MS500i Gauge

[UVXYpaulSPY]

Hate to beat a dead horse, but I got to ask.

All of our saws and extra bars/chains are 0.063, mainly because that is what our old dealer would only stock. I picked up a ms500i with a 0.050 28in bar, the salesperson insists that my 0.063 gauge bars and chains will not work on it.

I always understood that as long as you keep the same gauge on the chain and bar you will be okay.

[barbender]

Your salesperson doesn't know what they are talking about. Guage doesn't matter, pitch does.

[UVXYpaulSPY]

I starting to agree, not the first time a sales person has tried to shove inaccurate "knowledge" my way.

In there defense, I wonder if they were thinking that I was wanting to be swapping gauges consistently. Like going from the 0.050 bar/chain the saw comes with to my 0.063 bar/chains and then back again.

Not sure if that would make much of a difference. But the sprocket would have different gauge wear on it if I was to be swapping.

[barbender]

It wouldn't matter if you swapped them 10 times a day, it makes no difference. Drive sprockets are pitch (.325, 3/8, .404) specific only. You can't even buy say, a .50 guage 3/8 pitch sprocket. It's just 3/8.

[ehp]

it all depends on what your bars were from. If something like a 460,461, 660 or 661 they will work perfect, if off saws like 084,088,880,881 or 090 , saws like that they will not 

[UVXYpaulSPY]

it all depends on what your bars were from. If something like a 460,461, 660 or 661 they will work perfect, if off saws like 084,088,880,881 or 090 , saws like that they will not

The group of saws that I would like to share bars on are 362, 441, 462, 660 and the 500. Bars shared range from 18" to 32", 0.063 ES and ES light. All 36RS chains. Obviously the smaller saws don't get the longer bars. 

[UVXYpaulSPY]

it all depends on what your bars were from. If something like a 460,461, 660 or 661 they will work perfect, if off saws like 084,088,880,881 or 090 , saws like that they will not  

The group of saws that I would like to share bars on are 362, 441, 462, 660 and the 500. Bars shared range from 18" to 32", 0.063 ES and ES light. All 36RS chains. Obviously the smaller saws don't get the longer bars. 

[Tacotodd]

The pt# for the bar (if Stihl, and Oregon) is stamped on it. Stihl starts with a 3003, Oregon (I think) starts with D025. If those numbers are present, then you'll be good to go. However, DON'T put .050 onto a .063 bar. THINGS will happen that you don't want, like premature wear, cutting in a curve, and that's all that I can think of off of the top of my head. But yes, sprockets matter, pitch matters, gauge matters. It's all got to match. Customers have SOME responsibility. Be careful who you listen to and WHAT you listen to.