For you guys out there running a 36" mill with 90cc saws or 120cc saws I'm looking for input before I jump to a 120cc saw. I've got a 9010 and 660 right now and they seem to do ok up to 23" wide is the widest I've got to mill so far. Is there enough of a speed difference to go to a 120cc saw like an 084 over these or is it not really any faster. I tried to search but it sucks and I'm not that patient to dig through a lot of it.
90cc vs 120cc
- Thread starter mdavlee
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Boon
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Like you i am a beginnar and started off with a 660 on a 36 inch cut and it was killing my saw. I upgraded to an 880 and have not looked back. It does not really cut faster but the torque is greater. A skip tooth at 15 degrees and a raker angle to suit the wood you ate cutting will help.....BobL has written some informative posts that will help.
Just sharing what the kind people on the site have taught me so far and my experience.
All the best
Just sharing what the kind people on the site have taught me so far and my experience.
All the best
mad murdock
ArboristSite Guru
There is no replacement for displacement. I do most of my milling with my 372, set up with picco chain,'it does very nice. I have used my 075 on some bigger logs, and it definitely goes fast with more cc's even outfitted with 3/8" chain. I would look for a good used big cc saw, you will probably use the smaller ones for the lion share of the milling, and just out the big dog when needed. Just a lot easier to push 15-18 lbs, rather than 20-25.
Going from a 90 to 120 cc one might expect 33% increase in cutting speed but as CSM in small logs is chain speed limited, to see any sort of speed difference at 23" the rakers have to be dropped on a 120 cc saw to be able to take advantage of the extra torque. As alternative is to go up in sprocket tooth count but even going from 7 to 8 teeth does not gain much cutting speed.
The problem with dropping rakers too far for use in small wood is that the chain becomes marginal or even useless for use in wider cuts.
Where the difference is noticeable at >35" where the 90 cc saws start to struggle.
I just hope to find a good one without breaking the bank.
john taliaferro
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I got lucky on here and found some one {ms 460 John } that had a 880 for sale , he wanted 600 $ :- ] . Saw looked rough but was just cosmetic . Inside it was nice and runs great .
I'm hoping something like that will pop up for me soon. If not I'll just use what I've got until then.
srcarr52
We can't stop here, this is bat country.
I normally run a ported 394/5 on a 36" mill with 3/8 full comp at 5 deg with an 8 pin driver. I've run up to a 44" bar with .404 on the same saw in a full cut of oak, there I needed a light hand.
sachsmo
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Only milled with 6 cube saws (152/153, 1100/2100)
I really don't think you can go too big!
I know milling a 28" White Oak with them ones I have is painfully slow.
Your mileage may vary though?
But I'm a type of guy that has much more time than money.
I really don't think you can go too big!
I know milling a 28" White Oak with them ones I have is painfully slow.
Your mileage may vary though?
But I'm a type of guy that has much more time than money.
I've never run a 390, but I think my 2100 and 3120 compare pretty much in line with their displacements. From the bore and stroke I bet the 2100 has more torque per cc than the 390. A good running 2100 is stout. But it vibrates a lot compared to newer saws.
What is there to justify? You gotta have one!
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I wasn't thinking of using a 390. I have a stihl 660 and dolmar 9010 to use right now with a 288 being put back together soon. All of them have more torque than a 390.
Well I had one and sold it when I wasn't interested in milling at the time. It was too heavy to lug around for firewood stuff. A 90cc saw was almost as fast at 6lbs less.
srcarr52
We can't stop here, this is bat country.
I think you'd be a little disappointed with a stock 2100 but their gas and oil fill is in a nice location for use on a mill.
samdweezel05
ArboristSite Guru
Your trying to justify buying another saw? That's just silly and pointless. My 075 with .404 was faster in 32" elm than my 660 with 3/8. Can't wait to see how the ported 088 does.
gemniii
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The only disadvantages are cost, weight and possibly repair parts if you get a real old 120cc saw.
Before I got my 088 (with 36" bar, chains, an Alaskan Mark III, and boxes) for $450 I saw little use for one. My big trees are on the order of 30" DBH.
It's nice to have, but I couldn't justify buying one at even near full price.
It makes a REAL nice sound when I idle it with my 2 660's.
Before I got my 088 (with 36" bar, chains, an Alaskan Mark III, and boxes) for $450 I saw little use for one. My big trees are on the order of 30" DBH.
It's nice to have, but I couldn't justify buying one at even near full price.
It makes a REAL nice sound when I idle it with my 2 660's.
