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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2023 10:04pm
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Last week I took down this halfway fallen tree that was threatening the shed below it. For the last few years I have been using an 80v lithium saw, no big cutting though. This job gave me the opportunity to drag out all my old 2 stroke saws for a revisit . Put fresh fuel in (I had stored them dry) and fired them up outside the cabin for testing. Started and ran fine but once down at the tree they wouldn’t restart once warm. No amount of pulling, choking, starter fluid would help. Hmm. Next morning back at the cabin, back to working again cold.
Finally got the job done using the 80v, but it would only do 1-2 cuts between charges, and I only have one battery.
So what’s with the old saws? Weak ignition once hot? Bad internal seals? Modern ethanol fuel?
My neighbor kid is hot on these new fangled fuel injected chainsaws. Is that what it takes now?
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2023 04:27am
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Ethanol from pump gas ate up my Stihl 440 Magnum carburetor. I use Stihl gas now.
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rpe
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2023 07:39am
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We've got a collection of old saws as well, and they do need attention to stay operating well. Majority of the time issues are fuel related - usually gummed up/contaminated carb. Not sure about your hot-start issues - this was just with one saw, or same symptom on multiple? Low compression could cause that symptom of hard hot-start. Also check and clean out muffler. If it's been sitting for a while, and then run hard, carbon deposits might have flaked off and plugged the muffler exit.
Electric saws are handy for small jobs, but nothing beats the power of the 2-stroke on bigger jobs. Our biggest saw is the Stihl 088 my son and I rebuilt from box of parts. Big 'No Wimps' sticker on the side.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2023 04:22pm
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Thanks guys. So this morning at the cabin, both Macs fired right up, and the Monkey Wards, whatever that is. The Stihl and the Husky wouldn’t and upon pulling the plugs I couldn’t detect spark, though they both gave me a slight jolt. I’ll try new plugs.
I still have to buck that tree so more chainsaw fun next week.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 20 Mar 2024 09:40am
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Pretty fair chainsaw day yesterday. Had this dead trunk blocking the driveway. My gas Stihl and Mac are still down, so the 80v Li did the bulk. When that died, late and no time for a recharge, I grabbed the little B&D 40v I just bought new pre-Li batteries for (Mcad or whatever). Went through both of those with only one cut, no comparison to the Li. Had a genny running charging the 80v, and an old corded 110 ac saw kicking around so I drug a cord over and finished with that and got the road cleared.
Parts arrived for the Mac, will finish the bucking with that. The Li saw is good for initial take down and clearing, gas for repeated cuts.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2024 02:07pm
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Kept getting my saw bar stuck mid cut yesterday. Thought maybe it was dampness in the recently cut logs I was bucking, even looked it up and there are some complaints about that. But I got out my sharpener, one of those bench mounted, carbide wheel adjustable angle jobs, and the fresh sharpening made all the difference, even though it was cutting OK before, at least until it got stuck. Lesson learned.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2024 02:28pm
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They all benefit from sharp chains but the light duty saws Really Need it.
Im still depending on my old 120vac corded with a 14"? bar, works fine off the Lil Champ gen.
For tool recharging of all types Ive happily been using the psw inverter off a bat (even a car/truck bat close to the job would do).
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jul 2024 11:11pm
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Unfortunately two years ago I packed it in on the Gas saws, even my logger friends are using electric. My Greenworks 16 saw did the same thing, 40 volt 4 ah battery one 12 inch dry alder cut and battery was kaput, yet same battery gives me 25 12 inch cuts from my other Greenworks 12 inch saw.....go figure! Got a refund from Amazon on the 16 after finding no service, no support and the support for repair was bogus and simply didn't exist.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2024 12:42pm
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Yeah I fired up my 18” Stihl a few weeks ago just to make sure it still ran. Kept that and the bigger Husky but stowed on the shelf in the shop, others got pitched.
Two newish lfp saws hang on the cabin wall, get all the use now. Hard for this old gas blooded geezer to switch over, just so much easier to deal with. Still have several old generators, they haven’t figured out how to run those by battery yet! 
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2024 11:20pm
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That IS funny, Paul
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 04:35am
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I tell ya, once you go electric (a good one) it will be hard to look back, imagine going out to start the saw, just plug battery in and push the trigger, then there is the chain life since electrics have a lot more torque from zero r.p.m. the chain runs slower, cuts more deeply and needs sharpening much less often...just for starters!
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 04:56am
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Heard two guys talking today about saws. Guy1 asks about if Kevlar pants will protect you. Guy2 says well gas saws have an auto clutch, electric saws are direct drive, you just let off the switch and chain stops. Never occurred to me but I guess it’s true. How that, or Kevlar relate to safety I have no idea. I’m usually in cutoffs.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 01:14pm
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Quoting: paulz gas saws have an auto clutch, electric saws are direct drive
Gas saws do have an auto clutch that engages the chain drive when the rpm's increase. That is why the chain doesn't move when it idles, if idle speed is adjusted correctly. Electric are direct drive, no clutch. Neither protect you if the chain contacts your leg with the chain moving. You can't let go of the switch or throttle fast enough.
