This is probably a stupid question, but I'm going to ask it anyway. Here goes: I usually run Stihl 20" full comp, full chisel, non-safety on my 361. I got a wild hair and decided I wanted to cut a load yesterday but all of my chains were dull. I reached for a NIB loop of Husq 20" full comp, semi-chisel, "safety" chain and threw it on the saw. I bough this chain for "stumping" and I have a nasty one to do sometime in the next week or so, so I figured I'd save myself some time and kill two birds. Anyway, I was cutting the same wood (petrified dead hedge), running the same gas, same weather, same everything...but my saw was running super rich. It was 4-stroking in the cut like crazy where it normally cleans right up. Is it possible the chain caused this condition, or did my saw just get out of tune? I haven't had time to put a sharp Stihl chain back on to compare.
How does the saw know what chain you are running? Dull chain can impact a saw as it works harder for longer periods of time and the operator tends to lean on it harder.
Load & rpm have a direct effect on saw tuning Final tuning is done with the saw cutting. So YES, tuning your saw with the chain you'll be using when cutting, Seems logical, IMO. OR Put the "auto tune" Husqvarna 562 XP on your Christmas list
If the saw is revving higher and 4 stroking in the cut, then the chain is not loading the saw enough to smooth it out in the cut. I assume the chain is sharp, since it was new, so the rakers are not letting it bite quite as hard as the RSC you're used to running... If the saw is blubbering rich under load and rpm's are running in the normal range, then I'd say it's time to address the tuning on the saw...
That makes sense. I think the rakers are probably lower on my Stihl chain (I'm not real precise when filing them).
They do a 20" Techlite no? That would be the cat's azz on a 562XP. Bingo. The tuning on the saw was probably a bit rich to begin with. The saw should be tuned to just four-stroke out of the cut and clean up as soon as load is applied, even if it's relatively light. Of course how it acts in the cut matters most so if you feel it needs to be richer/leaner then make adjustments accordingly.
If you were running a 16" on the 361 and it was tuned to it, then went to a 24"? There may have been a slight difference. But I don't think the little added weight of the extra "safety rakers" would slow down or put that much strain on the engine. I would look at a re-tune. As a filter dirties (fuel and air) the saws characteristics can change. When was the last time you put a new fuel filter or air filter (or cleaned it?)?
Bar length (in the same size log) doesn't affect load nearly as much as the move he made from full to semi chisel chain. And if his rakers on the RSC are filed a bit low, that definitely would apply much more load to the engine than a factory fresh semi-chisel.
