Need Advice for Chain Saw Chains, for Stihl 044 (2024)

I'm planning on buying a Stihl 044, that I will have to rebuild to get it going, and I was wondering what is recommended for Chains.
With my McCulloch Chain Saws Macs 1-10, 10-10 Automatics, Pro Mac 60, and Pro Mac 700, I run 3/8 Pitch x 0.050 Gauge Semi Chesil with them.
Now I was wondering if I can run 3/8 Pitch x 50 Gauge on the
044, or do I need to run .325 x 0.063 Gauge with it. I've never run a Stihl very much, and have too much experience with the Chain Aspect.
I have worked on them yes, but I can't remember about the Chains. It was 7 years now since I worked on them, so If you Stihl Guys don't mind helping me out here, I Greatly Appreciate it. Thanks. bruce.

.325 would not be a good choice on an 044, too weak and slow in the cut. Run 3/8 .050 in what ever pattern you wish though for wood over 12" or so I would go with full chisel. Stihl RSF or Oregon 72 CJ are good full skip pattern chains.

Yep, run the same stuff as your Macs. I run a 25" with 3/8 .050 full comp, full chisel. Cuts like a Mofo. If you want to run a 28" or larger, I would go full skip. I like the Oregon 72LPX on the 25", cuts fast and smooth.

I run a 28" on mine, with 3/8" and .050 gauge chain. Full skip. Cuts like a raped ape in breeding season!!

Dats da wun!

Thanks Fellas, for the Advice. I was looking at Chains on Oregon's Web Site, and that is what they were calling for 0.325 Chains, and I thought that was too light for this Chain Saw.
Now someone told me that Skip Tooth Chains cut faster than Full Chain, (or what ever they call it). Is that true? I never knew about Skip Tooth Chain, until I joined AS back in April.
Thanks again for the Help, and Advice. Bruce.

Full skip does not cut faster than full comp on standard size (or appropriate) bars, with few exceptions to certain woods. It clears chips better, and has fewer cutters, making it great for big wood with long bars. If you're running a 25" bar or shorter, in mixed wood, run full comp RS or RSC Chain, if you're running anything bigger than that and plan on burying the bar, got with full skip. I run 3/8th .050 RSC on my 25" bar, or my 20" bar. I also have a few loops of semi chisel RM chain for dirty stuff. If I go to the big 28" or 32" bar (I don't have the 394 to pull those anymore, but still need to sometimes, and the 044 will do it), I throw on a loop of full skip, and let the saw do the work... Don't force it.

Thinner Kerf will cut faster, but I wouldn't trust it in anything but deep woods where there's no trash in the tree. Lord knows an 044 could tear a .325 chain apart if you happened to snag it on some barbed wire.

Hey Gary

I have an 066 with a modified 16" bar with .325 and a 10 pin.Scary fast.

Just don't know which oil is best, any clue?

Best b&c for a 044? Anything 25"-32", Stihl Rollomatic ES bar and Stihl RSC chain. Then do some of this>

What he said. I know that when i went to buy mine, the three options were 25",28", and 32" inch. I picked the 28" and i sometimes run a 32" if i need to (or don't want to bend over!) but my saw will pull them both just fine, and i have just a muffler mod and no head gasket. Buy one, you won't be disapointed.