Tree falling help

[Project man]

Hello, I'm on 6+ acres of property and @ 4 acres are steep hill side terrain. I would like to remove some large trees to open up a view to the lake below us and then when I feel proficient enough, remove trees that will someday fall on to our utility line serving our home. Currently I have a Husky 450 rancher saw which works well except the chains need constant sharpening. I was wondering if anyone has replaced the standard bar on the saw and substituted a longer one for easier bucking and extended chain life? I'm new to this kind of logging and appreciate any advice and recommendations.... SH

 

[Mad Professor]

WElcome to AS

What B/C does your saw have?

Dulling chains quick usually means cutting dirty wood or letting the bar tip hit the ground.

 

[lone wolf]

Hello, I'm on 6+ acres of property and @ 4 acres are steep hill side terrain. I would like to remove some large trees to open up a view to the lake below us and then when I feel proficient enough, remove trees that will someday fall on to our utility line serving our home. Currently I have a Husky 450 rancher saw which works well except the chains need constant sharpening. I was wondering if anyone has replaced the standard bar on the saw and substituted a longer one for easier bucking and extended chain life? I'm new to this kind of logging and appreciate any advice and recommendations.... SH

Longer won't increase the life, and longer takes more time to sharpen.

 

[Project man]

Thanks for your input..... I think I will leave the saw alone with the 20" bar and take more time and effort sharpening the chains I already have for the saw. Do you have any recommendations for purchasing a used larger reliable saw with a longer bar? My goal is to harvest mostly large oak and maple tree on my property.

 

[lone wolf]

Thanks for your input..... I think I will leave the saw alone with the 20" bar and take more time and effort sharpening the chains I already have for the saw. Do you have any recommendations for purchasing a used larger reliable saw with a longer bar? My goal is to harvest mostly large oak and maple tree on my property.

Stihl MS 400 would be very useful for you. That saw you have don't have enough power for larger stuff.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

If you are constantly sharpening your chain you probably are hitting the dirt a lot. Work on your cutting technique.

 

[lone wolf]

If you are constantly sharpening your chain you probably are hitting the dirt a lot. Work on your cutting technique.

Thats it!

 

[Project man]

Thanks so much for your reply..... I will look into a used Stihl MS 400 model and see if some are available in my area. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated......and I will be more careful cutting the logs on the ground as well as keeping my chains as sharp as possible.... any suggestions for chain replacements that are better than others??

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Thanks so much for your reply..... I will look into a used Stihl MS 400 model and see if some are available in my area. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated......and I will be more careful cutting the logs on the ground as well as keeping my chains as sharp as possible.... any suggestions for chain replacements that are better than others??

I've never been a chain snob, although I will say I probably prefer stihl non safety as I go to. When you're doing storm work, you're just happy to find one anywhere. Anyone I've worked with that complained about their chain usually stopped pretty soon as I worked with them on their cutting and sharpening techniques.

 

[lone wolf]

Thanks so much for your reply..... I will look into a used Stihl MS 400 model and see if some are available in my area. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated......and I will be more careful cutting the logs on the ground as well as keeping my chains as sharp as possible.... any suggestions for chain replacements that are better than others??

Stihl chains have served me the best, the Chain marked green is better for dirt, the yellow cuts a little faster.

 

[davidwyby]

Stihl for durability.

Here's a tip for keeping sharpness.



What size of trees are "big"? What experience or training with felling trees do you have?

 

[Project man]

The trees I've harvested in the past with the tree crew were between 6"-12" in diameter using conventional cuts hard and soft woods. But that was years ago when I was a clueless yute. The trees I'd like to harvest are a little larger and I'm pretty sure my Husky 450 Rancher will not be up to the task.

The majority of the trees I'd like to harvest are in open / wooded areas away from our home on our property. Thanks for the video showing how to keep the tip out of the dirt....that guy makes it look so freakin easy.....

 

[Mad Professor]

Stihl MS 400 would be very useful for you. That saw you have don't have enough power for larger stuff.

I'm not a pro woodcutter, so a 400 is more than I have ever spent, on any saw. been running saws > 50 years

Last new one was a 066, I got with a Logosol M5 mill. ~$2000 for both, new

I'm into the 036 saws for that type of work. I have 2 runners, paid < $150 for the runner years ago, the 2nd was free straight gassed, that one got fixed with OEM and new ES B/C, < $250.

 

[BeatCJ]

Your 450 Rancher will be up to the task. What percentage of your trees are bigger than 16"? What you do/choose really depends on tree size and specie. Every stick of firewood I cut for my house this year, up to 24" wild cherry could have been cut with my 026, 90% with my stock 024. I did cut some good size maple that needed a little more grunt, but that's the hardest wood I deal with. Those rounds were too big to pick up and put on a splitter.
Sure, you could get a bigger saw, I would pick a bigger saw from my fleet. It would likely be more useful, but your 50cc saw WILL get your job done.
Moving up to a 60-65 cc saw will make life easier. Are you looking new, used?

It seems like your Husky has worked for you. If it were me, I would be look at a used saw in the 60-70 cc range. A lot of people like Echo, more bang for the buck in a new saw.

 

[pdqdl]

Thanks so much for your reply..... I will look into a used Stihl MS 400 model and see if some are available in my area. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated......and I will be more careful cutting the logs on the ground as well as keeping my chains as sharp as possible.... any suggestions for chain replacements that are better than others??

There are many other varieties and models of saw. Don't limit yourself because of a fixation on that one model. Better opportunities might present themselves.

 

[Marley5]

What dealers are located close by.?
Husqvarna - Stihl - Echo all make great saws.

 

[Philbert]

Chain marked green is better for dirt, the yellow cuts a little faster.

‘Green’ and ‘yellow‘ refer to reduced kickback potential.

Semi-chisel and full chisel are ‘cuts longer’ vs. ‘cuts faster’ thing.

Philbert