Chain Life and Ported Saws

[Loony661]

The question nobody is asking: are ported saws harder on chains, specifically cutter life?

As we already know, chains are not created equal. Different brands source different alloys to manufacture with. That being said, cutters are subject to a wide variety of cutting conditions. So everyone’s results vary greatly, even with the same chain.

I’ve been pondering in my head that chain life is probably reduced when ported saws are powering them, on the larger end of the saw cc’s scale. For this question, let’s focus on 70cc’s and above.

Ported saws are typically pulling harder and maintaining higher rpm’s in the cut. This is obviously forcing the chain through the wood faster, and more aggressively than it would otherwise. Faster equaling more heat and friction. Heat being the enemy of just about everything on this planet when it comes to wear associated with use.

Maybe a ported saw doesn’t affect it enough to matter, maybe it does..

Thoughts? Questions? Have at it - let’s see what everyone thinks..

 

[old saw fixer]

Watching this thread

 

[Squareground3691]

I think speed and friction, are factors equivalent to break down of a chain cutting edge, and heat is large factor in the demise of metal molecule stability and or failure.

 

[Wilhelm]

Ported saws usually run at higher in cut rpm, this will cause faster chain deterioration - just physics.

Cutters dull faster due to higher abrasion.
Drive links wear out sideways due to friction against the bars rails, on their heels due to more HP pulling/pushing.
Tie straps may show higher wear at the contact surfaces to bar & drive sprocket.
Higher chain stretch due to higher chain speed and PH power.

I dislike utilizing my ported saws on job sites other than at home.
Firstly, because I don't want to wear them out unnecessarily.
Secondly, they dull chains quicker than stock saws.

 

[Woodwackr]

Ported saws usually run at higher in cut rpm, this will cause faster chain deterioration - just physics.

Cutters dull faster due to higher abrasion.
Drive links wear out sideways due to friction against the bars rails, on their heels due to more HP pulling/pushing.
Tie straps may show higher wear at the contact surfaces to bar & drive sprocket.
Higher chain stretch due to higher chain speed and PH power.

I dislike utilizing my ported saws on job sites other than at home.
Firstly, because I don't want to wear them out unnecessarily.
Secondly, they dull chains quicker than stock saws.

But you get done sooner and ported saws are just more fun.

 

[Wilhelm]

But you get done sooner and ported saws are just more fun.

I did write "I dislike ..." , does not mean I don't!

I often bring them along to run a tank full of fuel through them.
But also to see the perplexed facial expressions of people who don't know me & my saws when they hear the ear drums puncturing sound they make and jaw dropping cutting speeds they can showcase.

For me, the "faster cutting" of a ported chainsaw over a stock one is negligible.
Their volatile behaviour counteracts & nullifies the cutting speed gains over a stock saw as they feel much more tiresome to handle & run.
But, that is just me!

 

[HumBurner]

Probably, maybe....?

But in theory, the same thing would apply to running a 16" bar on a 40cc compared to a 70cc, or a 20" on a 60cc compared to a 90cc.

So how much more quickly would they wear out is the question. That answer, and which parts of the chain wear out first will depend on cutting-style/handling, wood being cut and under what conditions, sharpness/depths, bar maintenance, etc....

 

[Loony661]

Probably, maybe....?

But in theory, the same thing would apply to running a 16" bar on a 40cc compared to a 70cc, or a 20" on a 60cc compared to a 90cc.

So how much more quickly would they wear out is the question. That answer, and which parts of the chain wear out first will depend on cutting-style/handling, wood being cut and under what conditions, sharpness/depths, bar maintenance, etc....

You’re not wrong - a shorter chain has less cutters, so each cutter will see more wood than a longer chain in the same size log.

 

[Motorka]

3/8 can be replaced with ,404 if you afraid

 

[Loony661]

3/8 can be replaced with ,404 if you afraid

I use .404 on my bucking saw, but not my felling saws. .404 definitely outlives 3/8.

 

[HumBurner]

3/8 can be replaced with ,404 if you afraid

I was thinking how nice .404 would be on this nifty little ported 550.....

