Who is running .404 on what and why?

[Justsaws]

Shops not selling much around here. I am curious as to who is using .404, on what and why? Most large saws around here are 3/8 and under 60cc usually seems to be .325. The last 075 I saw had 3/8 on a 25" bar. Struck me as odd, kind of a shame actually.

I like the big bite and easy sharpening. If I have the setup anything over 80cc usually gets .404 or 1/2", mostly .404 for the usual reasons.

Anyhow let me know as I am curious and would like some more user opinions.

Thanks, Robert

 

[Former Saw Builder]

I run .404 on all my saws over 80CC just like the way it cuts and if you have the power to pull it then why not....

 

[Erick]

Got it on my 084 running 36" and 48" bars, for obvious reasons.

 

[Lakeside53]

+1.. on my 088, and 051..

 

[04ultra]

On my 084 and all 3 of my 3120's...


.

 

[Lakeside53]

On my 084 and all 3 of my 3120's...


.

You need an MS880 or two..

 

[hoss]

090 stihl,075 stihl,990g homelite(converted from 1/2),775g homelite(also converted), xp1000 homelite,pioneer 700, pioneer RA, 125 mcculloch,1-53 mcculloch, 44super mcculloch, remington pl6, remington super754, g70 mcculloch and a 910 jonsered. All of these in my stable run .404 chisel full comp. I also like the big bite it takes, wich helps to mitigate a bit of the slow rpm of the older stuff. It is easier to sharpen too, in my opinion(especially in the woods).

 

[JohnL]

Homelite 775D

 

[Locoweed]

I would think that 3/8 would cut faster since it doesn't take such a big bite. Perhaps one of you could explain where I err in my logic.

 

[Justsaws]

H-mmmmmmm, no 046s, no 372s. I think that the answers and opinions indicate what I would expect to find. There are not many 880 or 3120s around here. I have only seen two 084s, neither of which were for sale . I have never seen a 3120 around here.

Hoss's pl6 is one of the smaller saws listed with .404 on it.

My guess would be that the average person wants a pitch that they can buy from Lowe's or does not know there is anything bigger.

Opinions on cost between running .404 versus 3/8? It is considerably more expensive to buy a 20" loop of .404 here at certain shops.

I am editing this to clarify "certain" to not being saw brand specific. Example, one Stihl dealer sells .404 much more expensively than the other Stihl dealer. Both selling the same Stihl chain. Both Carlton dealers sell it for different prices as well.

 

[redprospector]

I run .404 on my 3120 with 36" bar, and on my Kawasaki KX250.
Why? That's what the 36" bar was, and the Kawasaki would break 3/8" real easy.:biggrinbounce2:

Andy

 

[Justsaws]

I would think that 3/8 would cut faster since it doesn't take such a big bite. Perhaps one of you could explain where I err in my logic.

If the saw has the power to spin both sizes of chain at the same RPM, you would want to take the biggest bite possible per tooth, per revolution. That is why you do not see .404 on the little Poulans but why a 075 with .404 should cut faster than with 3/8.

 

[dustytools]

I run .404 ripping chain on a 395XP with 42 inch bar on my Alaskan mill.

 

[Chopwood]

If the saw has the power to spin both sizes of chain at the same RPM, you would want to take the biggest bite possible per tooth, per revolution. .

You are very mistaken in that thought.

 

[computeruser]

I might be doing it wrong, but I run 3/8" on my 075 and 076, with 25", 28", and 41" bars. I haven't done a side-by-side with .404, but I'm not quite sure what advantage .404" would have, apart from wasting energy on making a wider kerf. If I really want a bigger bite to be taken I can lower the rakers a bit and make a bigger bite that way. And if I want more chain speed, a 9-pin sprocket could be swapped in.

 

[ol'homey]

I ran .404 with a 7T sprocket on my C-72 for like 25 yrs because that's what it came with. Switched to 3/8 and 8T a fews yrs ago and found out it's faster and smoother. They didn't know what antivibe was when they made the C-72 so the smoothness of the 3/8 was a nice surprise. Going to the 8T sprocket with the 3/8 allows the powerhead to run in the same RPM range as the .404 so the load must be similar. My best guess as to why the 3/8 cuts faster is the smaller kerf width (removes less wood) and the lower rotating mass due to the lighter chain weight. A new 3/8 chain does seem to stretch a little more than the old .404 chains did. Might be because there are more rivets/holes to wear and the fact that the chassis is not as stout as the .404, or it could just be I always used Stihl .404 chain (which is prestretched) and started using Oregon when I went to 3/8.

 

[ktoom]

One of the 044's, i bought off of ebay, had a .404 sprocket on it. I thought that was odd.

 

[Justsaws]

One of the 044's, i bought off of ebay, had a .404 sprocket on it. I thought that was odd.

That would have been odd around here.

 

[Justsaws]

You are very mistaken in that thought.

Elaborarate.:hmm3grin2orange: A person asked a question and received an answer that you disagree with and yet, you disagree for no particular reason. Are you a politician? Perhaps your typing finger broke?

 

[Justsaws]

I might be doing it wrong, but I run 3/8" on my 075 and 076, with 25", 28", and 41" bars. I haven't done a side-by-side with .404, but I'm not quite sure what advantage .404" would have, apart from wasting energy on making a wider kerf. If I really want a bigger bite to be taken I can lower the rakers a bit and make a bigger bite that way. And if I want more chain speed, a 9-pin sprocket could be swapped in.

Taller cutter profile. Same reason that 3/8 will usually out cut .325.

Where do you get the 9-3/8 rims? I have got 9-.325 but only been able to get 8-3/8.