Best Bar length for the 550XP

[farmerdoug]

Anyone have a favorite bar length for this saw? Will be cutting Douglas fir mostly. This saw will be paired up with a ported 562xp with a 24" bar.

The 550xp will be running Stihl 26RS (Yellow .325 .063 Rapid) No safety ($305 for a $100 feet of this stuff)

Was seriously considering the T540XP, but too many say that top handle saws need to stay in the tree and ground work is an accident waiting to happen. Europe bans top handle saw to the general public. This must mean that they can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Rear handle saws are dangerous as well. You are less likely to do one handed cuts with a rear handle saw.

I don't plan on climbing trees.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I think the 550XP is best suited for a 16" bar. That seems to be the sweet spot for balance and handling IMHO.

 

[sunfish]

16" is best, but I like 18" .325 on a strong 50cc.

 

[lmbrman]

mine wears an 18" as it is used primarily for limbing. I tried 16" and my back did not like it.

 

[sunfish]

I use 50cc saws for general firewood, logging and thinning, no limbing. But I still like 18" for the little extra reach.

 

[Tnshaker]

I vote 16" stock...18" ported.....of course I don't like any stock saw much!

 

[farmerdoug]

Thank you everyone - I think I will go with 18"

 

[SawTroll]

I think the 550XP is best suited for a 16" bar. That seems to be the sweet spot for balance and handling IMHO.

16" will always be better, unless you really need a longer one.

 

[mesupra]

Oregon 16 micro lite, not the strongest but really light!!

 

[Ironworker]

I run an 18" on my ported 550 and a 16 on my 026 and kinda like the 16 on a 50cc saw better, but really not much of a difference.

 

[w8ye]

I have a 550XP and use a 16" X 3/8" X 60 DL X .050" Stihl RS.

I use this on all my 50cc saws

 

[wyk]

I ran an 18" 325 bar on an ms250 in Doug Fir without problems, mostly for limbing and bucking 12" or less. That 550 is twice the saw.

 

[SawTroll]

I ran an 18" 325 bar on an ms250 in Doug Fir without problems, mostly for limbing and bucking 12" or less. That 550 is twice the saw.

That 18" bar really is a 16" bar....

 

[wyk]

That 18" bar really is a 16" bar....

That's what SHE said.

 

[XSKIER]

That 18" bar really is a 16" bar....

Hey now, it does take one more DL than a 16" blade!

 

[SawTroll]

Provided the 3003 16" bar actually is 16" (it should at least be close)....

 

[mowoodchopper]

16-18

 

[groundup]

I go between 16 and 18 depending on the job. Either will work and obviously the smaller runs stronger.

 

[SawTroll]

Keep a 16" as your main bar, and keep a longer one as well, if you occationally need it. There is no good reason to stay with only one bar length.

 

[A.E. Metal Werx]

Run an 18" with 3/8 chain full time on my 550. Limbing, bucking, felling. The 550 is a remarkable saw!