Stihl 028 Super 20-Inch Bar (Fitment Guide)
A 20-inch bar can fit a serviceable Stihl 028 Super, but length alone does not confirm compatibility. Before buying, match the bar mount and oil holes, sprocket and bar-nose pitch, chain gauge, and drive-link count. A commonly seen setup is 3/8-inch pitch, .063-inch gauge, and 72 drive links; check your actual parts and the bar maker’s chart first.
A common frustration is finding a bar listed as “fits Stihl 028” only to discover that its chain, sprocket, or mount does not match the saw in front of you. Replacement parts and 028 versions can differ, so a model name is a starting point, not a complete fitment check.
I treat the bar, chain, and sprocket as a matched set. Below, I’ll walk through the measurements to verify, the limits of a 20-inch setup, and the checks to make before and after installation. If a marking is unreadable, confirm it with the part maker or a saw service shop rather than guessing.
Equipment Setup & Safety Prep
A 20-inch guide bar is a conditional fit for the 028 Super, not an automatic one. The saw has approximately 47 cm³ displacement, but engine size does not prove that a particular bar will mount, receive oil, or run the correct chain. Check every interface before ordering or cutting.
Start with the existing parts. With the saw off and cool, remove the sprocket cover and read the markings on the bar, chain, and drive sprocket where possible. If parts have been replaced, the markings describe the installed components, not necessarily the saw’s original factory setup.
Check the four fitment points
- Bar mount: Compare the bar’s mount pattern with the saw’s studs and the bar maker’s fitment chart. The bar must seat correctly, and its oil hole must line up with the saw’s oil outlet.
- Chain pitch: Pitch is the spacing measurement used to match the chain to the drive sprocket and bar-nose sprocket. Both sprockets and the chain must use the same pitch.
- Chain gauge: Gauge is the thickness of the chain’s drive links, which sit in the bar groove. The chain gauge must match the bar groove.
- Drive-link count: Count the chain’s drive links, the small links that run inside the bar groove. Use the bar maker’s specified count for the exact bar, pitch, and mount combination.
A commonly encountered 028 Super arrangement is a 20-inch bar with 3/8-inch pitch, .063-inch gauge, and 72 drive links. Treat that as a check-list item, not a guaranteed specification. Bar design and replacement components can change the required chain length.
| What to verify | Example commonly encountered setup | What confirms the match |
|---|---|---|
| Bar length | 20 in | Bar marking and maker’s chart |
| Chain pitch | 3/8 in | Chain, drive sprocket, and nose sprocket markings |
| Chain gauge | .063 in | Chain drive-link gauge and bar groove |
| Drive links | 72 | Exact bar maker’s chain specification |
| Mount and oiling | Must match the saw | Fitment chart and visible oil-hole alignment |
A chain that is too long or too short is not corrected by forcing the tensioner. Likewise, a chain with the wrong gauge may not sit or move properly in the groove. If the bar’s identity is unclear, take the saw and bar details to a parts supplier who can check the fitment chart.
Prepare the saw and work area
Before fitting or using the bar, check that the saw is serviceable. Inspect the chain brake, throttle interlock, chain catcher, handles, fasteners, bar rails, and oiling system. Wear a helmet with face and eye protection, hearing protection, chainsaw chaps, gloves, and protective boots. Use ANSI Z133 work practices; OSHA 1910.266 applies to operations within its logging-work scope.
Plan a controlled work zone and escape route. Check footing, tree lean, overhead hazards, hung-up limbs, and bystanders before starting. A 20-inch bar is appropriate only when the cut plan, wood, saw condition, and operator skill support it.
Next step: Do not order by “028 Super” alone. Confirm the mount, oil hole, pitch, gauge, and drive-link count against the exact replacement bar.
Field Cutting & Landscaping Operation
A correctly matched 20-inch setup can be used only when the saw and cutting conditions support it. The longer bar does not increase engine power, and it does not make every cut within its reach suitable. Keep the work controlled, avoid burying the bar nose, and stop if the saw struggles or the cut becomes unstable.
Use this sequence before cutting:
- Check PPE, footing, work area, and escape route.
- Confirm fresh fuel, bar-and-chain oil, chain tension, and secure fasteners.
- Start the saw using the manufacturer’s cold- or warm-start procedure, with the saw secured.
- Verify that the chain stops at idle and that oil reaches the chain using the manufacturer’s prescribed check.
- Cut with two hands from stable footing, keeping the work below shoulder height.
Fuel mix matters. Use a 50:1 mix only when it matches the saw’s manual and the two-stroke oil maker’s instructions. Measure carefully and use fresh fuel. Do not run straight gasoline in a two-stroke saw.
The bar tip deserves special attention. Contact between wood and the upper quadrant near the tip can cause rapid rotational kickback toward the operator. Keep that area clear of the work, maintain a firm two-handed grip, and do not cut above shoulder height. Do not force a dull, damaged, or incorrectly tensioned chain through wood.
For felling, the notch and back cut must reflect the tree’s lean, species, defects, and site hazards. Preserve sound hinge wood and follow suitable training; do not improvise hinge dimensions. Stop and use qualified tree-care help for hung trees, overhead hazards, complex lean, or work beyond your training.
