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Largest bar available for a Stihl MS661?

Started by randy_atx, January 12, 2018, 02:17:43 PM

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randy_atx

Greetings.  I currently have a 36" stihl bar for my 661 but I want to move up to at least a 48".  I can't locate a Stihl branded one that will work.  Can anyone point me to a lead?  Thanks
Stihl 661 CM with 36" bar, Alaskan MK III

HolmenTree

Good luck finding a MS661/3003 Stihl mount bar over 36".
You have to go into the larger MS880/3002 mount 42" and beyond but they won't fit you 661.
Only option is a special order from Cannon with one of their Super Bars.
What are you cutting?
Making a living with a saw since age 16.

randy_atx

I've got some oak logs that are larger than what I can slab with by 36" bar and alaskan mill. I wanted to try and produce some wider slabs by upgrading the bar and customizing my current mill.
Stihl 661 CM with 36" bar, Alaskan MK III

YellowHammer

I couldn't find a Stihl brand bar that size.  However, this one works petty well with a Stihl skip tooth chan.  52" long and fits my MS661 no probelm.  I use it to split big logs.



YellowHammerisms:

Take steps to save steps.

If it won't roll, its not a log; it's still a tree.  Sawmills cut logs, not trees.

Kiln drying wood: When the cookies are burned, they're burned, and you can't fix them.

Sawing is fun for the first couple million boards.

Be smarter than the sawdust

DelawhereJoe

Baileys online has a 42"  in .375 (3/8) oregon B&C combo for $140 + s&h or a 50" in .404 but currently out of stock on it.
WD-40, DUCT TAPE, 024, 026, 362c-m, 041, homelite xl, JD 2510

Al_Smith

FWIW I have an Oregon 42" .404 originally sized for an 066 Stihl  with the slot milled out now fitting an 084 Stihl .It's an older bar but I could get the numbers from the bar if you like .It was fairly cheap off of flea bay a few years back .Less than 50 bucks with a chain .

randy_atx

Thanks, YellowHammer.  The saw sitting on the shredder deck wasn't obvious to me at first.  That is a  nice looking setup.  Do you have the part number of the bar?  That would be helpful as this size bar would be ideal for what I am envisioning.

Joe, thanks for the Baileys info.  I may contact them to see if they know when the 50" would be off backorder.

Al, I wouldn't mind getting the numbers from you in case I need to go with that option.  Thanks!
Stihl 661 CM with 36" bar, Alaskan MK III

YellowHammer

I forgot to mention the chainsaw and bar was sitting in the mower deck from a day of splitting logs.

YellowHammerisms:

Take steps to save steps.

If it won't roll, its not a log; it's still a tree.  Sawmills cut logs, not trees.

Kiln drying wood: When the cookies are burned, they're burned, and you can't fix them.

Sawing is fun for the first couple million boards.

Be smarter than the sawdust

DelawhereJoe

Last night I was unable to see the saw on the mower deck, but can definitely see it there this morning after getting sleep.
WD-40, DUCT TAPE, 024, 026, 362c-m, 041, homelite xl, JD 2510

4x4American

I tried to get one of them 3003 mount canon bars from baileys I think it was $350 but they were sold out or discontinued at the time
Boy, back in my day..

HolmenTree

The last 3003 mount Stihl saw that could pull a 48"-50" chain with authority was the 056Mag2.
It was discontinued over 25 years ago.
Those old bars are available on eBay sometimes.
Making a living with a saw since age 16.

Jesper Jepsen

You don't want to mill oak with a 48" bar on a MS661 it hasn't the power needed, beyond 42" you are pretty much in double powerhead territory with a MS 661 and then you can go big. A MS 661 and MS 362 can get around 72" bar cutting  when running double head.

HolmenTree

Making a living with a saw since age 16.

ZeroJunk

Quote from: Jesper Jepsen on January 13, 2018, 11:46:14 AM
You don't want to mill oak with a 48" bar on a MS661 it hasn't the power needed, beyond 42" you are pretty much in double powerhead territory with a MS 661 and then you can go big. A MS 661 and MS 362 can get around 72" bar cutting  when running double head.

Curious how that works ?

