So I've been looking for a chainsaw

[jdcompman]

So I've been looking for a chainsaw off and on again for quite a while. Not really looking too hard but if one pops up on craigslist I at least open the ad and take a look. Well I have an RSS feed for the tools section of craigslist and yesterday I see an ad pop up, "Chainsaw." I figured it was some electric one or old worn out one but I opened the ad anyway.

To my surprise it was a Stihl 021 with original manuals, chain cover and original spark plug wrench. The ad read, "Stihl chainsaw. Doesn't run. Probably needs a tune up - $25"

I called them immediately and much to my surprise they still had it. I said I'd be right over and hung up the phone. I left work and drove as fast as I could to the opposite side of town, about 20 minutes. The whole way I'm wondering if someone beat me to it, or if the price in the listing was wrong. All kinds of thoughts.

Well I pull up to the house and I see it sitting on the tailgate of the guy's truck and he's dinkin around in the garage. I take a look at the saw, give it a pull... It's got good compression. I couldn't throw the cash at him fast enough. As I'm leaving he says, "are you the one I talked to on the phone?" I tell him I am and he says, "oh ok, the wife just came out before you got here and said another guy is coming to take a look."

I got it home after work and pulled all the plastics off of it. Pulled the carb off and found the bottom screen in the carb to be completely obstructed by some muck. I proceeded to clean the rest of the saw very well. I looked in the spark plug hole and could see the factory crosshatch on the cylinder walls with no signs of scoring.

I got it all put back together with a fresh plug and gas, reset the carb to factory settings and it fired right off! I couldn't believe it.

 

[LB-1911]

You really ****

 

[lotsoftools]

Excellent score!

 

[p_mori7]

You sucked a cue ball through a straw on that one !

NICE !

 

[Snap_cap]

You really ****

Yes, this!

 

[NUTTSGT]

you ****

 

[wyo george]

Very nice, I have the same saw except I paid a bit more


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[rkevins]

YOU **** !! those are great saws, just be sure to use non ethanol gas in it

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

So jealous, I was running my brothers MS460 today and always fall in love all over again with it. Once they start they are great saws. I always keep my eye open for one on clist.

 

[ken w.]

There is soooo much suckage going on here.

 

[Mandres]

Nice! I picked up a good condition MS260 for $130 a couple weeks ago and though I did well. you got a steal (Stihl?)

 

[jdcompman]

Wow thank you everyone! My very first "you ****." I have about 8 acres of 50 year old shelter belt that I'm excited to clean up now.

Any other hints or tricks on this saw for me since this is my first saw?

It's got a 14" bar and came with 2 butter knife quality chains. So I think I'm going to pick up a new chain and get these two sharpened. Any recommendations on chains? Or should I get a 16" bar?

I grabbed some canned premixed gas to start off but I'm sure I'll mix my own in the future. Good tip on the non ethanol.

 

[MScott]

Stihl calls for premium gas if you are mixing your own. Also, they extend the warantee from 1 year to 2 years if you use the Stihl oil mixed at 50/1 so that is a good indication of the importance of using that oil. I have 2 Stihl chainsaws and a Stihl weedeater and love them all..

 

[idahochevy]

On my bigger saws i like running a skip-tooth chain. They cut really good and there is less sharpening you have to do when they get dull.

 

[dewalt378g]

Here's the best tip...get yourself some PPE. You got a great deal on the saw, so make it worth your while and protect yourself.

Arborsite is a great source for everything else you would want to know from chain types to cutting tech.

Congrats on the saw...oh yeah...and you ****

 

[retfr8flyr]

You ****!! That old 021 is a lot better then the new saws with all the environmental controls chocking them down.

 

[Angelfire]

It's got a 14" bar and came with 2 butter knife quality chains. So I think I'm going to pick up a new chain and get these two sharpened. Any recommendations on chains? Or should I get a 16" bar?