 

[farminkarman]

I was thinking how nice .404 would be on this nifty little ported 550.....

 

[HumBurner]

Ha, I don't even think that setup could be arranged. I can let it live in my fantasies.

Edit: .404 would be awesome on a stock 024/026 or 543 for brush-work.

 

[Woodwackr]

I did write "I dislike ..." , does not mean I don't!

I often bring them along to run a tank full of fuel through them.
But also to see the perplexed facial expressions of people who don't know me & my saws when they hear the ear drums puncturing sound they make and jaw dropping cutting speeds they can showcase.

For me, the "faster cutting" of a ported chainsaw over a stock one is negligible.
Their volatile behaviour counteracts & nullifies the cutting speed gains over a stock saw as they feel much more tiresome to handle & run.
But, that is just me!

I’ve scared city workers with mine, lol

 

[IffykidMn]

I can only recall breaking a cutter off a chain once or twice could not say for sure if the saw was stock or ported.

Speed and friction both increase heat but part of the equation is also duration in the cut.

Dull chain creates more heat and friction and takes longer in the cut increasing duration.

Sharp chains create less friction cut faster decreasing duration in the cut.

Run sharp chains.

I wonder what the torque/HP specs are on a processor compared to a chainsaw running the same chain?
Is the 404 chain used on a processor the same 404 chain used on a chainsaw?

 

[IffykidMn]

I can only recall breaking a cutter off a chain once or twice could not say for sure if the saw was stock or ported.

Speed and friction both increase heat but part of the equation is also duration in the cut.

Dull chain creates more heat and friction and takes longer in the cut increasing duration.

Sharp chains create less friction cut faster decreasing duration in the cut.

Run sharp chains.

I wonder what the torque/HP specs are on a processor compared to a chainsaw running the same chain?
Is the 404 chain used on a processor the same 404 chain used on a chainsaw?

Follow up question is for the OP
OP was made at 9:44 a.m. why are you not out enjoying the nice cool weather working instead of pondering chain life?

Will Th-Fri's heat wave have you yearning for cooler temps?

 

[Loony661]

I can only recall breaking a cutter off a chain once or twice could not say for sure if the saw was stock or ported.

Speed and friction both increase heat but part of the equation is also duration in the cut.

Dull chain creates more heat and friction and takes longer in the cut increasing duration.

Sharp chains create less friction cut faster decreasing duration in the cut.

Run sharp chains.

I wonder what the torque/HP specs are on a processor compared to a chainsaw running the same chain?
Is the 404 chain used on a processor the same 404 chain used on a chainsaw?

Processor .404 is usually.080 gauge, as compared to .404 .063 that most chainsaws use.

 

[Loony661]

Follow up question is for the OP
OP was made at 9:44 a.m. why are you not out enjoying the nice cool weather working instead of pondering chain life?

Good catch Jim! Last couple of days I’ve been waiting for the landowner to move/remove fencing around the pasture I’m logging. So I had a couple late starts, and I’m OK with that

 

[Motorka]

I was thinking how nice .404 would be on this nifty little ported 550.....

focus on 70cc’s and above.

The question nobody is asking: are ported saws harder on chains, specifically cutter life?

As we already know, chains are not created equal. Different brands source different alloys to manufacture with. That being said, cutters are subject to a wide variety of cutting conditions. So everyone’s results vary greatly, even with the same chain.

I’ve been pondering in my head that chain life is probably reduced when ported saws are powering them, on the larger end of the saw cc’s scale. For this question, let’s focus on 70cc’s and above.

Ported saws are typically pulling harder and maintaining higher rpm’s in the cut. This is obviously forcing the chain through the wood faster, and more aggressively than it would otherwise. Faster equaling more heat and friction. Heat being the enemy of just about everything on this planet when it comes to wear associated with use.

Maybe a ported saw doesn’t affect it enough to matter, maybe it does..

Thoughts? Questions? Have at it - let’s see what everyone thinks..

 

[IffykidMn]

Processor .404 is usually.080 gauge, as compared to .404 .063 that most chainsaws use.

So heavier driver gauge, wonder if they use the same side links and cutters.