Stihl 026 PRO bar and chain replacement options:

[panorain]

Hi, I am an individual and I sometimes clear on some land alone in the woods. Clearing tree's limb's and brush by hand with 4-wheeler and trailer. It is very sandy there and most of what I clean is down already. It's alot of shrub oak and some pine. I own a Stihl 026 Pro and the original bar I think is about done. I have flipped it through it's life, rolled it with a bar roller and filed the rails with file and guide also. When flipped one way it starts smoking when cutting now. The other way it does not smoke. It cuts straight for the most part.

I would like to ask for your recommendations on a new bar and even the possibility of a couple new chains if possible for the saw.
I have found this Archer bar and chain combo on ebay :< 16" Guide Bar 325-050-67DL fits Stihl 028, 029, MS260 MS290, MS291 WITH CHAIN!! | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/385473924566
Another Archer on ebay :< 16" Archer Bar Chain Combo .325-063-67DL fits Stihl 024 028 029 MS290 MS291 | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/381491539652

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I have been using some full chisel Oregon chains I bought with the saw when new. They seem to stretch (even with pentip gap on bottom middle of bar after tightening) and dull kindof quickly.

Current chain size and bar type are 16 inch Stihl Rollomatic bar using .325 pitch with 67 drive links .050 gauge almost certain of this. I've been using a 5/32 file to sharpen chain with the old 01 era Stihl gold file guide.

-Regards and thank you

 

[davidwyby]

Stihl 23rs for the chain, you’ll love it, and stay sharp longer.

Personally I’d get a 20” lightweight bar for some reach, but the saw might not like that much buried in a big log.

 

[Nutball]

I highly recommend not going cheap on a bar. Cheap on a chain is not a great idea either, but much more forgiving than a cheap bar. Archer "Australia" products are made in China to the best of my knowledge, and the quality shows it.

Their chains are usually good enough, but often has chrome on some filing surfaces making sharpening with a file impossible without first grinding or using a diamond file. Even Oregon and Stihl chains occasionally have this problem.

I'd definitely get a Stihl bar. I like being cheap, but I've learned, and Stihl bars are worth it. Now Husqvarna bars have recently gotten as good, but they won't fit. Oregon bars are ok if you have to use them. Stay away from all other brands of bars except for Sugihara and GB.

Stihl yellow chain is very fast and aggressive out of the box, and stays sharp longer than Oregon. Oregon is softer & easier to file, Archer has thick chrome and also stays sharp a long time. Husqvarna chain is very good, but a little harder to file than Stihl.

I much prefer Oregon files over Stihl / Pferd or most any other brand.

 

[lxskllr]

How price sensitive? If money isn't a huge problem, I'd buy oem Stihl bar & chain. IMO, there isn't a better oem bar & chain in the business. I like WoodlandPro bars on smaller saws. Never used them on .325 or bigger though. Not familiar with Archer other than knowing the name.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Normally, I would not run more than an 18" bar on that saw with out mods.
Most guys like a narrow curf or low profile chain on the saw
I ran mine 3/8 .050 16" bar and never thought twice about it on the ground or a loft.

 

[davidwyby]

I highly recommend not going cheap on a bar. Cheap on a chain is not a great idea either, but much more forgiving than a cheap bar. Archer "Australia" products are made in China to the best of my knowledge, and the quality shows it.

Their chains are usually good enough, but often has chrome on some filing surfaces making sharpening with a file impossible without first grinding or using a diamond file. Even Oregon and Stihl chains occasionally have this problem.

I'd definitely get a Stihl bar. I like being cheap, but I've learned, and Stihl bars are worth it. Now Husqvarna bars have recently gotten as good, but they won't fit. Oregon bars are ok if you have to use them. Stay away from all other brands of bars except for Sugihara and GB.

Tsumura seems ok

 

[Nutball]

Tsumura tends to have a narrow slot on Stihls for minimal adjustment, and so do many Archer bars.