Husky 353-changing pitch to 3/8"

[Littman]

I've been lurking on this site for about a year now and found some great tips and information. I am a home owner with a small piece of land. I have been the same smaller Homelite 16" chain saw since about 1976 without any major problems. I usually cut about 10 cords of wood a year and I fall 4-5 < 12 inch in diameter hardwood trees. Last year I wanted to get a little bigger saw and thats when I started browsing this website. I finally settled on a Husqvarna 353 with a 18" bar. I have to tell you it was an eye opening experience. This saw is a lot better and it has a chain brake.

I was wondering if it is possible to change the pitch from 0.325 to 3/8"? I would assume that I would just need to change the bar, sprocket and chain. I am considering this because there seems to be a larger chain/bar selection for 3/8".

My second question is "would I want to do this?" Is the 353 large enough to pull a 3/8" chain with a 18" bar? Thanks for your input. AND Hej till alla Skandinaver.

 

[chiseltooth]

make sure the bar and chain match. it shud be happy enough with your intended setup.

 

[computeruser]

In hardwoods I'd stick with .325". No real benefit to 3/8", and there are just as many replaceable-tip bars that can be had in .325" as 3/8" - just swap tips. For non-replaceable tip bars, Oregon ProLite laminated bars are a good choice on this saw, and are available in .325"

On that saw, Oregon Super 20 (20/21/22LP, depending on gauge) is probably a chain to look at in .325". I found that it cuts very fast, probably faster than Stihl RS. Hand sharpening is a breeze, too, which makes touch-ups more frequent and more pleasant.

 

[blis]

IMO i see no reason to convert 353 to 3/8 since it works best with .325 and no, i wouldnt run 18" bar with 3/8 on 353....

I run mine with 13" bar, .325 chain and 8 tooth sprocket and it works nicely (yadda yadda, no whine 'bout tiny bar please :biggrinbounce2: )

 

[SawTroll]

In hardwoods I'd stick with .325". No real benefit to 3/8", and there are just as many replaceable-tip bars that can be had in .325" as 3/8" - just swap tips. For non-replaceable tip bars, Oregon ProLite laminated bars are a good choice on this saw, and are available in .325"

On that saw, Oregon Super 20 (20/21/22LP, depending on gauge) is probably a chain to look at in .325". I found that it cuts very fast, probably faster than Stihl RS. Hand sharpening is a breeze, too, which makes touch-ups more frequent and more pleasant.

I agree on staying with .325 (and 7-pin), but the test results I have collected from some members here indicates the it is even faster with a 95VP (.325 NK) setup - it is standard here, and I've sticked to that so far, and have no complaints (birch is my primary wood) - but admittedly haven't tried anything else myself.

A shorter bar would no doubt help also, a 15" is perfect......

 

[Littman]

computeruser-thanks for the bar tips

blis- this is America...everything gotta be bigger here
:greenchainsaw: :greenchainsaw:

 

[DGG]

I'd stick with what you have also. Not an appreciable difference. Just make sure the chain is sharp and it should work like a charm.

 

[trimmmed]

I was wondering if it is possible to change the pitch from 0.325 to 3/8"? I would assume that I would just need to change the bar, sprocket and chain. I am considering this because there seems to be a larger chain/bar selection for 3/8".

.

I believe it's a little more than just a sprocket change, can't remember what exactly, maybe the oil pump. At any rate, DDM got a 353 from Baileys not too long ago and Baileys would not send it out in 3/8". They would not blink at just a sprocket/bar swap so it's a little more involved.

 

[chiseltooth]

Now you only have to decide if you want full chisel or semi chisel chain.

 

[SawTroll]

..... blis- this is America...everything gotta be bigger here
:greenchainsaw: :greenchainsaw:

Sure, but longer bars allways result in less performance - get a larger saw if you really need an 18".........:chainsawguy:

 

[SawTroll]

I believe it's a little more than just a sprocket change, can't remember what exactly, maybe the oil pump. At any rate, DDM got a 353 from Baileys not too long ago and Baileys would not send it out in 3/8". They would not blink at just a sprocket/bar swap so it's a little more involved.

