my first saw. Was 15 years old and the tree service owner handed me an 10-10 and told me to get in the back of the truck and lay down the limbs as they were tossed in. I beat the **** outa that saw for 2 years. That was back in the 70s in the Oakland hills after we had a big freeze that killed hundreds of thousands of Eucalyptus trees. That and a power Mac 6 were my go to saws.
Let's See Your Chainsaws
- Thread starter freudianfloyd
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DemoFly
Well-known member
I love this saw. The vibe is pretty bad, but I only cut up about a cord a year so it's fine. I got it from a guy who gave it to me so long as I promised to put in hardened valve seats to convert it to "new" unleaded gas. I promised him I definitely would.
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Put the shortest bar I had on the 066 to have some fun today. It was as much fun and just as silly as I anticipated 
I just love hearing this thing roar. If you’re ever thinking you need a 90cc saw or larger I assure you that you do.
I just love hearing this thing roar. If you’re ever thinking you need a 90cc saw or larger I assure you that you do.
Mike'smeatshop
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- Apr 1, 2023
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Not showing the saw hanging off the hooks. But I have a few. Anyone need any parts just let me know. I visit the scrap yard once week and I grab anything old to save from the melting pot. Old Homelites and Macs. The old carburetors are a Jem and hard to find.
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GirlDad_Garage
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Rehabbed my 391 for the hurricane season and added a new 20in bar and some WestCoast saw dogs and air filter
onetonbb74
Well-known member
My ms291...
bulletpruf
Well-known member
Not a chainsaw, but just finished my new chainsaw workbench and figured I'd post a few pics.
Built To Work
Well-known member
Got a MS 290 for $50 from a co-worker. It had been sitting for years (bad gas). Cleaned it up and have been dropping 2-3 trees per weekend ever since.
Sometime it is hard to start if I have been running it, turn it off, drag branches for awhile and try and re-start. Is this common?
Also, the oiler doesn't seam to work too well - took it all apart, cleaned, turned it up to max but still only uses about 1/2 tank bar oil to 1 tank gas.
Sometime it is hard to start if I have been running it, turn it off, drag branches for awhile and try and re-start. Is this common?
Also, the oiler doesn't seam to work too well - took it all apart, cleaned, turned it up to max but still only uses about 1/2 tank bar oil to 1 tank gas.
Muffduster
Well-known member
If you aren't using Dolmar (Makita), then I'm sorry.......God help ya.
Mike'smeatshop
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- Apr 1, 2023
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I always clean the port were it feeds the bar. Run it with the bar off and watch to see how much comes out. I swear by sea foam. It always keeps the carb hot and clean.
bulletpruf
Well-known member
If you aren't using Dolmar (Makita), then I'm sorry.......God help ya.
Nice saws, and nice choice of bars, too. I've never run a Dolmar/Makita, but the folks on the saw forums (OPE forum, Arboristsite) love 'em.
Got a MS 290 for $50 from a co-worker. It had been sitting for years (bad gas). Cleaned it up and have been dropping 2-3 trees per weekend ever since.
Sometime it is hard to start if I have been running it, turn it off, drag branches for awhile and try and re-start. Is this common?
Also, the oiler doesn't seam to work too well - took it all apart, cleaned, turned it up to max but still only uses about 1/2 tank bar oil to 1 tank gas.
Are you concerned that it's not oiling because you're not happy with its performance and/or chain longevity, or just based on the amount of oil being consumed?
I don't have that model, but if the parts are available and cheap enough, might be worth replacing the oiling components?
By nature, I despise blingly part-swapping, though. If you're not having bar or chain problems, I'd probably keep running it. Maybe buy the parts to have on hand in case it gets worse.
BTW, have you looked for any YT videos on the subject? I run an older Husqy, and there are tons of videos on that thing. Some are outstanding.
Mike
You could rinse the oil tank out or replace the filter in there. Check if the wire that drives off the clutch drum is slipping on the plastic gear.Got a MS 290 for $50 from a co-worker. It had been sitting for years (bad gas). Cleaned it up and have been dropping 2-3 trees per weekend ever since.
Sometime it is hard to start if I have been running it, turn it off, drag branches for awhile and try and re-start. Is this common?
Also, the oiler doesn't seam to work too well - took it all apart, cleaned, turned it up to max but still only uses about 1/2 tank bar oil to 1 tank gas.
Just picked this up today:
This is the 16" - the "new" house we just moved into over the last couple days has a ton of tree work to do. I'm pretty happy that it came out of the box ready to go (other than chain oil).
