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Question about a new chain / bar combo

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by firecracker_77, Aug 7, 2014.

  1. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    What do you guys think about a 16" Oregon Pro - Lite bar and this full skip chain for my 441?

    I bet this would be quick and there aren't as many cutters to sharpen. Asking the pros on here, since I know little about this subject. I could get a new bar and 3 chains for under $100.

    http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?category_id=305&item=543

    I've had real a real good experience with Oregon loops. I've bought 10 of them at least in the last few months. 2/3 the price of OEM loops.
     
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  2. lukem

    lukem

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    I don't have any first-hand experience with either the bar or the chain, but 16" bar on a 441? Skip chain? Unusual choice. Interested to see what others have to say.

    The 441 will obviously have 0 trouble pulling that chain. That skip chain is going to be slower than a full comp version. So if your motivation is fewer cutters to sharpen I think you're on the right track. If your motivation is speed, I think you should look elsewhere. If you want both, it might be a happy medium?
     
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  3. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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  4. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Oh...my motivation is speed. I thought the full skip was faster as it would have less resistance. I guess it doesn't matter when you are running 5+ hp with 16" chain. The other motivation is weight too. I had a blast this weekend with my 290 16" bar combo since it's so light.
     
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  5. concretegrazer

    concretegrazer

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    Skip will be slower in the cut. A 18 or 20 inch bar would handle well and be quick to sharpen. What drive sprocket are you using?
     
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  6. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Stock everything. I don't want to change that out since I can toggle between the 16" and 25" bars at will with no effort if it's all stock.
     
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  7. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    The listing for the skip chain says clean conditions. I am not perfect and occasionally get the nose closer to the ground than I ought to. :emb:
     
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  8. concretegrazer

    concretegrazer

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    Put an 8 pin on it! You shouldn't have trouble swapping bars. I switch from a 20-25 a lot without trouble.
     
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  9. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    What would be the increase in chain speed approximately? 20% faster?
     
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  10. concretegrazer

    concretegrazer

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    A little less than 15% at 10,000rpm.
     
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  11. lukem

    lukem

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    More cutters = more wood being cut (given the same chain speed). Skip tooth is faster, but only when your saw doesn't have enough snot to pull a large bar and maintain chain speed. If your 441 had hands, it would pull a 16" chain with one hand and eat a sandwich with the other.

    Go full comp...leave the 16" skip chain for the lightweight saws.

    Full chisel chain (what you have linked to) dulls more quickly in dirty wood...as opposed to semi-chisel, which holds the edge longer in dirty conditions. Full chisel cuts faster, but not a huge difference.
     
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  12. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    Wow! This post should be in an FAQ for chains. I never understood the differences. :thumbs:
     
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  13. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    If you were going to get 90 cc saw and run a smaller bar, what sprocket would you get to have a speed demon?
     
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  14. concretegrazer

    concretegrazer

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    I won't run a 90 cc saw on a small bar. A 70cc saw will be just as fast if not faster and my back won't be as sore in the morning.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
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  15. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    Skip chain will cut slower. Its turning the same rpms with less cutters with both saws no load. In the cut the theory is the fewer cutters on the skip chain won't drag the rpm's down so that you can use a longer bar and keep rpm's up. But using a 16" bar you can lean pretty hard on out as there is so little surface cutting are for that big saw. So in my opinion you will be slower as you have fewer cutters per chain rotation citation wood. Mastermec did some vids proving this and on a recent outing I was using some semi skip 20" loops that seemed slower than full comp on the same saws. Both sharpened by me the same way...not much slower but still seemed slower.
     
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  16. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    It should be faster to sharpen but need to sharpen faster as there fewer cutter to cut through a given size log. Ie each cutter will have to take more bites to get through a 12" log than each cutter on the same size full comp chain.
     
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  17. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    A 90 cc saw with 20" or less will easy turn an 8 maybe even turn an 8with 24" bar.You can run a 9 on one and use an 18" bar.

    But as said tthe 75cc saw will be as fast or faster in small wood cause it turns higher rpm's ...talking saw here not chain speed. Look at the videos that were posted by chevy mann??? I think this weekend or so you can see it. A 70cc saw will own a 18-20" bar and easily cut a log that size. Not till your over 25-28" bars I'm my opinion in good oak before you see a difference.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
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  18. firecracker_77

    firecracker_77

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    What is stock? Does the number going up or down mean higher chain speed?
     
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  19. concretegrazer

    concretegrazer

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  20. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    What crazed said.

    Stock is a 7pin rim sproctet
     
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