550xp Bar size?

[SawTroll]

Does it rub the chain guide plates ? Seems O.K on my 40

 

Likely, but I haven't seen it myself, so I can't say for sure.

 

It works fine on the 346xp family of saws, but again not on the 242xp etc....

[born2trot]

I wouldn't want to use an 18" bar on a 550 because I suspect it would feel awful. It's a 50cc saw, designed to be light, flickable and nicely balanced. If I needed an 18" bar, I'd be reaching for a bigger saw.

 

Husky say about using a 24" bar on a 372 - IMO 20" is as big as it wants and even then it's only if I have to.

 

I'm sure either saw will pull the biggest bars it lists for them, but at the expense of balance and cutting speed if at full bar length.

 

They probably list the bigger bars because it makes it sound more impressive, but just cos it says it in the catalogue, doesn't mean it will work well in the real world

 

Ditto..

[Proe]

Proe - You say it's your first saw, so do you really need to run a 20" bar. And if you do and are going to be using the 20" on a regular basis. Do yourself a favour and get the 560XP in stead. Much more suited to 20" than on the smaller saw.

 

Cheers for the advice, nah i wasn't planning on putting a 20" bar on it i was just wondering about the theory and different chains. I was planning on running a 15" and maybe buying an 18" later to try it out. Would you still recommend the 560 over the 550 if 15" is all i need for now?

 

cheers

[Joe Newton]

Cheers for the advice, nah i wasn't planning on putting a 20" bar on it i was just wondering about the theory and different chains. I was planning on running a 15" and maybe buying an 18" later to try it out. Would you still recommend the 560 over the 550 if 15" is all i need for now?

 

 

 

cheers

 

 

If you can stretch (and I'd really try) I'd buy a 560. 15" is fine on the 550 and it might be all you need for now, but trust me, pretty soon you may wish you had a bigger saw. The 560 will run a 15" and an 18" very happily, and will save you buying another saw in the future. Much cheaper overall.

[SawTroll]

I wouldn't want to use an 18" bar on a 550 because I suspect it would feel awful. It's a 50cc saw, designed to be light, flickable and nicely balanced. If I needed an 18" bar, I'd be reaching for a bigger saw.

 

Husky say about using a 24" bar on a 372 - IMO 20" is as big as it wants and even then it's only if I have to.

 

I'm sure either saw will pull the biggest bars it lists for them, but at the expense of balance and cutting speed if at full bar length.

 

They probably list the bigger bars because it makes it sound more impressive, but just cos it says it in the catalogue, doesn't mean it will work well in the real world

 

I mostly agree, and the saws don't handle and balanse well at all with the listed max bar length, even though the saws don't have any real problems in the power department.

 

The main reason to list them may be what you said, but I suspect the expectations in the huge US market also is a factor. The attitude is quite different there, and using "max" bar length much more common.....

 

Personally I'm sort of "between" I guess, as all my 50cc saws have 16" bars on them!

[kiwi mike]

Normally 15" or 16 on a 550 and 18 on a 560 .