Best and worst chainsaw?

[Snobdds]

Although some oil bottles say it's okay, Marine 2-cycle oil (TCW rating et al.) is not recommended for every air-cooled engine and certainly not for prolonged use. The additives in marine oils and air-cooled oils are often different because air-cooled engines tend to run hotter. You may not see carbon in the P&C, but it can be harder on the bearings over time.

There are also special air-cooled engines that benefit from specific 2-cycle oils. The Stihl 4-Mix engine (on many pole saws, string trimmers, and combination equipment) uses 2-cycle mix, but it also has valves that don't like most mixes other than properly mixed Sthil Ultra.

This guy knows...

 

[careyo63]

I was skeptical. And it did cross my mind looking at what was actually being sharpened. The raker tooth was going to be shortened and lowered more that the cutting tooth actually being sharpened. JMO. I've done it like this with round files and my chains do seem to get normal wear. I'm Sticking with my Vice and round files. Very informative video of a how to and explanation what to watch out for. Never use a angle guide so that I can see a use for. May even try that or similar setup and stick with my 8" Files

 

[careyo63]

I didn't watch the entire video because of the damned racket they had playing,
however I seem to recall that they sold a chain just for that type of sharpener.
Still pretty much a junky nik nack .

I didn't have the sound on. The style and sound of the music does seem to fit with the comments.

 

[walhondingMF]

On the topic of sharpening...
I used to take my chains to a local place to be sharpened. After inspection of a few of them, I noticed a color difference on multiple teeth on multiple chains. They had been having the new guys do the grinding and they were heating the teeth up to the point the temper was lost.
I made a decision to sharpen my own. I've become "ok" at it will hand files and no guide but I am a big fan of the 2-in-1 sharpeners. I Started with the granberg file n joint, which works very well but is not as convenient as the 2-in-1. Sharpening has become the greatest advantage I have found to improve cutting. I can make my little stihl 170 cut like crazy when it is sharpened well.

 

[careyo63]

Actually running marine oil designed to be water cooled in a air cooled engine is terrible advice. Terrible.

That was over a decade ago so oil and gas was Epa different. The 2000 Husky 55 took 24Yrs. before I replaced the muffler. Basicaly just Clogged up! I bought a old 55 for parts to give the shop. Carb. and Muffler etc.. Which I left the rest of the saw with them. I forgot to put the pull start and cover on it. I had no need for it and they could have it! I drooped it back bye the shop when I noticed it. The young guy took off with it!! INKY... I mean V lined it to the back.........

 

[Snobdds]

That was over a decade ago so oil and gas was Epa different. The 2000 Husky 55 took 24Yrs. before I replaced the muffler. Basicaly just Clogged up! I bought a old 55 for parts to give the shop. Carb. and Muffler etc.. Which I left the rest of the saw with them. I forgot to put the pull start and cover on it. I had no need for it and they could have it! I drooped it back bye the shop when I noticed it. The young guy took off with it!! INKY... I mean V lined it to the back.........

huh?

 

[careyo63]

I bought 2Cyl. by the gallons back then. Elcheapo Wally world even. that was 14 yrs. back using Marine 2 Cycle. Never had the first problem. But yrs. later I clogged up the exhaust. Go figure! Must be todays 2cyl. oil. JS... Had to run to the shed to look at the correct name. It's "Itasca" 2 Cycle I've been using. Quite a few Yrs. now... wonder If that's what clogged the muffler?

 

[mx842]

Ok a couple of things I have found over the years on saws:

Sharp chain - whatever style floats your boat. I like Oregon chains and bars.

Since I live in the Peoples Republic of Connecticut and alcohol free is not an option... Use Ethanol Shield to suspend the water. STA-BIL of any color is absolute cr@p!

Put a few drops of water in straight STA-BIL and see what happens - or not, as it just sits there. Put the same in Ethanol Shield and watch the magic happen as it emulsifies the water away.

2 Cycle oils:
Stihl and Husqvarna make really awful oils that make tons of carbon/cokeing that kills engines. Even their synthetics don't show great improvement with this either. And who in their right mind would ever try 'bio-degradeable' oils - of course it toasted your engine!!!... Let this be a lesson to you, duhhh.

Go and buy 2 cycle marine oils or 2 cycle motorcycle oils. Stay far away from the OEM garbage. I'm running the cheaper PennzoilView attachment 1664133
It's $22-24/gal at Wally world and I'm running it a tad richer at just shy of 40:1 (42-45ish)

Guess what, no coking! Clean and shiny motor interior and no plugged up muffler.

