Tim Carroll
Firewood Hack
PB I think you jumped on me without fully reading my previous post.
Read my post again! I said 50cc saws,not all saws. Obviously small saws under 45cc normally run better with low pro 3/8 or .325. I still don't want a 50cc saw that can't handle 3/8 chain as it makes my pecker look bigger. Yes that's the only reason I run 3/8 chain, nothing to do with how 3/8 cuts or the fact I have a lot of 3/8 chain.
I think that it is fairly well established here that in most instances the 3/8 chain is faster on the 5100. It makes perfect sense that Andy would want to run it on 50cc saws that can pull it. I have always run .325 on mine mostly because that is the way it came set up from the dealer. For most people I think it is a matter of personal preference. I think the point the old Dolmar dealer that I talked to was trying to make is that the 3/8 chain will put more load on the saws components and could lead to a bearing failure faster than if you run the .325. Who knows if that is true or not but that was his therory if the saw was being used in a daily operation. I can see the logic behind it but I can not say that it is true.