0.325 spur sprocket to 0.375 rim sprocket conversion-chain questions

I've decided to start running 0.375 chain on my ported 029 super so that I can more or less standardize my chain hoard. A major wrench thrown into the mix: I'm planning to run a 24" Husky bar on my Stihl, since I own 5 of them. I've seen people run Stihl bars on a Husky using bar stud spacer bushings, so I think to do the inverse all I'll have to do is mill the slot wider on the bar I want to use ~ simple enough. As far as I know, the oil hole lines up fine (and if it doesn't, I can mill a shallow channel to make it work). Does anyone have firsthand experience with this? How about the drive link count? What's the likelihood it'll be the same running a 24" bar on the Husky versus Stihl? If I have to have dedicated Stihl/Husky chains with a different DL count, so be it. I just ordered a bunch of chain presets and plan on buying the 2-in-1 machine from Harbor Freight (arbor press/rivet spinner tool) I'm just trying to plan ahead even though cutting season for me is still a few months away. Thanks for any and all input in advance.

 

Are you running .050” or .o63”?

 

0.050"

 

Come to think of it, I think the deciding factor will be if there's the same number of teeth on the sprocket on the Stihl vs. Husky. Best case scenario, the Husky chain is a bit tight on the Stihl, so I can fix that by elongating the slot in the bar. If it's looser, I might have to remove a drive link.

 

How much room do you have between the bar and the sprocket? I imagine you wouldn’t want to enlongate the slot in the bar enough that you could potentially have the bar contact the sprocket if you loosen it too much.

 

Good point. I'll find out in a few days when my new rim sprocket comes in, and I get a chance to widen the slot and do a fit check.

 

If that's the case, you could mill off a little of the bar so it doesn't contact the drum or spur.

I bought a roller nose from DDave that was milled to work w/ K095 mount. Here’s some pics of what was done. It works perfectly fine.



Slot was elongated.


Sorry, no Stihl to Husky experience. I do have 2 adapters to run Stihl mount on my saws though.

 

Thanks for sharing Jason. It's actually really helpful knowing that I'm not the only one out there breaking brand dogma, trying new things and seeing what'll work.

 

I can't recall seeing 3/8'' by 24'' in anything other than 84 dl... Maybe for echos, they seem to have different counts in smaller bars. I know the link count gets different in long bars between the brands. I've run the same 24'' chain on a K095 mount saw and a D025 mount saw and a D176 saw with a D025 bar and adapter.

 

I won't be sharing a bar, just the chains (hopefully). Yeah I own 5 of these 24" Husky bars, and already opened up the slot in one of them to 12mm wide to fit the Stihl bar studs. I mocked it up on the powerhead this morning and everything looks great so far. My new rim sprocket came in today so tomorrow I'll put that on and try the chain on it. Ideally the standard 84DL Husky chain will work, but I'll find out very soon. If it works, that one modified Husky bar will be dedicated to that saw exclusively and indefinitely.

 

Another huge reason I wanted to convert this saw to 0.375 pitch chain is ease of square filing. I've converted probably half a dozen of my 0.325 chains to square file already , but 0.375 is so much easier to work with.

 

No doubt! If I were hand filing 325 I'd look into a single bevel instead of the double. Or maybe a triangle. I've heard the singles flex though.

 

The verdict is in. I’m going to have to remove at least one drive link. Not a terrible outcome considering I’ll still be able to somewhat share chains (making my own loops)

Orrrrrrr… maybe I can blow that slot clear through and put a second set of adjuster holes in it, then another oil hole???

 

I’ll be darned. If I elongate the slot 1/8”-3/16” backwards and add another set of adjuster holes 3/8” back, I’ll be able to run standard 84DL chain with plenty of extra room to spare. Even then, the oiler hole still lines up.

 

Good deal.
I have a couple odd length chains for running big sprockets, it’s not ideal.

 

I can definitely see that being a mild PITA not being able to run off-the-shelf chain. That was another thought I had too: if I was able to locate an 8 tooth rim sprocket rather than the 7 tooth I bought, that probably would’ve taken up the slack and gave me more chain RPM.

 

Success.

 

I’ve been eyeing this for months at Harbor Freight. I noticed last night it was on clearance for $40, so this morning I finally bit the bullet. By and large I avoid HF (they built one in my town 3 years ago and this is the first time I’ve been inside) but for something like this, it made sense.
This’ll come in handy more often than not.