Greenhorn Chain querie 550xp

[SawTroll]

This BPX is just so smooth and fast. I don't think chisel is faster. The cutters are kind of a cross between chisel and semi chisel. It just seems like a good balance.

It isn't a "cross", it is pure semi-chisel even though the rounded corner is a bit narrower than on some other semi-chisels.

LPX is faster as long as it is sharp, no doubt about that - but if it matters to you is a different question.

Fast is not the only criteria.

No, it isn't - and each to his own.   

I see no reason to use semi-chisel though, unless the wood is "dirty".

[C-Daly]

Welcome to the site C-Daly.
I have tried most all the popular chains on my Jonsered2253 (50cc) and my favorite is Oregon BPX. I run more of it than any other. 18inch bar is what I prefer.

Thanks for your post 49er,

You recommend BPX but Sawtroll stated H25(what I am currently running) is the equivalent of Oregon BPX. So stick with what I have??

In regards to how "dirty" the wood I am cutting, it is as clean as it will get with the exception of having barbed wire embedded about 8/10 feet up the stump on occasion.   >:(

[49er]

Welcome to the site C-Daly.
I have tried most all the popular chains on my Jonsered2253 (50cc) and my favorite is Oregon BPX. I run more of it than any other. 18inch bar is what I prefer.

In regards to how "dirty" the wood I am cutting, it is as clean as it will get with the exception of having barbed wire embedded about 8/10 feet up the stump on occasion.   >:(

Barbed wire 8/10 feet high? Why so high, to keep the prisoners in?

[C-Daly]

Welcome to the site C-Daly.
I have tried most all the popular chains on my Jonsered2253 (50cc) and my favorite is Oregon BPX. I run more of it than any other. 18inch bar is what I prefer.

In regards to how "dirty" the wood I am cutting, it is as clean as it will get with the exception of having barbed wire embedded about 8/10 feet up the stump on occasion.   >:(

Barbed wire 8/10 feet high? Why so high, to keep the prisoners in?

No idea why it was so high up. Boundary line on a farm, so obviously fencing from a long long time ago. Tree had completely grown around it.

Needless to say my chain was in some order before I realized what was going on! :-[

[SawTroll]

Thanks for your post 49er,

You recommend BPX but Sawtroll stated H25(what I am currently running) is the equivalent of Oregon BPX. So stick with what I have??

In regards to how "dirty" the wood I am cutting, it is as clean as it will get with the exception of having barbed wire embedded about 8/10 feet up the stump on occasion.   >:(

Yes, H25 = 21BPX currently. Some years back in time H25 was 21BP though (the chain that was replaced by BPX).

If your wood is clean, I maintain that H21/21LPX is a better alternative - but each to his own.

[snowshoveler]

Went to an Oregon update school a month ago (I am small engine service guy)
Oregon rep discussed a new semi chisel chain that will be released soon.
It is 10 % faster cutting than anyone's .325 chain regardless of tooth design.
The less vibration thing is a big issue for a lot of my customers now.
They buy a lot of the .325 bp chain.
I am now understanding that if you can cut half a cord of wood and your played out with full chisel chain. Some folks can cut a cord or maybe 2 using the bp chain.
I have known these folks for upwards of 15 years so I kind of trust them and they trust me.
They are also using the 550 and 543 Husky saws so power should not be a problem.
Regards Chris

[HolmenTree]

Husqvarna is just getting into making their own chain.  Heard Oregon's stocks dropped because of the announcement.

[farmguy]

My new rancher 460 has a husky chain. Not impressed. So far I have been cutting popler dry pine and brush and I'm allready down to 3/4 life left. On my sthil ms 290 I always used sthil chain. Real good stuff holds a edge and is razor sharp with a dremal sharpener

[SawTroll]

Husqvarna is just getting into making their own chain.  Heard Oregon's stocks dropped because of the announcement.

It really should have happened last year, but I still haven't seen any indiocation of it actually happening.

Rumors from Sweden tells me they aren't going to replace all Oregon model (particularly not the excellent LPX) - but it remains to be seen what actually happens.

If I had to guess  ;D, I find it likely that they start with replacing what they sell most of on the home market, namely H30 (95VPX) and H25 (25BPX).

Then again, I may be totally wrong..... 8)

[C-Daly]

Hi All,

Thank you to everyone who has offered advice. Without sites like this I would be lost when it comes to getting information.

I think I will bite the bullet and go with the H21/21LPX. It seems to be easily available (online) but at least I know I can get it.

Husqvarna is just getting into making their own chain.  Heard Oregon's stocks dropped because of the announcement.

Why have Husqvarna never ventured into making their own chain up until now?

C.

[sawguy21]

Patents and cost. Blount (Oregon) developed the modern chain and are the world leaders in production. The saw manufacturers couldn't produce it for the cost although Stihl being Stihl had to reinvent the wheel. : The problem now is Oregon can't meet demand so Husqvarna is going on their own to fill their needs.
I find SawTroll's comment regarding H30 and H25 interesting. We sold some 95VPX with consumer saws although many old time dealers refused, they wanted 21LPX. The customers didn't know the difference. I have never seen 25BPX, different markets.

[SawTroll]

Patents and cost. Blount (Oregon) developed the modern chain and are the world leaders in production. The saw manufacturers couldn't produce it for the cost although Stihl being Stihl had to reinvent the wheel. : The problem now is Oregon can't meet demand so Husqvarna is going on their own to fill their needs.
I find SawTroll's comment regarding H30 and H25 interesting. We sold some 95VPX with consumer saws although many old time dealers refused, they wanted 21LPX. The customers didn't know the difference. I have never seen 25BPX, different markets.

