Help with bar and chain on 353

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Woodtic

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I'm a newbie here, but have been lurking for a while now. With the help of this site, I decided on a used Husqvarna 353. I don't have it yet (I can't wait!), but know that I want a larger bar and chain. I just don't know what makes the most sense. I'm leaning to a 18" or 20". So I was thinking a .325 .050 skip chisel.
I won't be cutting huge trees, but found a little more bar than my buddy's 18" MS270 would be nice.
 
Welcome to A.S.!

I have a 353 and really like it. It came with a 20 inch bar, and narrow kerf (NK) .325 chain. While I have used it that way occasionally, it balances and cuts much nicer with a 16 inch, .325 NK chain.

Skip chain is usually used when you bury a really long bar in the wood, and need help clearing chips, or put too large of a bar on a powerhead, and don't really have the power to pull it. If you want to run a 20 inch bar regularly, you should move up to a 60cc saw IMO.

Philbert
 
I would go with an 18 if it were me, nothing more. I am running an 18 nk on my 550xpg.

While that saw will pull a 20 ok, you will really dog the saw if you have it buried.
 
I understand about over using the powerhead. In all reality, I would probably only want a 20" bar a very small % of the time.
What does the .050 or .058 mean? What's the difference?
 
16" is all I'd ask of it, unless I was only ever cutting pine or willow or balsa.

A 16" bar that is cutting like mad is going to be more impressive, and more useful, than a longer bar that keeps bogging your saw down.
 
I currently have a Stihl MS 170 with a 14" bar. It's only a 30cc saw, and is amazing. But then again, around our house, it's all white cedar, balsam, and some different pines. I'm yet to cut any hard woods with it. I do plan on it with the 353 though.
 
I understand about over using the powerhead. In all reality, I would probably only want a 20" bar a very small % of the time.
What does the .050 or .058 mean? What's the difference?
That is referring to the drive link thickness. .050, .058, .063 are all the common sizes. Nk also known as narrow kerf, or I do believe its sometimes called pixel. Nk will take out a narrower cut of wood and make the saw feel more powerfull with the same size bar.
 
What does the .050 or .058 mean? What's the difference?

Your chain, drive sprocket, and bar have to work together as a system: pitch, gauge, and drive link count have to be compatible. Change one and you may need to change the others to match.

http://www.baileysonline.com/PDF/saw-chain-101.pdf

Narrow kerf chain (a.k.a. 'pixel', 'Micro-Lite', or Husqvarna H30, Oregon 95V, Carlton K1-NK) should be matched with a narrow kerf bar.

Philbert
 
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