Well Should Get a Chainsaw

[big rockpile]

We went to Government Land today, found Trees the Forester had marked for me. We got Chainsaw Started, run until out of Gas.

Got brush cleaned up and Firewood loaded. Gassed back up Chainsaw, tried to start it, it would try but no go.

Just got it out of the Shop, the Guy said it was just about worn out the reason it would fail to fire every so often.

Need to find a Chainsaw, it is real easy cutting over there and nice clean Oak.

big rockpile

[danielsumner]

I have two Chainsaws. I have a Poulan Pro that is a pain in the Posterior to crank, it work great when it is running. The other is a Stihl 180, this is the one that I adore. It has the crank assist feature so you don't have to yank on the dang cord half the day. Crank right away every time. When you tighten the chain all you have to do is loosen a flip up knob and turn a little dial. Simple as can be. It runs a little under 200 bucks. I also keep a large flat head screw driver nearby, it goes into the slot in the gas and oil caps and makes refueling a breeze.

[ohiotw]

Go with STIHL! My parents bought a farm boss when they cleared the land to build their house. 16 years later it finally quit. My dad said I can have it. I'm going to buy a new shortblock for it and enjoy another 15 years of problem free cutting.

[Sawmill Jim]

[QUOTE=danielsumner;7354784]I have two Chainsaws. I have a Poulan Pro that is a pain in the Posterior to crank, it work great when it is running. The other is a Stihl 180, this is the one that I adore. It has the crank assist feature so you don't have to yank on the dang cord half the day. Crank right away every time. When you tighten the chain all you have to do is loosen a flip up knob and turn a little dial. Simple as can be. It runs a little under 200 bucks. I also keep a large flat head screw driver nearby, it goes into the slot in the gas and oil caps and makes refueling a breeze.


I use to keep a pooland just in case someone wanted to borrow a chain saw ,most never asked again

[big rockpile]

I had a STIHL I liked. It was running fine. It started getting Gas on a Wire through the Over Flow, so it wouldn't fire. I kept cleaning the wire off to start it. Took it to a Local Shop. Go to get it, he tells me it won't run and gave it back to me in a Box it Parts.

Yes I'll try get another STIHL, might be a used one but it will still be a STIHL.

big rockpile

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

get the stihl and a new repair guy if he gives you things in a box of parts

spend the extra dime and buy the ethanol free 91 octane gas , the ethanol really messes up saws that don't run every day

it is well worth the 50 cents a gallon more to buy the ethanol free gas , your only using a few gallons a year

[JoePa]

To start a chainsaw you need three things present - spark, fuel, and compression - to see if you have spark take the spark plug out and hold the threads against the medal part of the engine and crank the saw - you should see a nice bluish spark - ok - if you see the spark then need to check the fuel - pour a little gas into spark plug hole and put spark plug back in and crank engine - if it runs for a little while and stops then you are not getting fuel - check the fuel filter that is attached to the end of the fuel hose - it that's ok then you may need to check compression - if that low you need to put new rings on piston - you can check google and see how it is done - I've done it - no big deal - got new piston with the rings from ebay

[GeneMO]

My dad was serious about his wood cutting. He farmed full time and didn't have time to mess around or to tolerate breakdowns. He never went to the woods without 3 saws and a good double bit axe. If a saw got pinched, hit a rock or wouldn't run, he had a backup.

I have his, and a few I bought. 6 or 7 at last count. All Stihls except for my dads Pro Mac 55 McCullogh.

A spare really comes in handy. Try to buy a pair maybe. Also, try not to go to cut firewood alone. A partner, who can run a saw may save your life some day. If you have something fall on you, or get cut with the saw.

Outdoor stores carry a bandage that has a blood clotting agent in it. I keep one of these at the cabin. Maybe I am paranoid.


Gene

[o&itw]

Originally Posted by big rockpile

I had a STIHL I liked. It was running fine. It started getting Gas on a Wire through the Over Flow, so it wouldn't fire. I kept cleaning the wire off to start it. Took it to a Local Shop. Go to get it, he tells me it won't run and gave it back to me in a Box it Parts.