H30 and H25 are popular here mostly because it is what Husky, Jonsered and most of their dealers are "pushing" - likely because it is "green" chain (and well suited for delimbing spruce with lots of small dry twig limbs on them, as it is semi chisel).

[Al_Smith]

Everyone has an opinion .Mine reqarding chain is I use chisel .With the dead ash I've been cutting which is hard as a rock,

file every tank full .Big deal it takes 5 minutes to dress a 20" loop .

I'd have to see it believe it that semi chisel will cut like chisel .

[SawTroll]

Everyone has an opinion .Mine reqarding chain is I use chisel .With the dead ash I've been cutting which is hard as a rock,

file every tank full .Big deal it takes 5 minutes to dress a 20" loop .

I'd have to see it believe it that semi chisel will cut like chisel .

I totally agree - it simply isn't, unless we are talking about dull chisel.

[sandsawmill14]

i dont know about the 550 but on the older 353 you could change the drive sprocket to run the 3/8 chain instead of .325  ;D with a short bar in pine it was fast  ;D hardwood it was good but you had to give it a little more time i changed it so i only had to keep 1 kind of chain for all my saws
be certain you are ready far as experience with the saw before you step away from the green chain you WILL get some severe kickback from the saw until you get used to running the yellow chisel chain even with a saw small as the 550  good luck and be safe

[HolmenTree]

Full 3/8" chain on a little Husky 353 is way too much chain. Poor little guy will work itself to death. Unless you're talking about putting  a 3/8 Picco on it.

All this alk about severe kickback from green to yellow chain gets blown out of proportion most times.
It's all in how you sharpen them.

[sandsawmill14]

but if you knew enough to know how to sharpen to reduce kickback you most likely would not be asking which chain to get ;D shape of bar tip has alot to do with it to i got the wrong one for my 441 last time and it is alot worse to kickback than the old one :-\ 
c-daly google chainsaw kickback and click on images

[HolmenTree]

Can you post a pic of that high kickback and lower kickback tips you have and had on your 441? Or count the sprocket teeth on them for us.
Only thing I think is you had was a 13 tooth ES then went to a smaller standard 11 tooth ES.

Here's a true low kickback energy small radius safety tip for full yellow bars....... a 9 tooth 3/8" Oregon Double Guard PowerMatch.

Operators used to filing a less aggresive green chain to make it more aggressive by adding more side plate hook angle and lowering the depth gauges below spec. Then filing that way on a yellow chain can be very dangerous. ..

 

[SawTroll]

i dont know about the 550 but on the older 353 you could change the drive sprocket to run the 3/8 chain instead of .325  ;D with a short bar in pine it was fast  ;D hardwood it was good but you had to give it a little more time i changed it so i only had to keep 1 kind of chain for all my saws
be certain you are ready far as experience with the saw before you step away from the green chain you WILL get some severe kickback from the saw until you get used to running the yellow chisel chain even with a saw small as the 550  good luck and be safe

You can on the 550 as well, and on that one it is much more likely that it is a good option than on the 353. However, it still is unlikely that it is the best option.

[snowshoveler]

Hi SawTroll and HolmenTree old buddy.
The 3/8 is not the best choice but its a lot easier for the older folks to sharpen because the teeth are bigger and they can see them better. When you get old and crusty you will understand ha ha.
I have a few customers with 562 and 372 Huskies that are use for surveying. They have added the 550 with the 3/8 chain so they don't have to carry extra chains and files on the longer lines.
They tell me for the smaller brush the 550 is awesome. They keep the 562 handy at all times and only bring out the 372 when involved with larger nasty stuff.
Regards Chris

[HolmenTree]

I get your point Chris. Good to hear from you again 
550XP  can handle a full size 3/8 chain if you're not in a rush.
But the poor little 353 :D

[sandsawmill14]

holmen you are probably about it being the size of the sprocket end the new one is bigger than the old one i will try  to take the bar off tomorrow and lay the old one on top and get a pic   i just went in the saw shop and picked up the first 24" bar on the wall and told them to cut me 2 chains never even looked at the bar or numbers :

the little 353 did ok with the 3/8 chain and 18" bar but i was cutting syp pulp nothing over 12" and most was around 8".  anything bigger i used the 038 and would trim and top with the 353

[Spike60]

Well, I'm entering the "old and crusty" category myself, but I much prefer .325 on saws in the 550 class. I know this debate will go on forever, with some valid opinions on either side. But there are a couple laws of physics here that are not subject to opinion.

The 3/8 7 pin sprocket is a larger diameter than the .325/7. Really about the same as a .325/8. So right there, you are getting some additional speed, at the expense of some torque. Same idea as going from a 7 to an 8 pin on 3/8. Plus, the 3/8 has a wider kerf than the .325, which also requires more power. So, you are introducing 2 variables when switching a 50cc saw to 3/8, both of which affect performance.

My personal opinion is that .325/8 is the best combo to run on the better 50cc saws. But just like going from a 7 to an 8 on a 372 or whatever, you need a little lighter touch when cutting. Not easy for most of us, cause as power junkies, we all have a tendency to lean on the saw to see what it can do.

Chris is correct about two things. One, regardless of age, some guys that are only used to filing 3/8 will struggle filing .325. And while 3/8 cutters are all very similar, there are more variations with .325 cutters. Two, is that in situations with multiple saws, switching the one odd saw to run the same chain as the rest makes life easier for some guys. So there are situations where running 3/8 on a small saw works out fine. I'm not implying that 3/8 on a 50cc saw doesn't work. 

[49er]

Very good summary Spike. My Wicked Work Saw 2253 I got from tlandrum does not take a light hand with Oregon BPX and 8pin on an 18 inch bar. I really like BPX especially when I cut in the river bottoms. The BPX is not far behind LPX ,in speed, so I just don't mess with LPX.