Weird... chain bite

[heffergm]

So when my 260 (freshly sharpened yellow tag chain) ran out of gas today, I fired up my old Poulan Pro 38cc saw with 16" bar (the 260 has an 18 on it. I was cutting oak, roughly between 8" and 15" in diameter.

What didn't surprise me:
- poulan vibrates like a train, stihl is smooth as silk
- poulan looks and feels cheap, stihl doesn't
- the missing 12cc between the two saws is apparent

What DID surprise me was that the poulan, with a box store Oregon chain on it, really felt like it was biting into the wood in a way the full chisel on the 260 didn't. The 260 was throwing huge chips, don't get me wrong. It just seemed like I had to work the saw more to get it to bite, whereas I just let the poulan claw it's own way through.

To reiterate, the chain on the 260 was new and I went back and sharpened just to make sure. I'm tempted to put a stihl safety chain back on to see how it compares.

What gives? Aside from the difference in bar length I'm drawing a blank.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Tooth shape?

Matt

 

[heffergm]

Beats me, but I'm an imbecile. I would have thought the full chisel would pull through on it's own more noticeably than a safety chain. Maybe it's an Oregon chain trait.... again, no idea which is why I'm asking

 

[joemeintzer]

Perhaps your depth gauges (rakers) need some attention? Carlton has a great read on this topic although I haven't yet tried their product. The book I got free from baileys even though shipping was 8 dollars.

 

[heffergm]

Perhaps your depth gauges (rakers) need some attention? Carlton has a great read on this topic although I haven't yet tried their product. The book I got free from baileys even though shipping was 8 dollars.

Nope. I filed all the rakers down as I do on all my new chains because I've found that they're all almost always too high from the factory.

 

[joemeintzer]

Well perhaps the Poulan only seems more aggressive due to it's less than silky way of running, I don't know. What I do know is if your Stihl finds out about this you're probably going to hurt his feelings..haha

 

[SPED]

Perhaps your depth gauges (rakers) need some attention? Carlton has a great read on this topic although I haven't yet tried their product. The book I got free from baileys even though shipping was 8 dollars.

Nope. I filed all the rakers down as I do on all my new chains because I've found that they're all almost always too high from the factory.

That's funny I noticed the same thing on my new chain. I picked up a pferd filing tool and was surprised at the bite it took out of the rakers after only one tank of gas. I never would have thought it if i didn't see it for myself.

 

[smokinj]

you must be running the 3/8 set up on that 260?

 

[heffergm]

.325

 

[smokinj]

.325

saw running and sounding strong?

 

[heffergm]

For the most part. It'll run wide open no problem. It does seem a wee bit down on torque, so I'm going to get some fresh mix together, but it's not such that I think it's impacting what I'm feeling.

I put a safety chain on it this morning for kicks, and it actually seems to cut a bit better than the chisel, which is odd.

 

[smokinj]

For the most part. It'll run wide open no problem. It does seem a wee bit down on torque, so I'm going to get some fresh mix together, but it's not such that I think it's impacting what I'm feeling.

I put a safety chain on it this morning for kicks, and it actually seems to cut a bit better than the chisel, which is odd.

I am not a big fan of the 260 pro I couldnt get it to run 3/8 rs worth a crap but should pull the .325 pretty well

 

[Flatbedford]

The fresh yellow chain might be a little too aggressive for the saw, especially if you have filed down the rakers. Might just be taking too big a bite. The 260 is not a very large displacement or powerful saw.

 

[bogydave]

If you are having to force the Sthil to cut, it's something to do with the chain. Buy a good Oregon chain (LPX) & see if that solves the problem.
Must be an Oregon dealer near you.

(broken link removed)
IMHO, Oregon make the best chains

 

[Monkey Wrench]

So when my 260 (freshly sharpened yellow tag chain) ran out of gas today, I fired up my old Poulan Pro 38cc saw with 16" bar (the 260 has an 18 on it. I was cutting oak, roughly between 8" and 15" in diameter.

What didn't surprise me:
- poulan vibrates like a train, stihl is smooth as silk
- poulan looks and feels cheap, stihl doesn't
- the missing 12cc between the two saws is apparent

What DID surprise me was that the poulan, with a box store Oregon chain on it, really felt like it was biting into the wood in a way the full chisel on the 260 didn't. The 260 was throwing huge chips, don't get me wrong. It just seemed like I had to work the saw more to get it to bite, whereas I just let the poulan claw it's own way through.

To reiterate, the chain on the 260 was new and I went back and sharpened just to make sure. I'm tempted to put a stihl safety chain back on to see how it compares.

What gives? Aside from the difference in bar length I'm drawing a blank.

I never thought that a Stihl 260 owner would ever be converted to Poulan.
But this is a new year !

God Help Us!

 

[heffergm]

Lol. No, no worries there. The stihl is on another level. I think it's one of two things: the chan profile or the poulan simply vibrating so much it gives a false impression of pulling harder. I'm going to try an Oregon chain on the stihl for kicks and then call it a day. I still don't have any desire to pick up the poulan again!