In order to get the most out of a chainsaw, sometimes you have to swap out some parts. The guide bar, for instance, is a removable piece in case it’s time to replace the bar or take on a different length to accomplish a specific cutting task. Major brands like Stihl and Husqvarna will sell different bar lengths specifically designed for their respective chainsaw models. With that said, what if you somehow wound up with a Stihl bar and a Husqvarna chainsaw? As it turns out, these elements can come together to form a working machine, but it’s not accomplished by just connecting the bar to the chainsaw as you would normally.
Though some have tried, the reality is if you try to put a Stihl bar on a Husqvarna chainsaw outright, it’s not going to work for one reason or another. Stihl bar openings are larger than Husqvarna’s, they also have different driver widths, and there are various other reasons. Thus, you’re better off finding a way to match brands between your bar and saw, this way you avoid the frustration of mismatches altogether — this is, unless you feel particularly adventurous.
Strictly stock, Stihl bars and Husqvarna chainsaws don’t mix. However, with the aid of some extra hardware, and some precise modification, you can make a connection to some level of success.
Mods and adapters work, but are they worth it?
For those adamant about putting Stihl bars on their Husqvarna chainsaw, a solution has presented itself. Throughout the Internet, Stihl-to-Husqvarna adapters have become commonplace, bridging the gap between the two product lines for the convenience of users everywhere. You’ll potentially need to modify the bar a bit, too, extending out the center slot and drilling out the tensioner holes so that they can fit Husqvarna bolts through. Overall, it doesn’t seem like too much effort, but one has to wonder if it’s worth going through so much trouble for the outcome.
Ultimately, how worthwhile fitting a Stihl bar onto a Husqvarna chainsaw comes down to individual skill and priority. Are you comfortable and capable of altering your chainsaw bar, without doing excessive damage and potentially making the tool dangerous to use? Do you trust a third-party adapter on a tool that’s so powerful and, for some users, unwieldy? Not to mention, the cost of the items needed to adapt the bar in the first place could meet or exceed that of a new Husqvarna bar, so why not just take the easy road and buy a natively-compatible piece?
As two of the biggest and best of the major chainsaw brands out there, Stihl and Husqvarna combining their strengths into one unit seems like a tempting proposition. While a Stihl bar can fit a Husqvarna chainsaw with modification and the presence of an adapter, whether it’s worth the time, money, and hassle to make it fit is something only you can answer.