Bar Size

[Vermonster]

Hopefully this topic hasn't been:deadhorse:. But anyway,..I'm running a 20" bar on my new 361. Today a local forester and I were clear cutting a small patch of woods that was shading my garden, and he mentioned that my "big bar was robbing power from the saw".
So,.should I go with a 18" bar?? and what kind of power gain should I expect. I typically don't fall anything bigger than 22" or so.

Thanks in advance. :greenchainsaw:

Carl

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Have you muffler modded it yet?

Ian

 

[PB]

I would leave it the way it is. If you are happy with the way it cuts, who cares what anyone else says. I don't think you will notice that big of a difference anyways.

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

That saw is designed to run a 20" without a problem, remember he's probably running a 24" bar on a MS660. If you have a 20" already I'd go with a 16" if you want a smaller bar. No reason to spemd the cash for a 2" smaller bar.

 

[Vermonster]

No muffler mod yet as the saw is still under warranty. And the I believe forester was running either a 2152 or 2156 with a 16" bar.
And yes I'm pretty happy with the way it cuts. But, you know,....that CAD thing has me looking for more power and more speed.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[excess650]

No muffler mod yet as the saw is still under warranty. And the I believe forester was running either a 2152 or 2156 with a 16" bar.

Thanks for the feedback.

I could understand him saying that with a 2152, but not a 2156.

 

[SawTroll]

That saw is designed to run a 20" without a problem, remember he's probably running a 24" bar on a MS660. If you have a 20" already I'd go with a 16" if you want a smaller bar. No reason to spemd the cash for a 2" smaller bar.

I agree on the 16" - I run 18" and 15" on mine - usually 8-pin with the 15"....

 

[Jacob J.]

The power-to-weight ratio of a 361 with the 20" bar is still very high.

 

[SawTroll]

I could understand him saying that with a 2152, but not a 2156.

I could.....:greenchainsaw:

 

[SawTroll]

The power-to-weight ratio of a 361 with the 20" bar is still very high.

In my book, steady use of a 20" is 70cc territory - in hardwood that is..

 

[PB]

In my book, steady use of a 20" is 70cc territory - in hardwood that is..

Hey Troll, I have an 18" bar on both my 2054's. What do you think about that?

 

[Jacob J.]

I agree, here though it's pretty common to see the 361 dressed out with a 24 inch bar for the thinning crews, who are slashing pine and fir exclusively.

 

[sdaly]

My little MS 210 came standard with a 16" bar, and the MS 361 comes standard with a 20" bar. From the comments I read here, it sounds like Stihl is pairing their saws with bars that are too big for the saw. If this is the case, then why would they do this? Does this sell more saws or something?

 

[Jacob J.]

Stihl has to accommodate the wide range of wood types and conditions that users will be cutting in. So the bar sizes take into account a good portion of time spent cutting softwoods.

 

[SawTroll]

Hey Troll, I have an 18" bar on both my 2054's. What do you think about that?

Depends on what you actually use it for......:greenchainsaw:

 

[sdaly]

Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread or anything, but I have one more question about bar size. If you're cutting, say, a 12" diameter log, will a 16" or 18" bar cut it faster than a 20" bar cutting that same log? Seems to me like they should cut about the same.

 

[parrisw]

Hey Troll, I have an 18" bar on both my 2054's. What do you think about that?

I run a 18" on my 345e, what you think of that?? I like it and thats all that matters.

I think its just plain silly to say that 20" is 70cc territory, thats ridiculous if ya ask me. I run 26" on my 272xp.

 

[SawTroll]

Stihl has to accommodate the wide range of wood types and conditions that users will be cutting in. So the bar sizes take into account a good portion of time spent cutting softwoods.

Right, but not much softwood here, and most wood is slowgrown and harder than usual elsewhere - 15" with 3/8x8 on the 361 here is used mostly for limbing and bucking (often "overbucking") - 18" with 7-pin is for felling and bucking the butts of the larger trees - then there is the 372xp......

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

My little MS 210 came standard with a 16" bar, and the MS 361 comes standard with a 20" bar. From the comments I read here, it sounds like Stihl is pairing their saws with bars that are too big for the saw. If this is the case, then why would they do this? Does this sell more saws or something?

The ms210 comes with a 16" with 3/8" micro chain, which it run fine in most applications. The ms 361 comes with 3/8" regular gauge chain which is about twice (don't quote me) as heavy for the same length. I know it does seem weird that the 210 will run 16 and 18" bars and the 361 will run 16-25" bars but it's the size of tooth that mattter also.

 

[PB]

Depends on what you actually use it for......:greenchainsaw:

All hardwood.