Stihl Bar Question

[mattaggie]

Customer has a MS361 with an 18" BC. He comes in for a new bar. He has printed from Stihl's website the bar and chain reference guide that tells him the bar number it says he needs.

http://www.stihlusa.com/WebContent/.../STIHL-Saw-Chain-Selection-Identification.pdf

3003 6117 is the number given. We don't carry that number, but 3003 9417. Both are 3/8" .063 18". Customer is very hesitant to take since its not on the reference sheet. He asks what's the difference in the bars. I have no idea, so I'm asking the experts!

Strange thing is, Stihl's website is recommending the 6117 bar and an RS chain but when we order a 361/362 from Blue Mountain Equipment, they send with an RM chain and the 9417 bar.

I point all this out to the customer. Customer becomes convinced that the 6117 bar is for full chisel chains and the 9417 bar is for semi-chisel chains. I tell him I've never heard of such a thing. He did end up buying the 9417 bar. Hope someone can enlighten me on the difference.

 

[mdavlee]

Who knows. Maybe they changed the numbers for this year.

 

[AKDoug]

No offense, but aren't you a Stihl dealer if you are selling their bars and chains? If so, look in your bar and chain catalog and look up the numbers. If you don't have the paper copy, it's available in Media Cat. I'd help you out but I'm on my phone 250 miles from my shop.


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[mattaggie]

I'll be honest, I never even thought to look at the catalogue. I did look up the numbers in the Blue Mountain website, which didn't reveal any difference. And when I posted this question, I was at home and didn't have access to the catalogue.

Google search reveals this:
6117 is Rollomatic E, hollow middle, light
9417 is a Rollomatic ES, solid and has replaceable sprocket tip. Sounds more "professional" and durable.

Our market is homeowners and ranchers. I forget that Stihl offers all these different styles of bars as we stick with the basics.

Still curious as to why Stihl recommends one and distributor sends another.

 

[treesmith]

The yellow and green Stihl bars are different same as the chains, low kick and standard, don't know if that's applicable here though, I'm not a dealer

 

[Stihl working hard]

opcorn:

 

[AKDoug]

I mean this on the best way. You owe it to your customers to learn all you can about Stihl products you sell. The vast majority of my customers are homeowners, but I spend a ton of time reading and researching about all the products I could offer from Stihl. Think of how much better your conversation with that customer would have went if you had the knowledge.


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[Stihl 041S]

I mean this on the best way. You owe it to your customers to learn all you can about Stihl products you sell. The vast majority of my customers are homeowners, but I spend a ton of time reading and researching about all the products I could offer from Stihl. Think of how much better your conversation with that customer would have went if you had the knowledge.


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This is exactly the reason I drive a ways to the Stihl dealer I use and pass 3 others on the way.

The OP is trying to get his customer an answer. That's good.

But one should know the product being sold.

I walked into a dealer who had bought the business a year back. I asked about a stack of bars. I could see they were all 3002 mount.

" They don't fit any current models. "
How much?
"$10 each"
Okay says I.
"How many you want"
All of them. 12. )
I've gotten rid of most at what I had in them.
Same dealer never heard of an 075 when I asked for a filter.
He is out of business.........

 

[farmer steve]

This is exactly the reason I drive a ways to the Stihl dealer I use and pass 3 others on the way.

The OP is trying to get his customer an answer. That's good.

But one should know the product being sold.

I walked into a dealer who had bought the business a year back. I asked about a stack of bars. I could see they were all 3002 mount.

" They don't fit any current models. "
How much?
"$10 each"
Okay says I.
"How many you want"
All of them. 12. )
I've gotten rid of most at what I had in them.
Same dealer never heard of an 075 when I asked for a filter.
He is out of business.........

stihl041s,did you ever go to cedar grove farm store in shippensburg? on rt.11 north of ship. they are the stihl dealer i use. i have another stihl dealer 2 mins. from me but not knowledgable in stihl stuff.

 

[Stihl 041S]

stihl041s,did you ever go to cedar grove farm store in shippensburg? on rt.11 north of ship. they are the stihl dealer i use. i have another stihl dealer 2 mins. from me but not knowledgable in stihl stuff.

The guy with all the used parts upstairs???
Sorted by model number???
Single level.....all spread out????
Nope. Never been there.

I got a place in Hanover.
The place in Shermansdale is good too.
Mennonite place northwest of me too.
I work weekends and used to take my parents (92&98) on a lot of drives during the week. Saw a lot of lil Stihl dealers. Stopped at every one.
Don't worry. When I went in I left the AC on for my parents

That is a nice farm store on 11.

 

[farmer steve]

The guy with all the used parts upstairs???
Sorted by model number???
Single level.....all spread out????
Nope. Never been there.

I got a place in Hanover.
The place in Shermansdale is good too.
Mennonite place northwest of me too.
I work weekends and used to take my parents (92&98) on a lot of drives during the week. Saw a lot of lil Stihl dealers. Stopped at every one.
Don't worry. When I went in I left the AC on for my parents

That is a nice farm store on 11.

