STIHL Lightly used bar on brand new MS462?

[StGaston]

One of the local Stihl dealers (White Cap) is getting out of the chainsaw business, so all their Stihl inventory is being sold at a pretty good discount. I picked up an MS261 CM (20" bar) with a gallon of Stihl gas for $630 o.t.d. After (over) thinking things a bit, I decided it might be a good idea to grab a 462 if they had one and the discount was "good enough." They have a 462 CM for $1080 plus sales tax, but it has a 25" bar on it. I'd kind of rather have a 20" bar on it, so I'm thinking about putting the 261's bar and chain on the 462? I can grab a Rollomatic E Standard 18" bar and 26RS 74 (discontinued?) chain ($51 plus tax for both) to put on the 261.

Would the E Rollomatic/26RS 74 be good on the 261? Stihl recommends the 26RM3 74. Is kickback on the RS chain really all that bad? Most of my cutting with the 261 will be elm and black locust, 2-8" in diameter.

 

[hacskaroly]

Stihl recommends the 26RM3 74

Welcome to the forum!!

Stihl recommends their green chain for everything, its a CYA issue. Kickback is a reality, but if you understand it and what situations exacerbate it, then you should not have any issue using either the green or yellow chain. Both will cut your leg off and both will cut through wood. As to specifics, that is where you start getting a lot of different opinions about what is best/most efficient/fastest/trash. If you can get a chain of both, give them a try, see what you like or don't like about them (you may not be able to tell the difference). The green chain is not "anti-kickback" but "reduced kickback potential", so please don't get lulled into thinking it is a "safety chain".

In my opinion, I would not put the .325 20" bar from the 261 on the 462, though a 20" 3/8 bar would work fine. If you do end up with the .325 chain on the 462, don't forget to change the rim sprocket (or change out the spur sprocket for a rim drum and .325 rim sprocket).

When I sold saws, I didn't have an issue either upgrading or down grading bars on Stihl or Husqvarna saws we sold. We would either add the difference for the bigger bar/chain or subtract the difference for a smaller bar/chain. You might ask if they would be willing to drop you down to a 20" 3/8 bar and chain and then subtract the difference between the prices on the 25" bar and chain and the 20" you are wanting.

 

[FederalQ]

I believe on 70cc and larger saws kickback is diminished some because of the higher horse power, but not eliminated. I would look at 23rs for the 261. That chain cuts great! Sounds like some good deals too!

 

[chipper1]

I believe on 70cc and larger saws kickback is diminished some because of the higher horse power, but not eliminated. I would look at 23rs for the 261. That chain cuts great! Sounds like some good deals too!

Maybe I'm missing something in that first sentence, but I agree with the others.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Have to ask. Why do you want an 18" on the 261 and only a 20" on the 462?

 

[Bill G]

I run 20 inch 3/8 on everything with the exception of the ported 395 which has a 24 inch

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Have to ask. Why do you want an 18" on the 261 and only a 20" on the 462?

He said cutting 8" wood with 261... Maybe 16" would be better?

 

[Mad Professor]

One of the local Stihl dealers (White Cap) is getting out of the chainsaw business, so all their Stihl inventory is being sold at a pretty good discount. I picked up an MS261 CM (20" bar) with a gallon of Stihl gas for $630 o.t.d. After (over) thinking things a bit, I decided it might be a good idea to grab a 462 if they had one and the discount was "good enough." They have a 462 CM for $1080 plus sales tax, but it has a 25" bar on it. I'd kind of rather have a 20" bar on it, so I'm thinking about putting the 261's bar and chain on the 462? I can grab a Rollomatic E Standard 18" bar and 26RS 74 (discontinued?) chain ($51 plus tax for both) to put on the 261.

Would the E Rollomatic/26RS 74 be good on the 261? Stihl recommends the 26RM3 74. Is kickback on the RS chain really all that bad? Most of my cutting with the 261 will be elm and black locust, 2-8" in diameter.

what pitch and gauge is the 20" bar? If pitch is 0.325 I dont think you'll want to be running that on a 462, if it's 3/8 you are good to go.

Welcome to CAD

 

[hacskaroly]

what pitch and gauge is the 20" bar? If pitch is 0.325

Yeah, he was saying he wanted to take the .325 bar off of his 261 and put it on his 462 and then get a new 18" bar for his 261.

Heck, to keep it simple, I would put an 18" 3/8 .050 bar on the 261 and an 20" 3/8 .050 bar on the 462. That will be simpler to keep track of chain sizes and would have the same rim sprockets on the clutch (get a 5-pack and be set for a while!). Not to mention then you would have more chain options with green/yellow, full comp, semi-skip and full skip. I am running a 20" 3/8 .050 setup on my 261.

 

[Mad Professor]

Yeah, he was saying he wanted to take the .325 bar off of his 261 and put it on his 462 and then get a new 18" bar for his 261.

Heck, to keep it simple, I would put an 18" 3/8 .050 bar on the 261 and an 20" 3/8 .050 bar on the 462. That will be simpler to keep track of chain sizes and would have the same rim sprockets on the clutch (get a 5-pack and be set for a while!). Not to mention then you would have more chain options with green/yellow, full comp, semi-skip and full skip. I am running a 20" 3/8 .050 setup on my 261.

Does the 261 take the proprietary small size Stihl rim? I know the 034/036 did before Stihl did the drum/bearing upgrade.

261 does have the common 3003 bar mount, so no problems there

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Does the 261 take the proprietary small size Stihl rim?

Yep

 

[Sloughfoot]

He said cutting 8" wood with 261... Maybe 16" would be better?

Heck yeh. Cut two at one time. Put a 24" on the 462 and cut three at one time.