Let's See Your Chainsaws

[Spacey_G]

Back the chain tension off a bit and douse the chain with some oil. See if it doesn't bog. A tight chain coupled with a weak oiler equals a Poulan that bogs down.

I just inherited my dads 16" homelite that he insisted he needed at 80 years old. Probably hasn't been used in 6 years.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give that a try. That would be an easy fix.

I'll also pick up a compression tester per bigblockyeti's suggestion. It really doesn't feel like there's a lot of compression when I turn it over, and I'm concerned about the scoring on the piston. But I really don't know what this engine is supposed to feel like.

How much compression should I be looking for? 100 psi or so?

 

[Kev442]

I think 100psi is the minimum, it can be hard to get accurate compression readings on a 2 cycle engine. Have you thoroughly cleaned the foam air filter lately?

Amazingly the homelite started and idled on the old gas, but would not rev for long before stalling, so that raises the gas questions for you too: How old is the gas? Is it ethanol free?
My dad was notorious for not wanting to buy premium gas, so I'm hoping I can get the ethanol sludge out by running good gas through it, otherwise carb work is in my future.

 

[Lasu]

I could use some help with my chainsaw. It's a Poulan 42cc with very little use on it. It was my dad's that he bought new and barely used. I've cut about two cords of wood with it and it's started bogging down under load. What might be causing this?

If your saw is running too lean, ( wrong carb adjustment / air leak) then it will not work properly under load, also the piston gets too hot.

You heard "4-stroking/ burble" at full rpm without load?

 

[soloz2]

Just picked up a Stihl MS180. I like it so far. I also have a Stihl HT103 pole saw.


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[freudianfloyd]

Just picked up a Stihl MS180. I like it so far. I also have a Stihl HT103 pole saw.


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Thats a good start.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Got a couple new saws. The first one is an old Homelite, before they went to ****. I paid $5 for it at a yardsale. Put a new line and filter on it and it fired right up.
View media item 104626
And then for the king of saws and one I can finally cross off my bucket list.

A 3120XP. My wife got it for me for an early Father's Day present. If you haven't seen one of these in person, its hard to visualize how big it is.

View media item 104624Here it is next to my smallest saw.
View media item 104625

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Ooooh, that 3120 is nice. I want one too but have no idea what one should cost on the used market as they seem to be all over the place.

 

[Outwest]

Now you’ll have to get a wrap around for that 3120! They are big saws and I wouldn’t mind having one in my arsenal! Nice gift from your wife!

 

[freudianfloyd]

Ooooh, that 3120 is nice. I want one too but have no idea what one should cost on the used market as they seem to be all over the place.

Prices on used 3120s seem to be all over the place. There is currently one on Letgo near me. They were asking $1,150. I made an offer on it for $800 before I got this one, and they wouldn't budge. Checked again today and the price was down to $900 even though they told me they had several people wanting it for $1,000.

 

[tarmy]

I’ll play...

 

[freudianfloyd]

I’ll play...

The MS241 is a saw that just never pops up for sale around here. I would love to get my hands on one. They seem like a good size to put on my 4 wheeler.

 

[Rinspeed]

This is my beast.

 

[tarmy]

The MS241 is a saw that just never pops up for sale around here. I would love to get my hands on one. They seem like a good size to put on my 4 wheeler.

That thing is a beast...best saw I ever owned. The commercial saws are the only way to go. It gets used at sea level, 4500 and 7200 ft. Elevations...self adjusts carb and has the same kick *** torque...

 

[freudianfloyd]

This is my beast.

I've yet to find one around here in my price range, but I hear they are killer saws.

 

[Rinspeed]

I've yet to find one around here in my price range, but I hear they are killer saws.

I had planned on buying a slightly used one but quickly realized the resale value for Stihl, much like a Honda Accord, is way up there so I bought a new one. It's been a great saw, I don't have more than twenty or thirty hours on it but it's been awesome for my needs. When it comes to a saw you can't have too much power but you can have too much weight. I'm not 22 any more.

