Advice on chain needed

So I am in the market for a 24" bar for my ms362. And I am needing some advice on the best chain for hardwoods. I am looking for something that will cut fairly quick and easy to maintain. I do not have as much knowledge when it comes to chains and what all the terminology means as I would like. I am willing to learn from you all that do this all the time. Full skip, semi chisel, full chisel....I have no clue. I would like to have a little bit of knowledge when I go get my bar tomorrow.

 

How dirty/clean is the wood you are cutting? What kind of hardwood?

Semi chisel will stay sharper, longer than full chisel. Skip tooth I don't think you'll need.

 

Just my opinion here, but a 24 inch bar on a 60cc saw is asking a lot out of it, especially in hardwoods. Horkn is spot on. I like the speed and efficiency of full chisel if the wood is normally clean.

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I do agree on that a 24" bar is a lot for a 60" saw.

Fwiw, I have cut hundreds of cords of shagbark hickory, ironwood, oak, beech, sugar maple, and locust with my 029 super, (57cc) and a 16" bar wearing all sorts of chain. The best chain I used on my 029s, and still have is Stihl RS yellow pro chain.

I've since upgraded to a Makita dcs6421 with a 20" bar. I've only cut with the stock new trilink chain which apparently sucks, but if that's the baseline, I'll be impressed with the full chisel chains I have.

I've cut with a brand new ms362 last fall, wearing a 16" bar and green safety stihl chain and it was no faster in the same wood as my 17 yr old 029 with a safety semi chisel chain.

What size bar so you have now?

 

X2 on stihl rs yellow chain, holds an edge very well.

 

24" on an MS362CM will be happier with full-skip. After that, just be sure to keep your chains sharp.

 

20 inch

 

My 362 has a 16" bar chain combo. The chain is a Stihl full chisel yellow (RS or wbat ever the call it now) pro chain and its a tree eating machine.

 

Stilh specs say 25" max on the 362 so with a 24" you are close to that. If the wood has been dragged or, for whatever reason, is impregnated with dirt, go with a simi-chisel chain. If you are talking about felling and bucking 'clean' trees go with a full chisel chain. Maxing out the bar length, check the availability of a skip tooth chain in either style. Less drag from a skip tooth.

 

Stihl 24 is 25" or so they say. Skip would help it if it's hard to keep the chain from stalling.

 

Half or full skip for bigger trunks. I had problems with the chips not cleaning out fast enough last year on my 361 with the 24" bar.


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I ran 24" bar on my 361 for a long time. Used skip, semi skip and full thru the years. Only difference i could tell was that you couldnt lean on the saw with full. Thing i like about skip is less cutters to sharpen.

 

To the OP, if you know how to run a saw and can keep it out of the dirt, get 33RS84 for full, 33RSF84 for skip, 33RSH84 for half skip.

 

You are correct about finding one. I waited a month for both the half and full skip.


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Those green link chains suck. First thing I did when I got my 362 with that green link chain was take it off.


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From having run both, there's a notable difference between a 362 and 362-CM, with the 362 being kinda "challenged". So, we oughta be clear that Joe IDed it as a 362, no suffix. In that case, forget full-comp 24" (25"?) chain. And ... in the real-world, vice short-spurt competition, I've found semi-chisel to cut way better-longer than full-chisel; any dirt involved, fuggeddaboutit.
Some 60 cc saws work great with 24" bar, e.g. Dolly 6100. Combo even works great, spitting chips in a Granberg "MiniMill" w/semi-chisel full-skip in bitternut hickory. Key-word is always SHARP for chains.

 

Which did you go with....I just sold my standard carb 2012 model ms362...I only ever ran a 20" bar on mine as i only cut hardwood....I heat guys run 25" bars and I know they can run them, I just wouldn't think with much authority..

 

I went with a semi chisel. Cut a 46" red oak with really no problems at all. I was pleased with how it did.

 

I don't know that I've ever seen you post a picture of your escapades on here and considering your advanced knowing on many topics it would be interesting to see your set up.