Fun with an 18” bar.

[av8or3]

I ran three saws yesterday waiting on the turkey to cook. All three with the same 18” bar, mostly because I’m lazy and I just wanted to blow the cobwebs out of them. They all haven’t been used in a while. Started with the 034, my first saw and I had to tweak the H screw just a little. Next was my 044. I used to think it was unstoppable w/a 20” bar, it’s even more so with an 18”. Next was the beaut pictured below. I pushed this as hard and fast as I could and it never stalled. I could slow it down but not come close to stopping it. What a hoot. After I clear this 046 before putting it up I’ll strap an 066 to this 18” bar and see what happens.
this is a real early 046 with the “D” shaped combustion chamber and the factory dual port muffler.

 

[av8or3]

Oh 66 w/18” bar.

 

[deye223]

Oh 66 w/18” bar.
View attachment 269218

It wont be as quick as the oh46

 

[Wood Doctor]

Interesting in several respects. Here's the opposite side of the coin. I sold a Stihl 026 PRO today with the recommended 16" bar with .325" pitch chain and let the buyer use it to cut Siberian elm. He liked the power the engine was delivering and asked whether he should buy an 18" bar for it. I have one, but... now what should I do or say to him?

 

[av8or3]

Everybody who’s ever bought an 026 with a 16” bar wants an 18” after they’ve run it. At least I’ll bet they thought about it. The saw will pull it just fine, even with 3/8 pitch RS chain. Sell him the longer set up explaining that he could notice a slight reduction in “ perceived “ power. But I bet he won’t.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Everybody who’s ever bought an 026 with a 16” bar wants an 18” after they’ve run it. At least I’ll bet they thought about it. The saw will pull it just fine, even with 3/8 pitch RS chain. Sell him the longer set up explaining that he could notice a slight reduction in “perceived “ power. But I bet he won’t.

That is a great answer, no doubt about it. I have the 18" bar and chain on board, only because I decided that the best way was to buy a more powerful saw that could pull it comfortably. The 028 Wood Boss filled the bill and I still have one. Then Stihl discontinued the 028 Wood Boss.

I will offer him the longer bar and two new chains to go along and give him a wholesale price. Around here we have rather large hardwood trees and several demand a longer bar, especially when felling. This guy has really good physical strength. It would have been easy for him to do what I did -- buy a bigger saw with a 20" bar.

 

[av8or3]

It wont be as quick as the oh46

You know, I was surprised that I could stop the 066 in Beech. Even using the 18” bar. It has to be because of the 8 pin sprocket on the 066. Incredible chain speed but less torque. You were right. I may have to switch to a 7 pin.