Stihl chain on Craftsman saw - is it possible?

[fabsroman]

After everything I have read about Stihl chain and actually using mine, I am wondering if I can put a Stihl chain on my dad's Craftsman saw. It is an 18" 40cc saw that was bought in the last 5 years. He wants me to sharpen his chain instead of buying him a new one, but I am pretty sure that thing is dead. He continues to try to cut with it and the difference between his chain and the chain on my saw is night and day. His is throwing out miniscule dust and smoke and mine is throwing out chunks of wood.

Anyway, anybody know whether this is possible and if so, do you have any advice? I was at Sears today looking at what I think is the replacement chain for his saw (i.e., I called him to ask and he has no idea what the model number of the saw is nor which chain he needs) and noticed that it is made by Oregon chain. Thing is, I could not figure out what the pitch, gauge, links, etc. were for the chain.

 

[xyz123]

Yes. It is probably 3/8LP on a crafsman 40cc, so stihl chain is called picco. I would bet it is 050 gage. If so and you want semi chisel it would be PM or PMC and if you want a chain with a cutter similar to a RS you would get picco PS3 .

Make sure it is 3/8 low profile and not .325 which I doubt it will be.

Oregon has a good semi chisel too. VXL and VX the craftsman I would bet came with the (not sure on the lettering) VL aka real slow safety chain.

 

[Avondale]

Recommend you take the saw into Stihl dealership for a sizing. It might be safe to assume someone else's saw is in original state, it may not be the case. A knowledgable dealer can quickly determine the bar and drive mechanism size and provide the correct chain for your saw.

 

[fabsroman]

Recommend you take the saw into Stihl dealership for a sizing. It might be safe to assume someone else's saw is in original state, it may not be the case. A knowledgable dealer can quickly determine the bar and drive mechanism size and provide the correct chain for your saw.

That is a really good idea. Thanks for the advice. After doing more "googling", I am leaning toward the post above of 3/8" picco. The teeth on my dad's saw look like the picco.

Taking it to my local Stihl dealer will allow me to ask questions like "Will a RS chisel chain work on this?"

 

[Avondale]

There are some good threads on this site that answer many questions about chain types/use/etc.

 

[xyz123]

No RS for 3/8LP. PS3 is the newest full chisel chain out for picco and is little brother to rs cutter style. 63PS3 is 3/8lp 050.

 

[fabsroman]

No RS for 3/8LP. PS3 is the newest full chisel chain out for picco and is little brother to rs cutter style. 63PS3 is 3/8lp 050.

Slowly but surely, I am figuring this out.

The Oregon replacement for the saw is:

91VG062G

The Stihl equivalent is 63PM1.

Now, my big problem seems to be finding it in 62 drive links because it looks like it comes in 64 or 67 drive links. What a PITA.

 

[xyz123]

PM1 :thumbdown: 91VG :thumbdown: Junk and slow cutting.

Go with PM PMC PS3 in stihl or oregon VXL VX

Also Carlton or Windsor have some good 3/8lp non safety chain.

Go to your dealer and make sure you have chain in hand so he sees it is 3/8lp 050 and 62dl. Tell him to make you a loop of 62dl in pmc pm ps3. That easy.

Here is a thread where I tested 3/8lp. I didnt have any pmc pm to compare to the others though.

http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/chain/picco-38lp-round-chisel-cutter-chain/msg3491/#new

 

[xyz123]

Here is oregon VXL non safety chain semi chisel for $12.99 plus shipping. Poulan-Husqvarna 18" CHAIN OREGON 3/8-62 DRIVE LINKS | eBay

 

[fabsroman]

PM1 :thumbdown: 91VG :thumbdown: Junk and slow cutting.

Go with PM PMC PS3 in stihl or oregon VXL VX

Also Carlton or Windsor have some good 3/8lp non safety chain.

Go to your dealer and make sure you have chain in hand so he sees it is 3/8lp 050 and 62dl. Tell him to make you a loop of 62dl in pmc pm ps3. That easy.

Here is a thread where I tested 3/8lp. I didnt have any pmc pm to compare to the others though.

http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/chain/picco-38lp-round-chisel-cutter-chain/msg3491/#new

Just found a 63PMC-62 that looks like it will work on that saw. The current chain he has on it looks like it is about good enough to cut twigs and maybe small limbs.

 

[jonyyuma]

Just a nickles worth of advice. You can count the teeth and write it down, BUT that does not mean the shipper will MATCH your request.....This has happened several times on replacement Stihl chains.. Then you take it {the internet chain} to the saw shop and have it shortened and rerivited. They will tell you they could have done it better and for the same price. I have been there.. Unless you match your chain in the shop yourself??

