Stihl bar mystery

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JeffHK454

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Looking for input on the bar length capabilities of a MS 361/360Pro. I've been shopping for the "large" saw in my wood supply business and have been getting conflicting views of "what saw pulls what size bar". I provide all the home heating fuel for three households which is about 15 cords of wood a year and need a saw with versatility. I currently have a 026/16", 029/18" and a MS290/20" which have been perfect for my needs until know. I was lucky enough to get into a deal with local arborist and the DNR that put me on a list of people that would take waste wood from land development and put it to good use. They bring it to my property and dump in a predetermined spot and I can do what I want with it! I can sell it , use it myself or let it rot in a big old pile! I received my first two loads of wood in Sept. and I was very pleased, two double axle dump truck loads of Ash delivered to my front door in dia. ranging from 16" to 48" and 6'-12' in length.I'm Looking for the perfect saw that can run a 18"-28" bar for bucking wood in 3' range down for splitting. I think Stihl is reluctant to tell you that a 360Pro 0r 390 will run a 25"-28" bar for fear of overtaxing a mid-size saw. I have been looking at the MS 390, 440 and 460 as well as the 360/361 models to keep a 28" bar on for larger needs. I'm looking for the correct saw and price between a 390 and 460 is not a huge deal, I just want to buy the correct saw, and not get big eyes and end up with a MS 880 ;)

Sorry if this is the most asked question of all time :eek:

Thanks for the time, Jeff
 
I think the ms 440 or 460 would be the way to go for a 28 to 32 inch bar. I think anything smaller then that would not have the power to pull through hardwood. I usually run a 24 inch bar on my ms 440 and have not had a problem with it. I have run a 28 in bar on it and it did very well. I wouldnt run a 28 in bar on my 036 I think the max for a saw that size would be a 24 inch bar. I think if I did run a 24 inch bar on that saw I would run skip tooth chain and keep it very very sharp. I usually try to stick with a 20 inch bar for that saw and it does very well with it. I think the best saw to suit your purpose would be a ms 440 or a 460. I Have never run a ms 460 so I don't know how much different it is then a ms 440 but it is only 7 ccs more and has more torque then the 440.
 
I can tell youf rom hard experience that a 28" bar is too much for teh MS390. Howeevr it will pull a 25" bar just fine, and I would expect if you ran a skip or semi skip chain on it, you can get even better performance out of the 390. That being said, if the price difference between the 390 and the 440-460 is not that significant to you, go with one of the bigger saws...much better built and better power to weight ratio. Around here the 440/460 is run with a 21-25" hardnose or a bow guide a lot, but out west they are commonly used with up to a 32" bar...no problems withyour 24-28" at all I am sure
 
I pretty much agree with the first two responses. If you need to run a long bar with any regularity, get atleast the 440 and definitely look at the 460 which has more grunt in the big wood. I`d consider getting rid of atleast one or maybe both 290s and go with the 260 and 460 unless you need additional saws for helpers.

Russ
 
440 or 460 would make a great saw for what you have to do Just go to your local shop and see which one feels better in your hands because a 440 and a 460 have a complete diffrent feel but power wise they can do anything you want to do with them
 
I needed a long bar and the power to run it. But I have lifted a few of these "long bar monsters" and was leery of getting something which would be too heavy to use all day long.

I saw that the 460 was the max power I could get before jumping up in weight too much, so that is what I got. I'm quite happy with it weight wise and power wise. Also no numb hands with the pro "anti-vibration" gizmos.

I got a 32 inch bar with it which has an added advantage besides cutting large diameter logs. That is that I can cut the small stuff on the ground while standing straight up and not bending over. This has turned out to be a real back saver!

So initially I was just going to use the 460/32 bar for big stuff only. Now I use it for just about everything and don't use my smaller saw much. (I do use the smaller saw in high kickback danger situations as it has a low kickback bar and chain.)
 
Jeff, welcome to the site.

If you're looking to fill a big saw niche, do the 440 or 460. The 361 is a great saw, but it's not to be considered a big saw, and even though I'm a West Coast, long bar guy, 28" is too much for this saw. I run a 24" on mine, and it works well, but that's in WRC and Fir, and not 48" ash!

If you're looking for a big saw to pull a 32" through hardwood, get the 460 and never look back. And if money isn't a problem, heck get a 660.

Jeff
 
Thanks guys, the info is very helpful! I've tended to over buy on some :rolleyes: of my equipment purchases but this time I was in the ballpark.

Looks like a trip to my Stihl dealer to test fit a MS 460 into my hands!

Thanks again, Jeff
 
I'm late on this but I'll echo everyone else. I love my 361 but I ran it with a 24" bar with full comp full chisel (very very sharp, properly set rakers at .025") and it did the trick in 40" ash but I would not want to use it that way all the time, it is not really made to pull more that 20" full comp in hardwood. It runs beautifully in the intended application, but that is a little much for it if it's a regular thing.
 
361 - 18"- 20" bar w/ pro chain
440 - 20" - 24" bar w/ pro chain
460 - 24" - 32" bar w / pro chain
660 - 24" cuts really fast - 36" w/ pro chain

All used and tested in my own laboratory. :)
 
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