If I swap-on a 16", or 14", bar & chain onto my 42cc / 18"-OEM-bar chainaw, will I have a significant cut-power boost?
I've been reading about everything related to chainsaws that I can find (and youtubing, especially Steve's Saloon series!) but haven't found a solid answer to this yet… If you're very very comfortable with a powerhead that came OEM with an 18" bar, but you never ever plan to use the thing in a manner that'd require >14" bar, wouldn't you get a serious power-boost by using the 14" bar (relative to the 18")?
Thanks for any answers/explanations on this one, am aware my 18" accommodates 14" and 16" bars (with specific drive-links at least) and wanting to down-grade the bar size (as I need more than this 18"s 42cc powerhead for my biggest saw) and just kinda hoping it's worthwhile to make the downgrade (instead of just buying another 18" chain for it, despite never using it on stuff over 1-2' wide!)
Also curious what type of chain(s) would be the most-aggressive that I could get, have read Oregon's manual and while it describes them it doesn't really say "this is the strongest"…I know I don't want a 'safety chain' (cut-link as every-other-link on the chain) but past that am unsure where to aim, bar/sprocket are generic 3/8" / 0.050"…actually I have a 14" with bad powerhead, may do some comparison-testing if the drive-links & pitch & gauge are appropriate for my 42cc's sprocket!
Best Answer
No. Or yes.
It isn't like gearing. A shorter chain doesn't compound torque like a smaller gear does. The amount of force applied at any point on the chain is identical.
However, the shorter bar limits how much contact the chain can make with the wood. Herein lies the difference. If you're cutting 16" of wood rather than 18" the motor isn't working as hard.
Should you do it? Probably not. You needlessly restrict yourself with respect to reach, and you can accomplish the same goal by working in a less aggressive manner when you're dealing with maximum-depth cuts.