Chain pitch and gauge question

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ttyR2

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I'm looking at chain and a bar for my Stihl 026. I'm planning on going with Stihl. Looking at the recommended options for the MS260, the book lists .325"/.063 and 3/8"-.050. I'm curious why the larger pitch chain has a smaller tang.
 
I run a .375x.50 on a 28 inch bar for my 390. If i remember right .50 and .63 are your guides[or whatever you refer to them as /tangs] and .325, .375/ 3/8, .404 is the size of links or cutters. So it depends on use really. A .375x.63 is stronger then .375x.50. So .325 is also for smaller saws to keep them from working to hard or pulling to big of chip. Availabillity is also key, or what are you running on other saws. A .325x.63 or.325x.50 with a 20inch bar would be just fine. Wouldn't go any bigger then 25 inch.
 
I'm looking at chain and a bar for my Stihl 026. I'm planning on going with Stihl. Looking at the recommended options for the MS260, the book lists .325"/.063 and 3/8"-.050. I'm curious why the larger pitch chain has a smaller tang.

It had to be one of three sizes, and that's the one they decided would be easiest to sell, that year?

There is no ryme or reason anymore concerning driver gauge, just left over sizes from when there was a bunch of other brands making things difficult with proprietary gauge on thier bars. .375 is also offered in .063.
.050 is as strong and durable as .063, and if it ain't holding up, .013 more metal ain't gonna work well either.

Check what's stamped on your Bar and go with it, untill ya wear it out or trade it off.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote
 
I'm looking at chain and a bar for my Stihl 026. I'm planning on going with Stihl. Looking at the recommended options for the MS260, the book lists .325"/.063 and 3/8"-.050. I'm curious why the larger pitch chain has a smaller tang.

I started asking that same question many years ago. Never got a convincing answer. Gave up trying to understand it and accepted that "it just "is".

Philbert
 
I could see the .013 difference making a difference in sprocket and chain wear.
Both clutch and nose sprockets, I have nothing to back it up
But .063 is 25% wider than .050. So would sprockets used with
.063 chain last 25% longer than sprockets used with .050 chain :help:

This is the story I have always heard, .063 chain is sold where more
hardwood is cut. In our area all Stihl pro saws sold has .063 on them.
Am talking about 50 mile rad. of me, I don't get much over 50 miles from the house ;)
 
I started asking that same question many years ago. Never got a convincing answer. Gave up trying to understand it and accepted that "it just "is".

Philbert

LOL!!!

Why are there 3 bases and a home plate instead of 4 bases in baseball?
LOL!!
Because it worked out that way.

If ya go to looking into old school Saw catalogs and looking at chain, it's obvious the manufacturers planned on folks only buying thier size and brand of bars and chains. Standardization is a recent thing due to streamlining production and outsourcing bars and chains. Thank goodness, or Stihl would have continued to do all kinda goofy stuff to keep thier stuff exclusive and a PITA.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote
 
LOL!!!

Why are there 3 bases and a home plate instead of 4 bases in baseball?
LOL!!


Thank goodness, or Stihl would have continued to do all kinda goofy stuff to keep thier stuff exclusive and a PITA.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

It wouldn't be a diamond if it had more bases. :D

Stihl can do that when they make their own bar and chains, and some of the best at that.
Lots of Husky users can't look at a saw and tell what bar mount it is.
And then they have to pull clutch cover off to tell, if they can get
it off as they forgot to take the chain brake off.
As husky has those middle ground saws that they can't decide what
bar mount to make them. :bang:
 
.063 is 25% wider than .050. So would sprockets used with.063 chain last 25% longer than sprockets used with .050 chain

I don't think that the OP's question is the difference between .050 and .063 gauge chain. His question is, and mine was, why isn't the heavier gauge (.063) on the chain with larger teeth (3/8"), making an overall beefier chain, instead of the other way around?

If all STIHL chain was one gauge, I could understand that. And I understand why some carving chain (1/4") has thinner gauge drive links (.043). And why heavy duty harvester chain (3/4") has heavy duty drive links (.122!!!).

But the .325 / .063, and 3/8 / .050 combinations seem mixed up.

Philbert
 

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