xring100
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2012
- Messages
- 1,540
- Location
- Livingston County, Michigan
- Tractor
- Kubota M8540, ZD1211 60"
Tough choice. My personal preference might be for a 16" and a 20". The weight of the longer bar isn't much, but it's all the way out at the end of the lever. The shorter bar will feel quite a bit lighter. I also don't think two extra inches will make much of a difference as far as bending over is concerned. Of course, it also depends on the size of wood you're working with "right there". If I had to choose one, I'd buy the 18". I have a Shindaiwa 488, which is the same size saw. It came with a 20" bar. I'm looking for a shorter one to swap it with.
Agreed i have a ms361 @ 4.4 hp it has a 20" bar and it is adequate and ballanced but i honestly rarely cut much over 12-14" with it as my ms660 is so much more fun/faster to use on the bigger stuff. If you do go for the 20" bar I'd definitely be running full skip chains more power per cutter less bogging as you will easily stall the clutch on standard chain. In general my experience says stihl sizes their saws to function with the largest bar they advertise but they would generally be happier one size down meaning yes they will cut it but. As someone else mentioned both a 16" and 20" might be nice. Might be able to negotiate for a discount or have at least a spare bar thrown in.
My dads 026 is pretty taxed with 16" burried in a tree.