What do i need to set this 550xp up with .058 3/8 chain and bar?

[vtfireman85]

This is my FIL’s saw I bought him a while back. I grabbed it to fell a hard hack and make 3 posts , after 15 mins to get it down and make one cut i gave the hell up and went and got my own saw. Its a little dull but ive seen worse and the oil port is clear in the top of the bar. I just want to switch to .058-3/8 like everything else and no anti-kickback.
Could someone give me the details on finding the right bar for this saw and I assume i need a new sprocket too?

 

[irhunter]

What does it have on it now?

 

[Husky Man]

What does it have on it now?

My guess is a .325/.050, that is what my 550XP came with, and I am Very Happy with it set up that way.

You should just need an .058 rim drive, then of course the .058 B&C

The Wife's 445, and my 353 and 550XP are all set up with .325/.050, I have 13", 16", 18" and 20" B&C's that can be used on any of them, and I have been Very Happy with their performances set up that way, I plan on putting an .050 Rim drive on the 346XP, so it can use all the same B&C's as the above mentioned saws.

Has the chain gotten overheated, and lost it's hardening?, I can't imagine having the trouble that you have had with it, I enjoy running my 550XP


Doug

 

[vtfireman85]

What does it have on it now?

.058 .325 18”

 

[vtfireman85]

I would likem

My guess is a .325/.050, that is what my 550XP came with, and I am Very Happy with it set up that way.

You should just need an .058 rim drive, then of course the .058 B&C

The Wife's 445, and my 353 and 550XP are all set up with .325/.050, I have 13", 16", 18" and 20" B&C's that can be used on any of them, and I have been Very Happy with their performances set up that way, I plan on putting an .050 Rim drive on the 346XP, so it can use all the same B&C's as the above mentioned saws.

Has the chain gotten overheated, and lost it's hardening?, I can't imagine having the trouble that you have had with it, I enjoy running my 550XP


Doug

i would like to go to 3/8 chain , if that is possible

 

[Franny K]

You could change the part that holds the nose sprocket and the drive sprocket which is not pitch specific. Then an 3/8 pitch 0.058 guage chain of the proper length.

If you act like it is a 555 in looking up bar and chain 3/8 will likely be called for instead of .325. the rim drive sprocket you need is commonly called small spline and the 555 probably comes with a clutch drum for large spline in this market.

 

[Husky Man]

Should just be a 3/8 drive sprocket and bar and chain, Done

If 3/8 is your preference then just a Little Time and Money, it shouldn't be a difficult or expensive project


Doug

 

[Fatherwheels]

A 3/8 rim drive to replace the .325 currently on the saw, you will need a tool to remove
the clutch as the rim drive is on the inside, it’s left hand thread, turn clockwise to remove.
A 3/8 by .058 bar, as your current bar has a .325 sprocket in the tip, won’t work with .3/8,
BUT, you can take the nose off your bar and put on a 3/8 nose, that will work,
and a 3/8 by .058 chain to fit whatever length bar you are getting.

There are two 3/8 set ups to chose from, lo Pro and standard,
standard works better on 60cc and up, lo Pro is better on your saw,
make sure if your bar is standard width, to not buy a narrow kerf chain,
your bar looks standard width, don’t see “nk” on it.

Is there anything making you want to ditch the 325 set up you have.

 

[vtfireman85]

A 3/8 rim drive to replace the .325 currently on the saw, you will need a tool to remove
the clutch as the rim drive is on the inside, it’s left hand thread, turn clockwise to remove.
A 3/8 by .058 bar, as your current bar has a .325 sprocket in the tip, won’t work with .3/8,
BUT, you can take the nose off your bar and put on a 3/8 nose, that will work,
and a 3/8 by .058 chain to fit whatever length bar you are getting.

There are two 3/8 set ups to chose from, lo Pro and standard,
standard works better on 60cc and up, lo Pro is better on your saw,
make sure if your bar is standard width, to not buy a narrow kerf chain,
your bar looks standard width, don’t see “nk” on it.

Is there anything making you want to ditch the 325 set up you have.

