Stihl ms 880 bar size

[Busysawyer]

 I am looking for a shorter bar for my 880. I have a 47in and a 60in and would like something shorter for bucking medium sized logs. What size bar balances well on this power head? 

[HolmenTree]

28" - 32" b/c in .404 46RSF

[Busysawyer]

28" - 32" b/c in .404 46RSF

Ok. Thank you 

[esteadle]

I had a 36" bar on my 880 and it's a bit forward heavy. I agree 25"-32" will be the right balance. 

[Busysawyer]

I had a 36" bar on my 880 and it's a bit forward heavy. I agree 25"-32" will be the right balance.

Thank you for the reply. I will probably go with the shorter side of reccomendations. 

[DelawhereJoe]

Will an 880 running a 25" bar even know your cutting wood with it, or will it think its just being revved up ?

[wild262]

Will an 880 running a 25" bar even know your cutting wood with it, or will it think its just being revved up ?

Or another way to put it;  Its like having a 500 ci Caddy motor in a S-10 pickup. :D

[Busysawyer]

Will an 880 running a 25" bar even know your cutting wood with it, or will it think its just being revved up ?

Pretty sure it won't notice a 25in on it. It pulls a 47in pretty well. I have cut a few oaks that buried the bar and had to cut from the other side to finish the cut and it made short work of those.

Will an 880 running a 25" bar even know your cutting wood with it, or will it think its just being revved up ?

Or another way to put it;  Its like having a 500 ci Caddy motor in a S-10 pickup. :D

Sounds fun. I like overpowered equipment. 
Today I was researching places to send the 880 in for special treatment but I think I'm going to get a 395 and have that done up and leave the 880 stock.  I've always wanted a built up saw. I really don't need any more saws but I like them. I have a 450 rancher with 18in bar, a 455 rancher with 20in bar, ms 201tc with 14in and the ms 880 with a 47 and 60in. I'm thinking a hopped up 395 with a 36in bar could be fun. I have quite a few saws for a non professional guy who just likes to play with them.  Funny thing is that my wife gets it but my dad doesn't. He thought my 455 rancher cut plenty fast enough until he saw the 880 demolishing large oak logs.

[HolmenTree]

If you go 25" make sure to keep a .404 chain on it. My favorite is the Stihl 46RSF on 25" and longer on those big cube saws.

[DelawhereJoe]

Have you looked into buying a ported 372xp ? It would easily replace your 455 and its not much heavier only a pound or 2 but alot more hp and ported its even more hp.

[Busysawyer]

Have you looked into buying a ported 372xp ? It would easily replace your 455 and its not much heavier only a pound or 2 but alot more hp and ported its even more hp.

I have looked at them a little. I made a list of guys that do porting and other work and I was going to call around Monday and see what they had to say. I'll ask about the 372 as well. I have a friend that has a tree service and he runs all husky saws and I've borrowed his 395 a couple times and I always wanted one of my own. I really have no logical reasoning behind buying a 395

If you go 25" make sure to keep a .404 chain on it. My favorite is the Stihl 46RSF on 25" and longer on those big cube saws.

Will do. I have that chain on my 47in bar and have been really impressed with it.

[teakwood]

I had a 36" bar on my 880 and it's a bit forward heavy. I agree 25"-32" will be the right balance.

I agree too. had the exact same setup.
With a 25" that thing is nasty.  Once i had a 18" 3/8 B/C on my 066, that was fun too!

[starmac]

Being as you have that 088, I would think a 372 or maybe the new version of it would fit right in and fill the gapin your line up, that 455 is no comparison at all to a 372, not even close to the same league in my opinion.

[Skeans1]

Sounds fun. I like overpowered equipment.
Today I was researching places to send the 880 in for special treatment but I think I'm going to get a 395 and have that done up and leave the 880 stock.  I've always wanted a built up saw. I really don't need any more saws but I like them. I have a 450 rancher with 18in bar, a 455 rancher with 20in bar, ms 201tc with 14in and the ms 880 with a 47 and 60in. I'm thinking a hopped up 395 with a 36in bar could be fun. I have quite a few saws for a non professional guy who just likes to play with them.  Funny thing is that my wife gets it but my dad doesn't. He thought my 455 rancher cut plenty fast enough until he saw the 880 demolishing large oak logs.

My hopped up 395 will pull a 60 in fir buried without the extra weight of the 090, 088, 3120, or Mac 125.

[Busysawyer]

I had a 36" bar on my 880 and it's a bit forward heavy. I agree 25"-32" will be the right balance.

I agree too. had the exact same setup.
With a 25" that thing is nasty.  Once i had a 18" 3/8 B/C on my 066, that was fun too!

I really want to throw a 25" or 28" on it . Not really practical but sounds like fun .

Being as you have that 088, I would think a 372 or maybe the new version of it would fit right in and fill the gapin your line up, that 455 is no comparison at all to a 372, not even close to the same league in my opinion.

The 455 was my first saw. Not sure when I bought it but it must of been about 12 to 15 years ago now. I bought it to cut firewood to heat my old house. It has been a great, trouble free saw and it has cut a ton of firewood. I agree with you though that it is weak in comparison to the pro level saws. What is the new version of the 372? 372xpg ?

