24" on a 550XP mk2

[Matias]

Cannon SuperMini (Narrow Kerf) : CSM-H6-24-50-2 - REPLACEABLE SPROCKET TIP, H6 Mount, 24 Inches, .050 Gauge, 0.325 Pitch, 95 Drive Links - Cannon Bar Works, Ltd.

CSM-H6-24-50-2 - .050 Gauge, .325 Pitch Replaceable Tip

www.cannonbar.com

I was wondering if any of you have this bar/chain/saw combo, or something like it, and what your thoughts are on it. I am trying to make my 550xp mk2 into the saw I swap out for instead of going straight from a 25-35cc top handle to a 72cc saw with a 32" bar.

The guy I work with who's focus is removals just carries a couple of 201T's, a 462 with a 32" bar and a 661 with a 36". Doesn't use light bars either. I have recently cut an exhaust port on my 2511T and put a 14" nano kit on it, and it's enough now to keep me happy until I take a top, and can usually get one or two chunks off before I wanna swap. I'm keen to have an in between size, but it needs to cut fast enough to not annoy that logger that only runs bigger saws.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rico]

24“ bar on a 550XP is pushing it, and not something I would recommen. I run and 18” do 20” on my and both are fantastic. I have been running a 24” on my 562 XP recently, and it is a fire breathing, mid size chunking ass kicker.

 

[Matias]

24“ bar on a 550XP is pushing it, and not something I would recommen. I run and 18” do 20” on my and both are fantastic. I have been running a 24” on my 562 XP recently, and it is a fire breathing, mid size chunking ass kicker.

Even with the narrower kerf? I know it's pushing it, but I don't have any 60cc saws available to me any more sadly.

 

[Treemuel]

I run a 20” .325 on mine and I definitely wouldn’t go any longer. I’ve got the west coast felling dogs on it because I like running them in the tree, but it’ll definitely bog if I’m not careful when dogged in.

 

[Matias]

I run a 20” .325 on mine and I definitely wouldn’t go any longer. I’ve got the west coast felling dogs on it because I like running them in the tree, but it’ll definitely bog if I’m not careful when dogged in.

I seem to remember that being a thing, and why I bought an 18" Sugi. I guess I'll keep nagging them to buy a damn 60ish CC saw. They've switched to Stihl in the last 5 years, so I'm gonna push for 362 with a 25" light bar. At least, until I get my 550 fully ported

 

[chiselbit]

I would say if your 550 is ported by a good porter it would handle a 24” bar as long as you keep the chain razor sharp, I had a 353 with a 24” and I think they are similar displacement. As long as my chain was sharp it was fine. Stock 550,, yeah. That’s pushing it at 24

 

[Friedrich]

I seem to remember that being a thing, and why I bought an 18" Sugi. I guess I'll keep nagging them to buy a damn 60ish CC saw. They've switched to Stihl in the last 5 years, so I'm gonna push for 362 with a 25" light bar. At least, until I get my 550 fully ported

462 and 362 weight almost the same, if they have a 462 get a 24 or 28 light bar for it and saw away

 

[Treemuel]

462 and 362 weight almost the same, if they have a 462 get a 24 or 28 light bar for it and saw away

I concur. I run a 462 with a 24 and it’s a big step up in power from my 550 without a huge step up in weight

 

[Matias]

I thought the 462 power head was heavier than the website says. I didn't think it felt much lighter than a 500i, and obviously doesn't have the power that a 500 has. This has me thinking that the only way to go for me to get what I'm after is to get a proper port job on a 50cc saw so I can run this skinny 24". I really want an ultralight setup for all these tall, noodly Pondo's, cedars, and fir.

I used my 550 on a pondo removal the other day, as it was threatening rain and I didn't wanna sharpen the 572 right then. It was so much easier, despite taking a bit longer. I will continue to use that and just work through it with a shorter bar than I'd like when I do my own gigs, but the one boss won't tolerate that. I can handle the bigger saw, but I do finally understand why some people have such a diverse quiver of saws.

 

[Jehinten]

A buddy has a 550 with a 20" on it, I certainly wouldn't run a 24" on it in hardwood. Possibly has something to do with his setup, but his chain drivers get packed with sawdust frequently and binds the chain. I'd think that'd get worse with a longer bar.


I prefer stihl, so I go from my 16" 201, to a ported 261 18", then to a 500i or 661 with either a 25",28", or 36" bar depending on how I have it setup.

The 201 to 261 isn't a big step up on bar length, but is so nice to switch to more power to make the cuts quicker.

The 261 is usually where I start on crane jobs then bump up in bigger wood.

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Matias]

consider that this is mostly just gonna see softwood, and I will put the 18" on for hardwoods

 

[Njdelaney]

I would say if your 550 is ported by a good porter it would handle a 24” bar as long as you keep the chain razor sharp, I had a 353 with a 24” and I think they are similar displacement. As long as my chain was sharp it was fine. Stock 550,, yeah. That’s pushing it at 24

These are my exact sentiments. Get it ported and it will run that 24" x .325 setup nicely.

 

[islandarb]

462 with 25" bar....swap out the 32. 25" bar then the 661 with 36" will do it all.. 50cc saws only go with a 20". Never owned a 60cc saw. Might try the 562xp on @rico recommendation. Own so many ass kickers already.

 

[Shadowscape]

Put on a skip chain and it will probably be fine if you don't push it. I sometimes throw a 36" bar on a 60cc saw with full skip so I don't have to lug a monster saw when I need to hike with it. The skip chains make a world of difference, and they are readily available in .050 Ga.

 

[Matias]

To add a reference point for my tastes, I ran my 2511 with the 14" nano chain fully buried in some ash, and I was pleased with it. I definitely don't mind running a T540, even the mk2, and wanna get one too, as it definitely feels much better in oak than the 2511, but sometimes I'll use the smaller saw because I have gone hard too many days in a row, and I'm just sore.

 

[Matias]

Put on a skip chain and it will probably be fine if you don't push it. I sometimes throw a 36" bar on a 60cc saw with full skip so I don't have to lug a monster saw when I need to hike with it. The skip chains make a world of difference, and they are readily available in .050 Ga.

Was waiting for you to chime in bud. That was my original thinking.

 

[Matias]

I have seen a 32" run on a 562. It worked well enough.

 

[Njdelaney]

Put on a skip chain and it will probably be fine if you don't push it. I sometimes throw a 36" bar on a 60cc saw with full skip so I don't have to lug a monster saw when I need to hike with it. The skip chains make a world of difference, and they are readily available in .050 Ga.

This is a good hack but there are consequences. A skip chain gets dull faster for sure, and it also amplifies any irregularities in the sharpening. Ask me how I know hahaha. My progression is T540i with 14" bar and 1/4" pitch chain, 346XP with 20" bar and .325 chain, ported 362 with 25" bar, and then whatever it takes at the stump. I have an 066 if needed.

 

[Shadowscape]

I normally run full skip on all my bars 24" and longer. Yes, they will dull faster, but you only have half the number to sharpen when the time comes. I have not run into amplified irregularities with my sharpening, but I am pretty matriculas when it comes to that portion of maintenance.

 

[Matias]

I do run full skip on all my 24"+, so I am accustomed to it's pros and cons. I'm going to go the route of spending as little as possible until I reach a point where I have achieved a satisfactory solution. I'll check back in with feedback after I get it into something work mentioning.