opinions on .404 vs. .375 chain

[redoakneck]

I tried the search function to no avail, so if this has been covered I am sorry.

I have an ms 660 that I want to set up to cut as fast, and as long as possible between filings. I am only going to put a 24" bar on it. My question is will 404 cut faster than 375 at the same chain speed???

I cut hardwood, osage orange, locust, oak, ect.

What is best or is there really not a big difference???

375 pitch with 8 or 9 pin, or 404 with a 7 or 8 pin.

The saw has a mild port job, muffler mod, and soon a 74 size carb jet.

I want to know if the 404 is worth the hassle (buying a bar in 063) or should I stick with 375. I already have 375, 050, 24" loops for my 7900, just want to see if the 660 will out cut it with a bigger pitch chain. How much longer does the 404 stay sharp???


Thanks!!!

 

[Stihlman441]

I have never used .404'' not even with my 880 and 50'' bar but some Ozzys use it when the wood is very hard and or dirty.
Darren (deye223) uses it a lot.

 

[XSKIER]

I know it's not a 7900 or 660, but there are some valuable opinions here;
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=97610

 

[redoakneck]

I have a big loop of 404 on an 090, chain speed not real high. I like 375 a lot more than 325, so I was hoping folks say 404 is the real deal.

Thanks for some input 441

 

[watsonr]

ALL of my bigger saws run .404, real question should be does your supplier carry it... my dealer does not. I spin my own and yes, I believe it lasts longer between filing.

 

[w8ye]

I have a 084 with a 30" X .404" X .063" X 7 pin. RSC

It is round filed chisel and I use the same file I use with 3/8" chain.

Seems to hold up well and I think everything is set up correct about it.

You got to remember that a 7 pin rim on .404 is almost the size of a 8 pin rim on .375 chain.

 

[GBD]

I tried the search function to no avail, so if this has been covered I am sorry.

I have an ms 660 that I want to set up to cut as fast, and as long as possible between filings. I am only going to put a 24" bar on it. My question is will 404 cut faster than 375 at the same chain speed???

I cut hardwood, osage orange, locust, oak, ect.

What is best or is there really not a big difference???

375 pitch with 8 or 9 pin, or 404 with a 7 or 8 pin.

The saw has a mild port job, muffler mod, and soon a 74 size carb jet.

I want to know if the 404 is worth the hassle (buying a bar in 063) or should I stick with 375. I already have 375, 050, 24" loops for my 7900, just want to see if the 660 will out cut it with a bigger pitch chain. How much longer does the 404 stay sharp???


Thanks!!!

The question have been asked and answered before Most people say .375(or 3/8 as most call it) cuts faster. I use both, mostly on 90+cc (modified) saws, and I can`t say I have found it to be much difference in cutting speed with standard chains.
Also, I haven`t found it to be much difference in the ability to stay sharp between them for full chisels .
One thing I really like about .404, is that it gives me the possibility to use very robust harvester chains under dirty conditions.

 

[watsonr]

AND an 8 pin .404 on a hundred+ CC saw flat rips!!

 

[redoakneck]

Thanks for the link xskier, I better just delete the whole question before I get tarred and feathered!!!!

I cut some of these large osage orange trees and just wanted a more durable chain, better just go run and hide now:msp_ohmy:

 

[SawTroll]

Actually there are no .375 chain - the 3/8" chain really is .366-.367.

 

[excess650]

It seems to me that every step up in cutter size leads to more duarbility. 3/8 .043 vs 3/8 .050 lowpro, vs .325 .063 vs .375 .050, vs .404 .063.

My 660 with 24" 3/8 .050 screams through dry hardwood, and I need to keep pressure on it to keep it loaded. The .404 may be exactly what you're looking for. Buy a loop and try it. If you don't like it, sell the stuff, or convert the bar to .375 by changing the sprocket nose.

 

[paccity]

i run .404 on the 088, 7 pin when running the 60" , 8 pin with the 42". never thought about running 3/8 on it. especially with the 60.

 

[redoakneck]

I have an 088 and a 30" solid nose bar I can fall back on if the 660 is too weak to pull the 404. Will give it a go.

And if that doesn't work, the 090 AV, AV, 090??? not sure what that means ALL VIBE=AV

 

[hillwilliam]

Actually there are no .375 chain - the 3/8" chain really is .366-.367.

3/8 = three divided by eight = .375. I must be missing something.

 

[bcorradi]

Skip the .404 and use 3/8th imo.

 

[MCW]

.404" can certainly be of benefit in certain conditions. I'm not sure of the benefits in full chisel but apart from tungsten you'll find no handheld sawchain that will wear better than .404" chipper or semi chisel.
I only ever use .404" on my 44"+ bars on my 3120 (and a 36" hard nose) now although I have tried it on my ported 7900's and ported 390XP and under dirty conditions on 20" bars and liked it. However if you are contemplating .404" full chisel then there is a good chance you'd be cutting clean wood anyway so may not see a major advantage over 3/8". In dead Aussie hardwood with dirt in the bark .404" is definately the chain to use.
Your 660 should be fine with .404" on a 24" bar but you may not notice an increase in outright cutting speed, just more wood on the ground at the end of the day if cutting dirty stuff as your sharpening will likely be halved. You WILL use more fuel though and 660's are fuel pigs at the best of times.
Don't touch an 8 pin .404" rim, they are huge and will severely punish even a ported 660. With my muffler modded 3120 an 8 pin .404" rim dragged it down too much.

One thing I really like about .404, is that it gives me the possibility to use very robust harvester chains under dirty conditions.

As far as I am aware .404" harvester chain only comes in .080" and no hand held saw bar mounts come in .080"?

 

[redoakneck]

Thanks for all the replies, I will stay mostly 3/8 except for osage orange or dirty wood. I need to measure 3/8, sawtroll is usually spot on and would not have made that up!!! I would like to hit Down Under and get into some of that concrete Gum wood that kills chains...

 

[MCW]

I would like to hit Down Under and get into some of that concrete Gum wood that kills chains...

No you wouldn't It sucks having to stop a cut half way through to change or sharpen your chain. I know this sounds stupid but I have even done some jobs with my grinder and generator on the tray of my ute as the chains get that wrecked that filing them is far too time consuming.

 

[SawTroll]

3/8 = three divided by eight = .375. I must be missing something.

It is, but the pitch isn't exactly 3/8" on 3/8" chain, it is just a "name".

 

[SawTroll]

....


As far as I am aware .404" harvester chain only comes in .080" and no hand held saw bar mounts come in .080"?

Some harvester stuff is .063, at least in Europe.