stihl chainsaw update

[Wakefield]

Dave you have what I call the typical symptoms of a "warranty" problem. Whether car dealer or tool dealer you get two answers to all questions/problems. 1) They all do that. 2) Can't see a problem here, nothing to fix. So you first need to stop this ****. I've found the quick solution is to say to the dealer "pull two of your new ones out and crank it up and show me they all do this. If not fix the _____ now." That will get you past the BS and have them really diagnose the problem. I've a Sthil also and they are the best I've owned. You have an equipment problem, but a bigger dealer problem. I'm betting you fix the dealer problem, the equipment problem will be easy. If the dealer won't cooperate, call the district manager for Sthil. The dealer will have to give you the information.

YES

Sounds like this saw wasn't right from the get go and the dealer hasn't made good. Nor tried very hard. If the dealer can't make the saw right he should replace it with another new one. (It was a new saw right,not a used one/reconditioned or something?

 

[fordbroncodave]

yes, new off the shelf, everything on it is the way it came.

arborist site says my chain is dull, but the saw never really cut real well from the start and I noticed smoking and sparks from the beginning. it was cutting small shavings and dust while dads echo was cutting like 1/2" shavings

 

[lmwilco1]

When I bought my new saw the dealer fired it up and did a test cut and noticed that is was not cutting right and that the chain was on backwards, that is why I asked.

Louis

yes, new off the shelf, everything on it is the way it came.

arborist site says my chain is dull, but the saw never really cut real well from the start and I noticed smoking and sparks from the beginning. it was cutting small shavings and dust while dads echo was cutting like 1/2" shavings

 

[Chuck122]

I have already used brand new stihl chains that were not very sharp out of the box. I mean to the touch the chisels felt sharp but for some reason they cut like ****. Fwiw I love stihl chains, the full chisel will hog out wood like crazy once sharpened. Maybe the depth gauges need to be dropped a bit

 

[TwoInch]

yes, new off the shelf, everything on it is the way it came.

arborist site says my chain is dull, but the saw never really cut real well from the start and I noticed smoking and sparks from the beginning. it was cutting small shavings and dust while dads echo was cutting like 1/2" shavings

small shavings and dust from the get go. you should have immediately stopped and sharpened the chain, or taken it somewhere to sharpen it properly.

it literally takes seconds for a perfectly sharpened chain to turn into a turd, dull and useless. now that its over heated, no need to sharpen it again, just replace it, the chisels wont hold an edge now and will only be headaches.

i have also watched people with chains on backwards, and burn up chains, and not figure out what the problem was...

 

[thebeekeeper1]

exactly. yes, the service tech said the bar and chain are correct to the saw, that is what came with it. he had the whole bar off and bearing out and looked it all over good.

I paid the price for a good saw and getting terrible service and support for it. this *****. my leaf blower has been trouble free and its well over 10 years old and it is a BR400

I bought a 1980s-era 032AV on Ebay. It ran perfectly, but did what you describe--got VERY hot, very quickly, without cutting wood, just spinning. It was oiling just fine. We never could figure it out (good dealer/service tech), so I finally bought a new bar and chain. It has worked perfectly since.

 

[JeremyManning]

Make sure you are using high test gas as well, or you are likely to burn up a piston. My guess is it is a chain issue especially if you are using bar oil while cutting, also make sure the bar oil you are using is for summer temperatures.

 

[geokell3]

I have a 2 year old MS391 and have the exact same problem. I've been cutting wood for a lot of years and know what I'm doing. I've had Huskys and a Poulan that have cut great for 15 years. My dad's old Stihl cut down a forest full of trees with few problem. I'm sick of this new saw.

I read the forums and decided to put on a brand new bar and sharpened the chain. I cut down a 22" tree with ease, but, by the time I cut the through the downed tree about 4-5 slices, the chain was getting hot.....really hot. Sparking like crazy.

Yes, I adjusted the chain correctly and I need to fill the bar oil up every time I need gas. I don't get it. I'm ready to put this thing on craigslist to be honest.

I think I'm going to try a skip tooth chain next, but I don't know if I want to put any more $ into this POS. I wish I'd bought an Echo and a Husky instead.

 

[IndyGarage]

I had a problem with an overheating chain on my Makita chainsaw. Put on a new bar and chain and it cuts wood like a hot knife through butter.

Bar must have been bent or something.

I would agree - once it's overheated your aren't going to fix the bar and chain. Buy new ones

 

[decableguy2000]

I would double check the chain gauge and make sure the bar isn't pinched. Chains are cheap enough match it up with the nubers on the bar say and make sure you have the right pitch chain for the spocket and bar. Do you have a differnt dealership in your area. If you seen sparks something is in a bind, On the driver teeth of the chain should have some numbers to help identify the gauge. Post up some pictures it helps us help you.

Jeremy

 

[rick carpenter]

How about taking the saw and a big log to the dealer and invite him outside to replicate what you are experiencing.

 

[fordbroncodave]

I am fairly certain my saw has fixed its self though not 100%. bar still gets a tad hotter then it should but at least it cuts worth a damn.

I found out that I needed to cut the rakes down with a file to have a more aggressive cut and to utilize the power of the engine. seemed to fix the problem the more I cut those down.

it would actually cut and progress through wood faster then sitting still longer and getting really hot in place.

They told me more recently that is not a good idea and cuts down on the life of the saw but I said if I don't then the problem remains.


I don't need to declare how much experience I have with saws but I will say I have 15 cord worth of wood stacked already this year that this saw has cut most of it.

 

[Treeman]

What kind of depth gage tool (not file) did you use to set the rakers?