Not sure by your quote, but if you don't know how to sharpen the chains yourself, learn how. It's a skill you'll need and it makes a huge difference to be able to just get them good and sharp at the beginning of a season, then touch them up every few hours of use (depending of course on what you're cutting etc..). It's easy and doesn't cost much for the files etc..

 

[AnthonyJ124]

Wow. What. A. Deal.

I paid 5x that for a non running stihl 024 super. BUUUUUT I sold that when I found a Husqvarna 350 for $40 at a garage sale.

Good luck with it!

 

[oilslick]

I would send it out to get ported and muffler modded right away. Great buy!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Great find! You ****! I got my freebie Stihl MS180C saw in much the same way. The local power equipment place we used at work apparently didn't know how to clear a flooded engine case. They said someone ran it without oil & the cylinder was too scored to run. My boss gave it to me with the idea that if I could fix it I could keep it. It had good compression & when I looked into the plug hole the walls looked good. I rebuilt the carb, purged it out & it fired on the third pull. Came with a brand new 16" bar & chain!

Tommy

 

[kelpaso1]

Stihl calls for premium gas if you are mixing your own. Also, they extend the warantee from 1 year to 2 years if you use the Stihl oil mixed at 50/1 so that is a good indication of the importance of using that oil. I have 2 Stihl chainsaws and a Stihl weedeater and love them all..

I kinda think that's just a sales gimmick for you to buy "their" oil. How could they possibly even be able to prove you didn't use their oil if you drained the tank before you brought in your burned up saw. Also how would they be able to prove you used the saw for 10 hrs a year or 700?

I did buy my 270 and DO use premium and their oil and cut 4-5 cords a year and have never had a problem with this saw. Starts up first or second pull every time no mater if it sits 1 week or 1 year. You get what you pay for.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Stihl calls for premium gas if you are mixing your own. Also, they extend the warantee from 1 year to 2 years if you use the Stihl oil mixed at 50/1 so that is a good indication of the importance of using that oil. I have 2 Stihl chainsaws and a Stihl weedeater and love them all..

I think the warranty extension comes from using their premium fuel/oil mix, the HP Ultra stuff in the silver bottles.

I always use 89 octane with my Stihl mix.

 

[MScott]

I kinda think that's just a sales gimmick for you to buy "their" oil. How could they possibly even be able to prove you didn't use their oil if you drained the tank before you brought in your burned up saw. Also how would they be able to prove you used the saw for 10 hrs a year or 700?

I did buy my 270 and DO use premium and their oil and cut 4-5 cords a year and have never had a problem with this saw. Starts up first or second pull every time no mater if it sits 1 week or 1 year. You get what you pay for.

Of course it is a gimmick to get you to buy their oil. The fact is, however, that they are willing to add a year of full warantee if you buy (and presumably use) their oil. Seems like cheap insurance to me. I use their oil in all my Stihl machines and have had no problem with them. As you say, you get what you pay for.

 

[Playwme]

They add the warranty because they know their product is top notch and won't break unless treated abnormally.

Dad had an old 064 sitting in his shed. He was using it one day and it stopped and wouldn't start again so he just used one of his others. He then went and bought a new saw as he'd had that one for a while and assumed it was properly stuffed. Eventually persuaded him to let me take it (he doesn't even like getting rid of stuff when it's busted and he has no intention of fixing it. )
I pulled it apart last week and the screws holding the cylinder down were loose and you could rattle the cylinder. Bore and piston look sweet so I'm hoping some new gaskets and a good clean will have it going again.

 

[MScott]

I think the warranty extension comes from using their premium fuel/oil mix, the HP Ultra stuff in the silver bottles.

I always use 89 octane with my Stihl mix.

That may be the case in the US, but here, I was given the choice. 1 year warranty or 2 years if I purchased a case of their oil. No mention was made of the HP Ultra although I would presume you would get the same protection if you purchased and used that.

