Hello everyone, my stihl ms391 is in need of a new chain. It's stretched out to the bars max setting. It's a 20" bar and its a 3/8 pitch but that's all I know. Can someone point me in the right direction? I'm pretty new to saw chains and have never had to buy one. Rebuilt a few saws but know nothing of chains. Thanks for the help!
what replacement chain do i need? stihl ms391
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tolman_paul
ArboristSite Guru
You're also going to need to know the gauge of the chain, either 050, 058 or 063 and the number of drive links of the chain. The imformation should be stamped or etched on the guide bar near where the bar mounts to the saw.
You will need a 72DL chain for a 20" 3/8, but you need to know if you have a .050 or .063. Most of the Stihl's with 3/8" around here are .050. Mine are.
How about an 8-pin sprocket rim?
And, most of the Stihl's with 3/8" pitch sold around here are 0.063" gauge. It depends on where you are standing. I bought an 8-pin sprocket rim to solve the stretch problem. You lose a little torque, but (1) the overall cutting speed is about the same or faster and (2) the stretch problem with older chains that were still usable vanished into thin air.
opcorn:
And, most of the Stihl's with 3/8" pitch sold around here are 0.063" gauge. It depends on where you are standing. I bought an 8-pin sprocket rim to solve the stretch problem. You lose a little torque, but (1) the overall cutting speed is about the same or faster and (2) the stretch problem with older chains that were still usable vanished into thin air.
opcorn:
KenJax Tree
Terraphobic
If you cut clean wood: Stihl RS or Oregon LGX/LPX
Dirty wood: Stihl RM
Sent from my AutoTune carb
Do you need an Owner's Manual? Sounds like you lost yours. :msp_wink:
Lol I sorry I'm not a full time chainsaw guy bro, hence why I don't have 5000 posts on a chainsaw message board 
. No I don't have my owners manual otherwise I wouldn't be posting here. No clue what the difference is between clean and dirty wood is. I occasionally help a buddy take some trees down,maybe take down a big pine in my yard etc. I found the same stihl chain for $28 shipped on amazon prime or a husky for $16. Couple reviews said the husky is the OEM crappy safety kickback chain though.
. No I don't have my owners manual otherwise I wouldn't be posting here. No clue what the difference is between clean and dirty wood is. I occasionally help a buddy take some trees down,maybe take down a big pine in my yard etc. I found the same stihl chain for $28 shipped on amazon prime or a husky for $16. Couple reviews said the husky is the OEM crappy safety kickback chain though.
Last edited:
KenJax Tree
Terraphobic
The same difference between a dirty a$$ and a clean a$$. Dirty wood has been pulled a crossed the ground or been laying there a while. Clean wood.....i'll let you figure that one out.
chainsawman2011
Addicted to ArboristSite
Lol I sorry I'm not a full time chainsaw guy bro, hence why I don't have 5000 posts on a chainsaw message board
baileys online usually has a good deal on chain this time of year I would go for the 72lgx
tolman_paul
ArboristSite Guru
If the tree has been drug through dirty or sandy soil, then the bark will be abrasive and quickly dull an rs chain, hence the recomendation of the rm. If however you drop the tree in a bed of leaves or grass and immediately buck it up with no dirt or sand in the bark the rs will a faster cutting chain.
Whatever chain you choose, get at least 2 loops. I really like stihl rs as it stays sharp longer than Oregon and other brands of chain, provided you keep it out of the dirt. The flip side is the stihl chain is pretty tough to sharpen with a file because of it's hardness. Husky chain is just rebadged oregon chain. Oregon makes so many different types of chain it's hard to keep track of it. Because I cut clean wood I prefer full chisel chain.
You might be able to find some NOS stihl RSC in 3/8" 050 72 link on flea bay. That's the chain I run on my husky 181, great chain.
Whatever chain you choose, get at least 2 loops. I really like stihl rs as it stays sharp longer than Oregon and other brands of chain, provided you keep it out of the dirt. The flip side is the stihl chain is pretty tough to sharpen with a file because of it's hardness. Husky chain is just rebadged oregon chain. Oregon makes so many different types of chain it's hard to keep track of it. Because I cut clean wood I prefer full chisel chain.
You might be able to find some NOS stihl RSC in 3/8" 050 72 link on flea bay. That's the chain I run on my husky 181, great chain.
:big_smile:
Philip Wheelock
Finis Origine Pendet
What the local Stihl tech guru suggested to me (YMMV):
Get 3 chains, a bar and a rim sprocket (7-pin) and rotate the chains every 4 hrs of operation and flip the bar. Touch up the chain every fill-up or two. Run them until the cutters are filed down to where they start to break off in the cut. When the last chain is shot, get a new set of chains plus bar and rim. Semi-chisel anti-kickback chain (Stihl RM3) works fine for me, although most guys looking for more speed and production will go with full chisel (Stihl RS).
Philip Wheelock
Finis Origine Pendet
With that kind of wear I wouldn't risk a link failing and the broken chain flying back towards the handle.
dont have the money to buy all that stuff. just want one chain. last one lasted a couple years.
longbowch
ArboristSite Guru
I really like semi-chisel. I think it would work well for you. Stihl chain: 33rm72.
SawTroll
Information Collector
Right! :agree2:
SawTroll
Information Collector
You can - but I don't understand the last part of your post.....
Thanks everyone I went with this
Amazon.com : STIHL 33RSC3-72 Oilomatic Rapid Super Comfort 20-Inch Saw Chain, 3/8-Inch Pitch, .050-Inch Gauge, 72 Drive Lengths : Patio, Lawn & Garden
STIHL 33RSC3-72 Oilomatic Rapid Super Comfort 20-Inch Saw Chain, 3/8-Inch Pitch, .050-Inch Gauge, 72 Drive Lengths
by Stihl
It was $28 shipped with free prime 2 day shipping
Amazon.com : STIHL 33RSC3-72 Oilomatic Rapid Super Comfort 20-Inch Saw Chain, 3/8-Inch Pitch, .050-Inch Gauge, 72 Drive Lengths : Patio, Lawn & Garden
STIHL 33RSC3-72 Oilomatic Rapid Super Comfort 20-Inch Saw Chain, 3/8-Inch Pitch, .050-Inch Gauge, 72 Drive Lengths
by Stihl
It was $28 shipped with free prime 2 day shipping
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