Longer bar / what does a light bar accomplish

[livemusic]

I have a ported Stihl ms362 and it sure seems a beast to me. I run a 20 inch bar but think it would handle more. I think Stihl even says a 362 can go up to 25 inch bar, but that really doesn't mean much to me, as they seem to say a lot of their saws can handle such and such bar and it seems a stretch on some models. Anyway, this saw is strong. So, what to get? 24"? 25"? 28"? Should I get a light bar? I am willing to pay for something good. I would use the longer bar for when I (occasionally) cut a large tree down. And then have to buck it. Also... if you get a lighter bar, does that just make it easier on you or does it 'help' the saw at all. Probably not. BTW, if a lighter bar really won't matter, I'll forget it, lol. I just know that at my age, 65, lighter is better if all else is equal, even if it costs more. I tire sooner than I wish!

 

[Wilhelm]

A longer light bar will make the saw handle and balance better, be less nose heavy than a same length standard bar.
Lesser weight than a same length non-light bar means less fatigue on the operator.

Except for the AV mounts the saw/power head will not behave any different as long as You utilize the same tooth sequence of the chain.

I am not a Stihl guy but 25" should not be a problem for a MS362, 28" might be on the edge.
You can reduce load on the power head by utilizing semi skip or full skip chain - lesser teeth/cutters for a given drive link count.

 

[Bigmac]

Light bars are great, it is simply a lighter weight bar, and dose not make it easier on the saw. A 25” should be no issue at all, It might run the 28 ok but I prefer a larger saw at that point, I run the Stihl lite 28” on my 461, and love it, I use a 20” sugi-hara light weight on my 361, and that is a great combo, but a standard 25” feels unbalanced to me, there isn’t much difference from a 25-28” bar, I ran the 28” lite on the 361, and it pulled it fine but the av seems too weak for that much weight, I know a 361 is different, but that’s my experience

 

[Dub11]

Here's a good deal on a 25"
http://opeforum.com/threads/any-interest-in-20-and-25-es-light-bars-063-only.17316/