Got me my first Stihl

I am away from home and needed a saw. Picked up this saw for $80 and have it running. It’s an MS310 which is a 60cc saw. It should rip pretty good but the 24” bar seems like a bit much. It does have the “Rapid” chain and the research I am doing on file size indicates 13/64”. I have two of the 2 in 1 files at home but neither is 13/64”. Do I really need to buy another file? The chain has been sharpened on a chainsaw chain grinder. I just sharpened it with a 7/32”.

 

Nice!
Are the rakers taken down too far?

 

Sounds like to much raker. If it’s so grabby that you’re stalling the chain with moderate pressure- to much raker or chain is bot cat claw sharp. How thick are the chips? How much dust vs chips?

 

7/32" is fine.

24" bar is going to be pushing that saw to it's limit, especially in hardwoods. If you are going to run 24" on a regular basis I'd get a skip tooth chain. May also consider muffler mod and retune the carb to run 24" bar with a little more authority.

 

That will be a good saw for you and great price! Sure sounds like the rakers are too low.

 

Very hard to tell from the picture, but it doesn't look like the rakers have been touched.

 

IMO, you shouldn't need ANY pressure if the chain is properly sharpened. The saw should self feed itself, just like seen on the one cut he makes -HERE-

When out cutting with my nephew a few weeks ago, I demonstrated, while using my 550XP to buck up a white oak, how a sharp chain should cut. I took my left hand completely off the saw and the bar melted right through the wood. It makes cutting SO much fun when doing so with a sharp chain with proper raker depth. Too much raker depth and you won't be able to take your left hand off the saw, as you will need it to hold the saw up some to keep it from biting too much.

no, just use the 7/32".

 

My reference is if a small amount of pressure stops the chain, the rakers are to low.

If your not dogging in and just use saw pressure you have more time on your hand than I do. I have wood to cut and it’s not a hobby.

 

That's fine, but you shouldn't HAVE TO dog it in in order to get it to cut. I'm referring to those who are trying to cut a 4" limb on the ground and are trying to lay the saw on the ground in order to dog it in and get it to cut. I've seen that plenty of times from Joe homeowner. The person that immediately comes to mind is also the same guy, who a few hours later, was lying on the ground being attended to by a retired doctor because he decided to climb a ladder to cut a limb.....against mine and other people's advice. His Poulan Wild Thing landed on him when he hit the ground when the limb he cut took out the ladder he was standing on. LOL

 

If you’re referencing to “those”

WHY are you quoting me?

I’m out

YOU’RE THE EXACT REASON I WALKED AWAY FROM FHC BEFORE.

 

ahhhh, because you quoted me and I was just responding.

funny stuff!!! Thanks for the giggle, I needed that.

 

24" bar/chain is a bit much for a 60cc"homeowner" saw unless is has some mods. 20" would be a big improvement. 13/64 file for stihl chains. Blowing your pic up it doesn't look like the rakers were touched when the chain was sharpened on the grinder.

 

I tried the 13/64 file, but after 30yrs of using 7/32 I did not like using 13/64.

 

I bought some out of curiosity. Used a couple. Didn't see any benefit so went back to 7/32.

 

Congrats on a good buy. Yeah a 24" bar on a 310 is too much for a 310 IMO. 20" or shorter ideal.

I used 7/32 for years on my 3/8' pitch chains without issue (hand filing) until I got one of those Stihl 2 in 1 guides. They only take 13/64" files so I bought a box. Other chain mfrs. recommend 7/32 files.

 

Yup ,Stihl 3/8 is an odd ball " so to speak" as far as file size. 13/64
Others all seem to be 7/32

 

I am pretty familiar with raker height issues. When I first posted about this saw i had not used it and I was kind of scratching my head about the Stihl terminology. Rapid is full chisel, 24” bar is 25”, Oilmatic, Rollomatic, Pico and then an odd file size? I am away from Maine and in Florida helping my aunt so I don’t have my saw stuff with me or even a saw except this one I just bought. The rakers are high and this thing just won’t dig in like it should. I did try to take the rakers down a touch before even using it but I am using a rusty dull file. I bought a file set (3 round files) at harbor freight but those things suck.
I think my plan is to just buy chain. I can get 2 Stihl chains 84 link for $70 or go with Kakei which is 3 chains for $55 with a complete sharpening set from Amazon either can be here tomorrow. Or,, what should I get for chain???

 

Stihl RS chain hands down gets my vote. I run them on everything. They seem to be a little harder but also hold an edge better that some others.
This is personal preference for sure.

33RS84 if 3/8 with .050 gauge
36RS84 3/8 with .063 gauge

 

The chain I have now is a Stihl. I have seen a 3 stamped on the chain I have. Does that mean I have the low kick back version of this chain? As in 33RS3? Is this a higher profile raker? Maybe I just need to take the chain I have and work that raker down.

 

The chain in this pic is dull and I wouldn’t expect it to cut.