Stihl MS260 best chain/bar size combo

R

rangerdanger

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
What would you guys recommend for a Stihl MS260. Right now we run a 20in bar on it, with .325 chain. We wondered what size bar is best for this saw (18in maybe?) and if it'll run better with a 3/8, .50 chain. Our local dealer said it would put too much stress on the saw, but all our other saws run 3/8's, so it would be sweet if we could do it on the 260. (I know it can, just wanted to get others input to see if they've done it yet) Thanks guys!

Also, anyone know anything about Oregon chain. We started to make our own chains now and wondered if Oregon was good compared to Stihl, etc.
 
18, at the MOST.

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What would you guys recommend for a Stihl MS260. Right now we run a 20in bar on it.

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Whaaat! Do you guys have a habit of trying to kill your saws or what!? Didn't you guys try and use a 288xp with a 36inch bar one time!

16 inch on a ms260, any more and you'll be sending it to an early grave.
 
Thanks. And no, we never tried a 36in on a 288. Do you think were crazy?? We run a 24in on it, but it hardly gets used since the chain brake is acting up. Need to fix it. And the 20" 260 pulls just fine. It's been pulling it for 2 years straight or longer with no probelms at all. I'm going to buy an 18" bar for it later on, when I get some money.
 
Thanks MB and Norm. This has been my favorite saw ever since we bought it (No idea why, just calls to me for some reason) and I'm trying to keep it in the best shape I can. Since I started running saws now, I've sort of taken to it and am trying to find a new bar/chain that will work the best!!
 
Question for Norm and others. I got on Baileys website and found the 95VP chain, but it says I need a narrow kerf bar for me to get its full potential. I found an ArborPro one, but it dosen't fit Stihl. Any ideas on where to find an 18in and 16in narrow kerf bars. Thanks
 
16 inch bar on a 288xp sounds perfect. I'm gonna set that up this week and give my 288xp a new lease of life, gonna give it a stupid name like 'the beast' and use it for special occasions such as crosscutting Beech stems that have an average diameter of 12 inches.
 
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And the 20" 260 pulls just fine. It's been pulling it for 2 years straight or longer with no probelms at all.

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What you guys been cutting with it? Balsa wood?!

A 20inch bar on a 26 is wrong in so many ways, its like putting a 3 cylinder 23hp Kubota engine in a Ford F150.

Ranger, try it with the 16 and you'll see how good the 26 really can be.
 
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Question for Norm and others. I got on Baileys website and found the 95VP chain, but it says I need a narrow kerf bar for me to get its full potential. I found an ArborPro one, but it dosen't fit Stihl. Any ideas on where to find an 18in and 16in narrow kerf bars. Thanks

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Maybe they don't make narrow kerf bars for that saw. You should be able to look it up online on some bar and chain manufacturing websites. But, the .325 will outcut the 3/8". Plus the .325 is a smoother cutting chain.
 
Thanks Norm. I've been out splitting wood all day, helping a friend and Dad was showing him how to hand sharpen, so I sat and watched for a few. Going to try and start trying it soon. (Mostly on the 260) I also noticed when I use the 260, it does seem to cut smoother than the others.
 
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