357XP bar/chain thoughts

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ampamp

Member
Oct 31, 2010
91
Buffalo - Rochester
If you guys were running a 357XP would you opt for a 0.058" or a 0.050" chain. I'll run a full chisel for sure (I like it and have some experience with it), but was curious if I could swap bars (if needed) with a 346xp or old 350 since I have 0.058" on them. Actually, what do folks prefer.......is it just that the .058 is more durable? Why not run 0.050 on everything?

The 350 and 346xp's chains are .325 unlike the 3/8 on the 357, but does that make a difference when talking about bars. I thought the drive sprocket and chain pitch had to be compatible, but didn't think that was the case for the bar. I though the bar groove just had to be the same width as the chain, i.e. 0.050" = 0.050".

Help me out on understanding this.....Thanks! As well as some preferred combos. Probably will run a 20" on the 357....maybe just 18"...kinda waiting on the feedback on the above questions. Thanks again.
 
Bar mount must also be the same. I'm not sure if the 357XP is the same mount as the 346XP or the 372XP. Someone here will know and post soon. .050" or .058" really won't matter too much but .050" is usually much more common with 3/8" chain. Also, most modern bars are a sprocket nose tip so chain pitch does matter, just like it does for the clutch sprocket. If you were running a roller nose or hard nose bar then pitch wouldn't matter, just the drive link thickness.

The 357XP should be fine with either the 18" or 20" bars. Pick according to the wood you will be cutting 90% of the time.
 
I use the exact same bar and chain 16" FC chisel 3/8" .050 on my PP346XP and soon to be returned WP357XP. .050 and .058 doesn't matter at all. I do use some .058 just cause I bought a roll of chain cheap once upon a time and have bars to match. If the 357 was my only saw I would have a 20" bar too but since I own bigger saws I just reserve the bigger jobs for the bigger saws.
 
Amp
Just think about it a minute. The nose sprocket has to be the same pitch as the drive sprocket to match the drive links on the chain.
If your not to heavily invested, 3/8 pitch & .050 are easy chains to find & more common.
I you ever got into making chains, you could buy a roll of 3/8 X .050 & make chains for all 3 saws. (or ever how many you have)
.008 is not that much size difference,
I think Sthil don't have any new saws with .058, they go to .063 on the bigger saws. Fewer Stihl chain choices with .058 too
My guess is the .058 will get phased out over time.
Your question : "Why not run 0.050 on everything?" Why not?? I might go a step farther & go 3/8 X .050 on everything.
I think it's doable with your saws, take some new bars & drive sprockets. I think I read somewhere a guy had a 20" 3/8 X .050 on a 346XP. Might ask the Husq dealer.
 

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bogydave said:
Amp
Just think about it a minute. The nose sprocket has to be the same pitch as the drive sprocket to match the drive links on the chain.
If your not to heavily invested, 3/8 pitch & .050 are easy chains to find & more common.
I you ever got into making chains, you could buy a roll of 3/8 X .050 & make chains for all 3 saws. (or ever how many you have)
.008 is not that much size difference,
I think Sthil don't have any new saws with .058, they go to .063 on the bigger saws. Fewer Stihl chain choices with .058 too
My guess is the .058 will get phased out over time.
Your question : "Why not run 0.050 on everything?" Why not?? I might go a step farther & go 3/8 X .050 on everything.
I think it's doable with your saws, take some new bars & drive sprockets. I think I read somewhere a guy had a 20" 3/8 X .050 on a 346XP. Might ask the Husq dealer.

Stihl runs .063 on all of their .325 applications these days. (MS230-MS290) All of their saws with 3/8 chain are .050. The MS170, 180, 181, 192 are 3/8 Picco .043 and the MS200/201/210/211 are 3/8 Picco .050". You can buy Stihl chain in many diffent varieties that they don't build their saws with. I can't remember the last time they offered .058 on anything.

Running 3/8" chain on a 346XP/350 just because you have it on the 357XP is like trying to use the 44" tires off your 4x4 on your Honda Accord just because you only want to buy one size tire from now on.
 
My 346 has a .325 sprocket and my 359 uses a 3/8ths, both are from the factory that way. The bars and chains have to match the sprockets or you're going to chew up some steel.

Both saws use the same mount so the bars will fit each saw no problem, its just a question of the chains and sprockets.

My 359 came from the dealer with .058, around here its about the same ease to find .058 as .050 and since I've already got the bar for .058 I've committed to that gauge on the 359.
 
I reread my post and realized it could be taken wrong. When I said .050 and .058 doesn't matter at I meant in serviceability. Not switchability. However I need to go check on something because I don't think the drive sprockets care about DL thickness. I'll look at my spares.
 
wkpoor said:
I reread my post and realized it could be taken wrong. When I said .050 and .058 doesn't matter at I meant in serviceability. Not switchability. However I need to go check on something because I don't think the drive sprockets care about DL thickness. I'll look at my spares.

Sprockets care only about the chain pitch (.325 or 3/8). Bars care about pitch for the nose gear, number of driven links (length of bar) and the chain gauge (width of the chain).
 
mayhem said:
wkpoor said:
I reread my post and realized it could be taken wrong. When I said .050 and .058 doesn't matter at I meant in serviceability. Not switchability. However I need to go check on something because I don't think the drive sprockets care about DL thickness. I'll look at my spares.

Sprockets care only about the chain pitch (.325 or 3/8). Bars care about pitch for the nose gear, number of driven links (length of bar) and the chain gauge (width of the chain).
Been awhile since I have switched from .050 to .058 bars but I have never changed rims unless I wanted to speed up the chain.
 
wkpoor said:
mayhem said:
wkpoor said:
I reread my post and realized it could be taken wrong. When I said .050 and .058 doesn't matter at I meant in serviceability. Not switchability. However I need to go check on something because I don't think the drive sprockets care about DL thickness. I'll look at my spares.

Sprockets care only about the chain pitch (.325 or 3/8). Bars care about pitch for the nose gear, number of driven links (length of bar) and the chain gauge (width of the chain).
Been awhile since I have switched from .050 to .058 bars but I have never changed rims unless I wanted to speed up the chain.

Right. Thats what I said.
 
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