Stihl MS 150 Chain Question

[parshal]

I'm trying to figure out the options (if there are any) for chains on this saw. The manual says use part 3670 which is the PMM3 Picco Micro Mini 3 green chain. It's a 1/4" pitch, .050" gauge semi-chisel chain. I see an RM chain with the same specs (part 3660) which looks to be a yellow chain. I've done a lot of Google searching and all I can figure out is that the Micro Mini is a low profile chain but I don't know what that means in use. Baileys has the Oregon 25AP which looks to also work.

I'm using this saw for cutting smaller deadfall for firewood for use in a camp stove. It's mostly ponderosa and lodgepole pine along with some cottonwood.

I'm just real curious to see what chain options there are for the saw.

 

[xtremez]

Micro mini Is what stihl calls PMMC OR PMMC3 chain. It's slightly smaller than low profile 3/8. What you have is obviously safety chain. The rapid micro yellow chain ( 3660 )you were looking at is the same chain just without the reduced kick back bumpers. Any 1/4 " .050 chain will work whether you get baileys or stihl. If you decide to go the stihl route you'll probably have to have them order it. I haven't seen any dealers that stock 1/4 " chain in a long time.

 

[Franny K]

This has been discussed a few times lately. I don't have one I think stihl has stuff to go to the 61pmm3 or you could get a bar for the 0.050 Oregon 25 of which there i understand are two one for dime sized noses and one for normal. Have you tried going to the place you bought the saw and getting the paper catalog? There even is a harvester chain in that pitch but 0.080 in the one I picked up.

Are you sure your manual states 0.050? There seem to be some errors on stihl website, if you go through the process of choosing a dealer and getting a price you come to this.

 

[Franny K]

Micro mini Is what stihl calls PMMC OR PMMC3 chain. It's slightly smaller than low profile 3/8.

The 3 denotes the Stihl version of a bumper drive link. The C is for comfort, less vibration, which has been phased out (the lettering anyway) to the best of my knowledge and is yellow unless the 3 is there. At least in the larger picco the 63 class.

 

[parshal]

I bought an extra chain when I bought the saw. It's the safety chain. Surprisingly, they had about five of them.

I'm not really interested in changing out the bar. I'm sure the safety chain will work just fine for me as well but I've been very curious to figure out what options are there.

What difference does the profile (whether it's low, standard, etc.) make in the cutting ability/quality? Does Picco mean nothing more than low profile?

 

[Franny K]

The profile means the distance from the part of the tie straps that slide on the bar to the center of the rivet. Or maybe the distance from the base of the tie strap to the cutting edge. The larger 63 class picco has the cutter I think about 15 thousands higher than oregon/carlton. There is a full sized 3/8 chain that comes on 60cc and up saws a lot of this nomenclature is to distinguish full size 3/8 from the smaller stuff. Oregon was putting a trademark symbol next to low profile at one time.

If you don't want to get another bar I doubt someone else will come along with any other options for you. Does it say 1.1 or 1.3mm on the bar for gague/thickness of slot? What does it say on the box the spare chain comes in?

 

[parshal]

I don't have the chain here but will check when I get home but the manual (online) says .050 gauge.

I don't mind using the chain that it came with since I've got two anyway.

 

[Franny K]

What page?

MS 150 TC: 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg)
Reduced kickback ST
IHL guide bars
(with green label)
Bar lengths: 25, 30 cm (10, 12 in.)
Pitch: 1/4" P (6.35 mm)
Groove width: 1.1 mm (0.043 in)
Sprocket nose: 8
-
tooth
Low kickback STIHL
saw chain (with
green label)
Picco Micro 3 (71 PM3) Type 3670
Pitch: 1/4" P (6.

This is page 46 the specifications. 48 of the pdf document

 

[parshal]

You're right, I'm not sure how I misread it that way. I checked the bar and the two boxed chains I've got and they are 71 PM3's.

Using .043 on Bailey's site there's only one chain, the 71 PM3, that matches. So, it looks like only a green chain for the saw.

 

[redoakneck]

File the bumpers down, uses 1/8" file too, small stuff

 

[redoakneck]

72 links per 14" bar

 

[xtremez]

I've got safety chain on a few of my smaller saws. Not by choice but either they came with it or i got a smoking deal on it. Those chains still cut great. You're not missing out on anything.

 

[parshal]

Those chains still cut great. You're not missing out on anything.

That's pretty much what I figure for how I'm using the saw. I just wanted to know what else was out there.