Plasmech
Addicted to ArboristSite
Is there a noticable difference in cutting? 50 thou doesn't seem like whole lot. What do most pro's use? This would be for a 361 with a 20" bar.
Sold my 290 today for $275
Sold my 290 today for $275
.325 versus .375 pitch chain
- Thread starter Plasmech
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yo2001
ArboristSite Operative
The 3/8 will stay sharper longer for me. I'm sure it cuts faster but never did timed them side by side before. For a MS361, I'm sure everyone will say 3/8 is the way to go anyway.
I have tried .325 9 pin and 16" B&C before and notice it'll stop cutting in cut to discharge the chip every now and then.
I have tried .325 9 pin and 16" B&C before and notice it'll stop cutting in cut to discharge the chip every now and then.
Plasmech
Addicted to ArboristSite
Gotcha. By the way, what's the next size up after .375?
yo2001
ArboristSite Operative
.404 pitch would be the step up
spankrz
ArboristSite Operative
3/8 pitch chain has a larger tooth size, that removes a larger chip. this results in faster cutting, considering your saw can maintain proper chain speed. with a 361, you won't have any problems with that.
willsaw4beer
Addicted to ArboristSite
3/8 will probably be fine for your application. 3/8 chain has bigger teeth than .325 and thus each takes a bigger bite, but there are less teeth so not as many bites. The only way to know for sure which cuts faster is to do a timed cut with both. I like 3/8 because there are less teeth to sharpen. 
stihl only
ArboristSite Operative
The MS361 comes with 3/8" and believe it or not, Stihl knows what they are doing. If anything, they are very conservative! NES runs .325 on the MS290 that puts out more HP than the 455, running 3/8".
willsaw4beer
Addicted to ArboristSite
.404 is the next step up and you really need a beast of a saw and even beastlier cutting needs to warrant using .404.
willsaw4beer
Addicted to ArboristSite
Aw jeez, no reason to turn this into a Stihl vs. Husky thread. I'm sure depending on sprocket size a 290/455 could easily handle 3/8 or .325 with negligible difference...
stihl only
ArboristSite Operative
Wasn't trying to do that at all. Just pointing out that the Stihl products I buy come from North East Stihl, and they know the trees in my area and feel the 290 will cut faster with .325.
FYI, I run a 3/8" on my MS260 BUT I run a 16" bar with a sharp sharp chain and I'm not a bucking spike wrencher!!
I had a 361 and to put a .325 on it would be an insult to the saw for most applications. Not saying that some 9 or 10 pin .325 sprocket with the right chain couldn't cut cookies faster, but for real world cutting, give it a 3/8"!
willsaw4beer
Addicted to ArboristSite
Arite, I see what you're saying, not going to argue. Personally I'd run a 16'' bar 7 pin 3/8 with either in hardwood, and I'm sure there wouldn't be any problems. Those sugar maples and eastern hophornbeams are pretty beastly up here in the Northeast eh? For the record, if they were free I would take a 290 over a 455, and then I would sell it to buy bars and chains for my other saws.
The MS290 is a dog with the 3/8 at least the ones I've run. I believe Stihl has the HP numbers inflated quite a bit on the 290. MS290 = 3.8 MS260 = 3.2 yet they cut almost the same as it should be with a 55cc home owner saw vs a 50cc Pro saw . Steve
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9 or 10 tooth on a stock saw??????? Steve
SawTroll
Information Collector
The max hp advertised is true, but is just a snap-shot of one point of the power-band.
Several other factors than max hp is in play when cutting......
SawTroll
Information Collector
.325 9-pin is one of the recommended sizes for the MS361 (in the user manual etc), and probably the fastest one with short bars and small wood.
The others are 7- and 8-pin 3/8".
Outer diameter/gearing is very close to the same as 8-pin 3/8".
325 8 pin and 3/8 7 pin are real close. With a 3/8 9 pin you'ld better be cutting softwood under 4 ". MS 290 numbers are inflated in the real world, if they had one at one of those indepentant testing places and it made 3.8 hp it was a ringer, same as in the snowmobile industry. It's not hard to believe that Stilh would want to put big numbers on one of thier high profit saws. Steve
timberwolf
Addicted to ArboristSite
We are talking .325 9 pin. It is a stihl part number sprocket and dealers can get it though many may not stock it.
9 pin .325 will work quite fine on 60-70cc saws. It's very close in diamiter to 3/8 8 but as the .325 chain loads the saw a little less it's maybe just a little easier to pull than 3/8 8 pin.
On bigger saws 046 or 066 though I found the .325 9 was slower than 3/8 8 and had problems clearing chips from the cut. Likely just not enough gullet spance and space between cutters for the amount of wood being pulled out.
9 pin .325 will work quite fine on 60-70cc saws. It's very close in diamiter to 3/8 8 but as the .325 chain loads the saw a little less it's maybe just a little easier to pull than 3/8 8 pin.
On bigger saws 046 or 066 though I found the .325 9 was slower than 3/8 8 and had problems clearing chips from the cut. Likely just not enough gullet spance and space between cutters for the amount of wood being pulled out.
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I've never tried .325 on a 60cc saw. Most 361s run a 18-20" bar with 3/8 chain. .404 chain is reserved for the largest of saws. Some still run 3/8 on a 084/088/880. I do.
Javelin
Addicted to ArboristSite
I tried a 325 9 tooth on a 114 Sachs Dolmar and do not like it! It was slower than the original 3/8 8 tooth it came out with!
Wild Knight
ArboristSite Guru
Wider cuts simply take a larger chunk of wood out while cutting. More bite = more surface area (of the chain) in contact with the wood = more resistance from the wood while cutting. So, it makes sense that you would need more power to maintain the same RPM's in the wood when going to a larger chain.
Despite the logic above, all manufacturers put bigger chains on bigger saws.
Why do they bother going to wider chains on bigger saws? Does a wider cut relieve some pinching situations? Is the wider chain stronger and better able to handle the stresses imposed by power and big wood? Something else altogether?
Despite the logic above, all manufacturers put bigger chains on bigger saws.
Why do they bother going to wider chains on bigger saws? Does a wider cut relieve some pinching situations? Is the wider chain stronger and better able to handle the stresses imposed by power and big wood? Something else altogether?
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