I can't believe a dealer spun those backwards!
New Oregon Narrow Kerf Chain and SpeedCut Guide Bars
- Thread starter Philbert
- Start date
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Sometimes dealers hire cheap help . . . .
I bought the chain off eBay for about $6 (?), so it is still a good deal, even if I have to fix it. I 'm not sure that the seller even knew about the backwards links; he listed it as inventory from a closed out shop, and the other chains I received from him were fine.
Caveat emptor baby!
Philbert
Yeah it's a good think you are the chain Yoda! I'm sure that thing disturbed the force quite significantly!
I felt stupid. It's very easy to mount a chain backwards on STIHL saws (outboard sprockets mostly): you place the chain on the guide bar, then decide to flip it, to balance wear, as you mount it: backward cutters. Everyone has done this (or will). On Husqvarna saws (inboard sprockets mostly): you have to place the chain over the clutch drum first, so it is easy to see the cutter direction.
So, I mounted the chain and bar on my Husky, looked down to check chain tension, and felt like maybe I should not be running a chainsaw any more that day. Then I looked down again and saw cutters facing forward!!! On inspection, it is clear to see the difference between the factory spun rivets and the 'aftermarket' spun rivets.
Another good reason to carry spare chains with you in the field!
Philbert
The Stihl I have puts the picture of the cutter on the clutch cover, I forget which other saw I have that has the picture of the cutter so you can see it when the cover is off.
These bars implement technologies which have been in service on trailers for many years. I'm excited to get my hands on these bars & chains as I've been planning to switch to .325nk now that I only have the 346 left. The improvements to lubrication on the chain are quite interesting, hopefully will be up there with Stihl chain now. As for out of the box sharpness and grind angles... who cares? First thing you do to a chain is file/grind it to your needs depending on wood and conditions. I will admit the Stihl chain did impress me with "out of the box" sharpness and longevity but I still sharpen it at the end of the day and I am not in production which is why a chain which lubes well and costs less is far more appealing to me usually. From the looks of this system though that could change.
OBX Koastie
ArboristSite Member
I spoke with the distributor in Richmond and he confirmed the general statement from Oregon Tech support of the 95TXL being available in June 2016. The distributor for VA said they have confirmation of shipping date of June 16.
Interesting that the new chain is not significantly improved over the 95VPX and the WoodlandPro NK. I had previously posted that the WoodlandPro NK chains thaty I had received were no longer made in Canada but in China. They seem to be holding up up and cutting as well as my Canada WP NK chains. I already got a couple of narrow kerf chains for my Echo CS-500P as it appears Oregon won't be making that mount any longer in narrow kerf. I think I'll be ordering some VPX chain as I'd like to keep my money over here. (While the WoodlandPro Chinese chains appear to work OK, I am still a fan of sending as little as possible in the way of my dollars to China.)
Interesting that the new chain is not significantly improved over the 95VPX and the WoodlandPro NK. I had previously posted that the WoodlandPro NK chains thaty I had received were no longer made in Canada but in China. They seem to be holding up up and cutting as well as my Canada WP NK chains. I already got a couple of narrow kerf chains for my Echo CS-500P as it appears Oregon won't be making that mount any longer in narrow kerf. I think I'll be ordering some VPX chain as I'd like to keep my money over here. (While the WoodlandPro Chinese chains appear to work OK, I am still a fan of sending as little as possible in the way of my dollars to China.)
I like to keep a big '*' in my field testing comments, because it not done under laboratory controls, even though I try to be objective. These were chains that I happened to have, and were each several years old. Can't compare the Carlton chain I had to any made in China. Technically, the H30 chain is more similar to 95VP than 95VPX, if that makes a difference. But, with all of those caveats, I did not notice an improvement over the chains I had, cutting that wood, in those conditions. Hopefully, more A.S. members will try the 95TXL as it becomes more available and share their results. Some of this is on the shelves, locally, at Lowe's (where is where this whole thread got started!).
Philbert
Philbert
OBX Koastie
ArboristSite Member
Philbert,
Thank you so much for keeping up with this. I finally got to someone at Oregon Technical Support who while she did not know the answer, promised she would get back to me; and she did. The question I had was whether the Oregon "Pro" chain in the black Oregon packaging I purchased at Lowes that listed it as an M72 based on what is on the tie strap was a 95VPX chain as B**** at Oregon Technical Support had told me and contradicted the literature in the package or the 95TXL chain that is listed in the literature in the package as the new Oregon "M" series of chain. The answer: It is neither! It is hybrid with 95TXL drive links with the oil channels, reduced vibration, non-ANSI low kickback, etc and the 95VPX cutter. That is why your VPX chain and the Lowes "TXL" chain cutters look so similar. According to S******* at Oregon Tech Support, the delivery of the TXL is delayed now until August, not June as their distributor told me.
This could be why you did not notice any significant improvement in cutting with the Lowes "TXL."
Thanks for all the time you spend keeping us informed. I am not a professional, but I do learn an awful lot from reading the posts of those who are. Again, thanks.
