Best 16" bar, pitch,&chain combo for ported 550xp

[Farmchuck]

Hey guys. Looking for some input on best bar, chain & pitch combo for my mm ported 550xp. I'm cutting tri axle pole hardwood, mostly hard maple, cherry, oak, soft maple , ash, beech, black birch etc. Nothing much bigger than telephone pole diameter. The saw came with a 16" .325 nk 66dl bar. I've gone through 3 loops of 95 vp chain thus far with pretty good results, just wondering if anyone has experience with this saw with other combinations.

 

[Tpagel]

I have the same combo on a ported 545 and I really like it as well.
I could run an 18" or 20" on it but I like the NK 16".
I had my 18 on it I just like this 16 better



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[Farmchuck]

They're a great saw. Don't really think there's much difference after a port job. Was think about trying some stihl rs chain. Don't have any experience with it though. Think I'd have to get a non nk bar. Husqvarna is supposed to be coming out with some new Swedish made chain, but I don't know how long before it's available in the states.

 

[jakethesnake]

Rs is ok on a 346 325 standard It's grabby as piss out of the box though Holds an edge pretty long my 346 is ported so I figure it's similar to 550 I like 18 bar on mine just for that little bit of extra reach It will pull 18 fairly aggressively so a 550 should also

 

[jakethesnake]

18 stihl rs. Obviously different saws but performance you should have an edge with the auto tune I would guess stihl chain is a tad rough out of the box however I've yet to file it at all and it's cut a fair amount of pickup loads of wood Still very sharp Good chain not much bad to say about it I think it's overpriced I typically run oregon and carlton with carlton being my fav

 

[psuiewalsh]

I run 16" 3/8 on mine. I have 18" .325 but like the 3/8 since it seems to hold up longer to me.

 

[Wolverine]

3/8 either Stihl RS or Oregon LGX for me, on both ported 346(18")&357(20"). Keeps it easy when they all run the same chain. I do have a nice RSN 16" for them but it only wears funky square filed play stuff.
I did some playing around with the .325 3/8 choice. Stock tree46 w/ just a muff mod.

Smaller wood.

3/8 is faster, .325 a good bit smoother so pick your priority. After I got the 346 ported, it pulls 3/8 18" with authority. The only saw we have now w/ .325 is my sons Jonny 2150.

 

[jake wells]

try a loop of stihl 23rs great chain as is though it can be a little grabby out of the box.

 

[Magnumitis]

16" 72lgx 3/8 .050 60dl is my pick for a ported 346. Buy two loops, convert one to square.

 

[Joe Kidd]

I'm solidly in the .325 club for 50cc saws. I run LPX on both, Sugi LW on the 550, and Stihl bar on the 261. Both 16".

 

[Joe Kidd]

They're a great saw. Don't really think there's much difference after a port job. Was think about trying some stihl rs chain. Don't have any experience with it though. Think I'd have to get a non nk bar. Husqvarna is supposed to be coming out with some new Swedish made chain, but I don't know how long before it's available in the states.

The 23RS on the 550xp drags bad on the nk bar. It's about .020" wider than the LPX at the rivets.

 

[Farmchuck]

The 23RS on the 550xp drags bad on the nk bar. It's about .020" wider than the LPX at the rivets.

Is that the 20 series Oregon chain? Unrelated but are any of those 3 saws ported?

 

[Joe Kidd]

Yep, 20LPX. Moobs has my 261c-m now. The others are stock w/MM.

 

[Farmchuck]

Yep, 20LPX. Moobs has my 261c-m now. The others are stock w/MM.

 

[concretegrazer]

The 23RS on the 550xp drags bad on the nk bar. It's about .020" wider than the LPX at the rivets.

How does it drag?

 

[Farmchuck]

Yeah my 550 is Randini ported. I've been considering a 562 & tweeking it as well. I have a 660 I'm thinking about parting with. Just to big & heavy for the stuff I cut. You happy with your 562? Big power diff. betwwen that & your 550?

 

[Joe Kidd]

I don't use the 562 much. It's a little more saw, but more weight too. The 50cc's do most of the cutting I do.

 

[Joe Kidd]

How does it drag?

The rivets scrubbed the plate at the bar studs. At the time I went to a Oregon pro-lite bar to run the 23rs. With the thicker bar it ran fine.

 

[concretegrazer]

The rivets scrubbed the plate at the bar studs. At the time I went to a Oregon pro-lite bar to run the 23rs. With the thicker bar it ran fine.

Ahhh. I'm with you now.

 

[redoakneck]

.325 stihl RS, I use the .050 gauge.

8 pin rim if it is all under 12".

Smooth and fast.

I'm another believer in .325 for 50cc saw.

3/8 may be more convenient to keep same chain on all, but the .325 is going to be a little smoother.

Everyone is different, run both and see what you like!!!