Yes I'll try get another STIHL, might be a used one but it will still be a STIHL.

big rockpile

You might be better off with a used one. The new Stihls aren't as good as the old ones... no fault of Sthil. it is all the EPA regulations that force faster RPM's with less torque. So an old 041 Sthil is a better saw than the newer 440 even though they are basically the same size.

And Greencountrypete, who posted above is right. Find some alcohol free gasoline (usually available only in "premium") and it will save your saw a lot of problems.

Last thing: always be sure you use fresh gas. Gas that sits in the carb, especially over winter will gel and cause the engine to run lean (maybe it's rich, I'm not sure) but that will ruin the engine faster than anything. This from the local boat mechanic that deals with this a lot in the spring on 2-stroke boat motors.

[FarmboyBill]

I ALWAYS, N O W, buy ethenal free HIGH octane gas, and have had NO trouble with my poulan. Ive had it 3yrs, and it works great. I had a Poulan Wyld Thang before that. At THAT time, I had the idea of when killing it, to choke it so as to have a charge in the chamber to restart it with. I quit that when I finally realized that the time between the last time I shut it down and the next time I might restart it could be
months apart, and that would give the gas time to foul up the carb. When I finally quit that, it ran OK. This one runs better.

But then, using a buzz saw, I don't use a chain saw near as much as most people do.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by GREENCOUNTYPETE

get the stihl and a new repair guy if he gives you things in a box of parts

spend the extra dime and buy the ethanol free 91 octane gas , the ethanol really messes up saws that don't run every day

it is well worth the 50 cents a gallon more to buy the ethanol free gas , your only using a few gallons a year

Doing this plus the STIHL Oil to mix in.

Originally Posted by JoePa

To start a chainsaw you need three things present - spark, fuel, and compression - to see if you have spark take the spark plug out and hold the threads against the medal part of the engine and crank the saw - you should see a nice bluish spark - ok - if you see the spark then need to check the fuel - pour a little gas into spark plug hole and put spark plug back in and crank engine - if it runs for a little while and stops then you are not getting fuel - check the fuel filter that is attached to the end of the fuel hose - it that's ok then you may need to check compression - if that low you need to put new rings on piston - you can check google and see how it is done - I've done it - no big deal - got new piston with the rings from ebay

Done did this. The one I had in the woods was getting Spark every so often just wasn't enough to get it started this is why I took it to the shop. He checked Compression said it just barely had enough didn't know if it would start or not. So yes I knew about the saw before taking it out.

Speaking of 91 octane gas should I run this in my Boat Motor or just run 87 octane with Stabil and just put left over Gas in the Pickup after each trip so I always have fresh Gas?

big rockpile

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by big rockpile

We went to Government Land today, found Trees the Forester had marked for me. We got Chainsaw Started, run until out of Gas.

Got brush cleaned up and Firewood loaded. Gassed back up Chainsaw, tried to start it, it would try but no go.

Just got it out of the Shop, the Guy said it was just about worn out the reason it would fail to fire every so often.

Need to find a Chainsaw, it is real easy cutting over there and nice clean Oak.

big rockpile

I have a Mcculloch 610, I bought in 1982 with a bow blade. It has MANY Hours on it-----M A N Y Hours. I heated with wood. Its Never been in the Shop---I still use it But very little in the last 4 years. I don't heat with wood anymore. If I use it now---it works fine BUT I have to do all the cutting I want to do before I cut it off. Once I cut it off---it will not crank again till it is cooled off completely----Just looses about all its compression when hot--looses to much to crank.

[Dixie Bee Acres]

I bought a stihl 290 farm boss last year, great saw.
My dad has one as well that is about 6 years old, still runs great. The newer model is the 291, I didn't care for it, it is basicly the same size, but newer motor design, one pound lighter, but something about it just didn't set well with me, luckily the store had one of the older 290s still in stock.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by Dixie Bee Acres

I bought a stihl 290 farm boss last year, great saw.
My dad has one as well that is about 6 years old, still runs great. The newer model is the 291, I didn't care for it, it is basicly the same size, but newer motor design, one pound lighter, but something about it just didn't set well with me, luckily the store had one of the older 290s still in stock.