I suspect the real reason is that the saw just won't perform well with the larger sprocket = less effective torque.

Husky doesn't approve of a 3/8" on the 353.......

 

[Peacock]

Sure, but longer bars allways result in less performance - get a larger saw if you really need an 18".........:chainsawguy:

I gotta agree with that. My experience with a 361 and 20" bar left me disappointed. Not enough power to pull through tough wood like I want. I've got so used to the 441 in the last few months that anything less feels like a turd. That being said, I feel a 70cc saw is the biggest I'd want for a 20" bar. My 660 is only a match with that bar length and adds too much weight. It's great for the big trees though. I'm a firewood guy, so cutting fast with little weight rules.

 

[Austin1]

If you are going with 3/8ths Bayley's has still some solid sprocket tip bars on special in 15'' and 18'' but they are .058 gauge.I have seen 3/8ths on a 2152 same saw, with a 16'' bar it did okay but that is in softwood.

 

[SawTroll]

I gotta agree with that. My experience with a 361 and 20" bar left me disappointed. Not enough power to pull through tough wood like I want. I've got so used to the 441 in the last few months that anything less feels like a turd. That being said, I feel a 70cc saw is the biggest I'd want for a 20" bar. My 660 is only a match with that bar length and adds too much weight. It's great for the big trees though. I'm a firewood guy, so cutting fast with little weight rules.

I run my Euro MS361 with a 15" mostly, at a bit over 14k rpms WOT without load, and 18" for pure felling - 8 and 7 pin 3/8" respectively - I just love to limb with the 15"/ 8-pin - really fast job, with a really nimble saw (I am not smallish).......

The Husky 353 is about to be a "loaner" saw - as I don't use it much anymore, except for carving bird-cages etc......

 

[hanniedog]

Is it feasible or practical to convert a 346xp over to 3/8lp chain. Be thinking about getting one and have other saws that run 3/8lp chain. Would be nice to be able to use the chains I already have.

 

[SawTroll]

Is it feasible or practical to convert a 346xp over to 3/8lp chain. Be thinking about getting one and have other saws that run 3/8lp chain. Would be nice to be able to use the chains I already have.

Just forget it, the 346 (provided it is stock) is probably best off with the .325 NK set-up (if modded, probably Stihl .325 RS) - 3/8 lo-pro will not be able to take advantage of its power and rpms.

 

[NYH1]

The Husky 353 is about to be a "loaner" saw - as I don't use it much anymore, except for carving bird-cages etc......

I'll borrow it! :biggrinbounce2:

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

It takes a new bar, rim and sprocket and a few minutes of your time.


I pulled the plug, fed some rope in the hole, drive the rim off with a chisel and hammer and put it all back the way it came off.

$51 dollars worth of parts from Bailey's.

 

[peter399]

IMO i see no reason to convert 353 to 3/8 since it works best with .325 and no, i wouldnt run 18" bar with 3/8 on 353....

I run mine with 13" bar, .325 chain and 8 tooth sprocket and it works nicely (yadda yadda, no whine 'bout tiny bar please :biggrinbounce2: )

I agree with blis and Troll. Stay with 0.325 on the 353. 3/8 is for 60cc and more, that's what I think. Try changing that 18" to a 15" and you will see some serious chips fly It will save you maney too if you stay with 0.325 which is a good thing no?

 

[SawTroll]

I agree with blis and Troll. Stay with 0.325 on the 353. 3/8 is for 60cc and more, that's what I think. Try changing that 18" to a 15" and you will see some serious chips fly It will save you maney too if you stay with 0.325 which is a good thing no?

The Dolmar 5100S is a pretty special 50cc saw - it thinks it is close to a 60cc saw, and really likes a 3/8" chain - cuts like a champ with it......

It has a lot more power and rpms than the ol' 353 though.....:biggrinbounce2: