Cordless mini Chainsaw that does not leak oil?

[dclark2171]

I have been using a Ryobi mini chainsaw for the past few years (It came with one of those big Home Depot sets). The thing has always leaked oil and I have to store in a bucket. I got frustrated with it leaking oil on me while I was cutting a small tree branch. I threw it, broke it and tossed it in the trash.

I have switched to the Metabo-Hikoki HPT platform (I love their tools) and considering one of their options. I also have battery capabilities for both Makita and Milwaukee 18V

Anyone have experience with a non Ryobi Mini chainsaw that has performed well and does not leak left and right?

 

[Firebrick43]

All chainsaws leak oil, its the nature of how a chain has to be oiled

You could skip oiling them and pay for it in wear? Certainly cheaper than being enraged at trivial things and throwing a tool again

 

[moab11]

ryobi does/did make an 8" chainsaw without an oil tank. You are supposed to manually oil the chain occasionally.
As far as I know, that's the only type that won't leak oil.

 

[finn]

All my Stihl and Husqvarna gas chainsaws leak oil, too.

There’s no on /off valve for the oiler. It’s a simple screw drive pump. Typically the lower end saws don’t have much in the way of adjustment.

I keep mine on top of a piece of pig mat to absorb the residual oil that leaks out. The Huskvarna seems worse than the Stihls.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

All chainsaws leak oil. Got 5 Stihl, Echo and Milwalkee gas and battery saw here- they leak. Store and use with that understanding. Though I'm curious, you said it was leaking on you when you used it. Was it dripping like a water hose with a bum rubber ring? It shouldn't leak like that. I never tried the Ryobi small saws. I do prefer the Milwalkee tools (6 and 8 Hatchets) for that category tool. They do leak to oil the chain, but not drip on you that it makes you angry enough to throw it.

 

[mike93lx]

I use mine infrequently enough that I dump out the oil tank after each use to minimize the mess

 

[Alinnh]

I have a brand new 20volt Dewalt used it one time so far, put oil in it and a few weeks later all the oil is out. I had it sitting on a plastic bin lid so all the oil was in the lid. I guess that's why it says to drain oil after use in the directions.

 

[FigN⋅m]

I have a brand new 20volt Dewalt used it one time so far, put oil in it and a few weeks later all the oil is out. I had it sitting on a plastic bin lid so all the oil was in the lid. I guess that's why it says to drain oil after use in the directions.

The DeWalts will puke oil if you don't store them on their side, or do an abnormal amount to work to the case/tank
Yes - draining is what they correctly recommend, but I just using canola oil, so if a little gets out, no biggie.

 

[Beerhippie]

How about "Any chainsaw that doesn't leak oil"?

 

[MOS3522]

I have a brand new 20volt Dewalt used it one time so far, put oil in it and a few weeks later all the oil is out. I had it sitting on a plastic bin lid so all the oil was in the lid. I guess that's why it says to drain oil after use in the directions.

There was a long recent thread here on that Dewalt chainsaw and potential improvements to prevent the saw from "marking its territory" like an old Harley.

DEWALT 12" 20V Chainsaw, bare tool $89.00 Home Depot

Price will show up in cart if your store has it in stock.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Beerhippie]

There was a long recent thread here on that Dewalt chainsaw and potential improvements to prevent the saw from "marking it's territory" like an old Harley.

DEWALT 12" 20V Chainsaw, bare tool $89.00 Home Depot

Price will show up in cart if your store has it in stock.

www.garagejournal.com

My Stihls mark their territory like an old Jag.

 

[rkevins]

I have 1 Sihl that leaks and always store it on its side on the shelf

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Mini = really mini = +- 4” bar length?

Then Stihl GTA 26, doesn‘t leak because there is no integrated oiler. You have to manually apply some to the bar every now and then.

Very happy with mine.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[fourjeepin]

I had the Ryobi for a couple of years. Yeah, it leaked but the fill tube stuck out past the saw body making it easy to drain. I recently upgraded to the Dewalt when HD had them on clearance . It is a much better saw, but is more difficult to drain. So far, I have been letting it leak.

Anyone tried the Ridgid? That is my battery platform so they are preferential to me, but I bought the others on the cheap.

 

[u3b3rg33k]

I have been using a Ryobi mini chainsaw for the past few years (It came with one of those big Home Depot sets). The thing has always leaked oil and I have to store in a bucket. I got frustrated with it leaking oil on me while I was cutting a small tree branch. I threw it, broke it and tossed it in the trash.

I have switched to the Metabo-Hikoki HPT platform (I love their tools) and considering one of their options. I also have battery capabilities for both Makita and Milwaukee 18V

Anyone have experience with a non Ryobi Mini chainsaw that has performed well and does not leak left and right?

just take the guard off.


for legal, ethical, and moral reasons, this is a joke. please do not do this.

