Ported 346xp

[davidwyby]

I like ⅜"lp a lot. I wouldn't mind seeing .325 just gone. It's the black sheep of the chain family, and is used on exactly one class of saw.

On shorter bars I bet 23rs is faster. More cutters closer together. Maybe even on 24”, only concern would be chip flow.

 

[lxskllr]

It would be interesting seeing timed cuts between them, and what the actual numbers are.

 

[davidwyby]

It would be interesting seeing timed cuts between them, and what the actual numbers are.

Guys have done it, on YT I’m sure. Trick is, a tiny difference in sharpening or raker height could throw it off. I had filed this chain last time and wasn’t happy with it so I went over it with a husky roller guide and she came to life.

The 23rs I have run a lot and it flat rips and doesn’t seem to care how I file it or if it’s even really sharp. The rakers are kinda low and the saw has power…less drag with the narrow kerf.

A buddy who grinds chain for racers says taller cutters are faster and .325” is taller.

 

[Nutball]

I use .325 on a short bar on a big saw with 9 tooth rim for fast firewood cutting under 20".

 

[davidwyby]

I use .325 on a short bar on a big saw with 9 tooth rim for fast firewood cutting under 20".

I have not gotten around to trying the small chain on bigger saws yet but Aussies race with 23rs….fast!

 

[lxskllr]

If I were to do it, I'd use untouched brand new chains from the box. That's about as equal as you can get. I'd expect .325 to be faster, but numbers would tell me how much I should care. 2 seconds in a cut isn't worth adding a third chain style to my inventory.

 

[davidwyby]

If I were to do it, I'd use untouched brand new chains from the box. That's about as equal as you can get. I'd expect .325 to be faster, but numbers would tell me how much I should care. 2 seconds in a cut isn't worth adding a third chain style to my inventory.

Sometimes I consider going back to all full size 3/8” simpler

 

[lxskllr]

I setup my new to me 026 with a 16" bar and fullsize ⅜". Unfortunately, that's how I found out it needs some work(rings I think), and it's been parked since then. I've since gotten an echo 490 which is .325, but at that point, I was tired of looking for replacement parts to convert it, so it's running stock. A 20" bar, which is a little too big I think. ⅜"lp would go nicely with the 20" bar though.

 

[davidwyby]

I setup my new to me 026 with a 16" bar and fullsize ⅜". Unfortunately, that's how I found out it needs some work(rings I think), and it's been parked since then. I've since gotten an echo 490 which is .325, but at that point, I was tired of looking for replacement parts to convert it, so it's running stock. A 20" bar, which is a little too big I think. ⅜"lp would go nicely with the 20" bar though.

Send the 026 to @huskihl

And yes I think that would be a good setup.

I ran a 4910 (I think) that he ported and it was super light and powerful for its size. Smaller version of my 346.

 

[Nutball]

I have not gotten around to trying the small chain on bigger saws yet but Aussies race with 23rs….fast!

I wouldn't call it a smaller chain, just a different pitch. Now .404 I would call a bigger chain rather than just bigger pitch.

 

[davidwyby]

I wouldn't call it a smaller chain, just a different pitch. Now .404 I would call a bigger chain rather than just bigger pitch.

Mmm…I’d say .325” is smaller overall than 3/8” and 3/8” LP smaller yet.

 

[huskihl]

Mmm…I’d say .325” is smaller overall than 3/8” and 3/8” LP smaller yet.

Definitely smaller on both chassis width and height. Height being the reason it’s recommended to sharpen with a 3/16th file rather than 7/32