Sthil MS260 bar lenght

[madcow]

Hi all,

I just buy a brand new MS260 with a 40cm bar (think around 16")

I have .325 chain. Is the best solution for this saw?

[Mark M]

That's what I have on my 260. I don't know if it is the best but it seems to work pretty well. I think if you went with a longer bar it might be under powered.

Mark

PS - Switzerland is a nice place. My great-grandpa was from up by Burgdorf. I got to vist last summer and hope to visit again soon.

[whitepe]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum madcow  

I have a 20 inch bar on my MS290 so the 16 inch bar
on the MS260 seems good to me.

[Kevin]

Depends on what you plan on cutting with it. you could easily step up to an 18"bar if you need too.

[SasquatchMan]

It sort of depends on what you're cutting, Madcow.  It's a bit easier to cut pine than oak!  The 260 is a super little saw.  If you are cutting things that require a bigger bar, you'll probably find that you want a bigger saw, too.    

If you can cut what you want to cut, then you're doing okay!  
I would be worried about kickback issues if you put a long bar on a relatively small saw too... you might not have enough leverage to control it... but that's just my 2 cents!

[jokers]

Hi madcow, I agree with Sasquatchman that it depends on what you are cutting. If you are firewooding or felling, the 16" bar is the best choice. If you are doing ROW clearance, the 20" is the best way to go with the additional reach afforded. Obviously the 18" bar is a compromise, but one likely to suit many users. Why ask about bar length now that you already have the saw with an 18?

Russ

[jokers]

My mistake, I just reread your post where you stated that you have a 16.

Russ

[SasquatchMan]

Either way, there's very little that you can't tackle safely with 16" bar that you could with an 18"... and you can't run a monster bar on a little saw anyhoo!  Theoretically, a guy can fell a tree with a 30" base with a 16" saw...  I don't remember seeing too many 30" thick trees when I was in Switzerland, but maybe it depends on where you are.

[slowzuki]

I'm looking to put a 12" bar on my new MS260.  I'm doing brush clearing and I am grabbing too much other scrub with the 16" bar.

Anyone know if I'll need to change the drive sprocket?
Ken

[Kevin]

The first thing I have to suggest is that you use a clearing saw for cutting small brush, it's much safer.

It depends on what pitch your saw is.
It could be .325" or 3/8" pitch.
If you buy a bar with a nose sprocket it must match the pitch of the drive sprocket and chain.
I think the shortest bar available might be 13" for that saw.

[ScottAR]

I run an 18" bar on my 026.  Seems to pull it fine.  I like it as I have a tad more reach and don't have to stoop as much.  YMMV

[slowzuki]

The clearing saw would work on the smaller stuff, but I have a bush hog to do that.  The 2-4" alder and cherry all lean out from the centre of the patch and prevent a brush saw from getting to the tension side.

I have to sneak the saw into the middle to get the first one down before I can get to the rest comfortably.  I need a smooth stump as a farm tractor will be going through with the bushhog.

I was using a little homelite type saw with a 12" bar and a tip protector.  I'm not ashamed to say I was using the tip protector because there is no chainbrake on that saw and there is a pile of stuff to hit the tip on.  This is a lot faster than the swedish brush axe I was using!

I know the 260 is a bit big for this work but it has a bigger fuel tank, anti-vib and chain brake.
Ken

The first thing I have to suggest is that you use a clearing saw for cutting small brush, it's much safer.

It depends on what pitch your saw is.
It could be .325" or 3/8" pitch.
If you buy a bar with a nose sprocket it must match the pitch of the drive sprocket and chain.
I think the shortest bar available might be 13" for that saw.

[Kevin]

Ken;
Do you know what pitch you're running now?

[slowzuki]

I'm ashamed to say no!  I'd have to measure or look at the box for my spare chain.  I'm guessing 3/8 because it looks to be the same as my father's old Partner.

I'm assuming I would need a 0.325 drive sprocket and 0.325 chain to match the roller tip in a 12"/13" bar?

I'll take a look tonight.
Ken

Ken;
Do you know what pitch you're running now?

[slowzuki]

Ok it is 0.325" pitch chain on there.  

Just for info the old partner has 0.404" chain and the little Homelight pruning saw has 3/8"