How small of a bar on a 50cc saw?

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SolarAndWood

Minister of Fire
Feb 3, 2008
6,788
Syracuse NY
I bought my Jonsered 2152 http://www.jonsered.com/int/chainsaws/cs-2152-c/ as my first firewood saw when I started burning 10 years ago. Now that I have 70cc and 90cc saws, I'm thinking its time to trade the 20" bar on it down to something more appropriate for what I use it for now. The website says 13-20 is recommended but I am wondering if 13" is too short?
 
When I got my Husky 350 with a worn-out bar and chain, what I read suggested the useful range as being 14" to 18", with shorter bars of course cutting quicker. What size bar do you keep on the 70cc?
 
20" on the 371 and 24" on the 2095 (saw also came with a 60" but I haven't had the cajones to try it). When I do limb which doesn't happen a whole lot, it gets done with the 2152 which is a bit of a PITA with the 20" bar. Then move up the food chain as the diameter grows. I need to bump the 24" up to a 28 or 32 at some point but it works for the majority of what I get my hands on.
 
Given that the Jonsered is about two pounds lighter than the 371, I'd think you would want to use it as much as possible. A 13" bar would be pretty restrictive. I'd probably go with 16".
 
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IMO, the 70cc saw is the way to make firewood. It is the go to 95+% of the time. The only time the other saws come out are for limbing or the big stuff. My gut says 16" is right too but know I'll never justify a top handle saw and I have some climbing/limbing ahead of me.
 
Do you still have the 416 mentioned in your signature?
 
You could also keep your eye out for one of these. That one has been up for a month, so I'm guessing the ones that actually sell do so at a lower price than he's asking.
 
Yep, still have the 416 but it only gets used rarely. I see those $200 top handle deals pop up here too. Just hard to justify any more saws for personal firewood and property maintenance. Not that I haven't overcome hard to justify decisions before;)
 
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I see those $200 top handle deals pop up here too

You could always make an offer. The one I linked to would only bring ~$150 on eBay, which means the seller would clear about $130, and they'd have to take better photographs, write a description, find packing materials, make a trip to the post office, etc. For a local buyer, a price around $100 makes more sense. Many CL sellers are mistaken about the value of their stuff. Some are open to reason.
 
I have a Stihl 009L with a 12 in. bar. I bought it for limbing, but it's getting more use all the time. Paid $175 with very little usage and a new carb. It's a little 40cc, 2hp wonder. Not quite a top handle saw, the balance is a too far forward to use it one handed very long, but at 10 lbs., it's much easier to use than my 53cc Redmax. When I'm out cutting with friends, I have a hard time getting it away from them. Considering your other saws, you might think about selling the Jonsered and getting a little saw.
 
I bought my Jonsered 2152 http://www.jonsered.com/int/chainsaws/cs-2152-c/ as my first firewood saw when I started burning 10 years ago. Now that I have 70cc and 90cc saws, I'm thinking its time to trade the 20" bar on it down to something more appropriate for what I use it for now. The website says 13-20 is recommended but I am wondering if 13" is too short?


Too short for what? I say do it. Short bars are cheap and if you don't like it put a longer bar on it.
 
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14 my vote.
 
16 inch on 550xp and it rips
 
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I have a 346XP and I have a 16" on it and it's about the perfect size for the saw. Of course I get into bigger wood than most folks on here so take that into consideration. I do find I pick up the 346 more often than the 372 when doing smaller rounds just because of the better weight and handling with the smaller bar.
 
I run a 20" on my ported 372 that does 75% of my cutting. the rest is done bny a 50cc saw with a 13" bar. it was a dolmar 5100, it is now a husky 550xp.

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