I've got an extremely large pin oak in the back yard that's dying. I'd say it's in the neighborhood of 7' across at the base. More than I'm going to be able to reach with a 36" bar for certain. Not sure how much bigger I can go with the 064 and I really don't like the idea of buying another bigger saw AND bar just to deal with one tree (even though it will end up being more than a day's worth of work). Thoughts or suggestions? I do plan on the tree coming down in the dead of winter if that makes a difference.
Max bar length for a Stihl 064?
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Ryan'smilling
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Should be okay with a 42". 50" would be pushing it in terms of oiling, but I'm sure it's been done. Either way, run skip chain, tune rich, and pay attention to the saw.
A good running high compression 064 will do what a MS660 will do. The guy above nailed it use 42" bar with a skip chain, tune a little rich to get the extra torque, and don' lean on it to hard. You probably could get by with a 36" as notch the trunk and bury the bar deeper.
My main concern is whether or not the oiler can keep up with anything longer than a 36" bar. Torque to pull a longer bar is certainly a concern as well, but a skip chain and taking it easy should help with that. I mainly run a 28" full comp on it, and it pulls that like a champ even when I'm noodling 24" long oak, hickory, or locust rounds. 36" is a lot though, and 42" is going to be a healthy step up from that.
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Use what you have, plunge cut the notch- fan cut the back of the notch and plunge cut the backcut. That way you can reach all with the 36, with a bit of calculation and maths. You could even wing cut the sides of the hinge area to decrease the diameter. Where there is a will- there is usually a way.
As others have mentioned- might be asking a lot of an older 064 oiler to cope with much more than a 36.
Or, hire a bigger saw for a weekend.
As others have mentioned- might be asking a lot of an older 064 oiler to cope with much more than a 36.
Or, hire a bigger saw for a weekend.
There's felling the tree, and then there's bucking the trunk. If it was just felling the tree, I would probably find the cheapest 42" bar and chain I could get, and give it a go. Since the trunk is over 20' long, I'm inclined to either find a well used bigger saw, or purchase a Chinese knock off with a 42" bar for the job. I guess I could also do the bulk of the work with a 36" bar, then put the 42" on to finish it. Since it's in the back yard, I don't need to be in a huge rush. I just don't want it to take all winter.
What part of IN u live?
I have a bigger saw, 395xp but it's a 36" bar also. My neighbor has cut big trees with a bigger saw in the past for his mill also.
I have a bigger saw, 395xp but it's a 36" bar also. My neighbor has cut big trees with a bigger saw in the past for his mill also.
I'm gonna agree that a 42" is gonna require skip tooth without modifications to the saw.
I'm personally not one to whittle away at the bottom of a big tree , only because time os part of the equation for accidents.
3 cuts and done would be ideal . Finding some forum guys with huge McCulloch 125s ,monstrous Homelite 3100s or Stihl 088s in your area should be pretty easy , order pizza and have a "Big saw" GTG with 1 stipulation drop the cookie tree.
I'm personally not one to whittle away at the bottom of a big tree , only because time os part of the equation for accidents.
3 cuts and done would be ideal . Finding some forum guys with huge McCulloch 125s ,monstrous Homelite 3100s or Stihl 088s in your area should be pretty easy , order pizza and have a "Big saw" GTG with 1 stipulation drop the cookie tree.
Dennisthemenace
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If know how to bore in the 36 will be plenty long enough
A tree of that size does equate extra danger, be very careful.
I'm about 20 to 30 min East of Terre Haute, just a little off of Hwy 40.
I usually get that way once a year or so.
I will be planning on doing this when the ground is frozen, so not sure when that will be exactly. I can make sure to have a big pot of beans on the fire and plenty of cornbread though 
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I'd be curious what a pro would charge. Get it done by someone bonded and with experience would be the way to go. If you invest in a giant bar and chain, you'll likely never use it again. If a pro would dropped the tree, delimb and cart away the limbs, that would be a good use of funds.
I'd definitely bring the big girls over(088,1050,394) if you were closer.I will be planning on doing this when the ground is frozen, so not sure when that will be exactly. I can make sure to have a big pot of beans on the fire and plenty of cornbread though
I'm not seeing the issue with an 80+ cc saw running a 42" bar. Oiling I can't see being an issue either, the old saws wernt near as stingy with oil as the newer stihls.
I thought about that option as well. I don't need the tree de-limbed. A lot of the limbs are the size of trees. They will make decent firewood once they have seasoned. I"ve got a couple of burn piles for the little stuff. The bar and chain could be sold to recover a large chuck of the funds if needed. It would be a lot cheaper to wait for the tree to fall over, and then pay for any damages to the fence and old barn than to pay to have the tree taken down.
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Yup. If you can sell the B&C then that would be the way to go. I sold a 24" Forester Bar and 2 chains the other day, for what I paid. Yet the 18" B&C off the recently purchased ms261c is not getting any interest on Facebooks Marketplace nor Craigslist. In my experience the big saws with long bars are difficult to sell. Like you there is limited use for them if at all or ever.
Either way, much cheaper to buy a bar and chain even if I have to keep it. Won't be the first tool I've bought for a specific job and then put on the shelf. Besides, a 42" bar and chain looks a lot cooler than a ball joint press. To be honest, I bought the 064 specifically to use on another big pin oak in the yard. I've found a few uses for it sense then
MS, I absolutely love your comment! "Big girls need love too!" That made my night! Reminds me of the adage "Dating a big girl is like riding a moped. If your friends........." If you're fifty plus, you know the rest and the Moped reference. Best, Max.
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