 

[xyz123]

You can count the teeth and write it down,

Another nickles worth :laughing: dont count the teeth as you called it or cutters as they are called. You want to count drive links. :thumbsup:

 

[fabsroman]

Just a nickles worth of advice. You can count the teeth and write it down, BUT that does not mean the shipper will MATCH your request.....This has happened several times on replacement Stihl chains.. Then you take it {the internet chain} to the saw shop and have it shortened and rerivited. They will tell you they could have done it better and for the same price. I have been there.. Unless you match your chain in the shop yourself??

Yeah, the chain I found comes with 62 links out of the box. I've dealt with bicycle chains for the past 25 years and know how to count chain links, regardless of what is hanging above (i.e., cutter and guides) or below them (i.e., drive links).

I think this will work out pretty well. It actually happens to be the same guy I was going to buy RSC chain for my MS261 and MS660. I can get it all shipped in one single package.

 

[ModMech]

It takes the local guy less time to peel the chain off the spool, measure, cut and rivit than it does me filling out an on-line order form. God forbid I go to a discount, know-nothing type store..... I'll be standing for a longer time than if I WALKED to the local SE shop and let him do it.

 

[fabsroman]

It takes the local guy less time to peel the chain off the spool, measure, cut and rivit than it does me filling out an on-line order form. God forbid I go to a discount, know-nothing type store..... I'll be standing for a longer time than if I WALKED to the local SE shop and let him do it.

The local stores are 15 and 20 minutes away one way. It took me a lot less time to find the chains on e-bay from a single seller and have him ship all 5 to me for $10 total in shipping. I got 5 chains for a total of $95. At the local place that I bought the saws from, I got 2 chains for $50 and that does not include my time to drive there and the cost of gas. Nope, I prefer ordering online and having things sent to me. Now, trying to find help at Sears is utterly ridiculous. Oh, and the guy I ordered the chains from was able to match up a Stihl chain to the Craftsman saw just by me giving him the Craftsman part number.

With that said, it does take 3 or 4 days to receive the chains. Luckily, I am not in a hurry for the chains right now. Otherwise, I would be making that trip to the local guy and paying more for the chains.

 

[ModMech]

If I need chain, I just stop in while I am in town for groceries or shuttling the kids, takes almost no time and my $$$ stays in our town. I also KNOW the chain is OEM STIHL chain because he gets it from the distributor directly.

 

[jonyyuma]

Another nickles worth :laughing: dont count the teeth as you called it or cutters as they are called. You want to count drive links. :thumbsup:

Correct, I did not have my hard-drive fully engaged when i wrote cutters??I stand humbly before you waiting for the crack of the ruler across my hand..Sorry.

 

[fabsroman]

If I need chain, I just stop in while I am in town for groceries or shuttling the kids, takes almost no time and my $$$ stays in our town. I also KNOW the chain is OEM STIHL chain because he gets it from the distributor directly.

That there is the difference. I don't ever use the term "stop in while I am in town". We are right on the fringe of the city. Maybe 6 miles away from the nearest Stihl dealer and 3 miles away from the nearest grocery store. The dealer Stihl dealer there, an Ace Hardware, is just as expensive as the other Stihl dealer I bought the saws from that is about 13 miles away each way. There is another dealer about 7 miles away, but I haven't checked that place out yet. Who knows, maybe they will be closer to the internet price.

All I know is I paid $52.85 for two 18" chains from the dealer and $95 for five chains (i.e., three 18" and two 25") from a guy on the internet. Seems like a much better deal to me. $10 cheaper with a "free" chain and I don't have to waste any gas.

 

[20 20]

Stihl chain on Craftsman saw

Wouldn't this make the chain worth more then the saw. :laughing:

Oregon chains should work fine on the craftsman as long as they are SHARP. They're not as good quility chain and won't last as long nor hold an edge as long, but they should work.

 

[fabsroman]

Stihl chain on Craftsman saw

Wouldn't this make the chain worth more then the saw. :laughing:

Oregon chains should work fine on the craftsman as long as they are SHARP. They're not as good quility chain and won't last as long nor hold an edge as long, but they should work.

Probably. However, the chain one of the most important parts of the saw. I got the Stihl chain for his saw for $15 a piece plus $1 each for shipping. At sears they wanted $20 for the Craftsman version, which is made by Oregon. So, I think I did pretty good with the Stihl chain for $16 total. Maybe his saw will actually be able to cut something now, even if it is just the small limbs on the tree.