421 mods

[Simondo]

Yes the rim sprocket was modified. Not by myself. If I remember correctly @fordf150 had some made to sell. I don't know if that is something he still has or not.

Yea..he mentioned about the sprocket being modded...It was just to see if you had come up with something else or a different way of modding things. Might get one and have a play about in the shop to see for myself .
These are on the way for evaluation......

 

[ajschainsaws]

View attachment 84246 View attachment 84247
Yea..he mentioned about the sprocket being modded...It was just to see if you had come up with something else or a different way of modding things. Might get one and have a play about in the shop to see for myself .
These are on the way for evaluation......

That Dolmar 3/8 lo-pro spur sprocket for the ps-350 seems right gearing on the 420 it's the right gearing for pruning and it keeps the torque for the bigger timber you need to cut

 

[Simondo]

That Dolmar 3/8 lo-pro spur sprocket for the ps-350 seems right gearing on the 420 it's the right gearing for pruning and it keeps the torque for the bigger timber you need to cut

Iv got the 3/8 lp-6 spur on the saw , seems fine even though it seems a tinny bit smaller than the .325 -7 sprocket size. I did try the 420 on a 8 pin .325 ...it was ok and just a little more care needed if cutting over 6 in .

 

[ajschainsaws]

Yes good point about the 8-pin , have you noticed this summer there ain't been many 42 specials on ebay there's on at the moment but nothing special

 

[Simondo]

Yes good point about the 8-pin , have you noticed this summer there ain't been many 42 specials on ebay there's on at the moment but nothing special

Yup..Thin on the ground , just like the parts are getting . Down to just the one 42 sp now but i tend to use the 420 with its spring AV mostly . I suspect the 42 sp will stay in lay up even more when i try the LP and Sugi combo on the 420 !

 

[CoreyB]

Can't wait to hear your feedback

 

[Simondo]

Can't wait to hear your feedback

Ok then...
I started off with the standard set up on the ps-420 in UK..15" .050 .325 semi.
I then went onto try 14" 3/8 lp .050 with VXL on a (in disguise Double Guard 91) bar and then finished with a Sugi 14" lp .050 3/8 stihl full chisel set up.



Overall the saving on weight from the 15'" .325 down to the 14" 3/8 lp Sugi was only 4 0z bringing the saw in at 12lb 6oz with a drop of oil in the tank.
The cutting performance on both the 3/8 set ups was just to close for me to call as this was not done against a clock . I think the Sugi will outlast the cheeper Oregon (no shock there as its cheeper ! ) and i like the fuller tip on the Sugi (it uses 53 dl not the standard 52 dl) rather than the low kick back one on the Oregon.
The low pro 6 pin sprocket and less tooth count "in a given distance" will give it a slightly lower gearing so you do feel able to lean on the saw in bigger wood if you want.
I can not say the cut width was very different between any of them ..there are all .050 so any changes would need to be in cutter width. Noodling .. .325 .."possibly" had the edge but so hard be sure.
Fastest cut ......The .325 for me had the slight edge due to its slight higher gearing and more teeth in contact, even being semi chisel .
My feeling is there is little in it on..." this "...cutting test to say one is better over another on speed alone.
This wasn't really what i was fixed on to be honest ...A bit lighter and shorter bar set up is one reason i thought i would try out LP systems , the other is having a 15" bar and .325 .050 Sugi set up would cause conflict !!
Got that on the 5105 and having the same on the 420 ...well you get the picture
Ps-420 on the 3/8 lp .050 sugi 14" will do me very well for now on the small wood/ hedge and pruning work that is all about having the saw in the hand ..a lot!

