42 inch bar

[goose63]

I have a 24 inch bar on my 2171 Jred and a 42 inch for it don't use the 42to much would it be ok to use the style chain or should I use skip chain? thank's guy's  

[sawguy21]

The 42" will fit but if you need that much bar the 2171 won't be nearly enough saw.

[goose63]

That old saw pulls the chain on that 42 with Oregon chisel on it

[clww]

Anything past 24", I always use a skip-tooth chain.

[rfm7fxfox]

Curious to know, what are you cutting that you need a 42" bar?

[goose63]

Some big old cotton tree's and big elm tree's

[rfm7fxfox]

42" bar is too big for that poor 2171...

[nmurph]

As others have said, 42" is WAAAY too much bar for a 71cc saw. But if you must, it definitely should be skip chain.

[Oliver1655]

Agreed skip chain for > 24" bars.  However, to me the big concern with the 42" bar is whether the oiler is able to put out enough oil to keep it lubricated.  I have  25" bar on a 56cc saw. Do I try to cut with the full length of the bar at one time? Seldom.  I will cut in part of the way then move the power head so as I continue to cut, part of the bar is over the previously cut area.  If the OP uses the same method, I could see it working - as long as the bar is staying oiled. 

[goose63]

Thank's guy's I don't use all the bar it is oiling good and I grease the tip every time I put gas in. will get skip chain for it

[celliott]

You can easily cut twice the usable length of the bar. I'd keep the 24" on it (or even a 20'') that saw will be alot happier with the shorter bar.
I recently dropped a big cedar (probably close to 40" where I notched it) had to bore in both sides, it worked just fine. That was a 372xp w\20" bar.
Now if you were cutting big trees in a production setting, a big bar is probably the ticket. But then so would a 395xp or a ms660, etc....

[deerslayer]

Thank's guy's I don't use all the bar it is oiling good and I grease the tip every time I put gas in. will get skip chain for it

If you're not using all the bar, then why use that long of a bar? I think about a foot shorter is more appropriate to the saw. I am running an 18" on a 2172 but that's because that's what I have that fits the saw. A 42" is longer than what Stihl recommends for the MS660 so you're really pushing the edge of the envelope with that length on a 2171.