Fitment examples: what to check in common situations
These are practical fitment scenarios, not claims of specific customer tests. They show why the markings matter more than a model label.
| Situation | Likely issue | Safer next check |
|---|---|---|
| Bar fits over the studs, but oil delivery is uncertain | Oil hole may not align | Compare the bar mount and oil hole with the maker’s chart |
| Bar says 3/8, but the chain binds or will not seat | Gauge, drive-link count, or another part may differ | Read chain and bar markings; check the sprocket pitch |
| Old chain appears to fit a new 20-inch bar | It may have the wrong link count or be worn | Use the replacement bar’s specified chain details |
| Saw cuts slowly with the longer bar | Dull chain, poor maintenance, or a demanding cut may be involved | Stop and inspect the chain, oiling, tension, and saw condition |
A 20-inch bar should not be used as a reason to take a cut that exceeds your skill or safe control. If the saw bogs, the chain pinches, or you cannot keep the cut stable, stop and reassess.
Key point: Fitment is only the first condition. Safe operation also depends on the cut, saw condition, operator control, and site hazards.
Maintenance, Sharpening & Tuning
A matched bar and chain still need correct tension, sharp cutters, clear oiling, and sound engine settings. Maintenance cannot make incompatible parts fit, but it can prevent avoidable wear and poor cutting. Use the chain and saw makers’ specifications when they differ from general reference values.
Set chain tension with the engine off and cool. The drive links should remain seated in the bar rails, while the chain can still move by hand with gloves on. Recheck tension after the first running period and again after the saw cools; a new or cold chain may change tension in use.
Keep cutters even in length and sharpen them to the chain maker’s angles. Set the depth gauges, also called rakers, with the specified gauge tool. A setting of 0.025 inch (0.65 mm) is a common reference for standard crosscut chain, but it is not universal. Follow the specification for the chain fitted to your saw.
Inspect the bar and sprocket rather than compensating for wear by overtightening the chain. Replace a damaged chain, cracked bar, worn sprocket, or bar with spread rails. Clean the bar groove and oil hole, and use bar-and-chain oil suited to the temperature. Confirm oil delivery by the saw maker’s prescribed method; there is no single field flow-rate value that applies to every setup.
Engine speed is another point to verify, not guess. Commonly published 028 Super references are about 2,800 rpm at idle and 12,500 rpm maximum. Check the exact service data for your saw and use a tachometer. Do not tune by ear or exceed its specified limit. A lean mixture, air leak, blocked fuel supply, or incorrect adjustment can overheat and damage the engine.
Next step: If the chain will not tension correctly, lubrication is uncertain, or the engine speed is unknown, resolve that before relying on the 20-inch setup.
Storage & Seasonal Care
Storage affects starting, fuel-system condition, and the reliability of the next fitment check. Follow the saw manual and fuel and oil makers’ directions for emptying or stabilizing fuel. Clean the saw before storage, inspect key safety parts, and fit the bar cover.
Stale ethanol fuel can contribute to hard starting, carburetor deposits, fuel-system deterioration, and lean-running damage. Do not leave old fuel in the saw based on guesswork; use the manual’s storage instructions for the fuel and oil you have.
Before storing the saw:
- Clean the cooling fins, air filter, sprocket cover, and bar groove.
- Inspect the chain, bar rails, chain brake, and fasteners.
- Store the saw away from ignition sources, with the bar cover fitted.
- Check the chain and bar markings again before buying a replacement set later.
The main safety risk does not disappear when the bar is correctly installed: contact between wood and the upper bar-tip quadrant can trigger kickback. Keep the tip clear, hold the saw with two hands, and avoid cutting above shoulder height.
Conclusion: A 20-inch bar is a possible setup for a serviceable 028 Super, but no single chain specification should be assumed for every saw. Confirm the mount and oil-hole alignment, then match pitch, gauge, and drive-link count to the actual bar and sprocket. If any marking or service condition is uncertain, pause and verify it before cutting.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Stihl 028 Super run a 20-inch bar?
It can in a suitable, serviceable setup, but bar length alone does not confirm fit or safe cutting capacity. Verify the mount, oiling, chain, and saw condition.
What chain fits a 20-inch bar on an 028 Super?
A commonly encountered setup is 3/8-inch pitch, .063-inch gauge, and 72 drive links. Confirm all three against the actual bar, chain, sprocket, and bar maker’s chart before buying.
Is 72 drive links guaranteed to fit?
No. It is a common reference, not a universal specification. Bar design and replacement parts can change the required count.
Does a bar labeled “Stihl 028” guarantee the right mount?
No. Check the exact mount pattern and oil-hole alignment with the bar maker’s fitment chart.
Can I use a different chain gauge if the pitch matches?
No. The chain gauge must match the bar groove. Pitch and gauge are separate measurements, and both must be correct.
How do I know if the bar is receiving oil?
Use the saw maker’s prescribed oil-delivery check. Confirm that the bar’s oil hole aligns with the saw’s outlet and that the groove and oil hole are clean.
What chain tension should I use?
With the engine off and cool, keep the drive links seated in the rails while allowing the chain to move by hand with gloves. Follow the saw and chain makers’ instructions and recheck after initial running and cooling.
Is 0.025 inch the right raker setting?
It is a common reference for standard crosscut chain, not a universal setting. Use the specification for the chain installed.
What fuel mix should I use?
Use 50:1 only if it matches the saw manual and two-stroke oil maker’s directions. Measure accurately and use fresh fuel.
Can I tune the saw to 12,500 rpm by ear?
No. Common references cite about 12,500 rpm maximum, but verify the exact service data and use a tachometer. Do not exceed the specified limit.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Marcus Thorne. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
