stihl 038av question

psych038 · Jul 24, 2008

hi, new to the site and look forward for sharing input, info etc.does anybody know what drive sprocket an 038 is supposed to have stock??? mine has an 8 tooth but i'm guessing it should have a 7. seems a little underpowered at times with 18 inch bar and also seems to run fast and just kinda burn up chains. was thinking if i geared it down (7 tooth) i could put a 20 or 25 inch bar on it. saw uses a 3/8 x .050 chain. thanx.

Brushwacker · Jul 25, 2008

psych038 said:
hi, new to the site and look forward for sharing input, info etc.does anybody know what drive sprocket an 038 is supposed to have stock??? mine has an 8 tooth but i'm guessing it should have a 7. seems a little underpowered at times with 18 inch bar and also seems to run fast and just kinda burn up chains. was thinking if i geared it down (7 tooth) i could put a 20 or 25 inch bar on it. saw uses a 3/8 x .050 chain. thanx.

I think 7, thats what I saw on the ones I worked with,regardless if it feels underpowered try it for about $5 if you have the rim version. I think Baileys has the hub and sprocket 1 way or the other reasonable. If your burning up chains your probably not keeping them very sharp and pushing it or possibly your oiler isn't putting out. Your chain should have plenty of oil on it if you run it out of the cut about 30 seconds at moderate engine speeds, if not take the bar off and see if its coming out of the powerhead, if so make sure your bar groove is clean ( do a search if you aren't familiar with what I'm talking about), adjust your oiler when all is right. Not enough oil robs you of power also. I like matching a 20" bar on an 038 for its power output unless its the Magnum model I prefer 25".
Chains dull easy if you touch anything other then clean wood and it takes practice to get to the point you can keep your chains sharp for long periods of time.
Mabe you know some of that but if not that should help you.

Zodiac45 · Jul 25, 2008

Post too the chainsaw forum and you'll get allot of 038 experts. I too believe the 7 tooth is stock and rim drive is always preferable too the spur. 20" bar should be just right for the saw.

psych038 · Jul 25, 2008

thanx guys i put a 20'' on the other night and saw seemed to like it even with the eight tooth and about a 24'' tree trunk. my 18'' bar is getting a little worn, hard to make a straight cut with it even with a perfect chain and you can rock the chain in the bar quit a bit. oiler is also working fine. i think iwill go to a seven tooth and a 20'' bar. i believe i have the rim version drive. it is a wheel with slots in it rather than the spur looking gear.

Brushwacker · Jul 26, 2008

psych038 said:
thanx guys i put a 20'' on the other night and saw seemed to like it even with the eight tooth and about a 24'' tree trunk. my 18'' bar is getting a little worn, hard to make a straight cut with it even with a perfect chain and you can rock the chain in the bar quit a bit. oiler is also working fine. i think iwill go to a seven tooth and a 20'' bar. i believe i have the rim version drive. it is a wheel with slots in it rather than the spur looking gear.

Gas consumption will go up but you,ll have more power in the cut. I Never did the comparison with the 038, let us know what you like after you give it a couple workouts.