 

[rr361]

I've got the 18v Makita and it's never leaked. Been using it for almost 3 years.

 

[LopezBart]

I keep my Stihl in the case they threw in when I bought it; every so often I mop it out w/ a blue shop towel.

I use my M18 SawzAll in lieu of a small chainsaw; it works really well w/ a Diablo carbide pruning blade, and it's safer than a chain saw afaict.

 

[jblnut]

I’ll second the sawzall with a pruning blade if you don’t have a ton of larger stuff to do.

I have a pretty early Ryobi 12” chainsaw and I don’t think it leaks oil at all. I’ll have to check the shelf it’s on to see if it’s sitting in a puddle

All chainsaws use oil but they shouldn’t empty themselves out when not in use. Something is not correct if that happens.

 

[f121]

My MSA 70 doesn’t leak, nor does my old Makita 18v.

Ms500i has leaked from new.

 

[WildBill]

My old Makita 18v does not leak but my newer Ryobi definitely does. Supposedly there is some sort of thicker oil from Ryobi that mostly stops the leaking.

 

[seber]

Funny that everyone thinks all chain saws leak oil. Not one of mine leaks. I have replaced the seal in them when I buy used saws and solve that problem. But what they do is drip all that oil that was pumped out during use. That is what you see when you put it up, not generally leaks. Although those seals do go bad over time and when that happens, you have a self draining reservoir.

 

[Hohn]

I have been using a Ryobi mini chainsaw for the past few years (It came with one of those big Home Depot sets). The thing has always leaked oil and I have to store in a bucket. I got frustrated with it leaking oil on me while I was cutting a small tree branch. I threw it, broke it and tossed it in the trash.

I have switched to the Metabo-Hikoki HPT platform (I love their tools) and considering one of their options. I also have battery capabilities for both Makita and Milwaukee 18V

Anyone have experience with a non Ryobi Mini chainsaw that has performed well and does not leak left and right?

I have the 18x2 Makita 16". No complaints. You can adjust the oiling rate and even though I have mine set pretty wet, it doesn't just sit there and puke oil when stored on a flat shelf.

I've felled 12" plus trees with it as a battery saw, and after seeing just how capable and convenient it is, I'd probably have to step way up to MS500i or MS660 or Husky 70cc/90cc in order to justify a gas saw now. Either I've got a LOT of work to do and the big guys are the way to go, or my little Makita gets the job done.

I might add, the best investment you can make in a battery saw is the Stihl/Pferd chain file setup. It makes SUPERB sharpening so easy it feels like cheating. A sharp chain makes your battery last much, much longer and your saw perform much better.

Powered by that Pferd sharpener, my Makita will make "dust" that is more like Easter basket lining; I've had strips over 5" long come off that chain. When the sawdust actually starts to look like dust and less like animal bedding, I pause and sharpen.

The chain is the point of the entire saw. Keep a good one on it and keep it really sharp and it's a joy to use.

 

[Hohn]

I keep my Stihl in the case they threw in when I bought it; every so often I mop it out w/ a blue shop towel.

I use my M18 SawzAll in lieu of a small chainsaw; it works really well w/ a Diablo carbide pruning blade, and it's safer than a chain saw afaict.

I think it might depend on the sawzall. If you have a small one like a Hackzall, it's both incredibly convenient and I'd argue more dangerous because you have one hand not on the tool behind some guarding. I'm still considering a tool like that because the ability to prune a branch with a lightweight, one-hand tool I can use with an extended arm is very, very useful.

But with a regular, both-hands-on full size Sawzall, the pruning blades work great.

IMO, the stock in trade of a chain saw is speed. If you don't need the speed, many other forms of traditional recip or rotary blades can work well.

Heck, I used to cut down firewood with an old Skil 77.

 

[dclark2171]

Yes, I know they all leak...however, it was minimal/normal leakage for a saw the first couple of years. I never really kept up with filling the oil....so this thing must get oil out of the air (LOL). I'm leaning toward the makita 18v. I'm to worried going with the Hikoki since I would have to shiop it to Japan Amazon for a return. Metabo HPT does not make their brand their own version.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There was a long recent thread here on that Dewalt chainsaw and potential improvements to prevent the saw from "marking its territory" like an old Harley.

DEWALT 12" 20V Chainsaw, bare tool $89.00 Home Depot

Price will show up in cart if your store has it in stock.

www.garagejournal.com

Chainsaws that don't leak oil
Harleys that don't leak oil
CH-53's that don't smoke

all because they are out of oil or fluid.


I set my DeWalt battery saw on it's side.

