Is 3/8 .063 masterlinks the same as 3/8 .050?

[brushwacker]

I have Stihl .050 masterlinks and need to connect some Stihl .063, so the ?.

 

[Homemade]

I do believe that stihl tie straps and presets will connect any gauge of chain. The chain on all gauges is the same from on the upper half. It’s only below the rivets the thickness changes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brushwacker]

I do believe that stihl tie straps and presets will connect any gauge of chain. The chain on all gauges is the same from on the upper half. It’s only below the rivets the thickness changes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was thinking Oregon -carlton had different tie straps for .063, but didn't remember if Stihl did.
Thanks

 

[Wonkydonkey]

The answer is there is a difference between 0.63 and 0.50

so no you can’t use them, there not interchangeable..

but you can use then across different manufacturers, ie when it’s 0.63 to 0.63 etc.

however if you push a tie strap out of a chain you can reuse them if your careful not to bend them and push them in the centre of each rivit abit each side at a time. Then spin them up carefully

 

[Nutball]

The answer is there is a difference between 0.63 and 0.50

What is the difference?

 

[Wonkydonkey]

What is the difference?

0.50 is 3\8 lopro and is narrower as well as the rivets being smaller in diameter than the std 3/8 0.63 ..the only thing they have in common is the pitch.

edit. The whole chassis is smaller on a 3/8 lopro 0.50 compared to std 3\8 0.63

 

[Wonkydonkey]

I can’t remember who it was on here, they pointed out if you run out of presets, just knock out another link by pushing carfully in the centre on each side, bit by bit untill it pops out then you can reuse it. You don’t want to use a bent one !!
When you spin the rivets they will be easy as there is a flared end where you pushed it out. That’s why I said go easy, cos it’s very easy to over do it. Unlike new presets.

anyway where’s @Philbert maybe he will remember the thread

 

[Nutball]

But not all .050 is low pro, so could the same tie straps work on standard size .063 & .050?

 

[Philbert]

I can’t remember who it was on here, they pointed out if you run out of presets, just knock out another link by pushing carfully in the centre on each side, bit by bit untill it pops out then you can reuse it. You don’t want to use a bent one !!

I will reuse some tie straps, but not presets. The rivet ends get messed up.

I do believe that stihl tie straps and presets will connect any gauge of chain. The chain on all gauges is the same from on the upper half. It’s only below the rivets the thickness changes.

Used to be something like that, but STIHL has introduced some newer chains, and I am not sure that applies to all STIHL chains.

But not all .050 is low pro, so could the same tie straps work on standard size .063 & .050?

Lots of variations. I have seen guys spin 3/9 low pro tie straps into full size 3/8 pitch chain, but it does not have the same strength. and is not a good idea.



Philbert

 

[heimannm]

3/9 low pro chain, now I need to stock another just to be sure I can cover anything that comes in the door...

Mark

 

[LoneOak]

As far as 3/8 stihl chain goes, there is only one pre set tie strap for .050 .058 .063 gauges.

 

[Wonkydonkey]

As far as 3/8 stihl chain goes, there is only one pre set tie strap for .050 .058 .063 gauges.

Ave You got the info to show this, or a link

 

[LoneOak]

Nope, unfortunately Stihl does not make that info public knowledge so you'll just have to take my word for it. I have put together hundreds of chains while working for a Stihl Dealership in S.W. Oregon, I remember only having one preset tie strap for each pitch of Stihl chain .325, 3/8, .404. regardless of gauge.

 

[Wonkydonkey]

Whilst they may fit. I’ve taken a pic of a stihl std 3/8 0.63 and a lopro 3/8 0.50. You can clearly see the difference in size. But I guess that’s why they call it lopro

however. I’ve got some stihl std 3/8 presets and some Carlton 3/8 0.50 A1ep and the presets are identical give or take 5 or 10 thou.

But not all .050 is low pro, so could the same tie straps work on standard size .063 & .050?

your right, and I was wrong ..

As far as 3/8 stihl chain goes, there is only one pre set tie strap for .050 .058 .063 gauges.

Same as above… your right and I was wrong

So I take it back with what I said. …go and eye them up,

I ve learnt something new to what I thought, I guess the eye can be deceiving.

thanks for getting me out of my chair and actually looking.

 

[Philbert]

As far as 3/8 stihl chain goes, there is only one pre set tie strap for .050 .058 .063 gauges.

Except ‘Picco’, which is 3/8 low profile.

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

I remember only having one preset tie strap for each pitch of Stihl chain .325, 3/8, .404. regardless of gauge.

STIHL has also introduced new chains, such as .325 narrow kerf.

Philbert

 

[Homemade]

Ave You got the info to show this, or a link

3610 660 6000 Picco mini
3997 660 6020 Picco
3629 660 6020 .325
3824 660 6020 3/8"
3812 660 6020 .404"

Stihl part numbers. I believe they sell in 9 or 25 count packs. It comes with a new tie strap and preset. And the rivet thickness on Stihl chain it too fat for Oregon drivers. So Stihl parts for Stihl chain and Oregon parts for everyone else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brushwacker]

I had 2 packages of Stihl 3/8, different part numbers and the difference is 1 is a bit shorter so it appears the side straps wouldn't touch the bar rails being elevated by the taller chain straps, otherwise the rivets were spaced the same and the same size. I bought those on ebay and am now guessing the were for some stihl chain of yesteryear. Only had 3 the correct Stihl masterlinks and needed 6 to lengthen 24 inch chains to 28 with pieces of leftover ends. 1 chain the master link rivet wasn't spun down very flat so i carefully punched it out and reused it, had plenty of rivet to form an almost perfect mushroom for its 2nd go round. Still needed 2 rivets and I dug into a little old parts bin I bought at an auction that had what looked like very old chainsaw links in it and 1st drawer had what looked like 2 3/8 masterlink packages. Turned out they were stamped Oregon and surprisingly fit the newer Stihl chain near perfect. In almost 4 decades of chain maintnence I don't remember ever interchanging Oregon and Stihl masterlinks, like posted earlier stihl rivet holes are normally larger.

 

[Philbert]

My STIHL dealer (fourth generation) has an old school, thick book, with part numbers for all kinds of chain parts. The part numbers sometimes change over time too!.

There are many different variations, if you include low kickback tie strips, and some of the low vibration tie straps, which were different for left hand and right hand cutters. Along with discontinued chains, etc.

If you just want them to fit, and not necessarily match exactly, it is a bit easier. But I found out that it’s actually a lot more affordable to buy the correct ones from my STIHL dealer in small packages, rather than ‘onesie-twosie’.

I try to keep a small supply of the ones that I use, so that I have them when needed.

Again, this is much easier if you only use one or two different styles or sizes of chain, instead of working on chains for other folks.

Philbert