stihl low kickback chain

[Mold Mechanic]

I just bought a new 361 last weekend and it came with that goofey looking low kickback chain on the 20" bar ( I don't know the model number of the chain, but it's the one with the gaudy tripple hump depth gauge link). Anyway, I smoked the chain in about 10 minutes in elm with the oiler maxed out. I filed it back sharp and smoked it again, so I brought it home and sharpened it with my bench sharpener and took it out today and same story, smoke. I put a new rapid super chain on and it works great, cuts smoother, faster, and best of all, no smoke! I also have one of the low kickback chains on my 041 and it seems to be fine, but runs much slower than the 361. I'm wondering if maybe the chain isn't designed for the faster saw or what? Maybe I just happened to get a chain that they forgot to harden the cutters or something?

Has anyone else had this problem with the low kicback chains?

 

[livewire]

Hmmm...

If it's RSC3, I like that chain. I think it cuts real well. But granted I haven't sunk it into hardwood at all.

Bad batch maybe?

 

[sawinredneck]

I have run a lot of RM2 with no problems, other than it shakes the fillings out of you're teeth, but stays sharp and cuts like a demon when sharp. I will get slammed for this, but I like running it if there is a good chance of getting into dirt, or dirty wood, seems to hold and edge better than anything else I've used!

 

[Lakeside53]

You may have other problems. RM2 cuts just fine and has been around for a about 15 years. Not the fastest chain the in universe, but certainly robust.

The oil has no effect on the chain staying sharp - it just lubricates the bar and chain tangs (the chain part in the bar).

 

[Bowtie]

I have run a lot of RM2 with no problems, other than it shakes the fillings out of you're teeth, but stays sharp and cuts like a demon when sharp. I will get slammed for this, but I like running it if there is a good chance of getting into dirt, or dirty wood, seems to hold and edge better than anything else I've used!

i use it also because sometimes I can get it cheap, I dont have any problem wit it for the hobby/firewood cutting that I do. I like full chisel better, but the RM2 isnt junk, in my opinion.

 

[Cam501]

i use it also because sometimes I can get it cheap, I dont have any problem wit it for the hobby/firewood cutting that I do. I like full chisel better, but the RM2 isnt junk, in my opinion.

agreed

 

[Mold Mechanic]

I went to stihl's website and looked it up, it's the RM2 chain, like Sawinredneck said, it does shake pretty good. It seems to work well in my 041, but seems to be alergic to my 361.

 

[Diesel JD]

I think you have the RM2 semi chisel if its the triple humped tie straps as mentioned. RSC3 is full chisel chain with a ramped drive link similar to the Oregon 72LP except that it meets ANSI low kickback standards. I have run RM2 in .325 pitch and it cuts well and stays sharp, but a good RS chain will outcut it by 2-1 margin probably. Even a RM yellow label chain would be faster.

 

[SawTroll]

I think you have the RM2 semi chisel if its the triple humped tie straps as mentioned. RSC3 is full chisel chain with a ramped drive link similar to the Oregon 72LP except that it meets ANSI low kickback standards. ......

I believe you are right - RSC3 and RMC3 has adopted the prinsiple of the LP and some other Oregons, but both the ramp and the raker itself look larger on the Stihl chains, from the pics I have seen.
Anyway, it should be a much better design than those with the large bumpers on the tie-straps, like RM2.