 

[SawTroll]

I'll be honest, I never even thought to look at the catalogue. I did look up the numbers in the Blue Mountain website, which didn't reveal any difference. And when I posted this question, I was at home and didn't have access to the catalogue.

Google search reveals this:
6117 is Rollomatic E, hollow middle, light
9417 is a Rollomatic ES, solid and has replaceable sprocket tip. Sounds more "professional" and durable.

Our market is homeowners and ranchers. I forget that Stihl offers all these different styles of bars as we stick with the basics.

Still curious as to why Stihl recommends one and distributor sends another.

It is quite common that distributers keep their own inventory lower by not offering all options to "their" dealers - it happens on all levels in the "food chain".

 

[SawTroll]

Forgot to say;
Despite the above, any good dealer should keep homself updated on all the products the brand offers, regardless if his distributer is listing/recommending it or not - special orders are always possible (or at least they should be).

 

[Guido Salvage]

Same dealer never heard of an 075 when I asked for a filter.
He is out of business.........

I was looking for some bits for my 075 and went to the closest dealer which is at the back of a rental store.

Me: I need 2 starter housing bolts for an 075.
Counter dude: Is that a hedge trimmer?
Me: No, a chain saw.

They also had a small rack of equipment at the back with repair tags. I found a Husky 372 with 2010 repair tag and asked if they would sell it.

"Nope, he is coming to get it".

I now go to the JD dealer that carries Stihl, Echo and Shindaiwa. They typically have 5-7 counter people working and a line, but I will wait for their knowledge.

 

[firebrick43]

I point all this out to the customer. Customer becomes convinced that the 6117 bar is for full chisel chains and the 9417 bar is for semi-chisel chains. I tell him I've never heard of such a thing. He did end up buying the 9417 bar. Hope someone can enlighten me on the difference.

Really surprised as most dealers around here sell the low kick back 6117 and none will offer the 9417 yellow bar unless YOU ask for it.

Explain to your customer that he has it backwards as stihl is only going to recommend the safety bar and chain due to litigation. Tell him you care about his production, efficentcy, and operating cost.

 

[mattaggie]

I'm the manager and I do my best to keep up with all the information with everything we sell: Furniture, appliances, TVs, DirecTV, lawn and garden, plumbing, electrical, paint, hardware, Verizon wireless, Stihl, steel, tools, fencing, concrete, culverts, septic tanks, and more stuff I cant recall. You could spend a lifetime accumulating knowledge in any one of these areas. Just aren't enough hours in the day.

 

[z71mike]

Customer becomes convinced that the 6117 bar is for full chisel chains and the 9417 bar is for semi-chisel chains. I tell him I've never heard of such a thing. He did end up buying the 9417 bar. Hope someone can enlighten me on the difference.

You were correct. A bar doesn't care if a chain is semi or full chisel. Cutters don't ride in the bar groove.

 

[AKDoug]

I'm the manager and I do my best to keep up with all the information with everything we sell: Furniture, appliances, TVs, DirecTV, lawn and garden, plumbing, electrical, paint, hardware, Verizon wireless, Stihl, steel, tools, fencing, concrete, culverts, septic tanks, and more stuff I cant recall. You could spend a lifetime accumulating knowledge in any one of these areas. Just aren't enough hours in the day.

I feel your pain, I happen to own a business that has just many variables. This is precisely why plenty of folks don't like the fact that Stihl is sold in stores like ours. Just by you coming to this forum and asking questions shows more drive than 90% of employees at businesses like ours. I may have been a little harsh and I apologize.

As noted above, there is no difference between bars for chisel or semi chisel chain. If you have it available, the ICademy Stihl training online has a good section on bars and chains. Also, it should be part of Silver training for mechanics. Bars and chains are where I make good money and its worth knowing that segment inside and out.

As noted in one of the responses, Stihl always defaults to recommending low kickback bars and chains in its literature available to the general public. I also can order 362's with the non low kickback bar from my distributor. This is what I order because that's what my customers want.







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[Ron660]

I had a similiar experience with my local dealer with a chain and a dual port muffler. The local dealer keep arguing with me Stihl no longer made the items I wanted. I had to drive almost two hours away to get what I needed from another dealer. After I purchased the items, from another dealer, I brought my saw to my local dealer to improve this knowledge of HIS BUSINESS. Great customer service is everything.

 

[KG441c]

I understand everyone wanting to.sell stihl and make money but i feel if u buy stihl u bought because u feel u r buying the best and also u want expert advice and service. In my hometown there is 3 stihl gold dealers. I swear I can walk in and know part numbers by heart almost but the dealers dont have a clue about parts or their products!!! I had one tech thats been a stihl mechanic for 20+ yrs just tell me a 261 should turn 17000rpm from the factory? cmon!!!! very discouraging and stihl is getting a very bad name letting a lumber store here locally sell chainsaws and the girl working them cant even tell u which chain or oil to use at the proper ratio??? Ridiculous!!!