Let’s talk chainsaws

[indyjohn]

The guys I just hired to cut some trees down showed up with a Stihl MS 500i
Fuel injected, mean machine.

I looked at that and the MS 462 C-M. When I am ready to lay down that kind of jack, it'll be the 462.

 

[BigRed]

Fair enough. I need to grab one also. Any benefit to running aviation fuel?

After some trials and tribulations i finally got this barred up.
View attachment 225024
Ive got a load of reject logs to pick up from a local mill at some point. Hopefully I’ll have the house moved and enough wood to heat it by winter 2023.

The aviation fuel is supposed to be free of the ethanol crap that causes problems.

It runs well...have not tried any storage periods.

Running AV in one and the Stihl premix in another to test over time.

AV costs much less than the premix but premix is said to be trouble free.

Either is better than a machine that fails when needed...and better for my BP. I detest tools when they fail.

 

[Gabriel]

The current state of my 445. The gas tank/handle piece is broken and, unfortunately, one can't get a new one. I may have to resort to a used one off ebay or something. I wanted this up and running so I could cut up downed trees on my property now that it's colder and the underbrush is dying off. I still have my 460, but I'd like to have them both running.

 

[tmschuller]

The current state of my 445. The gas tank/handle piece is broken and, unfortunately, one can't get a new one. I may have to resort to a used one off ebay or something. I wanted this up and running so I could cut up downed trees on my property now that it's colder and the underbrush is dying off. I still have my 460, but I'd like to have them both running.

View attachment 230413

Have you tried Baileys online?? Great resource for parts and supplies

 

[indyjohn]

I looked at that and the MS 462 C-M. When I am ready to lay down that kind of jack, it'll be the 462.

Was in the Greenwood Rural King today. To my surprise, they had a MS 462 C-M with wrap around handle and 25" bar. Only $1139.95.

Let me just say, I am still married.

 

[Gabriel]

Have you tried Baileys online?? Great resource for parts and supplies

I did look. That part says it's on back order everywhere. I may have to go the Ebay route, but I'd rather get a new one so I know it's history (none).

I suspect that is a weak point on this machine since the part is sold out everywhere and you can get that piece from Wish and aliexpress, which I am not doing.

 

[Leadeye]

The aviation fuel is supposed to be free of the ethanol crap that causes problems.

It runs well...have not tried any storage periods.

Running AV in one and the Stihl premix in another to test over time.

AV costs much less than the premix but premix is said to be trouble free.

Either is better than a machine that fails when needed...and better for my BP. I detest tools when they fail.

100ll Avgas is great stuff. I was at the airport when a Bonanza which had not been out of the hanger in 8 years was pulled out for an annual prior to sale. Covered with dirt, bird nests, and all three tires flat, it got the once over and a new battery. Fired right up.

 

[Leadeye]

Was in the Greenwood Rural King today. To my surprise, they had a MS 462 C-M with wrap around handle and 25" bar. Only $1139.95.

Let me just say, I am still married.

Maybe if you got a new wood splitter instead of a saw.

 

[DragonGunner]

I never do enough cutting. All my gas cheap chainsaws always needing work. Maybe 3 years ago got a Greenworks electric chainsaw (battery). Always works great. Cuts a little slower but does great. About the time you run out of chain oil you need another charge. So cuts plenty with what I do.

 

[BigRed]

Earlier this year, I had a problem with a saw which I am certain was attributable to running crap gas with ethanol.

Since then, I have switched over to Stihl premix in one saw and aircraft fuel in the other.

I am expecting to not run them for a couple of months, so today I ran them to empty and dumped any remaining fuel sitting in the tank.

Do you folks have any other suggestions for storing them?

 

[csaws]

Earlier this year, I had a problem with a saw which I am certain was attributable to running crap gas with ethanol.

Since then, I have switched over to Stihl premix in one saw and aircraft fuel in the other.

I am expecting to not run them for a couple of months, so today I ran them to empty and dumped any remaining fuel sitting in the tank.

Do you folks have any other suggestions for storing them?

I don’t store mine without fuel ever. I also use ethanol free gas though. I also store them vertically. Let me see if I can find a pic.


I didn’t find a pic, I’ll get one when I get home from the firehouse on Monday morning

 

[edporch]

Earlier this year, I had a problem with a saw which I am certain was attributable to running crap gas with ethanol.

Since then, I have switched over to Stihl premix in one saw and aircraft fuel in the other.

I am expecting to not run them for a couple of months, so today I ran them to empty and dumped any remaining fuel sitting in the tank.

Do you folks have any other suggestions for storing them?

I always use the Stihl Ultra 2 cycle oil mix in the silver container and mixed it with E0 (no ethanol) gasoline.
I just leave the gasoline mix in the saw and it always works fine the next year.
I also keep the mix in an air tight gas can and I often use the same mix for 2 years with no trouble if there's any left at the end of the season.

 

[BigRed]

I always use the Stihl 2 cycle oil mix in the silver container and mixed it with E0 (no ethanol) gasoline.
I just leave the gasoline mix in the saw and it always works fine the next year.
I also keep the mix in an air tight gas can and I often use the same mix for 2 years with no trouble if there's any left at the end of the season.

Do you use a fuel stabilizer?

 

[Bugzilla]

I just keep fuel stabilizer in the fuel. Rarely had issues the next season with them starting. They set about a year usually.

 

[edporch]

Do you use a fuel stabilizer?

No, the mixed gas stays stable enough.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I don’t store mine without fuel ever. I also use ethanol free gas though. I also store them vertically. Let me see if I can find a pic.


I didn’t find a pic, I’ll get one when I get home from the firehouse on Monday morning

I discovered you can shrink/crack gaskets if they sit too long and dry out. Left a pressure washer empty 4 years and when I put gas in it it leaked like a sieve. fuel flow out of it was fast enough to drain the tank in under 3 mins

 

[Leadeye]

Had the gardener out today cutting with the Stihl MSA 220c Battery saw. She was never a fan of pull cord tools, this uses the same battery as the lawn mower so it's a win-win.

 

[Biggredchev]

Earlier this year, I had a problem with a saw which I am certain was attributable to running crap gas with ethanol.

Since then, I have switched over to Stihl premix in one saw and aircraft fuel in the other.

I am expecting to not run them for a couple of months, so today I ran them to empty and dumped any remaining fuel sitting in the tank.

Do you folks have any other suggestions for storing them?

Make sure the chain has ample amounts of bar oil. I got some surface rust on one i ran though the ultrasonic, sharpened and stored. As far as saws go I haven’t given mine enough of a break to gum up since i started cutting wood earlier this year.

 

[JTKelly]

Had the gardener out today cutting with the Stihl MSA 220c Battery saw. She was never a fan of pull cord tools, this uses the same battery as the lawn mower so it's a win-win.

Sounds dangerous. I'd be glad to come over and lend an extra hand.

 

[snapping turtle]

Sounds dangerous. I'd be glad to come over and lend an extra hand.

Don’t leave a hand behind