Sounds fun. I like overpowered equipment.
Today I was researching places to send the 880 in for special treatment but I think I'm going to get a 395 and have that done up and leave the 880 stock.  I've always wanted a built up saw. I really don't need any more saws but I like them. I have a 450 rancher with 18in bar, a 455 rancher with 20in bar, ms 201tc with 14in and the ms 880 with a 47 and 60in. I'm thinking a hopped up 395 with a 36in bar could be fun. I have quite a few saws for a non professional guy who just likes to play with them.  Funny thing is that my wife gets it but my dad doesn't. He thought my 455 rancher cut plenty fast enough until he saw the 880 demolishing large oak logs.

My hopped up 395 will pull a 60 in fir buried without the extra weight of the 090, 088, 3120, or Mac 125.

I believe it. I have done a lot of reading on modded 395s and that seems to be what I've been seeing.  

[starmac]

I want to say the new version coming out is 572, but others will know more than I. I think the XPG designation meant heated handles, I want to say the last 372 was extratorque  or some such thing.

[wild262]

I want to say the new version coming out is 572, but others will know more than I. I think the XPG designation meant heated handles, I want to say the last 372 was extratorque  or some such thing.

Yes Starmac, You are correct.  Husky 572 is newest 72cc class Husky coming out.  The current X-Torq, has a bit more "low end" than the standard 1st edition 372.  Guess that's why they call it X-Torq.  The "G" stands for generator on the heated handle saws.  Hopefully Husky will solve the main bearing issues with the X-Torq on the new 572's.

[Maine372]

as you put shorter bars on the 880 you can start increasing the sprocket size. you have the horsepower to run in a higher gear. I have two saws that get sprocket changes with bar changes. I haven't run an 880 so I cant recommend a sprocket bar ratio for you.

[Southside]

Wicked Work Saws out of Tennessee does great custom porting work and sells new saws ported to your liking. 

[HolmenTree]

Easy to swap out different rim sprockets on the 088 inboard clutch drum. 
With a 25" -28" .404 b/c a 8 tooth .404 rim would be perfect. 
Not a common rim now a days. I have a couple of Oregon ones.

[HolmenTree]

I want to say the new version coming out is 572, but others will know more than I. I think the XPG designation meant heated handles, I want to say the last 372 was extratorque  or some such thing.

Yes Starmac, You are correct.  Husky 572 is newest 72cc class Husky coming out.  The current X-Torq, has a bit more "low end" than the standard 1st edition 372.  Guess that's why they call it X-Torq.  The "G" stands for generator on the heated handle saws.  Hopefully Husky will solve the main bearing issues with the X-Torq on the new 572's.

Yep the main bearings were a major concern for Husqvarna in their development of the 572XP. They actually over built it with those 2 huge main bearings. All they need to do now is put a larger piston/cylinder on to make the power to weight ratio competitive. 

[Busysawyer]

Wicked Work Saws out of Tennessee does great custom porting work and sells new saws ported to your liking.

Called wicked work saws today and got a machine saying he broke his ankle and will be out of the shop for a few weeks. I'm in no hurry. 

I want to say the new version coming out is 572, but others will know more than I. I think the XPG designation meant heated handles, I want to say the last 372 was extratorque  or some such thing.

Yes Starmac, You are correct.  Husky 572 is newest 72cc class Husky coming out.  The current X-Torq, has a bit more "low end" than the standard 1st edition 372.  Guess that's why they call it X-Torq.  The "G" stands for generator on the heated handle saws.  Hopefully Husky will solve the main bearing issues with the X-Torq on the new 572's.

Yep the main bearings were a major concern for Husqvarna in their development of the 572XP. They actually over built it with those 2 huge main bearings. All they need to do now is put a larger piston/cylinder on to make the power to weight ratio competitive.  

Is it your opinion that the stihl is a better saw overall.  I have had good luck with both and don't have a preference between those two. The only thing is that none of the local husky dealers will work with pricing. I saved around 500 when I bought my 880 and 201 together.  Local husky places wouldn't budge a penny.

[teakwood]

Local husky places wouldn't budge a penny.

another good reason to buy stihl! 

[Busysawyer]

Local husky places wouldn't budge a penny.

another good reason to buy stihl!

That's the main reason I bought the 880 and 201. I tried to buy a 540 and 3120 from about 6 local dealers and not one would budge a penny . Then they all told me I would have to wait weeks for delivery of the 3120 and tried talking me into a 395 which they all had in stock. After calling every husky dealer in a 20 mile radius I decided to call a stihl dealer.  More than 500 off retail , making it substantially less money that the 2 husky saws and they had my 880 by noon the next day. 

[Busysawyer]

Also I just have to add. I did have an issue with the 201. The second time I used it I noticed the pull cord was frayed and nearly severed about 4in from the handle. I called the dealer and they said they would take care of it and to drop it off whenever was convenient for me or just use it until it broke and bring it in then. I used it for a few weeks and had a few days when I knew I wasn't going to need it. I dropped it off and mentioned I don't get out that way often and it is about a 25 minute drive for me to get there. Two days later they had it fixed and brought it out to my house and told me if I have any issues with equipment I get from them just call and they would pick it up next time. They went way above and beyond any place I've dealt with in the past.