404 vs 3/8th 36" test - w/661

[redbull660]

test saw - 661 muff modded
test bars - 36" tsumura 3/8ths 063 114dl and 36" tsumura 404 063 104dl
Stihl test chains -
RS 3/8 063 114DL
RSLF full skip sq. grd 3/8 063 114dl
RS .404 063 104DL
RSLF .404 063 104DL


First vid - 3/8ths Stihl RS -


2nd vid - .404 stihl RS


3rd vid - 3/8 stihl RSLF


4th vid - .404 stihl RSLF

 

[redbull660]

RS 3/8 - maple - 46.0 sec , rock elm - 1:01.8 sec

RS 404 - maple - 54.8 sec (accting for stoppage) , rock elm - 1:01.6 sec so once I went with lighter pressure time relative to 3/8ths RS improved.

RSLF 3/8 - maple -51.1 sec , Rock elm - 1:04.1 sec

RSLF 404 - maple -55.8 sec , rock elm - 1:04.3 sec
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Thoughts -

RS full comp 3/8 - pretty smooth. Seems that a medium to medium heavy pressure on the saw is required.

RS full comp 404 - at 36" seems you need a lighter touch on the saw and just let it self feed basically. Still kind of rough in the cut...plenty of vibes in the hardwood at least.

RSLF full skip square 3/8 - I had to really press on the the saw to get it to cut fast. Just not taking a big enough bite for the 661's torque maybe?

RSLF full skip square 404 - seems that a medium touch is required...very nice. smooth.

 

[mdavlee]

Full skip usually takes a little more pressure to get it to cut. I'll have to watch this evening when I get to a better service area.

 

[Trx250r180]

The full skip .404 square in cedar is a fast mofo ,even with the hybrid ,stays sharp way longer too ,i think the bigger 7 pin may help it cut faster

 

[blsnelling]

No surprises here. 3/8 full comp is fastest and skip isn't needed on a 36" bar in hardwood.

 

[redbull660]

all the times are pretty close on the rock elm. Further apart on the silver maple....

Think it depends on the wood really.

But for sure -

1. 404 stays sharper what seems a lot longer.
2. 404 RSLF is really bad ass when it comes to noodling



Here is the 28" test I did 404 vs 3/8th.

http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/404-vs-3-8-chain-test-stihl-661-w-28-tsumura.277489/

Had some interesting combo's but not RSLF. But things were closer here on the RS because I think at 28" the 661 could handle the full comp 404 better. Actually 404 RS was faster here then 3/8ths RS

 

[wyk]

If it needs more bite, lower the rakers.

The real test is how many cuts you can make before you need to sharpen the chains. Semi chisel 404 chain seems to cut for ever and ever...

 

[Trx250r180]

.404 , got 2 gallons of fuel of doing this out of 1 sharpen before started cutting slower and having to push more through the cuts