Logging pants and chaps can save one from serious injury. The material jams up the moving chain. Chain saw wounds cab be gruesome. I wear chaps, hardhat, gloves, eye and hearing protection.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 01:51pm - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: ICC wear chaps, hardhat, gloves, eye and hearing protection.
In addition, the local fire dept. (retired volunteer) has protective vests and boots that must be worn.
Years of go carts and mini-bikes (back when they had Briggs powered) got me very familiar with centrifugal clutches, also obvious when sharpening chains. Never really thought about their lack of on E saws, obviously an unnecessary extra gizmo.
I did get to go with the FD yesterday on a fire road check up the hill to some cell towers. Fun morning.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 03:58pm - Edited by: ICC
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The local FD got a new to them 2004 4x4 F550 mini pumper {500 gal} last week. 19,000 miles. Nice truck, well maintained, replaced a 1985 C60 Chevy
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 04:52pm
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That’s what we have now, 20something F550 4x4, I think it’s only 300 gallon. Back when I was active, I responded in this old guy, which I’ve posted here a thousand times, as when it was finally retired they gave it to me. It still runs and pumps, I park it at the gate on the weekends and take it to community functions etc. What a difference driving that beast, carbureted, no power steering, granny low stick.. compared to the new one a kid could handle.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 05:33pm
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Neat old truck
Do you keep it full for emergencies?
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 08:08pm
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I do keep it full. Two things at the moment though: One, I had to drain it to fix that rear flat mentioned last month, floor jack wouldn’t lift it full. I’ll refill next time I fire up the well pump. Second, the pump engine, an old V-twin Tecumseh, takes its own 12v auto battery (E start). You know me and batteries, it’s all I can do to keep a battery in it to drive the truck. One of these days I’ll run a cable back from under the hood so I can run it all off one batt.
But yeah, my dream is that one of these days we’ll get a fire call, and the new rigs won’t run because of some computer glitch, and I’ll be at the rescue in the Inter.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 09:31pm
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Quoting: paulz What a difference driving that beast, carbureted, no power steering, granny low stick.
Mid to late 60s? Cool gift.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jul 2024 10:44pm
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67. And it’s only mine while I’m here. Still has the exempt plates and is titled to the FD. I was just the last guy who really used it. There are a couple of young gear heads in the department now, hopefully when I’m done one of them will want it.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2024 02:05am
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Quoting: paulz And it’s only mine while I’m here.
Still, having it to use, show off, etc is a cool gift.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2024 01:28pm
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Quoting: groingo the chain runs slower, cuts more deeply and needs sharpening much less often...just for starters!
Ok back to saws. I guess the E saws do run slower, never really paid attention. And for sharpening, I use the sharpener pictured above, and always at 35 degrees. Never played around with less angle. Depth of cut is pretty much determined by the height of the depth things in front of the cutters afaik.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2024 02:12pm
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Quite some years back I bought a new Husky chain saw, it cut like a bandit with the factory chain, even white oak but especially pine and poplar, and held up over a good long time. Once it wasn't cutting as good I took it back to the place Id bought it (a real small engine place only 5mi away) for a sharpening. Got it home and it wouldnt cut pine even as well as when I took it in! Back to store, got the 'new guy' didn't know what he was doing on sharpener story......
Got it back and it still didn't cut well, but better, so I finished the clean up job and have messed about with filing my own since. Im doing about as well as the 2nd shop sharpening, still not what it originally had.
All to say, I was impressed by what angles or whatever Husky had and wish I could duplicate it. Have to admit Ive never thought to look up online about it until now.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2024 06:39pm - Edited by: ICC
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HOW-TO SHARPEN A CHAINSAW CHAIN
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Popeye
Member
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2024 08:20pm
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The Stihl 2 in 1 sharpener is awesome! You can save $10 buying the Pferd version since they make them for Stihl. Very consistent sharpening by hand since I switched.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2024 12:36am
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My old neighbor (the guy that moved to Madison) called me to come over after his yard sale and take anything left. Like I needed more junk, but in the pile was this hand held chain sharpener by Oregon. I remember some other bits with it but still sorting through the stuff. Haven’t tried it, must be easier than pulling the chain like I do now.
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2024 12:49am
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I've got one like that on a Dremel.
Works quick and easy. I just try to not over grind it. Same way with the bench mounted one like you have.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2024 01:20am
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I have one pretty much like that Paul!
I think I decided it needs a different diameter stone for my size chain.....I think....
Things got kinda jumbled in my head after my heart stopped last Jan 6. Im still sorting out my projects but also taking more time to just putter and enjoy the new cabin delivered May 1. I haven't run a chain saw since last year, for the smallish jobs I just grab the cordless recip-saw with a coarse wood blade.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2024 09:06pm
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Boy this is slick! Sure beats pulling the chain off. Can’t find the other bits too though, might have forgot them at the yard sale.
One thing, when I use the bench sharpener, I put a clothes clip on the chain so I know where I’m at. With this I’ll just mark the start tooth with a red marker.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2024 11:52am
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I’ve tried most sharpening gadgets and am back to just a plain round file and then following up with a raker gauge every couple sharpenings.
Sharp cutters is great but if you don’t take the rakers down once and a while it won’t cut well
Buckin Billy Ray has some great sharpening videos on YouTube if you’re not confident with your ability
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