In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

50cc CHAIN shoot out - 3 Bars, 3 Chains, 5 Sprockets, and 1 Saw.

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by MasterMech, Apr 9, 2014.

Page 8 of 8
  1. Brettl

    Brettl

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2015
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    44
    Location:
    Wichita, KS
    I've seen debate in other forums, but to clarify for myself and hopefully others.. There IS a difference between a Picco 375 rim and a standard 375 rim??? My Picco chain sits down nice and flush on a standard 375 rim but I seem to feel some play there....
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2015
    Brettl, Feb 17, 2015
    #141 Top
    mdavlee likes this.
  2. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    26,018
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    You're on the right track, the pitch is the same as standard 3/8" chain but the drive links are shallower and shaped differently. Think about two straight-cut gears and how they mesh. Then file the teeth narrower and take a lil off the top. They will still mesh but there's now some play and they will not wear properly. Same deal with 3/8 low-pro/Picco chain running on standard 3/8" sprockets.
     
    MasterMech, Feb 17, 2015
    #142 Top
    Brettl likes this.
  3. 94BULLITT

    94BULLITT

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2014
    Messages:
    2,446
    Likes Received:
    7,189
    Location:
    Frederick County, VA
    Here are some pictures of picco and regular 3/8''.

    I laid the picco over the regular 3/8 in this pic.

    [​IMG]

    Side by side

    [​IMG]

    Side shot

    [​IMG]
     
    94BULLITT, Feb 20, 2015
    #143 Top
    Eric VW, Brettl, concretegrazer and 4 others like this.
  4. Gill

    Gill

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2016
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    84
    Location:
    Indiana
    Would it be possible to set up my 270c with the PS3 chain, appropriate bar and sprocket? I bet it would be a large improvement in cut times over the 20" bar, RS chain and OE spur sprocket on it now.
     
    Gill, Mar 16, 2016
    #144 Top
  5. 94BULLITT

    94BULLITT

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2014
    Messages:
    2,446
    Likes Received:
    7,189
    Location:
    Frederick County, VA
    Yes you can change your 270 over to 3/8lp.
     
    94BULLITT, Mar 16, 2016
    #145 Top
  6. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    26,018
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    20" bar is a workout for a 270. You should be able to use the same gear I used on my 260 to run 3/8"P on it, just keep in mind that you are limited to a 16" bar unless you buy something like a Cannon bar for it.
     
    MasterMech, Mar 16, 2016
    #146 Top
    concretegrazer and Kg461 like this.
  7. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    15,996
    Likes Received:
    37,472
    Location:
    Greenwood county SC
    I just threw a forester B&C combo on my 270. It's 18" .325. And really that's overkill for a bar for that saw.
     
    clemsonfor, Mar 17, 2016
    #147 Top
  8. Gill

    Gill

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2016
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    84
    Location:
    Indiana
    That's what I'm learning. I've always been very impressed with it but now I'm thinking that was probably due to a lack of options to compare it with. I'm really excited to get my hands on some of this Picco stuff.

    Can cutting be any more fun? I think it's about to be...
     
    Gill, Mar 17, 2016
    #148 Top
  9. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    15,996
    Likes Received:
    37,472
    Location:
    Greenwood county SC
    Picco ps3 is expensive!

    Yea cutting can be more fun get yourself a good 70 cc saw!
     
    clemsonfor, Mar 17, 2016
    #149 Top
    Birddogtg likes this.
  10. JD Guy

    JD Guy

    Joined:
    May 11, 2022
    Messages:
    826
    Likes Received:
    4,687
    Location:
    Upstate SC
    Asking a general question regarding 50cc and under saws….So will the 3/8 Picco rim,bar and chain improve the cutting experience and performance? Examples would be MS 250,290 etc…Not racing, just general firewood cutting. From this thread it appears that it would need to be with 16” Stihl bar too as tested by MM in the beginning of this thread?
    Thanks, Ed
     
    JD Guy, Dec 5, 2022
    #150 Top
  11. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    26,018
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    So with the 290, you'd use the exact same parts for the conversion. Would it be better? IDK - as the 290 doesn't have near the RPM overhead that the 261 does. All of the 290's I sold were .325" 20" equipped because that's what the dealership wanted. A 20" saw @ under $400. I would have preferred to downsize them to 16" or maybe 18", keeping the .325" chain, but plenty of them out there running 18" 3/8" with happy operators on the trigger. 16" would be the longest bar Stihl offered for the 3003 mount (which the 290 uses) in 3/8P chain. There were/are aftermarket options to go longer. Up to 20" for .325".

    With the smaller saws - like the MS250, Picco chain was usually a factory option. Most 250's were .325" but they could be ordered from Stihl with 3/8"P cutting tackle. The MS210 is the exact same chassis, uses the same bar mount, but all of those were 3/8P from the factory. An 18" bar in 3005 mount has the same effective cutting length as a 16" bar for the 3003 mount.

    Picco chain in general is faster than .325" but perhaps with a bit more upkeep in the sharpening department. Fewer cutters to sharpen on 3/8P but that's not as noticeable on short bar lengths. If you keep it sharp, I'd recommend PS/PS3 3/8" chain over .325" RS/RS3 any day.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 5, 2022
    #151 Top
    huskihl, JD Guy, Nixon and 1 other person like this.
  12. JD Guy

    JD Guy

    Joined:
    May 11, 2022
    Messages:
    826
    Likes Received:
    4,687
    Location:
    Upstate SC
    Thanks! I bought my 290 many moons ago and it’s served me well but heavy for the power generated, it came with a 20” .325 setup and has been used primarily to buck with. A muffler mod a few years ago has helped with the power slightly but as it ages it will be a candidate for a 390 conversion. My 250 is used primarily to limb and overhead brush, etc. That’s the one I would most likely convert to Picco, it currently wears a 18” bar primarily for the reach factor so would like to stay with that length however 16” would be ok too if 18” bar is not available or presents a problem sourcing Picco chain. Seems it would be a lot less “grabby” than the. 325 RS:D

    The MS 400 now handles felling and bucking large rounds and thinking I should go to a two saw plan by just adding the 261!
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
    JD Guy, Dec 6, 2022
    #152 Top
    Chud likes this.
  13. SAWMIKAZE

    SAWMIKAZE

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2015
    Messages:
    228
    Likes Received:
    945
    Location:
    PGH
    Screenshot_20221206_205356_Photos~2.jpg
     
    SAWMIKAZE, Dec 6, 2022
    #153 Top
    J.Walker and JD Guy like this.
Page 8 of 8