The PS1000 10'-13' pole saw should be here by the weekend. I also got the extension that will take it to 17', which should be pretty fun.
This is the 16" - the "new" house we just moved into over the last couple days has a ton of tree work to do. I'm pretty happy that it came out of the box ready to go (other than chain oil).
The PS1000 10'-13' pole saw should be here by the weekend. I also got the extension that will take it to 17', which should be pretty fun.
I got this for $15 off kijiji five years ago to clean up after the winter since my Manitoba Maples made a mess.
It’s been handy for that and cutting up larger pieces of wood for the fire pit, I couldn’t justify buying a real saw that would just sit and get used once a year
bulletpruf
Well-known member
I don't use them anymore, but in the past, I've dropped and bucked quite a few trees with a plastic Poulan. They're also great to keep around to use as a loaner saw (I do NOT loan my pro saws out).
It's a pain in the *** to change fuel lines on those saws, so if you're only going to use it once a year, I'd run pre-mix fuel (doesn't have ethanol, but it's expensive) or, if you mix your own, get ethanol free if you can. If you run fuel with ethanol and mix it yourself, I'd empty the fuel tank after each use and run the carb dry.
This baby is corded electrical so new fuel problems to worry about
bulletpruf
Well-known member
Yes, if it's corded electrical, that should really cut back on your stale fuel issues...
A former neighbor swore by his old (BFU purple and green) Poulan "Wild Thing" 2-stroke chainsaw (this was 20 years ago).
Around that time, I bought a 14-inch Remington corded electric chainsaw. Cut a lot of wood with that, but after buying a lowly Husqy 350 2-stroke, that electric saw seems woefully underpowered. But, other than a leaking oil tank, I haven't had to fix or replace anything on the Remington (other than chains, of course). Simple is good sometimes...
Mike
Around that time, I bought a 14-inch Remington corded electric chainsaw. Cut a lot of wood with that, but after buying a lowly Husqy 350 2-stroke, that electric saw seems woefully underpowered. But, other than a leaking oil tank, I haven't had to fix or replace anything on the Remington (other than chains, of course). Simple is good sometimes...
Mike
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I have a Makita 18V does that count.
Dolmar is the oldest name in gas saws so they should know what they are doing. Never ran one or even seen one in person.bulletpruf
Well-known member
I have a Makita 18V does that count.
I've had a few vintage Dolmars. This is a 166, a 1980's vintage 118cc beast. Sold it a few years ago.
A CC 116 from the late 1960's or early 1970's, 87cc. Picked it up in Italy.
And a KMS4 from the 1970's, powered by a Wankel/rotary engine.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
Does that make for a lighter weight, quicker revving saw?And a KMS4 from the 1970's, powered by a Wankel/rotary engine.
bulletpruf
Well-known member
Smooth but heavy, expensive, and poor fuel efficiency.
Kind of like a Solo Twin - interesting concept but just inferior to a single cylinder saw.
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The little guy and I went after a few
big soggy poplar chunks that my mini-ex splitter didn’t want to play with. Made some nice hamster bedding with a 3/8” NeoTec bar and chain. So far first impressions are a lot higher than anticipated and the 066 of course pulled all 24” like a champ. Sure was fun watching those noodles fly on the ground !!
big soggy poplar chunks that my mini-ex splitter didn’t want to play with. Made some nice hamster bedding with a 3/8” NeoTec bar and chain. So far first impressions are a lot higher than anticipated and the 066 of course pulled all 24” like a champ. Sure was fun watching those noodles fly on the ground !!
bulletpruf
Well-known member
Loves me some Stihl 064/066's! Sold my 064 several months ago, so I have a hole in my lineup right now.
cody1325
Well-known member
Oh boy... Looks like I've got a lot of work cut out for me, right?
My Granddad gave some old metal (solid, and probably fixable) Homelites from the '70s away to a guy who did small engine repair on the side when my grandmother insisted we get rid of the stash of broken lawn and garden equipment we kept for parts, leaving only a 1990s Poulan as the sole non-Stihl saw we had. While getting things back in order after he passed, I decided I'd see if I could get it to run--it started, but the hardened fuel lines failed quickly.
You should get that.
So, I saw this MS251 chainsaw at a garage sale with a $10 price tag. I thought it probably had major engine damage given the low price and set it back down. I picked it up again and it passed the compression drop test and looked complete and pretty new. Then the owner comes over and tells me it only starts with starting fluid and the only way to stop it is by pulling the spark plug boot. I decide to take it for $10.