Kim
Thank you so much for keeping up with this. I finally got to someone at Oregon Technical Support who while she did not know the answer, promised she would get back to me; and she did. The question I had was whether the Oregon "Pro" chain in the black Oregon packaging I purchased at Lowes that listed it as an M72 based on what is on the tie strap was a 95VPX chain as B**** at Oregon Technical Support had told me and contradicted the literature in the package or the 95TXL chain that is listed in the literature in the package as the new Oregon "M" series of chain. The answer: It is neither! It is hybrid with 95TXL drive links with the oil channels, reduced vibration, non-ANSI low kickback, etc and the 95VPX cutter. That is why your VPX chain and the Lowes "TXL" chain cutters look so similar. According to S******* at Oregon Tech Support, the delivery of the TXL is delayed now until August, not June as their distributor told me.
This could be why you did not notice any significant improvement in cutting with the Lowes "TXL."
Thanks for all the time you spend keeping us informed. I am not a professional, but I do learn an awful lot from reading the posts of those who are. Again, thanks.
Kim
! ! !
If this is correct, I would have looked pretty foolish claiming large performance gains in my testing! (Whew!). Pays to be honest! As noted in an earlier post, the cutters look very similar, except for the factory grind, so that sounds very plausible (except for why they might do that).
Thanks for your follow up too! Input from lots of members is what make forums like this great!
Philbert
More New Packaging?
Saw these new packages at a home center - the chain inside looks the same.
Philbert
Saw these new packages at a home center - the chain inside looks the same.
Philbert
There is a trademark symbol next to low profile.
TM, ®, and © all over the things.
Old package looks easier to open and re-use for chain storage. New one looks harder to open and shoplift chain, and highlights the ID link.
I mostly want to know if the chains are different - sent a letter to Oregon to ask.
Philbert
Old package looks easier to open and re-use for chain storage. New one looks harder to open and shoplift chain, and highlights the ID link.
I mostly want to know if the chains are different - sent a letter to Oregon to ask.
Philbert
I came across a web location that has a lot of information about both the new bars and chain.
http://www.oregonproducts.dk/dk/speedcuttm-system/faq.html
One thing I quote is here "SpeedCut™ is not currently available in a narrow-kerf full chisel cutter. Oregon does offer a full-chisel standard kerf .325 saw chain under the model number 20LPX."
I have expressed my opinions about this .325nk chain before.
I did just get one of these new bars though a hard to refuse price on ebay, 6 left at this time. I accept that it may be seconds or early release or something along those lines. It could also just be a marketing test. There is no numbering on either the bar or the package. It is marked made in China on the package as is noted in the above link. It is a K095 mount. It is light. Has like stihl (picco anyways)nose bearing in that no grease hole or other holes. The oil input is well thought out, at an angle and a pocket for the oil to puddle. Judging by how close the rivet for the nose are together I estimate it is designed for the 55cc max size the chain is rated for.
http://www.oregonproducts.dk/dk/speedcuttm-system/faq.html
One thing I quote is here "SpeedCut™ is not currently available in a narrow-kerf full chisel cutter. Oregon does offer a full-chisel standard kerf .325 saw chain under the model number 20LPX."
I have expressed my opinions about this .325nk chain before.
I did just get one of these new bars though a hard to refuse price on ebay, 6 left at this time. I accept that it may be seconds or early release or something along those lines. It could also just be a marketing test. There is no numbering on either the bar or the package. It is marked made in China on the package as is noted in the above link. It is a K095 mount. It is light. Has like stihl (picco anyways)nose bearing in that no grease hole or other holes. The oil input is well thought out, at an angle and a pocket for the oil to puddle. Judging by how close the rivet for the nose are together I estimate it is designed for the 55cc max size the chain is rated for.
What length is it? I have been waiting for a sample to demo for a long time. Do you have other Oregon or Husqvarna NK / 'Micro-Lite' bars to compare it to?
Philbert
Philbert
I took this picture of what I have nearby. A Craftsman 72 dl "18" modified for Stihl 3005 mount, a made in Norway Husqvarna 64dl 15" and this new one. The Husqvarna one has the A tail that seems to get called a K tail in 13 and 15 size, it also might be more suited for 63 drive links (but I like balanced loops) it ends up kind of far away. The Craftsman one is the same thickness, not a standard 0.325 bar, is NK.
The Speedcut one is about one mm wider than the Craftsman and about 3mm wider than the Husky one. I do not have a scale nearby but using a welding rod I think the speedcut one is a bit lighter than the Craftsman one by a ratio of about 6 to five and a half. It is one and thirteen sixteenths longer than the Craftsman one, called 20 inches 78 dl though I have yet to wrap a chain on it.
The Speedcut one is about one mm wider than the Craftsman and about 3mm wider than the Husky one. I do not have a scale nearby but using a welding rod I think the speedcut one is a bit lighter than the Craftsman one by a ratio of about 6 to five and a half. It is one and thirteen sixteenths longer than the Craftsman one, called 20 inches 78 dl though I have yet to wrap a chain on it.
SawTroll
Information Collector
The silly thing is that the packages doesn't tell exactly what chain model is inside - so you have to go to the Oregon website to find out...
These are consumer store packages. They are 3/8 low pro, .050 gauge, low kickback, and a specified number of drive links. But the exact Oregon model varies. I have seen 91PX, 91VG, embossed ties traps, '4-way' tie straps, drive links with/without holes, etc.
Philbert
ChoppyChoppy
Tree Freak
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