 

[wasfuzz]

Also pay attention to which bar oil you use, just like every thing else cheap is not always better. Also be aware there are 2 different weights of bar oil heavy for summer and light for winter. that saw will last you a lifetime if you take care of it. it does not hurt to flip the bar over on the saw once in a while.

 

[jdcompman]

Thanks again for all of the feedback. I picked up a new chain today and a couple of files. I'll be researching proper sharpening techniques.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That may be the case in the US, but here, I was given the choice. 1 year warranty or 2 years if I purchased a case of their oil. No mention was made of the HP Ultra although I would presume you would get the same protection if you purchased and used that.

The 1 year warranty should be the regular warranty, I'd guess alot of dealers will throw in your first bottle of fuel/oil (2 cycle mix) and expect most Stihl users to come back for more. However, if you upgrade and buy the Ultra HP or the Motomix premix fuel, they will double your warranty. A Stihl chainsaw comes with a one year warranty already . (atleast in the USA, I'm sure Canada would be the same)

http://www.stihlusa.com/information/warranty-service-info/engine-oil-double-warranty/

 

[kelpaso1]

I just wonder though aren't any cheap or expensive 2 stroke oils fine if they meet API standards? I would like to see some tests to prove or dis-prove this. Eg Briggs, cheap walmart canadian tire, Sthil, Husky oils and other brands. Same question for snowmobile oils too.

 

[socapots]

That may be the case in the US, but here, I was given the choice. 1 year warranty or 2 years if I purchased a case of their oil. No mention was made of the HP Ultra although I would presume you would get the same protection if you purchased and used that.

The 1 year warranty should be the regular warranty, I'd guess alot of dealers will throw in your first bottle of fuel/oil (2 cycle mix) and expect most Stihl users to come back for more. However, if you upgrade and buy the Ultra HP or the Motomix premix fuel, they will double your warranty. A Stihl chainsaw comes with a one year warranty already . (atleast in the USA, I'm sure Canada would be the same)

http://www.stihlusa.com/information/warranty-service-info/engine-oil-double-warranty/

im with mscott on this. it was before jan 2012 when i bought my saw and kombi setup. the offer was the same as his. I think they even put it on the bill.

in the end it sounds like the both of you are saying the same thing just in different ways.

 

[Dustin Echoes]

That's a great saw, I have the same one. Premium gas, no ethanol, ever! Take care of it, it will last you a long time. I've had mine 4 years now, and I harvest 7 cords of wood every year from my woodlot. Never had an issue!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I just wonder though aren't any cheap or expensive 2 stroke oils fine if they meet API standards? I would like to see some tests to prove or dis-prove this. Eg Briggs, cheap walmart canadian tire, Sthil, Husky oils and other brands. Same question for snowmobile oils too.

It may be fine but I'll spend the extra few bucks to buy the Stihl brand stuff. Call it peace of mind or just a small part of the investment, it's nothing when compared to what it would cost if I didn't use wood (cut by Stihl) to heat my garage.

I guess to each their own or just my two corroded pennies.

 

[retfr8flyr]

One thing I discovered with my 2 cycle equipment is they don't like the new ethanol blended gas. I can't get non ethanol premium gas in my area so I just started using pre-mixed canned gas. All my tools have a 50:1 ratio so I use the TruFuel red cans and it is great. Lasts for 2 years after opening and 5 years unopened. I can let my saw sit for 6 months and when I pull it out it will fire right up.

I wish I had started using this stuff long ago. I had a string trimmer that I ended up throwing away because I could never get it started but I was using the ethanol gas with it. I also have a gas powered hedge trimmer that had the same problem but now I know about TruFuel. I pulled the carb off and cleaned it up, I cleaned the tank and all the fuel lines, filled it with the TruFuel and now it starts every time.

 

[overkill 19]

Prem fuel, 50:1 Stihl oil or any good syn oil of your choice and stabila will be your best friend

I run the stihl oil cause it's easy to get plus I can get parts at the same place.. Simple