When I get it home I couldn't test compression because the spark plug threads are smaller than my gauge. So I pull the muffler and the condition of the piston and cylinder look brand new. I replaced the fuel and gave it a few pulls and it starts right up and seems to run great. But when I try to turn it off it continues to run. I short the ignition coil kill terminal and it still won't stop.
I removed the coil and it turns out to be aftermarket. (no Stihl part number) It also seems to be gapped too close to the flywheel. I find a used OEM coil for $25 on Ebay and swapped it out. Now it works perfect. I'm into it for $35. I'm still curious why the previous owner replaced the OEM ignition coil.
When I get it home I couldn't test compression because the spark plug threads are smaller than my gauge. So I pull the muffler and the condition of the piston and cylinder look brand new. I replaced the fuel and gave it a few pulls and it starts right up and seems to run great. But when I try to turn it off it continues to run. I short the ignition coil kill terminal and it still won't stop.
I removed the coil and it turns out to be aftermarket. (no Stihl part number) It also seems to be gapped too close to the flywheel. I find a used OEM coil for $25 on Ebay and swapped it out. Now it works perfect. I'm into it for $35. I'm still curious why the previous owner replaced the OEM ignition coil.
So, I saw this MS251 chainsaw at a garage sale with a $10 price tag. I thought it probably had major engine damage given the low price and set it back down. I picked it up again and it passed the compression drop test and looked complete and pretty new. Then the owner comes over and tells me it only starts with starting fluid and the only way to stop it is by pulling the spark plug boot. I decide to take it for $10.
When I get it home I couldn't test compression because the spark plug threads are smaller than my gauge. So I pull the muffler and the condition of the piston and cylinder look brand new. I replaced the fuel and gave it a few pulls and it starts right up and seems to run great. But when I try to turn it off it continues to run. I short the ignition coil kill terminal and it still won't stop.
I removed the coil and it turns out to be aftermarket. (no Stihl part number) It also seems to be gapped too close to the flywheel. I find a used OEM coil for $25 on Ebay and swapped it out. Now it works perfect. I'm into it for $35. I'm still curious why the previous owner replaced the OEM ignition coil.
How do you do that to a bar and the rest looks fairly new?
By cutting wood.
bulletpruf
Well-known member
You can always flip the choke on to kill it.
bulletpruf
Well-known member
That's a steal, even if it doesn't run. If it was closer to me I'd jump on it.
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It was a dang cherry 064 as well !!
I picked up an 041AV Super a little while back and finally got through it and got it in some wood. I really like this era of Stihl saw as these things are not speed demons but they have some serious grunt to them. I tossed my 32” bar and a semi skip chain on it and it pulled it quite well in some sugar maple blocking up firewood chunks. Really want to find myself an 034 Super to use as a firewood saw. I think it’d be a great combination of power to weight without being a dog or weighing as much as a Buick.
Will Stihl put the fuel injection in any other sized saws?
I would be willing to bet they are working on it with the MS400 and/or the MS261. What seems so weird to me is having to hit the primer bulb 8-10 times warm or cold. I will say mine fires up 2-3 pulls every time.
bulletpruf
Well-known member
Neat old saw, and not easy to find. I had a nice 041 and sourced the parts to convert it to a Super and never got around to it so I sold it.
shanker
Well-known member
I picked up this Stihl 066 back in April/24 for $130. It had a burned up piston and was really sticky trying to spin it. I ordered a bunch of parts from Wolf Creek Saw shop, but after pulling the cylinder I realized that the crank/bearings were fine just covered in fuel that had varnished. I cleaned it up really well, put a Meteor cylinder/piston in it, rebuilt the original carb with a walboro kit, then thinking that it'd kick off but I'm currently waiting on ignition coil as I had no spark.
I also ordered a 24" Tsumuru bar and new Oregon Powercut full chisel chain. The 36" bar is bigger than I'd ever need, but I'll hang it on the wall incase I ever need it. I also ordered a Bark Box for it from West Coast Saws
This chainsaw is bigger than I need for cutting mesquite and ranch maintenance; but should be fun. Worst case scenario is that if I run it for a while and don't like it, I'll sell/trade it for a smaller saw.
I also ordered a 24" Tsumuru bar and new Oregon Powercut full chisel chain. The 36" bar is bigger than I'd ever need, but I'll hang it on the wall incase I ever need it. I also ordered a Bark Box for it from West Coast Saws
This chainsaw is bigger than I need for cutting mesquite and ranch maintenance; but should be fun. Worst case scenario is that if I run it for a while and don't like it, I'll sell/trade it for a smaller saw.