 

[Spacey_G]

Back the chain tension off a bit and douse the chain with some oil. See if it doesn't bog. A tight chain coupled with a weak oiler equals a Poulan that bogs down.

I just inherited my dads 16" homelite that he insisted he needed at 80 years old. Probably hasn't been used in 6 years.

I think this was the problem. I backed off the chain tension a bit and no more bogging down.

I'm having a new problem, though. The saw starts up fine when it's cold, but when it's warm it will run for a second and then die. It does this every day. Stop to refuel or sharpen the chain and I can't get the damn thing started again. Any idea what's going on?

 

[Spacey_G]

I solved the warm start problem with the Poulan by picking up a Stihl MS261C-M. Spent some time cutting with it this morning and it's awesome. Unbelievable how easy it starts. Impressive power already and I understand it will only get better through the first few tanks of gas.

 

[majorbanjo]

I've got a MS362 Stihl; I like it but wish I had bought smaller....

 

[Rinspeed]

I've got a MS362 Stihl; I like it but wish I had bought smaller....

The best advice I ever heard was get two, a 50cc and a 70cc, a 60cc is too much of a compromise on power vs weight.

 

[930dreamer]

 

[kc2hqv]

362/462 are the newest in the fleet, I think I have an addition at this point..

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[kc2hqv]

The MS241 is a saw that just never pops up for sale around here. I would love to get my hands on one. They seem like a good size to put on my 4 wheeler.

Wow impressed with the well manicured park like setting!


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[Den69rs96]

The best advice I ever heard was get two, a 50cc and a 70cc, a 60cc is too much of a compromise on power vs weight.

I love my 361. It’s my favorite saw. I agree with a 20 inch solid bar it does get a little heavy for limbing branches. I use my ms250 for that, but I thought about going to a two plan. I’m debating selling my ms 250 and 361 to get the 261. I’ll keep my 046 for really big stuff.

 

[Rinspeed]

I'm having a new problem, though. The saw starts up fine when it's cold, but when it's warm it will run for a second and then die. It does this every day. Stop to refuel or sharpen the chain and I can't get the damn thing started again. Any idea what's going on?

I've always been a big fan of Seafoam for loosening up **** that might be stuck in one of the carb jets. It's an easy first step before tearing a carb apart for a good cleaning. Just add a little extra oil in with the gas to be safe.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have the same MS290 as before. I put on a new non anti-kickback bar and chisel chain along with a new clutch drum and rim sprocket.

I did a muffler and carb mod as well. This saw, while not a pro saw has always been a very good cutter. After the changes it cuts way faster though.

I can't say that it’s really any louder, just has a deeper tone. I kept the spark arrestor screen in and did not drill into the baffle area. This muffler only had two very small slots on the bottom. I opened them up quite a bit and added a few more holes. I also drilled a few in the front cover plate.

 

[bulletpruf]

Just finished this one - Stihl 090AV - 137cc's. Beast of a saw. Was in generally good shape when I got it, but not running. Points were way off, needed carb rebuild. Also replaced top cover and air filter cover with NOS bits. Runs like a champ now.

 

[Rinspeed]

Just finished this one - Stihl 090AV - 137cc's. Beast of a saw. Was in generally good shape when I got it, but not running. Points were way off, needed carb rebuild. Also replaced top cover and air filter cover with NOS bits. Runs like a champ now.

Very cool, that thing must be a handful. My arms hurt just looking at the pics. Worth quite a bit of money I'm sure.

 

[bulletpruf]

Very cool, that thing must be a handful. My arms hurt just looking at the pics. Worth quite a bit of money I'm sure.

Yeah, I thought I was going to have to turn in my man card. I recently flooded it (choke was stuck) and yanked on it a while before it started. I almost had to use the decomp.

