Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Chainsaw Afficionados - Question

With that we can agree.

The oiler on a Stihl is a nylon worm gear and a sacrificial part. It's easy to replace.

Make sure the outlet hole is free and clear. Sawdust can pack it closed. I rebuilt the oil pump on my 009L. Diaphragm was ruptured.

I too was looking for a smaller saw ...I just couldn't stomach buying a stihl or husky that was a throw away....non the less they are great saws ..my little ms 180 runs and cuts like a champ....I just wanted somthing rebuild able....I chose a Dolmar 420.....wow what a saw..starts crazy easy ...like 1/4 pull and it runs......I used it last fall for most of my wood cutting...this summer I sent it over to miller mod saw and had it ported and his special touch.....wow this thin really rips now..

Ya fix the stihl, maybe you just need to adjust the oiler,, or the gear is pooched, try adjusting it first.
Make sure you get a 3/8 chain, not the small chain. If your cutting logs 12-16" you need at least a 60cc saw. If its smaller wood then less cc is ok. stihl or husky but dont get the little chain.

Blow air back thru the oil line
Check the hole in the bar.
They are making them smaller. Use a dremel and open it.
Thin the oil with a little diesel

That 029 is a brick. Heavy and more than most need.

A brick is tough to break. Best selling Stihl ever.

Sharp chain helps bearings and clutch.

They main thing is a sharp chain, can't stand a dull chain.

What's your recommendation for a simple way to sharpen a chain?

THIS

+4
There is a huge difference.

Retired? Not sure that’s exactly what i’d call it.

Dremel tool with the chain sharpening kit and the proper diameter stone or Harbor Freight chain sharpener. I use both.

IMO fix the Stihl and get a smaller/lighter saw.

I got one of these and it's worth every penny.



The key is set it up to just barely spark the chain and then advance the chain a bit the next time through. You'll never burn the chain if you limit it to light cuts. The advantage of a grinder like this is that each tooth will be ground to the same length, angle and depth and you can set the depth gauge to the same depth for each tooth. I.e. you get a professionally sharpened chain and it's paid for itself after 10 sharpenings. I've had commercial shops grind off 1/2 the life of the chain and charge me 1/2 the price of a new chain. Unless you're driving the chain into the dirt and ruining the teeth you should be able to sharpen a chain about 10 times.

I've used files and a dremel attachment, no more. Go cutting with 3 or 4 loops, change whenever they dull or you kiss the dirt. When you get home sharpen it properly vs. buggering the teeth with a file in the field.

I've got a Husky 445 and a Stihl MS 290 Farm Boss. I bought the Husky because the Farm Boss is a big heavy biitch and I got tired of using that tank for limbing etc.. Turns out the little 445 runs like a raped ape and goes through logs 12-16" in diameter just as fast or maybe a little faster than the Farm Boss. I've been leaving the old Stihl in the garage and using the 445 for most of my firewood for three years now. I cut about 14-16 face cords a year so that little saw has been through roughly 45 face cords so far and it still runs and cuts like a champ.

Yes. Once started into a large tree and discovered some rot issues. Did not want to abandon it leaving a dangerous situation, and it took the 3rd saw to eventually get it down. Had to pull the head from the first two as the bars were buried and stuck.

Do your self a favor and buy a real saw .More folks get hurt with small homeowners saws that are under powered and try to make them do big saw work.Always have a least 2 saws with you when you are cutting,the reason is obvious.I have three of these Husky 372XPs with different length bars for different jobs.Always wear a good pair of Chaps,leather gloves and helmet.save yourself from a trip to the ER from kickback ,cause it will happen.Huntz
http://www.baileysonline.com/Chains...ainsaw-71cc-X-Torq-with-20-Bar-Chain.axd

Homeowners get hurt with small saws because most homeowners own small saws and don't know how to safely operate any chainsaw. As to the sorry sound of homeowner saws droning on forever, it's not because a 30-40cc saw won't cut. It's because a dull chain won't cut. A big yes on chaps, gloves, ear protection, eye protection and a helmet.

If most of the trees one's going to fell and buck are 12-16", a 50cc pro saw will do the job all day without wearing you out. If the small trees are 20" at the butt then you're in 70-80cc territory.

I used to use an 80cc saw for everything.



Yes, it's a cutting sumbitch, but you're worn out and your back hurts at the end of the day.

must be a NY thing........