 

[Johnmn]

@Simondo I like that bar! Where did you get it? I did an out of the box chain test this morning ( wish I could post the vids)
16 inch .325 .050 Oregon full chisel and
16 inch 3/8 lp .050 Stihl PS chain
16 inch Aspen
.325 - 23 seconds
3/8 lp - 15 seconds
These are without stopwatch just watching my phone counter

 

[Simondo]

@Simondo I like that bar! Where did you get it? I did an out of the box chain test this morning ( wish I could post the vids)
16 inch .325 .050 Oregon full chisel and
16 inch 3/8 lp .050 Stihl PS chain
16 inch Aspen
.325 - 23 seconds
3/8 lp - 15 seconds
These are without stopwatch just watching my phone counter

John. I get the Sugi bars though @ajschainsaws here in the UK. There a good balance between cost and quality in the range .

 

[Johnmn]

John. I get the Sugi bars though @ajschainsaws here in the UK. There a good balance between cost and quality in the range .

The sugi looks a lot more stout than the Oregon I like that! That's one thing about the 3/8 lp is most of the bars seem wimpy compard to .325

 

[Simondo]

The sugi looks a lot more stout than the Oregon I like that! That's one thing about the 3/8 lp is most of the bars seem wimpy compard to .325

Sugihara use hi grade steels in there bars anyway so they tend to be fairly stiff . That narrow tip on the Oregon bar is really there for the occasional user market with kickback link protection chains.
Have to say that its not that bad when you put it on the 420..Dolmars own 3/8 lp 14" bar is actually the same pattern. Going Lo Pro in my mind on the 420 was to make the saw as light as posable with a short bar firstly and that had a small top to bottom profile so plunge cutting smaller diameter timber behind the hinge and leaving some holding wood was easy. The Oregon bar actually would be better for that as it turns out due to its smaller hight, its lighter than the Sugi by a tinny bit as well.
There is not all that much in it as I put above..there are slim pros and cons in all the set ups ...pays your money and takes your choice i guess .

 

[CoreyB]

Ya I run both on my 421 and just keep going back and forth. Right now I am still using the l.p.. I also like the narrower bar for bore cutting. I have had best results with the stihl ps chain for that.

 

[Simondo]

Ya I run both on my 421 and just keep going back and forth. Right now I am still using the l.p.. I also like the narrower bar for bore cutting. I have had best results with the stihl ps chain for that.

You find the Stihl PS holds a edge for a decent time ? I always used Full chisel on all my saws but after putting the .325 .050 on the 5105 and trying Oregon BPX i was so impressed overall im thinking VXL Lo pro for a all rounder.

 

[pro94lt]

Since this is a modding thread, I also modded the operator presence lever. On mine you had to squeeze it almost flush with the handle and if your hand was towards the rear of the handle you couldn't push the throttle. Just trimmed a little plastic and now the throttle can be pushed with the operator presence lever pushed about 85 or 90%...

 

[Simondo]

Since this is a modding thread, I also modded the operator presence lever. On mine you had to squeeze it almost flush with the handle and if your hand was towards the rear of the handle you couldn't push the throttle. Just trimmed a little plastic and now the throttle can be pushed with the operator presence lever pushed about 85 or 90%...

Just had a check on a new one....more or less needs to be flush to allow the trigger to move . 5105 is about half way but it hinges from the back and is longer , so more forgiving.
Ps..notice how all the linkage stays put when you take off the black top.?

 

[CoreyB]

Since this is a modding thread, I also modded the operator presence lever. On mine you had to squeeze it almost flush with the handle and if your hand was towards the rear of the handle you couldn't push the throttle. Just trimmed a little plastic and now the throttle can be pushed with the operator presence lever pushed about 85 or 90%...

Mine was the same and I dis the same thing. I wish there was a way to make the throttle feel better. I don't like the feel of that push rod set up.

 

[ajschainsaws]

There's a fox appeared in the Hen House

 

[Simondo]

There's a fox appeared in the Hen House

Is that the same combination as my 420 Andrew ?

 

[ajschainsaws]

No it's shorter 47DL I shall be climbing about hedges this week cutting out bigger overgrown wood and leaving small whippy wood for the tractor and flail

 

[Simondo]

No it's shorter 47DL I shall be climbing about hedges this week cutting out bigger overgrown wood and leaving small hippy wood for the tractor and flail

That shows up how small that saw is as I would never have said its a 12" bar !