Al_Smith

I just looked on flea bay and there are a bunch of 42" Stihl mount bars for 066 size .I only found one used one in .404 size .There is a Canon too if you want to pay the tarrif .They are very  proud of those bars  but they say they are a very good .Then again in my case the bar would cost about twice as much as any saw I've ever bought .Tight wad ya know . ;D

HolmenTree

Quote from: ZeroJunk on January 13, 2018, 02:55:51 PM
Quote from: Jesper Jepsen on January 13, 2018, 11:46:14 AM
You don't want to mill oak with a 48" bar on a MS661 it hasn't the power needed, beyond 42" you are pretty much in double powerhead territory with a MS 661 and then you can go big. A MS 661 and MS 362 can get around 72" bar cutting  when running double head.

Curious how that works ?
You don't need matched powerheads milling on a double ended bar.
Me and my buddy ran a 066 and 044 on the same loop of chain milling lumber quite a few times.
They cut like crazy together even though both run different rpm at WOT by themselves. They even out real nice together.

Making a living with a saw since age 16.

Dave Shepard

It's no different than Arnold Schwarzenegger and DannyDeVito on a tandem bike. Arnold might be doing most of the work, but the bike is going to go faster than if just one of them was on the bike.
Wood-Mizer LT40HDD51-WR Wireless, Kubota L48, Honda Rincon 650, TJ208 G-S, and a 60"LogRite!

4x4American

Yup I have an 056 mag II, awesome saw still strong.
Boy, back in my day..

Jesper Jepsen


YellowHammer

Quote from: Al_Smith on January 13, 2018, 03:48:24 PM
I just looked on flea bay and there are a bunch of 42" Stihl mount bars for 066 size .I only found one used one in .404 size .There is a Canon too if you want to pay the tarrif .They are very  proud of those bars  but they say they are a very good .Then again in my case the bar would cost about twice as much as any saw I've ever bought .Tight wad ya know . ;D
I looked for a long time for a long bar for my saw, finally found it at a place called "The Little Red Barn" on the web.  The Forrester was half the price of the Cannons.  Most likely an inferior bar to the Cannon, but I don't have any complaints.   Up until then I was using a 32" and having to double cut to split big logs to bring them down to size for my sawmill.  Total pain in the rear.  I visited Customsawyer, where he used a 48" bar on a 66 to split an oak log for the Sycamore project to quarter saw.  Went pretty fast, and uneventful.  So I bought this 52" for the same purpose, and it works quite well.  One cut, done, uneventful and predictable. I don't use a bar this big for routine use, but for what I intended, it works great. 

I wouldn't ever consider chainsaw milling entire logs with one, anyway.   

If I go bigger, I may get a double ended bar, seems I'm running into more 50" to 60" diameter logs these days.  Jesper, that an informative video. 

 
YellowHammerisms:

Take steps to save steps.

If it won't roll, its not a log; it's still a tree.  Sawmills cut logs, not trees.

Kiln drying wood: When the cookies are burned, they're burned, and you can't fix them.

Sawing is fun for the first couple million boards.

Be smarter than the sawdust

gspren

Quote from: Dave Shepard on January 13, 2018, 05:37:46 PM
It's no different than Arnold Schwarzenegger and DannyDeVito on a tandem bike. Arnold might be doing most of the work, but the bike is going to go faster than if just one of them was on the bike.
Remember, in the movie "Twins" Danny and Arnold are twins.
Stihl 041, 044 & 261, Kubota 400 RTV, Kubota BX 2670, Ferris Zero turn

Dave Shepard

That was my inspiration for two opposite humans.  :)
Wood-Mizer LT40HDD51-WR Wireless, Kubota L48, Honda Rincon 650, TJ208 G-S, and a 60"LogRite!

Skeans1

Quote from: randy_atx on January 12, 2018, 02:17:43 PM
Greetings.  I currently have a 36" stihl bar for my 661 but I want to move up to at least a 48".  I can't locate a Stihl branded one that will work.  Can anyone point me to a lead?  Thanks
Last long bar I got was from Madsen's it's one place that specifically tailors to hand fallers so they keep up 84" bars in stock for big Stihl and husky. 066 on down seems like you can get a 50" cannon from a quick look in their catalog and at that I've been told they don't like to pull them even in Doug fir.

mad murdock


Large piece milled on a custom mill my friend built and used to mill this 144" wide black walnut. He used a custom bar and chain that has a cutter every 12" powered by a single 661
Turbosawmill M6 (now M8) Warrior Ultra liteweight, Granberg Alaskan III, lots of saws-gas powered and human powered :D

HolmenTree

Murdock, very interesting!
I heard stories from a few old timers running circular mill saws. When they got into bigger wood they'd leave out every second tooth.
Kind of how I like .404 full skip when the tough gets going.
Old picture here of round filed but have since switched to square file.


  

 
Making a living with a saw since age 16.

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