28" B&C on a 036?

This is from a west coast perspective, which is in the vast minority on this site, but here goes:

The only problem running a 28 inch bar on the Stihl 036, 360, 361 or the 362 is that the oilers on those saws will not oil a bar that long. They all have the same output oil pumps. The bars will burn if you run them w/o doing an oil pump upgrade, even if the pumps are cranked all the way up. On the 361 and the 362, you can swap in a 460 or 460R oil pump (or just the pump piston and control bolt) and get it to gush more oil. Then of course that is assuming you have a full skip chain on the 28. Full comp is going to bog down unless you are cutting pith, redwood or light fir (which I have done using a 28 on a oil pump modified 361 cutting redwoods in CA).

In the 036 user guide that I have they say that the longest bar to run on it is a 20 inch. However, I run 25 inch bars on my 036 with no problem. The 361 and the 362 are both listed by Stihl as running a 25 inch bar (same power +/- than the 036/360, with the same oil output). BTW: Stihl calls them 25 inch bars, and not 24 for whatever reason. I have bought several used 361s and 362s with 28 inch bars on them. They all had blue bar burns on them in the same places. Meaning lack of oil. 60cc Stihl saws were and are commonly sold here new with 28 inch bars on them with full skip chains from the dealers. Just the way it is. If you want to run a 28 on an 036/360, you are SOL when it comes to oiling that long a bar. They are gonna burn. On the 361 and 362, you can upgrade to either of the 460 pumps and run a 28 just fine. Stock, with full skip on a 28 they cruise through fir and conifers OK. They will not cut much hardwood like oak, euc or madrone very fast though, unless the saw has been modified.

 

As for clutches going out on the 036, that has nothing to do with bar length. The 036 had a smaller clutch drum bearing that was notorious for blowing out. They upgraded them on the 360 to a larger size bearing. You can order the 036/360 clutch kit from Stihl, and there as a Stihl tech note on the 036 clutch bearing upgrade. The kit has a new larger diameter clutch and bearing, washer, and clip.

 

I just put the 25" b&c on my MS361 and cut a cookie off my splitting stump. It actually works very well now that it was ported. I'm not sure I'd want to carry it around being so front heavy, but it does work. Stock saw, no.

 

I cut a bunch of cookies off some larger birch rounds ( to get them to the 16" length I like) than noodled them with a 25" bar on a stock 361 running Stihl semi chisel skip tooth chain a few weeks ago. I was actually quite happy with it
http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/threads/put-up-a-cord-this-weekend.11933/

One thing about my 361 is i dont see oil coming off the tip of my bar even with my 20" bar. It seems to go through about 3/4 tank of oil per tank of gas though, so it must be oiling
I see alot more oil coming off my 362 with the 20" bar, but it is a brand spankin new saw

 

My 361 oils about the same. 3/4 tank to 1 tank of fuel. With a 20" ES bar and 33RS72 chain if that makes a difference. there is minimal but enough oil on the 25". I think it should be more.

 

Odd. The 361 and the 362 have the exact same oil pumps and pump parts. Might be a clog in the 361 oil line someplace. 3/4 of a tank is about right for the oil use though, cranked all the way up. If you swap in the 460 pump on either 60cc saw, they are likely to drain a tank of oil before they run out of gas. In which case you would want to ease back on the pump setting.

I have not had any 25 inch bars burn on me on any 036/360/361 saws that I have run them on. I run 20 and 25 inch bars on my 60cc saws. I may get a 22 inch bar and chain for them this summer if I can find one.