stihl 880 or husky 3120?

[TimberMcPherson]

Ah scratch that, I found the answer after a fair bit of searching!

 

[HiOctane]

Stupid question time. I might be completely wrong on this but 088's and 084's take different bars from the rest of the stihl series dont they?
So do 3120xp's need different bars from other huskys?

3120 use the same bar like many others Husqui from the 162 ,372 up to 3120,395.

 

[PWB]

Around here 24 inches is now considered BIGGGGG.

Where are you? Not in Lobo, Ont. are you? I could show you a few a lot bigger than that down my way..... Needed a 36" bar to take down a lightning strike oak on the road about 1/2 mile from my house, (no wires etc.). Had a contractor in to do a couple maples in town bigger than 6' and over twice the hieght of his 40' bucket truck (20' from the house so we won't touch them!)

 

[dustydog72]

So much to say so little time. To start I like the Husky over Stihl. If you do alot of cutting and don't want to spend alot of time cleaning your air cleaner (2-3 times a day with the Stihl. 1 with the Husky) get the Husky. Now for the size of the saw. The cost is something else you may want to consider. The 85cc range saws ofer plenty of power at a much lower price. But then I don't know what you cut all day. Last but not least the size of the monkey in the tree. Iam 6'1" 215lbs. and have spent alot of days up a tree. Now I spend most of my day on the ground with a 2186 Jonsered sporting a 28" bar. If I do need more power the 3120 comes off the truck.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

When you get into that size saw, the biggest weight difference will be the bar you lug around. Here in Wisconsin, there isn't too much need for a real long bar, but I did use a 6 foot bar the other day and I have to say, you west coast guys are tough as nails!
When you hold a 6 foot bar sideways, there's about 4 inches of sideways bend. How do you get that sucker up and cut a straight notch? Do they make training wheels for that thing?

 

[kf_tree]

When you get into that size saw, the biggest weight difference will be the bar you lug around. Here in Wisconsin, there isn't too much need for a real long bar, but I did use a 6 foot bar the other day and I have to say, you west coast guys are tough as nails!
When you hold a 6 foot bar sideways, there's about 4 inches of sideways bend. How do you get that sucker up and cut a straight notch? Do they make training wheels for that thing?

come on mike with your 20 years pro exp you don't know that by now? maybe you should hit the gym a few nights a week.

 

[Simonizer]

The 3120 is not a good saw. 880 Magnum is a superior machine.

 

[rbtree]

The 3120 is not a good saw. 880 Magnum is a superior machine.

I'll have to call you out on that one, Simonizer!! I have never had a lick of trouble from my 3120, which I purchased at least 10 years ago from a friend for $700. Three years ago, I had Clearwater's own Dennis Greffard work it over. I admit, in stock form, the saws, and I include the 084/088 in this, are not all that impressive, compared to my dual port 066, and in 32 inch wood and smaller. This would be due to the lower rpm and chain speed.

But modded, the saw is a beast, easily cutting 40% faster than stock. I can dog into a softwood butt and bury the 42 bar for all my puny bod is worth, and she just spits out chips like a dynamo.

 

[Simonizer]

I'll have to call you out on that one, Simonizer!! I have never had a lick of trouble from my 3120, which I purchased at least 10 years ago from a friend for $700. Three years ago, I had Clearwater's own Dennis Greffard work it over. I admit, in stock form, the saws, and I include the 084/088 in this, are not all that impressive, compared to my dual port 066, and in 32 inch wood and smaller. This would be due to the lower rpm and chain speed.

But modded, the saw is a beast, easily cutting 40% faster than stock. I can dog into a softwood butt and bury the 42 bar for all my puny bod is worth, and she just spits out chips like a dynamo.

As a mechanic and engineer, I prefer the 880. I have seen many top end problems on the 3120 here in BC. For running a mill, I still recommend the old 090 or 084.

 

[thompson1600]

Interesting, 090 or 084 for milling? Why the 084 over the 088? If the 090 is good, why not the 075/076 instead of the 084?

Thanks

Tom

 

[Simonizer]

Interesting, 090 or 084 for milling? Why the 084 over the 088? If the 090 is good, why not the 075/076 instead of the 084?

Thanks

Tom

They just chug along at 8000 rpm and rarely fail.

 

[Big Woody]

If you are up in a tree with a 3120 or 088 and use a 60 inch bar holding it over your head I guess thats 7-8 feet you don't have to climb. WOW! That must scare the crap out of those small branches.

 

[rbtree]

bigjay, welcome to AS from a fellow Washingtonian!!

To me, the 6 lb differnce between an 066 and the big saws is significant. And a dual port 066 is darn near as fast as the bigger guys, till they're modded of course.

i'd suggest looking for a used saw, either mfr. A friend just got a low hours 084 for $450! Then send it to Ed Heard or try out our local guy Dean. But I suggest you discuss with someone else whether it is wise to do bottom end work on a saw as Dean does. Then you can have an idea of what makes sense when you talk to Dean. I don't want to start a war of words in any way, but I've heard advice against bottom end work from someone who is extremely knowledgeable.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

come on mike with your 20 years pro exp you don't know that by now? maybe you should hit the gym a few nights a week.

You mean if I work out more, it'll take the flex out of the bar?
You ever work with a 6 foot bar KF? It's a handful for sure. I've got new found respect for those guys on spring boards a couple hundred feet up, running one.
The full wrap handle would be a big advantage when trying to make a notch.

 

[kf_tree]

You ever work with a 6 foot bar KF?

mike are you kidding me.....you must be. have I ever used a 6ft bar? are you seriously asking me that question? have i ever used a 6ft bar. did I read your question correctly?

no, i have never used a 6ft bar. i saw one hanging on the wall in a shop once though.

 

[Husky288XP]

At Bartlett we had a 066 with a 42 incher and that was a pain the butt to pull up, handle, etc.

 

[Al Smith]

I can't comment on a 72" bar,never operated one.I can however tell you that 125 Mac or 2100 Homey with a 48" is a real hand full .You gotta give those guys on the far coast a lot of credit.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

When you hold a six foot bar sideways, there's like 4" of sideways sag. My first attempt, the chain was a little loose, the bar curved as I turned it to the side, and when I hit the throttle, the chain was running in a straight line from the saw to the tip, but the bar had a curve. The chain flew right off.
Then I reinstalled it nice and tight but it was making a funny noise and not cutting right. The 3120 (I never really used too much before) has an outboard clutch and rim. Not realizing it, I didn't have the chain in the rim correctly, and thats why it made noise and didn't cut so good.
Needless to say, I looked pretty stupid trying to figure the whole thing out. I'm glad just my co-workers were the only ones there to see my act, they already know I'm a goof ball.

 

[Simonizer]

I've run a 54" Cannon on a 090 before. That's about the biggest I've gone. This was ripping full length to allow a Sikorsky S-61 to make the lift off the mountain.

 

[kf_tree]

the biggest bar i've ever run is a 42in on a 3120 while on spikes . what a beetch getting a level cut started.

i know exactly what you mean about missing the sprocket, i've done that a few times on a 394. now i always check when puuting a chain on. i guess now we know what helper handles are for