Battery powered chainsaw

[two_bit_score]

M18 FUEL™ 14" Top Handle Chainsaw (Tool-Only) | Milwaukee Tool

The Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 14" Top Handle Chainsaw Kit gives you the performance of a gas powered chainsaw without the headaches.

www.milwaukeetool.com

 

[Richard001]

I have the Ryobi 14" with two 40V 4AH batteries. Got that when my gas powered saw wore out and would not start anymore.

I only need a saw every now and then when a big branch needs to be cut down or a tree need to come down, but the tree cutting only happens about every 5 years or so.

 

[5030]

One thing I never seem to have is saw issues not starting. They always start, even the 45 year old Stihl 028 I bought new 45 years ago but I run them exclusively on Echo Red Armor canned gas. No starting issues ever. In fact my 028 is still my favorite saw for wood cutting. Echo Red Armor is good for 5 years so they say. E-gas is good for nothing.

 

[bdhsfz6]

So how should have I cut it?

I cut in "dirty" environments like that where chain to ground contact is likely. To eliminate frequent sharpening, I switched to a carbide chain.

Carbide doesn't cut quite as well as a newly sharpened standard chain but it lasts 10 times longer. Sharpening a carbide chain is more difficult and diamond files are required but it's less labor in the long run.

 

[ArlyA]

I cut in "dirty" environments like that where chain to ground contact is likely. To eliminate frequent sharpening, I switched to a carbide chain.

Carbide doesn't cut quite as well as a newly sharpened standard chain but it lasts 10 times longer. Sharpening a carbide chain is more difficult and diamond files are required but it's less labor in the long run.

We do trail work and commonly work down to the dirt. Years ago i spoke with my chain shop about carbide chains and he said something to the effect "those chains cost X much, then we charge Y much to sharpen them. There not worth it in my book". So we never went down that chain path. We do trail work professionally

 

[Tinhack]

I never had a problem starting my Polan gas chainsaw until arthritis made it impossible to pull the starter rope. That's when I switched to electric. I'm not a logger. The 12" DeWalt does everything I need and most of the wood around here is Mesquite--One of the hardest woods known to man.

 

[WinterDeere]

One thing I never seem to have is saw issues not starting. They always start, even the 45 year old Stihl 028 I bought new 45 years ago but I run them exclusively on Echo Red Armor canned gas. No starting issues ever. In fact my 028 is still my favorite saw for wood cutting. Echo Red Armor is good for 5 years so they say. E-gas is good for nothing.

My saws also always start, never an issue. Also running some older saws, like you, a Stihl 036 PRO and Stihl 064 AV, among them. And... I run them exclusively on pump gas, whether it's E10 or E15 I don't even care or pay attention. Anyone who believes this stuff is the cause of their troubles is barking up the wrong tree, as I'd be willing to bet I do more sawing and run more E-gas through chainsaws than just about any other member of this forum. I cut 20 full cords of firewood most years, from trees that I fell myself, a "light" year for me is 10 full cords.

I believe the key to E-gas is to just never let it sit and go stale in a saw. That may be where people run into trouble. I use my saws almost every weekend, roughly October thru May, then drain them and run them dry for summer storage. If I pull one out to use in summer, I run it and then drain it, knowing it'll be sitting in a hot shed several more weeks/months before next use.

Many people buy canned gas for storage only, since running 2-strokes dry is arguably not the best thing for them (lubrication). Run them on E-gas in-season, then run some canned E-free through them before storage.

 

[xyz123]

Just like my dad in 80's after battle with cancer and bad hands and shoulders. It isnt they dont start. Just cant pull over anymore ones with good psi even with decomps.

He went easy start I gave him for Christmas one year and to battery pole saw. He wants the matching battery chainsaw to go with the ploesaw too.

My wife loves having them too. Best thing I ever did. Now if the batts would ever die out I would like to upgrade to the newer bigger stuff. We keep like 6 batts ready.
Chainsaw, Polesaw, Trimmer, sawzall, drills, impact, lights, etc.

Best thing I ever did. Get her batt stuff. I dont have to trim stuff anymore. I hate weed trimming. So I only get called now to bring out the big echo trimmer for when to much for her little trimmer or brush cutting blade needed.

 

[5030]

I don't use them regularly as I don't heat with wood so my chain sawing is spotty and why I only use canned gas.

Phase separation with e-gas can and is an issue issue when it sits for a period of time and that all depends on the quantity of corn alcohol in the fuel itself and remember, the 'E' in E-gas is mixed at the fuel rack and not pipelined at all. It all gets delivered to a refinery via truck because corn alcohol is corrosive in nature and cannot be transmitted via pipeline simply because it would corrode the pipes. It also gets delivered via dedicated rail car and those dedicated rail cars cannot haul anything else. Around here, it's mostly via big truck hauling lined tanks.

Had the phase separation before in my sitting over the winter seasonal equipment. Why I religiously use Blue Marine Stabil (not cheap and not the red stinky stuff that don't work anyway). Since I've been using that in seasonal gas powered equipment I've not had a phase separation issue and have not had to disassemble gunked up carbs and give them a bath in my heated ultrasonic cleaner in Berryman's B12 Chemtool, which handily removes the gunk produced by the phase separation.

The inherent issue with E-gas here is how much corn alcohol is blended with the non e-gas gas. It's entirely up to the rack operator to determine the percentage so it could be about anything from the mandated 10% (here) to any amount depending on if the operator is having a good day or a bad day and anything over 10% can be detrimental to the longevity of any air cooled engine.

 

[5030]

I might add that E-15 can be very destructive to a 2 stroke engine because of elevated operating temperatures and the inherent risk of lean running. One reason I set my saws to 4 stroke a bit when running at speed even though I use canned gas. No point in taking any chances, especially with vintage saws. I don't want to have to rebuild them if I don't have to. besides, parts for vintage saws can be hard to obtain.