Ported Stihl 50cc saws - Optimum Bar and chain setup

[Ryan Browne]

Ryan:

Which setup do you like best and why?
What saws are running which?
Do you prefer one over the other?
Do you prefer to use the torque that the ported saw makes or the higher RPM's that the saw makes for your ultimate cutting?
Come on now, spill it. LOL

To be honest, they're only set up that way because that's the stuff I had available that fit on them at the time.

I'm running the 3/8 16" bars on an 026 and a 261cm-vII. The .325 is on a t4driller 350/346 with a 7 pin rim (again, just a bar and chain I had in stock and the 7 pin that came on it.).

To be honest, I've got about 2 tanks through the 026 and a tank and a half through the 350. I'm at about a dozen through the 261. I like the 3/8 on the 261 for bucking, but I think it's a little aggressive for limbing and thinning. Perhaps a little less hook or more raker height would help. The 350 runs and cuts awesomely. So far I've only been bucking with it, but it's very smooth in the cut. I've got it tuned to about 14,800, so it has good chain speed, and with the 7 pin, it has lots of torque. Plenty of torque to bury the bar.

I'd like to try the 350 with an 8 pin and it's current setup. Also I'd like to try it with an 8 pin and a 16" .325 bar.

I'd like to also try the Stihls with .325 chain. Eventually I'll get them all set up the way I want. I'm guessing that the smaller sprockets are gonna be my preference for bucking, and the bigger sprockets with more chain speed for limbing.

 

[Czed]

18 .325 usually stihl rs balance's the best for me on my 50s.
My 60 and 70cc wear 20 inch or longer bars.

 

[redoakneck]

I like 18" , .325 on ported 346.

Pulls it pretty well in 16" diameter hard wood.

Smoother than 3/8.

Use a 7 pin

 

[Tpagel]

I have 18"and 16" .325 on my 50cc saws.
I have a 16" 3/8 on a very mild ported 026.
I really like square .325 narrow kerf on the Swede saws. They buck bigger wood than they should pretty well imo.


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[CapitaineHaddoc]

3/8 for me. I have the feeling that it clears the chips better than. 325,especially in softwood. And it is more agressive, a good thing when you limb small conifers branches.

In hard wood .325 could be a hair faster, but I don't care and just take a bigger saw.

 

[drf256]

Keep us posted PA Dan. Very interested in the outcome. [emoji106]

I hear you Dan. When we meet up, I will have you take a few runs and see if I am on the right track. I think that was what I was trying to figure out. I just didn't state it as eloquently as you.

Come on Dallas. Don't ne like that. LOL

I'd love to know the difference in how your 026 run when you meet up. Sarah's saw and your saw were ported similarly, but Sarah's saw has a different chamber, stock piston, lower compression and a 100 vs. 105 exhaust.

Jeff, you can tune your 026 differently depending on what you are doing. If you'll be limbing, turn it up a bit. For heavy cutting, fatten it up a bit. Your saw will 4 stroke out of the cut and clean up in the cut over a wide range of rpm. Longer cuts will heat it up more, so fatter is safer.

I tune by ear, as fat as it will be and still clean up in the cut. That's the safest.

Like Dall said, the saw will tell you where it wants to be.

My newer porting style 026 (like yours Jeff) will pull 325 or 3/8 just fine. You saw the video where I used Jacks saw with the bar and chain off my 036-20" round file standard 3/8-and it pulled it surprisingly well.

 

[Backtroller]

Looks like I might have to try the new 20"3/8 bar I picked up on your saw.

 

[Termitebuffet]

Most all my ported 50cc wears a 20" .325 ,wif an 8 pin . less bending [emoji106]

 

[junkman]

piiicccooooo

 

[RI Chevy]

You use pico for a worksaw Brian?

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[Dustin4185]

I was just debating putting an 18" Sugi on the new 261 but was worried about the 3/8 being too much. I have a 3/8 7 pin somewhere that I believe will fit it. I may just try both and see what I like the best. Then it may go to Randy and get tuned up.

 

[RI Chevy]

He'll pump some life into it for sure. Lol

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[junkman]

You use pico for a worksaw Brian?

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For my 026 ,i mostly use for cutting fence posts ,it dont chip out as bad

 

[Ryan Browne]

I was just debating putting an 18" Sugi on the new 261 but was worried about the 3/8 being too much. I have a 3/8 7 pin somewhere that I believe will fit it. I may just try both and see what I like the best. Then it may go to Randy and get tuned up.

I think that'd be a good combo. I've been running a 16" 3/8 bar on my stock 261, and I discovered that my Carlton file-o-plate puts my rakers pretty low. The same as the softwood setting on the husky guide. I used that pretty happily for bucking white and red oak last winter. I think 18" would be fine with a little less aggressive chain, or in a situation where you aren't burying the bar.

 

[RI Chevy]

For my 026 ,i mostly use for cutting fence posts ,it dont chip out as bad

OK. Good. I should have specified the worksaw cutting real round trees, like oak or maple type.
But I now realize what your worksaw is used for. [emoji106]

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[hseII]

I'd say .325 is probably the best all around 50cc chain whether you are cutting limbs screaming, or bucking wood too big for a 50cc saws[emoji33].
But if someone wants to stick with one chain size for all their saws, 3/8 works just fine as well.

As far as utilizing torque, you don't need 3/8 to do that. Just file or grind a more aggressive chain on your .325.


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.325" x 81dl- 20" Oregon.

For a more aggressive chain, use a 3/8" file.

 

[Termitebuffet]

You use pico for a worksaw Brian?

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Some of my fast ported saws seem to almost spin out the picco chain ...it's hard to describe, of course it's all personal opinion

 

[paragonbuilder]

.325" x 81dl- 20" Oregon.

For a more aggressive chain, use a 3/8" file.

Your bar is upside down on the middle Saw bud...[emoji6]


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[hseII]

Most all my ported 50cc wears a 20" .325 ,wif an 8 pin . less bending [emoji106]

Perzackly.

 

[Termitebuffet]

Your bar is upside down on the middle Saw bud...[emoji6]


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That's the one he uses for up cutting ....[emoji106] [emoji106] [emoji106] [emoji106] [emoji13] [emoji200]