Old chainsaw therapy

[G.T. Smith]

I know this may seem weird, but then I just may be. For the last 4 years I have somehow managed to become the somewhat proud owner of a chainsaw that has definately seen better days.
I like to mess with them when the snow flys and there really isn't much else to do.
Usually runs about 200 bucks to fix them and paint them and get them in good enough shape to use. Sometimes they will impress the hell out of you with their non-user friendly features.
Just had to send my, Before, picture so you can see just what a crazy task they are to tackle. It is addictive. Parts and info are almost always somewhere on the net if I can afford them, but I think it is a real winter time pass time that in a couple of instances, worth it in dollars.
check this pile out........

 

[oldman45]

I hate to say this but you can get a really nice used chainsaw for a lot less than $200 and not have to work on it.

There is no way in this world I would put a dime in that one.

 

[stiab]

I like it. It has "character", as I suspect you do!

 

[gregintenn]

You remind me of my grandfather. He'd say "There ain't no reason to throw away a perfectly good chainsaw!" Then he'd proceed to work on it unending until it was new again.

 

[Dashriprock]

Now that's rustic.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I hate to say this but you can get a really nice used chainsaw for a lot less than $200 and not have to work on it.

There is no way in this world I would put a dime in that one.

This is true, you can buy a real good saw for 200 bucks. I am using a Homelite XL12 that I gave 20 for about 10 years ago.
The first one I re-did was a Monarch. It was huge, and I sold it for 200 bucks.
The last one was a Mitchell, which was manufactured not to far from here in Monnett Mo. A friend of mine turned me some cap covers and air cleaner covers from aluminum. Gloss black with a flame job. New chain. I replaced all of the screws with stainless hex heads. It looked and ran better than new. 131cc's. Traded it for 200 cash and a new Husky saw that I sold for 300. TA DA!
Before the saws it was old neglected motorcycles, some of which I still have and ride now and then.The last was a 1972 Suzuki GT380, 3 cylinder 2stroke. What a pain in the butt, but what a feeling when it fired and ran.
Peace,
gordon

 

[shooboy]

Looks good ! Is that a David-Bradley ? Had one of those once I thought of restoring but ended up selling it. Those were real manly-man chain saws, had to have some muscles to throw those around. Good luck with it, Shoo

 

[venomballistics]

I'd be flippin wrenches on that stang in the background of the second pic instead

 

[m75rlg]

That hunk reminds me of the first chain saw I saw back in the mid 1950's. I was around 4 or 5 years old.

A large maple tree had fallen across the roadway to the house. Dad borowed a chain saw to cut it up. I remember it looking like a lawn mower engine attached to that bar! He used it to make about 2 or 3 cuts, and then set it down, went to the house and got his two man cross cut saw, and he and Moma proceeded to cut the maple into fire wood with the cross cut.

We didn't start using chain saws again until '68 or 69. They were much improved by then!

I'm still using the 10-10 McCulllough I got back in the late '70s.

 

[Freischütz]

The http://arboristsite.com/ and Hearth.com - Information on Gas Fireplaces, Wood Stoves, Gas Logs, Pellet Stoves, Fireplaces, Chimneys and Hearth Products forms have sections devoted to chainsaws. You'll get lots of good advice there.

 

[G.T. Smith]

Looks good ! Is that a David-Bradley ? Had one of those once I thought of restoring but ended up selling it. Those were real manly-man chain saws, had to have some muscles to throw those around. Good luck with it, Shoo

No shooboy,
it is a sears, probably made for them by homelite.
Peace,
gordon

 

[rburg]

There's a local hardware store with a good friend who works as a 2 stroke mechanic (his name is Bubba). I discovered I can go there with a handful of greenbacks, grease Bubba's palm, and walk out with a giant Stihl (660M) that runs. Its called horsepower. And its good. The problem with old technology saws is they didn't even have the power built in when they were new. Just a little wear and an aged carburetor mean they're lucky to make half the original horsepower. The new ones scream. And coupled with a good bar and sharp chain, they cut like a white tornado.

