Squirt extra bar oil on chain when cutting?

[RickB]

Dad bought a gray/blue Homelite XL12 saw that I used into the early 2000s. It had a manual oiler only.

 

[stuckmotor]

My Husquvarna 390xp has an adjustable oiler so Husky must think there are times when a bar and chain need more oil.

 

[fried1765]

Dad bought a gray/blue Homelite XL12 saw that I used into the early 2000s. It had a manual oiler only.

My dad bought an XL12 in the late 50's, and I used it until the mid 90's, when it needed repair that I was not willing to pay for.
I was about to take it to the dump, when I had another thought.
I listed it on E-Bay as needing repair, and sold it for $75 plus shipping.
That was a great old (heavy) saw.

 

[sixdogs]

My dad bought an XL12 in the late 50's, and I used it until the mid 90's, when it needed repair that I was not willing to pay for.
I was about to take it to the dump, when I had another thought.
I listed it on E-Bay as needing repair, and sold it for $75 plus shipping.
That was a great old (heavy) saw.

I had a similar saw -Skil-in the '70's. Weighed a ton and was low RPM. When the new high RPM saws came out in the'80's we could not believe the increase in performance and efficiency. Gave my old saw away.

 

[ruffdog]

My Stihl MS460 has a adjustable oiler but it still wasn't enough oil for big-dead-dry oak. The 460 full wrap model came with a higher output oil pump so I bought one and installed it. Then, the standard 460 pump was installed in the 361 to up the output with that saw.

 

[newbury]

My Stihl MS460 has a adjustable oiler but it still wasn't enough oil for big-dead-dry oak. The 460 full wrap model came with a higher output oil pump so I bought one and installed it. Then, the standard 460 pump was installed in the 361 to up the output with that saw.

For decades, I squirt extra bar oil on my chain and bar when the saw's working hard on bigger wood. I have an oil can with me and squirt some on every now and then. It's not that I cut a lot of wood it's just that I that I thought it helps the chain.

Is adding oil a good idea or am I wasting my time?

Stihl attempted to be environmentally prudent and, at least on their larger saws sold in the US, started installing oilers that put out less. They also redesigned their chains to use oil more efficiently.

I've 2 660's and an 088.



They all ran fine with a Stihl size recommended bar, but on the 660's that's only up to 32" with Stihl chains. When I started CSM with a 42" bar the oiler couldn't keep up. If I used a non-Stihl chain with a 30" or 32" bar. again, not enough oil. And at that time I had trouble getting Stihl chain for milling.

But Stihl 660 saws in other parts of the world had a higher output oiler. So I bought and installed those and can now splatter oil off a 42" bar when the oilers are turned up.

So to answer sixdogs - you may not be wasting your time, depends on your saw. But you may be saving your saw.

 

[sixdogs]

Newbury--Thank you. I've decided to keep squirting extra bar oil in tough situations. Even if I wanted to stop, I can't seem to do it.

 

[Jstpssng]

Newbury--Thank you. I've decided to keep squirting extra bar oil in tough situations. Even if I wanted to stop, I can't seem to do it.

You might be able to find a 12-step program for that...
But why would you want to? Sometimes it's best to just go with what works.

 

[LouNY]

I don't recall what brand it was or how old it was but but I do remember a few of the older saws that we had with manual oilers built in even with the auto oilers.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yep... My Craftsman had a button oiler...