"What the heck does bar size tell you about a saw ?"
Didn't your wife ever tell you that bigger is BETTER? Cripe, I hope that's not true because I'd be in trouble!
Seriously, I see folks trying to run WAY too much bar on saws on the time. Even some of the "professional" models that are talked about here in many threads. I see folks talking about running 24" and 28" bars on 60cc saws all the time.
We have several high rpm/high powered 60cc saws. The 268XP is a BEAST, but still best suited to no more than a 20" bar. Sure, it would easly "pull" 28", but it is only OK with it. I'd rather have it be an OUTSTANDING saw with a 20" bar. Same thing with the 262XP, it will easily manage a 24" bar, but is a MONSTER with an 18" bar.
Think of it like this, one on my friends who helps us out on occassion has a 372XP with a 24" bar. We've found ourselves (someone on purpose) cutting on the same log at different ends on more than one occassion.
There isn't an ounce of difference in cutting speed between the 372XP and my 268XPS. I usually get thru quicker than him because I am WAY better at sharpening chains and always keep them in perfect working order.
If I were to install a 24" bar on my 268XPS, he would get thru a 20" log about 5-7 seconds before I would, simply because the 268 is pretty much maxxed out with the longer bar, and it's pretty easy to lug it hard enough that the engine falls out of the good power range. With the shorter bar you can bare down pretty hard and it will just rip right through it.......Cliff
