Stihl 036 Pro - which bar/chain?

[TrishaFL]

I just got an 036 pro with an 18" bar on it. The only thing I can make out on the bar is "3/8". Its very worn.

I was also given a brand new in box .325 18" chain. 26 RM3 74

He also gave me a 20" bar pn 3003 008 6821.
and a 20" chain. 3639 005 0081. 26RS 81
both brand new.


What should I do to get things going. I'm going to assume it has a 7T 3/8 sprocket on it, but I have not looked yet.


I don't have any other saws of that size, so I dont care about having matching parts. I'm in FL, where we mostly cut oak trees and some pines/palms.


Can I put the 20" bar and chain on it and use it with the 3/8 sprocket? Obviously I want to order the right parts, but also a cat 5 hurricane headed right for me and no shops are open tomorrow and might need to use this thing to get off my property on Thursday.

 

[cookies]

You can run mis matched pitch bar/chain/sprocket but its going to destroy them in very short order...I would suggest a 18" .325 .063 setup for best speed/power/reach. with a 20" 3/8 it will cut well but it will be noticeably slower.

 

[irhunter]

My impression is, the general consensus is, 60cc pro saws are well-served by 3/8 chain. That is also my belief.

Cookies is right that a .325 chain will pull easier.

I have found, the 036 to have plenty of yank running a 20" 3/8 chain in hardwood.

You don't mention if you own a 18" 3/8 chain which goes with your used bar. If so, I'd run that for the time being. If not, I'd look to buy one.

Rou

 

[ZeroJunk]

Yeah. It should be 3/8 .050. See what is printed on the clutch drum. If the clutch drum says .325 the bar should be .325 .063. If 3/8, it should be 3/8 . 050 . Bar has to match. You cannot mix and match.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

If it were mine, and you say the 18 inch 3/8 bar is well worn- I would suspect the drive sprocket is as well and be replacing the whole lot.
For the timber you describe, 20 inch 3/8 should do fine and be within the limitations of the 036.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Whatever you do, you can't use a .325 sprocket with 3/8 chain and visa versa .

 

[Mad Professor]

I just got an 036 pro with an 18" bar on it. The only thing I can make out on the bar is "3/8". Its very worn.

I was also given a brand new in box .325 18" chain. 26 RM3 74

He also gave me a 20" bar pn 3003 008 6821.
and a 20" chain. 3639 005 0081. 26RS 81
both brand new.


What should I do to get things going. I'm going to assume it has a 7T 3/8 sprocket on it, but I have not looked yet.


I don't have any other saws of that size, so I dont care about having matching parts. I'm in FL, where we mostly cut oak trees and some pines/palms.


Can I put the 20" bar and chain on it and use it with the 3/8 sprocket? Obviously I want to order the right parts, but also a cat 5 hurricane headed right for me and no shops are open tomorrow and might need to use this thing to get off my property on Thursday.

EDIT!

My mistake below.

Bar is 20" 0.325 pitch 0.063 gauge, will fit the chain below. Get correct drive sprocket 0.325.


The 3003 008 6821 bar is 3/8 pitch (MY MISTAKE! 0.325 pitch) 0.063 gauge, needs a 3/8 pitch 0.063 gauge 72 drive link chain.

26RS 81 chain is 0.325 pitch 0.063 gauge, for a 20" 0.325 pitch 0.063 gauge bar.

The above bar/chain combo are not compatible.

The sweet spot on a 036 is a 3/8 20" bar/chain combo. Been running those 30 years now.

The above bar with a 36RS 72 chain (3/8 pitch 0.063 gauge) and a new 3/8 rim sprocket would be your best bet.

 

[ZeroJunk]

The 3003 008 6821 bar is 3/8 pitch 0.063 gauge, needs a 3/8 pitch 0.063 gauge 72 drive link chain.

26RS 81 chain is 0.325 pitch 0.063 gauge, for a 20" 0.325 pitch 0.063 gauge bar.

The above bar/chain combo are not compatible.

The sweet spot on a 036 is a 3/8 20" bar/chain combo. Been running those 30 years now.

The above bar with a 36RS 72 chain (3/8 pitch 0.063 gauge) and a new 3/8 rim sprocket would be your best bet.

I'm thinking the 3/8 is .050

 

[SteveH]

Bought my 036Pro new in early nineties or thereabout. It was my main saw for 20 years and I always ran a 20" bar on it, 3/8 .050 with full-chisel chain. Never saw a reason to drop to .325 so cannot comment on that. I cut 4-5 cords a year for heating wood. I have other saws, smaller and larger, and the 036 is my favorite.

 

[Mad Professor]

I'm thinking the 3/8 is .050

I made a mistake. Didn't have reading glasses on last night, looked up 3003 008 6121.

Corrected my previous post

I looked up the Stihl part # again, 3003 008 6821 Stihl E bar 10 tooth nose 0.325 pitch 0.063 gauge.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I made a mistake. Didn't have reading glasses on last night, looked up 3003 008 6121.

Corrected my previous post

I looked up the Stihl part # again, 3003 008 6821 Stihl E bar 10 tooth nose 0.325 pitch 0.063 gauge.

You need to work on it some more. Stihl .325 is .063 , Stihl 3/8 is .050 , 3/8 Picco .043

Having said that, they have come out with .325 .050, just to be annoying I suppose.

 

[Mad Professor]

You need to work on it some more. Stihl .325 is .063 , Stihl 3/8 is .050 , 3/8 Picco .043

Having said that, they have come out with .325 .050, just to be annoying I suppose.

NOPE!
Read my post

I made a mistake looking up the number last night , mistook 6821 for 6121 (see attached catalog), which I corrected.

Lookie here......and in the catalog below.......

 

[ballisticdoughnut]

For what it’s worth I run 3/8 pitch .050 gauge full skip chain on my 036 pro, 24” bar. In soft wood it runs great but hard wood I wouldn’t even bother with a 60cc saw. Unless it’s a 266 that would be the only exception.

 

[Mad Professor]

You need to work on it some more. Stihl .325 is .063 , Stihl 3/8 is .050 , 3/8 Picco .043

Having said that, they have come out with .325 .050, just to be annoying I suppose.

You forgot the 0.404 0.063, 3/8 0.063, and the 3/8 picco 0.050...........

 

[Mad Professor]

For what it’s worth I run 3/8 pitch .050 gauge full skip chain on my 036 pro, 24” bar. In soft wood it runs great but hard wood I wouldn’t even bother with a 60cc saw. Unless it’s a 266 that would be the only exception.

An old Homie XL will pull a 24" full comp in hardwood! Back before I owned Stihls I used one to cut cordwood for years. Used to use the old USA Carlton chisel chain.

 

[ballisticdoughnut]

An old Homie XL will pull a 24" full comp in hardwood! Back before I owned Stihls I used one to cut cordwood for years. Used to use the old USA Carlton chisel chain.

Funny you should mention that. I have a super XL automatic that pulls a 24” bar quite nicely. No AV is kind of a bummer but it is what it is.