One reason is i have been of the belief, maybe it is fake news, but i was of the belief I could not get a standard non-safety chain for the .325 also its the only one so it is a different file, different grinder setup etc, maybe changing is foolishness but my current experience with rounded tooth safety chain is that it is worthless.

 

[Husky Man]

Nope, not foolishness at all.

My 390XP, both 395XP's and 3120XP use, .404/.063, and D009 Bar Mounts

My 266XP "Ol Reliable", 562XP, 372XP and 372XPW all use 3/8, .050, and D009 Bar Mounts

My Wife's 445, my 543XP, 353, 550XP and soon to be converted 346XP,all use .325/.050 and K095 Bar mounts

It keeps life much simpler to have as much commonality as possible

My 460 Rancher is my odd duck, it uses 3/8, .050, K095 Bar Mount, but that was my mistake in not researching it better, I assumed it was D009, and was wrong. I bought that saw used as my "Truck saw", she ain't Purdy but runs good. where I live, trees in the road, are an occasional occurrence, and there ain't no way that I am leaving my prized 266XP, in the truck 24/7, the 460 is much more easily replaced.

My 23 Compact doesn't get much use partly because of it being another odd duck, using 3/8 Low Pro, and IIRC, a K041? Bar Mount. if Husqvarna offered a T540XP, that accepted a K095 mount and .325/.050, I would buy one in a Heartbeat


Doug

 

[sean donato]

Other then my 346xp and 192tc (which I next to never use) I run 3/8 0.050 on all my saws. They all run the d009 mount as well.... nice being able to swap around if I need to.

 

[Franny K]

if Husqvarna offered a T540XP, that accepted a K095 mount and .325/.050, I would buy on

You can get there with the 338xpt and 339xp parts.

 

[Husky Man]

You can get there with the 338xpt and 339xp parts.

Thank You
I will have to look into that

Doug

 

[vtfireman85]

So what is with the different mounting styles of bar? My big saws, including the 562 all take the same, i had not given it much thought until now.

 

[Husky Man]

I don’t know how to explain the difference, but the D009 is usually considered the “Large Husqvarna “ bar mount. The K095 is generally refered to as the “Small Husqvarna” Bar mount.

The 550XP uses the K095 Small bar mount, pretty much anything larger (excepting the 4XX series, like my 460 Rancher) uses the D009 bar mount

I don’t know the specifics, but generally the differences are in the width of the bar mount slot, and the oiler hole position

There is also at least one other “Husqvarna Small Bar” mount, the K041, IIRC. That is typically used on Top Handles, and other small saws such as the 136 and the current 130 and 135


Doug

 

[Franny K]

The 555, 460 and smaller generally take the small husky mount like the 550. (095). Some small Husky models do use the Oregon 041 or sometimes called Poulan mount that oils through the unused adjuster hole.

 

[Lionsfan]

One reason is i have been of the belief, maybe it is fake news, but i was of the belief I could not get a standard non-safety chain for the .325 also its the only one so it is a different file, different grinder setup etc, maybe changing is foolishness but my current experience with rounded tooth safety chain is that it is worthless.

I considered going to 3/8" on my 550, but I really like the stock x-cut semi-chisel for flush cutting stumps, brush removal and other dirty work. I picked up a couple lengths of Oregon's new LGX series chains just for firewood duty. It's a .325 non-safety full chisel, so no bar and sprocket change required. Stahl's has it in stock, you would need the 21LGX for .058 gauge.

 

[vtfireman85]

I considered going to 3/8" on my 550, but I really like the stock x-cut semi-chisel for flush cutting stumps, brush removal and other dirty work. I picked up a couple lengths of Oregon's new LGX series chains just for firewood duty. It's a .325 non-safety full chisel, so no bar and sprocket change required. Stahl's has it in stock, you would need the 21LGX for .058 gauge.

Thanks! I will give that a try before switching!

 

[farmguywithasaw]

Also stihl makes a nice .325 flat top chain. That’s what I run on my ms290. Idk the model # of the chain but it’s not “safety chain”

 

[farmguywithasaw]

This is the new safety chain they say you have to run