Yes I had a Echo 702 liked it real well but someone figured they needed it more than me I went bought a STIHL 025 at first I just didn't like hearing it run but used it for years it served me well.

But I have same problem with Rifles like the Rem. 700, give me a New Black Rifle I cringe every time I fire one but I'm sure they are Good Rifles.

big rockpile

[SmokeEater2]

I've got 3 chainsaws now. I have a Stihl 034 that is so old is was made in west Germany before the wall came down. They no longer make the air filter and a few other parts for it. Still runs good though.

Last year I bought a Stihl 290 and really like it too. Also picked up a little 16 inch Husqvarna 345 for cutting saplings,cedar trees and the like. That little rascal is a work horse too.

[Nette]

Well, this isn't what you want to hear, but....after years of fretting with a gas powered chainsaw, I finally bought an electric one. Love, love, love it. Starts every time.

I guess there aren't any electrical outlets down there on that Government Land, though.

[Jolly]

I've got a Farmboss, it's a good saw. I put a different bar on it and run a thin kerf chain...Sucker will cut.

But...I've noticed as I get older, that saw gets heavier and heavier. Must be global climate change or sumthin'.

Anyway, this year I went and bought a 170 (that's the saw pictured in this thread, but without the start assist or easy tighten chain). Now, I use the bigger saw for the bigger cuts and use the little saw for most everything else.

Other than that, a couple of pieces of advice: 1) run alcohol-free gas. Not quite as much power, but much easier on the saw. And 2) use only the Stihl synthetic 2-cycle oil. It's a ton better than the cheap 2-cycle stuff - doesn't separate out as easily and gums up much less.

Oh, one last thing...I've found my maul is getting heavier, too. Bound to be some kind of a conspiracy...Anyway, I've found this does a mighty nice job, with less weight:

http://www.baileysonline.com/Forestr...-36-Handle.axd

[Nimrod]

Originally Posted by SmokeEater2

I've got 3 chainsaws now. I have a Stihl 034 that is so old is was made in west Germany before the wall came down. They no longer make the air filter and a few other parts for it. Still runs good though.

Last year I bought a Stihl 290 and really like it too. Also picked up a little 16 inch Husqvarna 345 for cutting saplings,cedar trees and the like. That little rascal is a work horse too.

I have a husky 345 I use for everything, cutting firewood, taking down trees, and liming. It is light enough so I don't get tired and has lots of guts. Too bad they don't make them anymore.

I have a 1981 35 horse Johnson 2 cycle on the boat that I have owned since new. I have always used the gas with 10% ethanol in it since the state gooberment decreed it. I don't do anything special during the summer. I do put Stabil in the gas for my last trip in the fall and run the carb dry before I take it out of the water for the last time. The tank stays close to full all winter long to avoid water in the tank from condensation. I drain the tank into the truck in the spring and fill with fresh gas and its good to go for the summer. I did rebuild the carb about 1990 but it's been good since.

[Rustaholic]

I bought a Husqvana 40 back around 1990 and it has never failed me.
I do not understand all this about the Stihl saws.
Yes Husquvana and Stihl both made very good saws.
I do not know about the newer ones like folks have mentioned the lesser quality of the newer Stihl saws. I do not know if the Husqvana saws they are making now are not up to the old standards.
I just know back it 1990 I was working a lot of overtime and car pooling with a friend and he pulled in to get a new bar and chain for his Husky and I saw that nice 40 was on sale. A couple weeks later we stopped by a gun store so he could pick up a single shot 410 for his youngest son and I found a rifle I wanted. He made a comment when we were back in the truck headed south about me shelling out cash to buy something whenever he stopped to get something. Yup, Overtime pay means ready cash in my pocket.

[big rockpile]

Ok I had a STIHL 025 for years I really liked. My wife found a 026 at a Dealer, it should be a Good Saw. They should Guarantee it for so many days.

If I cut Winter or two worth of wood all is Good.

big rockpile