.325 chain on a MS 360/361/362
- Thread starter Country1
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mowoodchopper
Polar Bear
I dont know what the heck your arguing about, I said if there is a 325 chain with the same cutter as 3/8 it would work!
Try a stihl 325 rs chain. This is from an old thread with a picture of stihl 325 rs and stihl 3/8 rs.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showpost.php?p=240600&postcount=17
WoodViking
ArboristSite Operative
I use 3/8 on my MS361 and .325 on my 357xp (only 56.5cc though). I can't tell a difference in cutting speed at all - and both saws are great
with their setup:greenchainsaw:
I used an 18" .325 460 mag for thinning forests, full chizel stihl chain with the drags lowered, the trees being radiatas around the 15" - 20" diameter range, 500 trees a day the average, best feature being a smooth cut, knife thru butter type of cut actually, but the 3/8 is more heavy-duty over all, the 3/8 is tougher if it gets pinched and you're havin' to really lever on the bar to get it unstuck, or just generally over the day you've got to be more careful with the lighter chain, but the 18" 460mag is heaps of horsepower and the .325 handles it no sweat
BloodOnTheIce
Addicted to ArboristSite
Most of the 034/036's I service have .325 pitch chain, but for some reason all of MS360's and MS361's switched over to 3/8 pitch. The only issue I see is that the 361's and 362's run the standard large spline sprocket, like the 44, 460, and 660, where the 034/036 run a medium spline that is used on the 034, MS390, MS310, MS290 so they may not make a .325 sprocket to fit the large spline sprockets.
SawTroll
Information Collector
Only a 9-pin .325 rim will fit the standard spline drum of the 361 - I am sure it is great for limbing and smaller wood, but probably a bit much with a "buried" 18" bar, unless the saw is modded.
Country1
ArboristSite Guru
Very good posts guys. I appreciated it.
So, if I'm understanding correctly:
-.325 will work fine on a 60cc saw and most manufactures recommend it.
-3/8 and .325 have the same width cutter (so the kerf is the same), but the .325's cutter has a smaller gullet or shorter cutter. The raker should keep the "bit" the same for both though? But if .325 cuts smoother it makes sense that it would be taking less "bit"?...
-To keep the same chain speed as 7 pin 3/8, I'd have to run an 8 pin with .325. An I could run a 9 pin, but would have to add a link and it's more suited for limbing. Not big wood.
-Problem though, the 361 and 362 use a standard larger sprocket spline and .325 rims only fit a smaller spline (except a 9 pin)?.. Guess this is the reason Stihl switched to 3/8 on the 361 & 362? If this is the case and I can only run a 9 pin with .325, it will not be suitible for my cutting conditions (all around firewood saw in dry hard wood, 14" average size). Plus you cant just walk into the dealer and pick up a standard box of 18" .325 RSC chain. I'd have to find a dealer that has a reel and get it looped with and extra link every time. Not real convenient.
Can someone else verify what Saw Troll said about the only large spline .325 rim is a 9 pin?
It looks like 3/8 is going to be my only choice...
Thanks
So, if I'm understanding correctly:
-.325 will work fine on a 60cc saw and most manufactures recommend it.
-3/8 and .325 have the same width cutter (so the kerf is the same), but the .325's cutter has a smaller gullet or shorter cutter. The raker should keep the "bit" the same for both though? But if .325 cuts smoother it makes sense that it would be taking less "bit"?...
-To keep the same chain speed as 7 pin 3/8, I'd have to run an 8 pin with .325. An I could run a 9 pin, but would have to add a link and it's more suited for limbing. Not big wood.
-Problem though, the 361 and 362 use a standard larger sprocket spline and .325 rims only fit a smaller spline (except a 9 pin)?.. Guess this is the reason Stihl switched to 3/8 on the 361 & 362? If this is the case and I can only run a 9 pin with .325, it will not be suitible for my cutting conditions (all around firewood saw in dry hard wood, 14" average size). Plus you cant just walk into the dealer and pick up a standard box of 18" .325 RSC chain. I'd have to find a dealer that has a reel and get it looped with and extra link every time. Not real convenient.
