


It wont pull it worth a ####, even a 20 inch with 3/8 is very marginal on a 034

 

[Wilfman825]

hi i just bought a stihl 034 electronic, what is the biggest bar you can get for it?

Hi I also own an 034super I'm currently running an 18in bar on mine I'm gonna have to say a 20 inch bar and a pro chain is the biggest everday used saw you will get excellant results from this saw I love mine I also have an Ms 170 stihl but this is my limb / trim saw but I'm very satisfied with both my stihls I won't run any thing else for my money imo good luck to you.