These do bring good $. I put it up for sale last night and it was sold for my asking price ($2k + shipping) before lunch today.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Yeah, I thought I was going to have to turn in my man card. I recently flooded it (choke was stuck) and yanked on it a while before it started. I almost had to use the decomp.

These do bring good $. I put it up for sale last night and it was sold for my asking price ($2k + shipping) before lunch today.

I am jealous. I find pretty good deals, but you seem to find some awesome saws that I never see around me.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I just put this in the garage sale thread, but its technically a saw too, so Im going to put this here.

Picked her up for $50, did a little valve adjustment and she runs great.
View media item 104851

 

[AngryBeaver]

The best advice I ever heard was get two, a 50cc and a 70cc, a 60cc is too much of a compromise on power vs weight.

while 20 years ago that may have been true, the 60cc saws today run with any 70cc saws out there.

I've yet to find one around here in my price range, but I hear they are killer saws.

They haven't been out that long in the states. you are going to pay for one if you find one

 

[soloz2]

I just put this in the garage sale thread, but its technically a saw too, so Im going to put this here.

Picked her up for $50, did a little valve adjustment and she runs great.
View media item 104851

That's a fantastic deal! I love my HT103 with adjustable pole, but it set me back almost $700 with tax and a can of motomix.


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[bulletpruf]

I am jealous. I find pretty good deals, but you seem to find some awesome saws that I never see around me.

I lived in Italy from 2015-2018. I had 2 saws when we got to Europe. I brought about 100 back with me.

Jonsereds were CHEAP in Sweden. I bought a lot of Stihl saws out of Germany, too -- older Stihls were affordable and the dollar was pretty strong against the euro. Had access to a lot of stuff that's pretty rare here -- Comet and Jonsereds diesel saws, Solo twin cylinder, Dolmar rotary, etc. I bought and sold multiples of each of these.

Generally speaking, I'm doubling my $ on these saws, but I'm also spending some time cleaning, fettling, sourcing parts, etc.

Since we got back in late 2018, I've selling off all of the collection to fund my musclecar obsession. Have about 50 remaining to sell.

Figure I'll keep Stihls to use - an 020 Super top handle (use for any work up in a tree), an 036 Pro (will be used majority of the time), and an 044 with a 28" or so bar. Can't see myself needing anything bigger than an 044 for homeowner use. I'll do muffler mods on all, might get the 044 ported.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Picked up 4 more saws Friday night.

First one is a cool old Lombard Camango.
View media item 105460
The second one is a Stihl 015L
View media item 105461
Next up is a Husqvarna 65
View media item 105463
And finally the one I was most excited about, a Sachs Dolmar 110.
View media item 105462
I paid $5 each as they were not running. I cleaned them up and tinkered with them a bit and have the Dolmar and Stihl running good, although I think the Dolmar has a slight air leak.

I will have to get some updated pictures as they cleaned up well.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Finally got the saws cleaned up. All run great except the Lombard. It is currently in pieces awaiting new crank seals, and the Dolmar now has the correct gas cap, I just didn't have it when I took the picture.
View media item 105624View media item 105625View media item 105626View media item 105627

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I know some folks here are Stihl collectors, I can't tell if these are a deal or not but might be worth it to someone who wouldn't have to have them shipped.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/203611404064843/

 

[Bent Handle]

A couple of many. Stihl ms460 and stihl 084

 

[soloz2]

Just picked up this beauty today. Hope to try it out tomorrow. MS261cm

 

[bulletpruf]

A couple of many. Stihl ms460 and stihl 084

084's are fantastic saws. I've had 4 or 5, but really don't have a need for such a big saw so I end up selling 'em.

 

[TOTO]

Had to help a neighbor cut some firewood for his dad so I thought I would snap a picture to post here.

My three Husqvarnas

395XP with a 28" bar. Have a 36" bar also.
455 Rancher with a 20" bar.
142 with a 14" bar