What's your favorite 346xp bar and chain combo and why?

[AlfA01]

I can't thank you enough Dan. Well thank you again lol.

Yes, sir. Enjoy it. Fun fact: this saw is traveling nearly 11,000Km or 6850 miles to it's new home.

 

[Czed]

I'm good at breaking the phone most of the time lol. I have changed the camera 3 times on this dang phone. It don't like being dropped lol.

I always enjoyed your photos

 

[p61 western]

Yes, sir. Enjoy it. Fun fact: this saw is traveling nearly 11,000Km or 6850 miles to it's new home.

Wow yeah we are a ways apart Dan. When was the last time you were stateside ?

 

[p61 western]

I always enjoyed your photos

Lmao that's about right Dave.

 

[AlfA01]

Wow yeah we are a ways apart Dan. When was the last time you were stateside ?

October 2010. Been a minute or two....Lol.

 

[Ryan Browne]

I liked a 16" on mine when it was stock. I might need to get an 18" when driller is done with it.

Is Mike porting saws again?

 

[p61 western]

October 2010. Been a minute or two....Lol.

Lol from the looks of it its pretty nice where your at.

 

[PA Dan]

Is Mike porting saws again?

Well that's a question I cant fully answer! I think he will be but he needed some time off.

 

[AlfA01]

Lol from the looks of it its pretty nice where your at.

We like it. It's got a pretty good mix of everything and we can get to Athens in an hour.

 

[Iceboy]

We like it. It's got a pretty good mix of everything and we can get to Athens in an hour.

We are lucky to live in this BEAUTIFUL country.

 

[Wolverine]

I liked a 16" on mine when it was stock. I might need to get an 18" when driller is done with it.

Try a hungrier chain? I have an 18" Sugi but I just prefer the 16. Most of the time I'm not kneeling anyway. I'm sure the thing could pull a 24.

 

[AlfA01]

We are lucky to live in this BEAUTIFUL country.

Yes, we are John. I haven't seen Rhodes yet. I've gotta get over there and check it out.

 

[usmcbuckwild]

I have been running the Oregon Speedcut 180TXLGK095 bar (its the WIDE nose version, much mo betterer than the TXLB narrow bars) and 72 DL 95TXL chain on the two 353->346s I have done. Its a great combo that is light and rigid. The oil grooves in the drive links retain oil all the way back to the clutch cover. The 95TXL is the narrow kerf (0.050) but I have had fantastic results with it thus far.

I tried 3/8 16” (Tsumura bar with 72EXL chain) on both saws and while it did cut with no issues, I personally felt the 18” .325 was better suited and better balanced. The extra 2” of reach is quite handy and takes better advantage of the high chain speed and lower (realistic) torque of the saw. I have no doubt that a modded 346 will pull a 20” 3/8 with little to no issue, but I firmly believe the 18 is best suited for size and weight. Especially when using the saw for what it excels at; in brush/sub 12” wood or limbing dense tree tops.

I have let a couple climbers use a 346 up in several trees with different b/c combos and both felt the 18” .325 was the combo that gave them the most from the saw and the most confidence when blocking down.

Just my opinion and experiences.

 

[Iceboy]

Yes, we are John. I haven't seen Rhodes yet. I've gotta get over there and check it out.[/QUOTE

These are just so me places that anyone visiting Rhodes, should see!!

 

[p61 western]

I have been running the Oregon Speedcut 180TXLGK095 bar (its the WIDE nose version, much mo betterer than the TXLB narrow bars) and 72 DL 95TXL chain on the two 353->346s I have done. Its a great combo that is light and rigid. The oil grooves in the drive links retain oil all the way back to the clutch cover. The 95TXL is the narrow kerf (0.050) but I have had fantastic results with it thus far.

I tried 3/8 16” (Tsumura bar with 72EXL chain) on both saws and while it did cut with no issues, I personally felt the 18” .325 was better suited and better balanced. The extra 2” of reach is quite handy and takes better advantage of the high chain speed and lower (realistic) torque of the saw. I have no doubt that a modded 346 will pull a 20” 3/8 with little to no issue, but I firmly believe the 18 is best suited for size and weight. Especially when using the saw for what it excels at; in brush/sub 12” wood or limbing dense tree tops.

I have let a couple climbers use a 346 up in several trees with different b/c combos and both felt the 18” .325 was the combo that gave them the most from the saw and the most confidence when blocking down.

Just my opinion and experiences.

Thank you for the input and the part numbers.

 

[usmcbuckwild]

Thank you for the input and the part numbers.

No problem.

As I said I have had excellent results with the new Oregon chains (95TXL and the EXL series chains). The Speedcut bars are relatively cheap and much lighter than OEM bars. No discernable issues thus far (other than a broken tooth on a chain used for less than an hour).

 

[sunfish]

18" .325 is the sweet spot. But I do like 3/8.

 

[jakethesnake]

Gotta agree 18 325. Had a ported one. Have a stock one. Same setup on either

 

[beaglebriar]

My favorite is 16" .325 on the 346's and 550.

The 18" NK bar and chain combo from Bailey's is a great deal. Narrow kerf on these saws just works awesome.

 

[jakethesnake]

Those little buggers can be setup a few different ways. And they like it