How small of a bar on a 50cc saw?

[SolarAndWood]

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?

 

[Jon1270]

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?

 

[SolarAndWood]

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.

 

[Jon1270]

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".

 

[SolarAndWood]

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.

 

[Jon1270]

Do you still have the 416 mentioned in your signature?

 

[Jon1270]

You could also keep your eye out for(broken link removed to http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/3903802481.html) 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.

 

[SolarAndWood]

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

 

[Jon1270]

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.

 

[MrWhoopee]

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.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

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.

 

[smokinj]

14 my vote.

 

[TreePointer]

I like a 16" bar on a 50cc saw. It's short enough to keep its speed when buried yet long enough to give the saw enough reach that makes things easier for the operator.

 

[mikefrommaine]

24" bar .404

 

[kingquad]

16 inch on 550xp and it rips

 

[TMonter]

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.

 

[Freakingstang]

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.

 

[MasterMech]

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.

Hey FS! Where 'ya been?