Post by alaninpa on May 20, 2020 23:22:28 GMT -5
I have a Homelite 245 Model UT-10644 with Homelite 16” Safe-T-Tip bar. All parts are original, except for the Carlton K1 (.325” pitch, .050”ga, 67 DL) chain.
Lately, while looking at available 245 replacement parts online, I began wondering if I should consider modifying my current bar/sprocket/chain combo to possibly improve. However, I realize that manufacturers design their saws to be used with a specific bar/chain/sprocket combo setup to begin with. So I’m uncertain if it’s worthwhile to make any such modifications, or just continue using my saw’s current original setup.
Before making any modifications, I wish to ask a few questions on this board. I’m a chain saw newbie so I’ve tried my best to learn all this chain saw talk and related lingo so I can ask my questions appropriately. BTW… I’ve found the other House of Homelite message to be VERY informative and helpful, providing some info I have been unable to find anywhere esle.
HOMELITE 245 USAGE BACKGROUND
My 245 was originally purchased new by my late father and it was later given to me. This saw has always been very well maintained so it still looks and runs great, even after all of these years. It’s a lightweight saw that cuts well… and it has always seemed good enough for our infrequent needs.
I live in south central Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. The property on which I use this saw consists of 3 acres of home and lawn with a smattering of mature trees, plus another 4 hay field acres with brush/trees along the fence line.
It’s my understanding that the 245 is meant to be a high-speed saw, not a torquer. My 245 with its .325” chain has always seemed to perform capably with any light-duty cutting task. This includes cutting brush, small saplings, and limbs, plus occasionally bucking trees under 15” that have been felled either intentionally or as the result of storms. This 245 has never been used to cut firewood, for lack of any such need.
My saw is mostly used for trimming and bucking mature pines. It’s also occasionally used to limb but not buck a few mature oaks, birches, and maples on the property. My father used a 60cc saw to buck any larger-diameter and/or hardwood trees, when necessary.
CHAIN BAR
Because of my 245’s limited usage throughout the years, its original Homelite 16” Safe-T-Tip bar remains in very good condition, except for a great deal of missing gray bar paint. Because of that lack of paint, only a portion of the bar’s part number remains legible which is ‘21-G4’. Also, ‘075’ is stamped on the bar itself. The bar measures 16” from tip to saw housing, but 19” in total length (excluding the Safe-T-Tip).
According to the 245 Owner’s Manual, the 245 saw models are designed for use with 14”, 16” and 18” bars. There is no mention whatsoever of it working with either a 12” or 20” bar; however, I have found 12” and 20” bars for sale online and they are touted as being 245 compatible.
SPROCKET
My 245 still uses its original Homelite 8T (.325” pitch) spur sprocket part number 97056. I understand from this message board that many original Homelite sprockets may have a 2-digit number stamped on them whereby a ‘32’ is for .325” pitch, a ‘37’ is for 3/8” low profile, and a ‘38’ is for 3/8” regular pitch chain. My sprocket is stamped with a ‘32’ which means that it is suitable for use with .325” pitch chain.
The IPL for my 245 shows the following as being optional original Homelite 245 sprockets: 97172 Sprocket & Drum (37/375 chain only) 6T, 97056 Sprocket & Drum (325P, 8T), or 95458 Sprocket & Drum 3/8", 7T. It’s my understanding, however, from another House of Homelite thread that the 95458 (3/8” 7T) is not actually a suitable sprocket replacement. Evidently, most every 95458 sprocket found online is marked with a ‘38’ for 3/8” regular pitch. Yet, the 245’s apparently never came with 3/8” regular pitch chain, don't really have the power to pull it, and no bars were ever offered in regular 3/8” pitch in Homelite's "4" mount (which fits all the small saws). So this just leaves either the 6T (3/8” low profile) or 8T (.325”) as suitable 245 replacement sprockets.
Despite the age of my saw, its original 8T sprocket still seems to remain in pretty decent shape, showing wear on the teeth in the form of only some very shallow indentations from the chain’s drive links.
CHAIN
Because my saw has an 8T (.325”) socket instead of the 6T (3/8” low profile) one, I’m currently using a Carlton K1 (.325” pitch, .050”ga, 67 DL) chain. Carlton chain was my father’s preference, whereas I currently have none.
It’s my general understanding that .325” chain is a bit more aggressive than 3/8” low profile,.325” has a thinner kerf so it cuts faster and easier, and .325” tends to work better when cutting a lot of wood under 15”, brush or small saplings. The .325 is supposedly better suited for 16-18” bars on 50-55cc saws.
The 3/8” low profile is smaller in cutter height plus lighter than .325”. Smaller saws under 50cc supposedly like the 3/8” low pro on 12-16” bars.
The 3/8” regular pitch chain would normally be used on the bigger (55cc or greater) saws.
Much of this, of course, is dependent on what you are actually cutting.
QUESTIONS
Thank you for providing a forum like House of Homelite for users like me to ask these questions.
If necessary, I can provide photos or additional info.
Alan
Lately, while looking at available 245 replacement parts online, I began wondering if I should consider modifying my current bar/sprocket/chain combo to possibly improve. However, I realize that manufacturers design their saws to be used with a specific bar/chain/sprocket combo setup to begin with. So I’m uncertain if it’s worthwhile to make any such modifications, or just continue using my saw’s current original setup.
Before making any modifications, I wish to ask a few questions on this board. I’m a chain saw newbie so I’ve tried my best to learn all this chain saw talk and related lingo so I can ask my questions appropriately. BTW… I’ve found the other House of Homelite message to be VERY informative and helpful, providing some info I have been unable to find anywhere esle.