 

[Sbusmech]

They all leak. The chain oiling system is sealed. I have an Echo electric and just store it on top of a small oil pan.

 

[Firebrick43]

Funny that everyone thinks all chain saws leak oil. Not one of mine leaks.

But what they do is drip all that oil that was pumped out during use.

Funny as in dictionary’s list drip as a synonym of leak?

Really the only difference is that a drip conveys more specifically the speed of a leak.

The oil was pumped out to the bar groove and because of the inclined nose and open back of groove it slowly leaks out of the groove.

Tuh-may-tow vs Tah-maw-tow

 

[Boatman62]

I find the oil leaking frustrating to say the least. Back in the day when I was in the tree/firewood business with my grandfather we had all Homelites,,,, none of them leaked. We used to put them on the floor in the cab.

Now I have:
Husqvarva 346XP, leaks the worst
Husqvarna 350XP, very little leakage
Stihl MS250, pukes oil as soon as you put it down
Diivoo cordless, depends on the day of the week
Dewalt cordless pole saw, yup it's a leaker
Jonsered 640, doesn't leak a drop (probably will now that I said somethin)

 

[rlitman]

...Back in the day when I was ...

a young whippersnapper, I walked uphill to school both ways, barefoot. And my handsaws never leaked oil.

 

[Sbusmech]

Funny as in dictionary’s list drip as a synonym of leak?

Really the only difference is that a drip conveys more specifically the speed of a leak.

The oil was pumped out to the bar groove and because of the inclined nose and open back of groove it slowly leaks out of the groove.

Tuh-may-tow vs Tah-maw-tow

When I was at Kubota we had a rental department full of chainsaws. Top brands new and kinda new. When properly lubed with chainsaw oil they all leaked. A little is normal. The chain has been lubed and drips some after use. Just don't put it on cardboard or a towel. That'll help wick oil and make it look worse. Metal or plastic pan is best.

 

[Firebrick43]

I find the oil leaking frustrating to say the least. Back in the day when I was in the tree/firewood business with my grandfather we had all Homelites,,,, none of them leaked. We used to put them on the floor in the cab.

Were they one of the pro saw such as a 360,450,650, or 750?

My first two saws were a homelite 450 and 750 which had manual oilers as pros were at the time thought to not forget to oil like homeowners would.

So if you didn't pump with your thumb at least 45 sec to min before you stopped cutting then they were relatively dry compared to a saw with an automatic oiler that pumps up until you stop. My dads Homelite XL with its automatic oiler always had oil covering the bottom of its case.

 

[teknikfrog]

I have the M18 saw and yes it leaks. Actually it leaked a lot worse before it went back for unrelated warranty service and they repaired the factory-damaged o-ring.

Anyway, it's not uncommon for me to discover that the oil hole is clogged and I've been running it without oil for a while. If you are a typical home-gamer I think you could easily get away with manually-oiling an electric saw and leaving the tank empty. Electric saws run at much lower RPM and their oiling needs are a lot lower than gas saws.

Just monitor the bar tip temperature and if it gets too hot to touch, add some oil.

 

[rlitman]

...Electric saws run at much lower RPM and their oiling needs are a lot lower than gas saws...

True, and electric saws have much higher stall torque, which is why chaps aren't rated for them, however a dry chain increases drag on the saw, and for electric saws that directly relates to battery consumption, so keeping an electric saw excessively oiled may serve you better.

 

[Boatman62]

Were they one of the pro saw such as a 360,450,650, or 750?

My first two saws were a homelite 450 and 750 which had manual oilers as pros were at the time thought to not forget to oil like homeowners would.

So if you didn't pump with your thumb at least 45 sec to min before you stopped cutting then they were relatively dry compared to a saw with an automatic oiler that pumps up until you stop. My dads Homelite XL with its automatic oiler always had oil covering the bottom of its case.

It's been 45+ years so I don't remember the model numbers. And yeah now that you mention it they were manual pumps.

 

[Rinspeed]

None of my three Stihl Pro saws have leaked oil and neither does my Makita 18V. Just plain goofy to say all saws leak oil. Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[ATC]

My Stihl MS311 leaks 75% of the time.
My Stihl MS180 never leaks
M18 chainsaw leaks like crazy
M18 pole saw leaks like crazy
M12 hatchet leaks some

They all sit on cardboard to keep the mess off the floor when I go to pick them up...

 

[Sbusmech]

None of my three Stihl Pro saws have leaked oil and neither does my Makita 18V. Just plain goofy to say all saws leak oil. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Not goofy, some of us have just seen over thirty units. During training we were told some leaking is normal, especially after use due to oil already being on chain & bar. I can't account for the exception for there will always be.