As to a saw, I'm using a MS 290 20" Farmboss with a ported muffler. A bit more heavy than some of the more modern saws, but if I want, I can drop a 2mm larger cylinder kit into to and make it a MS360... See "The Duke" for chainsaw parts and mod kits. If money was less of an option then a MS260 series is lighter but pricey.

I agree that modern EPA regs have not done much good for saws. So look on Marketplace or eBay and see if you can get a lightly used older model.

Oh yah chaps and a helmet with a visor will keep your body parts in good repair. Always wear them!

Finally get a Hot-Stick or similar - it can save your life.
View attachment 1664134

You do know that the same oil for marine engines is not designed to be used in an air-cooled saw engine. Two different oils all together. Does that mean that you can't use either in an emergency, any oil is better than no oil, well maybe not any but you get my drift with that. Yeah you can go to wally world and buy any brand they have......But pennzoil, really? Have you ever torn down an engine that has ate pennzoil all its life? Well, I have seen many and it isn't pretty at what you see.
Stabil isn't designed to keep water out of your fuel, that's what keeping a clean fuel can is for. Stabil is only a fuel stabilizer, and it does a very good job at that. The blue star tron stuff is even better because it contains more cleaning agents in it, and it does wonders for neglected engines that have dirty fuel systems from the tank to the exhaust pipe. It would probably even clean out the crud that is left behind from using that wally world stuff you are promoting.
I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, all I'm saying is that what I have found over my thirty-five years as a certified mercury mechanic is that there is a difference in oil you use. I have torn down hundreds of engines in my time as a marine mechanic and you can always tell by what you see inside what type of oil someone has been running or not running.
I'll put it this way, you come back in 30 or 40 years after using that stuff in your saw and tell us all how it went. Actually, you probably could come back in 10 years if that long to tell your story.

 

[mx842]

I avoid anything with "Stihl" printed on it like the plague. The most over-rated, shittiest, expensive paperweights ever made. Just wait until you need to cut a tree on a 15 degree morning. I hope you're in good shape, because going to the gym would be easier than trying to start a POS Stihl power tool. We've got a Stihl "Farm Boss" we bought new several years ago and an old Dolmar saw we've had for decades and an electric 48v Kobalt saw with a 12" bar. The Stihl is the last one of the 3 I'll pick up to do a job with.

 

[DarkBlack]

Ok a couple of things I have found over the years on saws:

Sharp chain - whatever style floats your boat. I like Oregon chains and bars.

Since I live in the Peoples Republic of Connecticut and alcohol free is not an option... Use Ethanol Shield to suspend the water. STA-BIL of any color is absolute cr@p!

Put a few drops of water in straight STA-BIL and see what happens - or not, as it just sits there. Put the same in Ethanol Shield and watch the magic happen as it emulsifies the water away.

2 Cycle oils:
Stihl and Husqvarna make really awful oils that make tons of carbon/cokeing that kills engines. Even their synthetics don't show great improvement with this either. And who in their right mind would ever try 'bio-degradeable' oils - of course it toasted your engine!!!... Let this be a lesson to you, duhhh.

Go and buy 2 cycle marine oils or 2 cycle motorcycle oils. Stay far away from the OEM garbage. I'm running the cheaper PennzoilView attachment 1664133
It's $22-24/gal at Wally world and I'm running it a tad richer at just shy of 40:1 (42-45ish)

Guess what, no coking! Clean and shiny motor interior and no plugged up muffler.

As to a saw, I'm using a MS 290 20" Farmboss with a ported muffler. A bit more heavy than some of the more modern saws, but if I want, I can drop a 2mm larger cylinder kit into to and make it a MS360... See "The Duke" for chainsaw parts and mod kits. If money was less of an option then a MS260 series is lighter but pricey.

I agree that modern EPA regs have not done much good for saws. So look on Marketplace or eBay and see if you can get a lightly used older model.

Oh yah chaps and a helmet with a visor will keep your body parts in good repair. Always wear them!

Finally get a Hot-Stick or similar - it can save your life.
View attachment 1664134

I use the “outboard and multi purpose” version from Walmart. It’s like a buck or 2 more. It meets API-TC. I use this one oil for both the saws, and my snowmobile. I mix at 40:1, for the saws, since it’s so economical, and just because.