Can someone else verify what Saw Troll said about the only large spline .325 rim is a 9 pin?
It looks like 3/8 is going to be my only choice...
Thanks
J.W Younger
ass kissing impaired
You can go to oregons website and see if a 7/8 bore 8 pin is offered in .325, but if sawtroll is saying no my moneys on him.
mowoodchopper
Polar Bear
325 will work on a 60cc saw, most manufactures Dont recomend it
325 and 3/8 are not normally the same size cutter
sawtroll knows what he is talking about, other than that most of this info is BS LMAO some of you guys amaze me
Country1
ArboristSite Guru
I know on the Stihl website/bar and chain selctor, it only lists 3/8 for the 361.
I compared a loop of 3/8 RSC and a loop of .325 RSC this morning and the cutters look to be exactly the same width. The cutter was taller on the 3/8 and the straps were bigger. That looked to be the only difference....
mowoodchopper
Polar Bear
country, I dont have a prob with you wanting to try 325 on your saw. I does amaze me all the smoke people are blowing. If stihl rs is the same cutter on 325 and 3/8 it should work. It wont be as strong. I dont like 325 chain myself except on really small saws, in fact I like 3/8 on some 50cc saws. 3/8 is easier to sharpen by hand for me. Most 60 cc saws will come with 3/8 chain though. Also the cutters on oregon 325 are smaller than thier 3/8. Good luck
Country1
ArboristSite Guru
Oregon lists .325 chain and rims for the 360, but only 3/8 stuff for the 361 and 362... Guess that makes the decision for me and the new 362. I have to get it with 3/8...
Justsaws
Addicted to ArboristSite
Good luck.
Country1
ArboristSite Guru
Thanks Mowood. This whole chain pitch thing seems to have a lot of differing opinions and I appreciate your's as well as everyone Else's. Looks like it's settled and 3/8 it'll be thanks to Saw Troll.
SawTroll
Information Collector
The user manual list the .325x9 as well as 3/8x7 and 8.
It simply is impossible to make a .325x8 that fit the standard (some call it large) 7-spline, the drive tangs would interfer with the splines!
3/8x7 is possible only because the "pin" number is the same as the spline number.
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Justsaws
Addicted to ArboristSite
Go to the dealer and ask what he can get you.
Country1
ArboristSite Guru
JustSaws, we posted about the same time. You got me reconsidering and running the 9pin. It just sounds like a lot more trouble down the road though. Special chains, 9 pin .325 rims that won't be in stock ect.
It looks like it's only opinions on what pitch is better. So they must be close to the same or very greatly from different saw to different saw...
It's just been my experience that 3/8 seems to get pinched easier than .325. Maybe that's only because the saw with .325 is my 026 and it's cutting a lot slower and I can see the kerf closing up better than when I'm blasting through the cut with the 441 and 3/8.... So .325 on the 362 would solve my problem anyway. It's not really a problem anyway, just something I like better when running .325 chain, but I have to remember it's not just the chain, it's the whole saw...
It looks like it's only opinions on what pitch is better. So they must be close to the same or very greatly from different saw to different saw...
It's just been my experience that 3/8 seems to get pinched easier than .325. Maybe that's only because the saw with .325 is my 026 and it's cutting a lot slower and I can see the kerf closing up better than when I'm blasting through the cut with the 441 and 3/8.... So .325 on the 362 would solve my problem anyway. It's not really a problem anyway, just something I like better when running .325 chain, but I have to remember it's not just the chain, it's the whole saw...
Country1
ArboristSite Guru
Good info Troll. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks.
The 361 and 362 have been designed by Stihl to run 3/8. You can make it run .325, but not easily like the 360 and older 60cc Stihls, so why do it?
Hopefully they changed to 3/8 as a better design and not a compatibility or cost savings move...