HOMELITE 245 USAGE BACKGROUND
My 245 was originally purchased new by my late father and it was later given to me. This saw has always been very well maintained so it still looks and runs great, even after all of these years. It’s a lightweight saw that cuts well… and it has always seemed good enough for our infrequent needs.
I live in south central Pennsylvania near Gettysburg. The property on which I use this saw consists of 3 acres of home and lawn with a smattering of mature trees, plus another 4 hay field acres with brush/trees along the fence line.
It’s my understanding that the 245 is meant to be a high-speed saw, not a torquer. My 245 with its .325” chain has always seemed to perform capably with any light-duty cutting task. This includes cutting brush, small saplings, and limbs, plus occasionally bucking trees under 15” that have been felled either intentionally or as the result of storms. This 245 has never been used to cut firewood, for lack of any such need.
My saw is mostly used for trimming and bucking mature pines. It’s also occasionally used to limb but not buck a few mature oaks, birches, and maples on the property. My father used a 60cc saw to buck any larger-diameter and/or hardwood trees, when necessary.
CHAIN BAR
Because of my 245’s limited usage throughout the years, its original Homelite 16” Safe-T-Tip bar remains in very good condition, except for a great deal of missing gray bar paint. Because of that lack of paint, only a portion of the bar’s part number remains legible which is ‘21-G4’. Also, ‘075’ is stamped on the bar itself. The bar measures 16” from tip to saw housing, but 19” in total length (excluding the Safe-T-Tip).
According to the 245 Owner’s Manual, the 245 saw models are designed for use with 14”, 16” and 18” bars. There is no mention whatsoever of it working with either a 12” or 20” bar; however, I have found 12” and 20” bars for sale online and they are touted as being 245 compatible.
SPROCKET
My 245 still uses its original Homelite 8T (.325” pitch) spur sprocket part number 97056. I understand from this message board that many original Homelite sprockets may have a 2-digit number stamped on them whereby a ‘32’ is for .325” pitch, a ‘37’ is for 3/8” low profile, and a ‘38’ is for 3/8” regular pitch chain. My sprocket is stamped with a ‘32’ which means that it is suitable for use with .325” pitch chain.
The IPL for my 245 shows the following as being optional original Homelite 245 sprockets: 97172 Sprocket & Drum (37/375 chain only) 6T, 97056 Sprocket & Drum (325P, 8T), or 95458 Sprocket & Drum 3/8", 7T. It’s my understanding, however, from another House of Homelite thread that the 95458 (3/8” 7T) is not actually a suitable sprocket replacement. Evidently, most every 95458 sprocket found online is marked with a ‘38’ for 3/8” regular pitch. Yet, the 245’s apparently never came with 3/8” regular pitch chain, don't really have the power to pull it, and no bars were ever offered in regular 3/8” pitch in Homelite's "4" mount (which fits all the small saws). So this just leaves either the 6T (3/8” low profile) or 8T (.325”) as suitable 245 replacement sprockets.
Despite the age of my saw, its original 8T sprocket still seems to remain in pretty decent shape, showing wear on the teeth in the form of only some very shallow indentations from the chain’s drive links.
CHAIN
Because my saw has an 8T (.325”) socket instead of the 6T (3/8” low profile) one, I’m currently using a Carlton K1 (.325” pitch, .050”ga, 67 DL) chain. Carlton chain was my father’s preference, whereas I currently have none.
It’s my general understanding that .325” chain is a bit more aggressive than 3/8” low profile,.325” has a thinner kerf so it cuts faster and easier, and .325” tends to work better when cutting a lot of wood under 15”, brush or small saplings. The .325 is supposedly better suited for 16-18” bars on 50-55cc saws.
The 3/8” low profile is smaller in cutter height plus lighter than .325”. Smaller saws under 50cc supposedly like the 3/8” low pro on 12-16” bars.
The 3/8” regular pitch chain would normally be used on the bigger (55cc or greater) saws.
Much of this, of course, is dependent on what you are actually cutting.
QUESTIONS
- Is my current 16” bar suitable enough for this 245, or can any performance improvement be had by switching to a 12”, 14”, 18”, 20” bar?
- Are any of those bar sizes completely unsuitable/unsafe for a 245’s power range?
- Can any of those bar sizes be used with the same 8T or 6T sprocket size so that just chain length would need to be changed when one bar is swapped out for the other?
- Would there be any benefit(s) to switching from my current 16” bar with 8T (.325”) sprocket to another bar size with a 6T (3/8” low profile) sprocket?
- Before ordering any original Homelite 8T and 6T sprocket for the 245, is it important to verify its inner diameter? I had read somewhere that, on 240 sprockets, Homelite used both 2-5/8” and 2-3/8” ID sprockets. Does this also apply to the 245?
- Should I consider switching from the 245’s original spur-type sprocket to one of the aftermarket rim-type sprockets? Are there any benefits or drawbacks to doing so?
- When replacing the 245’s sprocket, under what circumstances should the Homelite Inner Race Part #65746B be used? This is very unclear to me.
- Are the Carlton K1L-BL-67 (.325”, .050ga, 67DL, Full Chisel, Bumperlink) and Oregon 20LPX067G PowerCut™(.325”, .050”ga, 67DL, Full Chisel) decent 245 replacement chains or is there something better?
Thank you for providing a forum like House of Homelite for users like me to ask these questions.
If necessary, I can provide photos or additional info.
Alan
