Stihl 066 Magnum

[Damo]

G'day. Is it true that the "new" Stihls are made in Germany again?
What is the size of the file I need for the factory fitted chain that came with my 066?
Also, I tend to cut almost ALL hard wood of the species eucalpt, (Australia Hardwood)...what would be your opinion on best chain, best bar, best lubricant and best general way of operating? Thanks mate.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I don't think they ever stopped making 066/660's in Germany. They do make some saws in Virginia Beach, but I think the 044/440, 046/460, 066/660, and 088/880 have always been made in Germany.

Around here, 660's are sold new with either 3/8 or .404 chain. I think the 3/8 Stihl chain takes a 13/64" file, or something like that, and the .404 takes a 7/32". That's just off the top of my head. I'm at work right now, but I'll check when I get home to confirm those numbers for you if someone hasn't already by then.

As for bar and chain, if you're working timber, I'd recommend Stihl RS or RSF chain, on any appropriate length bar. And that 066 can handle a 36" pretty comfortably in American woods at least. There was a post on here a while back, in which a guy asked about which bar to use, and there are some guys running 40"+ bars on 066's and doing so quite nicely. Do a search for "066 bar length," and you should find it.

And what exactly do you mean by best general way of operating? I recommend you start it up, and cut wood with it!

Jeff

 

[SawTroll]

I think Jeff got that right!
However, I would have RSC as my primary chain of choise on any Stihl saw with 3/8" pitch - less vibration than RS.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I haven't tried the RSC yet. I pretty much always run full skip, and RSC doesn't come as a full skip, (Right?) so I've not had the mind to try it. I just might.

Jeff

 

[Damo]

660 Magnum

Thank you to both of you. Is there a specific benefit of the RSC chain? My chain, by the way, has E4 stamped on the buffer links and the # 6 stamped on the drive links, does that tell me anything? It feels sensational to use, well balanced etc, I was just wondering what the "best" bar and chain would be, in your opinion, to cut Australian Hardwood that has a moisture content of less than 10% ?
Thanks again.

 

[Damo]

660 Magnum

Not to bore you to tears, but why run a full skip? Just checking, that's all.
Cheers,
Damo.

 

[TimberPig]

Full skip has half as many cutters as full comp chain does. It increases the spacing between cutters to allow for more chip clearance when using longer bars(normally greater than 24"). It also reduces the load placed on the engine when using long bars buried inthe cut. Lots of people like it because it files more quickly with half as many cutters, but this isn't a very good reason on its own to use full skip.

 

[Damo]

You're a fountain of knowledge, mate. Thanks for that. What about the full skip's ability in dry hardwood...any dramas??

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Full skip is good anytime you've got alot of bar in the wood. Even with a saw as large as an 066, the more cutters in the wood, the more load on the saw, and the more hp that get's sucked up. Chain saws work on the premise of a fast moving chain. It's better to have half as many cutters runnings top speed than twice as many running significantly slower, or worse yet, bogging out completely. I like full skip when running over 24".

Jeff

 

[SawTroll]

Full skip has half as many cutters as full comp chain does.

I think that it is more like about 3/4 as many, depending somewhat on the drive link count, but I may be wrong....

I was wrong in this post - see my next one.....

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I think that it is more like about 3/4 as many, depending somewhat on the drive link count, but I may be wrong....

Are you thinking of semi-skip? Full skip removes every other cutter so that makes me think it'd be half as many. Or am I wrong....

Jeff

 

[Ekka]

Hey Damo

I have a 066 and I use Stihl bar oil.

I use Stihl Rollomatic ES bars, they are the best, and most expensive.

I run a 24" bar with a full compliment chain (no skip chains) and semi chisel Stihl chain.

I cut a lot of hardwood including ironbark ... this is what works for me.

 

[SawTroll]

Full skip removes every other cutter

After giving it a bit more thought, I don't think that either halv or 3 to 4 is correct.
The correct number is 2 to 3 as the skipped cutter is not replaced by an extra tie-strap as far as I know, which means that there is 3 links for each cutter in a skip vs. 2 on ordinary chain. To me this means that if the total number of links is devidable with 2x3=6 (48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78, 84 etc) the relationship will be exactly 2 to 3. With others numbers of drivers it will be about 2 to 3, but not exactly.

I may of course be wrong, but that is my thoughts about it by now......

 

[Ekka]

Ahh

Sawtroll, you mean you actually cant sleep at night because of this ... it's got less and better for bigger bars ... that's it, then again, you could always sit there and count them.

I don't use them so I wouldn't have a clue, but if I had a 32" bar on my 066 I sure would be using a skip chain.

 

[NevadaWalrus]

Cut chips pack between the cutter teeth until the chain exits the wood. If they pack to tightly they will push the chain up so the cutters no longer contact the cutting surface and no longer cut. Ship or full skip decreases the cutter tooth count so more room is available for chips to pack before being expelled when leaving the cut. When using the right version of cutter tooth spacing with long bars burried in the cut, skip or full skip will cut faster then standard chain because the cutter teeth continue to cut wood all the way the lenght of the cut.

 

[TimberPig]

Smei-skip would have 2/3's as many cutters as full comp since it has 2 regularly spaced cutters, then a skip then repeats. Full skip would have half as many cutters as full comp because every second cutter is removed compared to full comp.

 

[CNYCountry]

Smei-skip would have 2/3's as many cutters as full comp since it has 2 regularly spaced cutters, then a skip then repeats. Full skip would have half as many cutters as full comp because every second cutter is removed compared to full comp.

Full comp = Left cutter, drive link, right cutter, drive link, left cutter, etc.
Semi skip = Left cutter, drive link, right cutter, drive link, drive link, left cutter, etc.
Full skip = Left cutter, drive link, drive link, right cutter, drive link, drive link, left cutter, etc.

Therefore:

Full comp = 2 out of 4 drive links is a cutter, or 2/4 or 1/2 of the chain is cutters
Semi skip = 2 out of 5 drive links is a cutter, or 2/5 of the chain is cutters
Full skip = 2 out of 6 drive links is a cutter, or 2/6 or 1/3 of the chain is cutters

Full skip is (2/4)/(2/6) = 8/12 = 2/3 or 66% the cutters of full comp chain.
Semi skip is (2/4)/(2/5) = 8/10 = 4/5 or 80% the cutters of full comp chain.

So, for a chain with 72 drivers, you have 36 cutters full comp, 28 cutters semi skip, and 24 cutters full skip. It does not work out to 28 exactly for semi skip, there must be an extra driver in there somewhere.

At least this is the way Stihl chain is.

The math all works out.

 

[SawTroll]

Sawtroll, you mean you actually cant sleep at night because of this ... it's got less and better for bigger bars ... that's it, then again, you could always sit there and count them.

:umpkin: Where I live it wasn't night when I posted the above.......
I sleep very well at night, thank you!

 

[Ekka]

Ha ha

No worries Sawtroll, sure started something, now everyones looking at them ... I think I'll need to buy a Tungsten Carbide chain for an 18" bar to deal with some of those dirty ficus trunks and ????ed nails in mango trees.

Anyone have experience with them?

 

[Damo]

We've jumped from 660 Magnums to nails in mangos !!! The hits just keep on coming!
Tungsten tippped chains are ????-hot, expensive, but sensational. You know that you'll need a diamond file as well. They do about 10 times the cutting before sharpening and the odd nail wont stand a chance, I just can't afford one right now. There is also a "chrome" type chain around that is in between the Tungsten and the normal, although I have not had any reports about these as yet. Cheers.