Stihl Rapid Super RS vs RS3 chain

A few questions.

1. Did Stihl discontinue the Rapid Super (RS) chain???

2. If so, why???

3. Anyone transition to the RS3 and get annoyed with having to lower the anti-kickback raker while filing by hand? i.e. 2 rakers instead of just one?

4. Where's the cheapest place to get a 33RS-72 3/8" pitch .050" gauge 72 link yellow Stihl chain?

I see the Rapid Super still listed on stihl.com but not on stihlusa.com. Then I found this article about the RS and RM PRO chains.....but I can't find any info on them.

New saw chain from Stihl! | Forestry.com

 

Not that I’m aware of. I’d never buy anti kickback. I’ve noticed differences between the two sites.

 

Click here and you will see all the yellow chains are "Not Available".

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/saw-chains/

 

This guy has some info on Stihl's nomenclature for their chains.

stihl rm vs rs chains---which one and why?

Windthrown said:

Wow... lots of variable info here. Stihl chain guides are confusing, as are their labels.


RM is rapid micro. It is semi-chisel. The chisel in the edge '7' is filed off for a curved shape '?' cutter. When round filed, the outer edge of the cutter deflects sand, grit and crud and thus stays sharp longer than full chisel. RM comes in safety (green master link) and non-safety (yellow master link). Non-safety comes in full comp and in skip, and full comp was called RM but was replaced with RMC (comfort), which was renamed RM later (confusing?). RM in skip is (and was) RMF. There are and have been several types of safety RM; RM2 had the huge double hump safety rakers that people are talking about here (shown in the photo in the post above), but Stihl no longer makes that stiff. It was the standard loop in all non-pro saws for many years. RMC3 replaced it but was renamed RM3. RM3 is designed so that the safety rakers are next to the cutter rakers on the flat of the bar, but they are flexed when the chain goes around the nose, thus adding more raker area and keeping the bar nose from grabbing as much and causing kickback.


RS is rapid super. It is full chisel. The chisel in the edge '7' is left on the cutters. The outer edge of the full chisel cuts through wood faster, but it also dulls faster, and will dull really fast if it hits any crud, sand or grit. RS also comes in safety and non-safety. Non-safety comes in full comp and in skip, as well as 'L'. Full comp non-safety round file was called RS but was redesigned to RSC (comfort), and then RSC was renamed RS. RS in skip is (and was) RSF. Safety RS was RSC3 but is now called RS3. There is also the round file RSK type chain that is designed for longer bars over 28 inches. Then there are the RSL square file type loops in full comp (RSLK), semi skip (RSLHK), and full skip (RSLFK).


In general, full chisel round filed loops cut about 10% faster than semi-chisel round filed loops, and full chisel square filed loops cut about 10-15% faster than full chisel round filed loops. Full chisel round filed loops will dull faster than semi chisel loops, and in any crud, they will dull a LOT faster. Square filed loops will dull way faster as the inside of the chisel is filed to a thin point. Square file chains are also a lot harder to file correctly, and I never got the hang of it. I have one square file loop and I never use it. I keep my RM2 safety semi loops for cutting in any potentially naily wood, like fence posts and yard trees. I use RM non-safety for wood cutting, stump cutting, and for cutting trees like willow that have a lot of grit in the bark (sparks fly!). For noodle/curly fry cutting, I use RS full chisel skip, as the noodles seem to clear better using skip. In clean wood (cross cutting) I use RS or RSF.

 

You got way too much time on your hands.

 

You do realize I copied and pasted what that guy Windthrown posted in the link, right?

 

Yes, Windthrown must be a Stihl chain junkie to be able to quote that much info.

 

As far as i know the RS is still for sale unless Stihl is phasing it out. (news to me) Ive bought RS back in the Spring. Its what i run on all my saws. (i do have some Carlton & Oregon chains). Have you checked ebay LOTF? Do you have a local Stihl dealer?

 

I’d never buy another stihl chain if they didn’t have Rapid Super.

 

I called a dealer in your neck of the woods - Merit Hardware - and asked and they didn't know. Only thing the guy said was that they've had a hell of a time getting anything from Stihl this year and thought maybe it was just out of stock as opposed to discontinued.

I'm gonna call Stihl and ask. I just find it weird that all of the yellow chains say "Not Available" on their site. I also find it weird that Rapid Super is not listed at all, only the RS3 green version.

 

And I stopped by the local dealer closest to me....and asked if they had a 18" scabbard and was told they don't stock scabbards. He didn't even know what a scabbard was until I said "bar cover". Smh.

 

Me: "Is the RS chain discontinued or still available?"

Stihl: "Let me check on that.......*pause*.....It's still available but you have to go to the dealer to get it."

Me: "Why isn't the Rapid Super chain type listed on stihlusa.com?"

Stihl: "I'm not able to answer that question."

Me: "Why is every single yellow chain listed as not available on your site?"

Stihl: "I'm not able to answer that question."

Great responses from them.

 

A good stihl dealer will have rolls of RS in stock to make chains. The last time I was at mine I saw rolls upon rolls in the mechanics shop.
Husqvarna x-cut chain is a decent substitute if you need a chain right away. Home Depots and Tractor Supply will have 16-20” in stock.

 

The whole stihl creamsicle empire is just a chit show.....all the repair information is proprietary..stupid chains that have too much chrome in them and the azzhole numbering system for them...overengineered fookin flippy caps...junk fuel solenoids...need to talk to someone on the international space station to get info....wtf

 

Can you tell me how you *really* feel about it though??

The guy sounded like he was in a super hurry and hung up the phone before I could finish asking if he actually had any RS chain.......

 

None of my tree companies[customers] run stihl chain and there's a couple reasons for it.
I stopped buying it for myself about 20 years ago

 

Let me guess.

1. Expensive
2. Nomenclature
3. Don't cut as fast as Oregon chain
4. Dull too fast

How'd I do?

 

Got some of em!!

 

What's the rest? And what chain do you use instead?

 

Stihl RS is one of the best chains in the world. There’s no way they’d discontinue its production.