Let's talk race chain

[Willard]

Wow. Those 2 poor horses gotta pull that sled?? [emoji15]

Yep and they skidded and help load the logs on the sleigh too. Easy pulling on iced tracks, braking was done down hills with the sand man sanding the tracks where needed.

 

[Wilhelm]

I've not heard of an end all brand preference. I like these.
View attachment 166612

Although I think someone already asked me to check with my Stihl dealer about these, what is the part number on those files?

Maybe there are are some left in Europe.
There are a few of us located here, maybe one of us gets lucky and finds an NOS stash.

Just trying to help.
I am not doing the square filing Voodoo myself (yet).

 

[Deets066]

Although I think someone already asked me to check with my Stihl dealer about these, what is the part number on those files?

Maybe there are are some left in Europe.
There are a few of us located here, maybe one of us gets lucky and finds an NOS stash.

Just trying to help.
I am not doing the square filing Voodoo myself (yet).

You just keep me in mind when you find that stash. Lol

 

[Time's Standing Stihl]

You just keep me in mind when you find that stash. Lol

X2 and x3

 

[Hedgerow]

X2 and x3

Ahem...

X4

 

[concretegrazer]

Although I think someone already asked me to check with my Stihl dealer about these, what is the part number on those files?

Maybe there are are some left in Europe.
There are a few of us located here, maybe one of us gets lucky and finds an NOS stash.

Just trying to help.
I am not doing the square filing Voodoo myself (yet).

That's a box of Brazil made. Maybe it'll help.

 

[Wilhelm]

View attachment 167140

That's a box of Brazil made. Maybe it'll help.

Thank You!
I wrote the number on a paper and placed it in my wallet.

If I find any I'll let You guys know.

 

[Armbru84]

Messing around with a chain today. Amazing how bad the chassis looks when zoomed in.

 

[Willard]

This is my last dozen Windsor files I bought off of Sam Madsen in 1986, same year Sandvik sued Windsor over a bar nose patent and took over the company making it Sandvik/Windsor.
These are the last of the original Windsors, has Dec.21 1984 stamped on the bottom of the box.

Teeth rows on the corners are perfectly straight which shows they're high quality files.
Triangle shape give the best clearance avoiding cutting into links when you want those aggressive angles.

 

[Willard]

In all fair warning to build a serious race chain you need the right chain.
Today's Oregon AntiVibe and Stihl's Comfort chain with their built in shock absorber cutters don't cut like the older RS, LP/LG chains. If they did Stihl would have made their .404 High Tooth Timbersports specialty chain a Comfort configuration too.

Look close in the pics where the heels of the anti vibe chain's cutters and side links have less material below the rear rivet at the heel then there is under the front rivet at the toe.
Yes the presets and side straps are left and right handed.
In the first pic of member 166's EXL chain you can see the gap at the rear of the cutters and links between the bar rails, this is the "shock absorber" feature when the cutter tips back when starting into a chip.


This is a 72LGX cutter with same AntiVibe configuration with a 1 barbed arrow trademark on the cutter.


This is a 73 LP from the early 1990's without the AntiVibe.


And last a Stihl .404 Timbersports High Tooth competition chain without the Comfort .

 

[Willard]

One more pic to show the latest Stihl .404 High Tooth chain with the latest drive link design is still non anti vibe .

 

[Hedgerow]

Looks like if you made that EXL too hungry, it could load up with debris pretty quick..

But probably just fine if run close to factory specs.

 

[Willard]

Here's one more, I just keep on giving
This old Stihl 35RM without the "C" on the cutter really shows its evenly matched heel and toe.

 

[Willard]

Looks like if you made that EXL too hungry, it could load up with debris pretty quick..

But probably just fine if run close to factory specs.

Actually that's not my chain, I found the pic on the EXL thread page 1. Member 166 posted it.

 

[Deets066]

This is a 73 LP from the early 1990's without the AntiVibe.
View attachment 167382

 

[RI Chevy]

I got a Oregon 76LP 3/8 chain. Not sure what I'mma gonna do with it yet.

 

[Willard]

I got a Oregon 76LP 3/8 chain. Not sure what I'mma gonna do with it yet.

Put some full sized 72/73/75 LP cutters on that 76 chassis like Deets066 did above. Like this .
Except I need more spare presets and replace the rest of the 76 cutters.
3/8 High Tooth chain

 

[Willard]

View attachment 167426

Nice job Deets, I see by looking at those rivet heads on the cutter by your thumb you were able to re use the 76 preset(or did you find new presets?). I've reused presets many times on my race chain in the past. Just use the smaller .250-.325 spinner anvil to make a neat head.
I got a bunch of brand new 20" loops of Oregon 76LG and some really nice Stihl 33TS chain that I'm hoarding.

 

[Deets066]

There’s an art to it, more than just slapping the cutters on there. I’ve found out the hard way

 

[RI Chevy]

I have a loop of that 76LP. If someone wants it, I will be willing to trade for a loop of 3/8 EXL.