Yes, even my new saw is too heavy, but nothing when compared to the old dinosaurs. And the weight drags the saw down thru the tree. Life is good. A saw that always starts is a real luxury. I once had a snow blower that wouldn't start without extreme effort. It would have taken less effort to shovel the drive than to get it started. When it takes less effort to hand saw a tree than to handle a balky saw, its time for a new Timex.

 

[oldRoger]

What's "snow"

"I like to mess with them when the snow flys and there really isn't much else to do."

What is “snow” and why do you have more time when you are flying this “snow”.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

There's a local hardware store with a good friend who works as a 2 stroke mechanic (his name is Bubba). I discovered I can go there with a handful of greenbacks, grease Bubba's palm, and walk out with a giant Stihl (660M) that runs. Its called horsepower. And its good. The problem with old technology saws is they didn't even have the power built in when they were new. Just a little wear and an aged carburetor mean they're lucky to make half the original horsepower. The new ones scream. And coupled with a good bar and sharp chain, they cut like a white tornado.

Yes, even my new saw is too heavy, but nothing when compared to the old dinosaurs. And the weight drags the saw down thru the tree. Life is good. A saw that always starts is a real luxury. I once had a snow blower that wouldn't start without extreme effort. It would have taken less effort to shovel the drive than to get it started. When it takes less effort to hand saw a tree than to handle a balky saw, its time for a new Timex.

Dick, I would have figured you for an electric start chain saw guy.
I'm trying to find someone around here that sharpens the chains. I can buy a new chain for around $25 for 2 so I've been buying rather than sharpening, but now I'm up to about 6 chains so I've got to either figure out how to sharpen them or find someone that can do it for me for less than $10 a chain.

 

[venomballistics]

Dick, I would have figured you for an electric start chain saw guy.
I'm trying to find someone around here that sharpens the chains. I can buy a new chain for around $25 for 2 so I've been buying rather than sharpening, but now I'm up to about 6 chains so I've got to either figure out how to sharpen them or find someone that can do it for me for less than $10 a chain.

round file, level passes, watch the angle.
aint a woodsman worth his salt who dont know how ... makes chain sharpening service kinda rare

 

[setxn]

A stump vice is great addition to any chain sharpening kit.

 

[oldman45]

Dick, I would have figured you for an electric start chain saw guy.
I'm trying to find someone around here that sharpens the chains. I can buy a new chain for around $25 for 2 so I've been buying rather than sharpening, but now I'm up to about 6 chains so I've got to either figure out how to sharpen them or find someone that can do it for me for less than $10 a chain.

Gary, do as I did. I bought a sharpener for my chain saw Works great and I use it often, mainly because my saw hits dirt often when I use it. With this bad shoulder, I seldom can use it but there are some projects I can still do.

 

[Hermann]

There is a chainsaw collectors forum somewhere on the internet.
Besides this thing is dangerous to work with and just a collectors item if at all!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

round file, level passes, watch the angle.
aint a woodsman worth his salt who dont know how ... makes chain sharpening service kinda rare

Didn't say I couldn't figure it out-just don't wanna Kinda like duck pluckin'-- sure I could do it but I'd rather pay someone $2 per bird for my weekend limit after I get home from the camp whilst I take a shower, watch the football game and enjoy my WELL DESERVED NAP If only I could trust my wife to brush off the waders, stow my gear and properly clean my shotgun. and the boat......

 

[Gary]

Dick, I would have figured you for an electric start chain saw guy.
I'm trying to find someone around here that sharpens the chains. I can buy a new chain for around $25 for 2 so I've been buying rather than sharpening, but now I'm up to about 6 chains so I've got to either figure out how to sharpen them or find someone that can do it for me for less than $10 a chain.

I bought a chainsaw sharpening adapter for my dremel tool that does a good job. I found it at Home Depot. Cheap too.

 

[rburg]

Sorry for all the trouble.... I discovered this place, I think the corporate name is "China, Inc" but they go by the name Harbor Freight. They have genuine chain say sharpeners, the ones that you plug into the wall, for about $25. I got mine because someone gave me a gift card from the joint.

I tend to agree sharpening, or even touching up with a hand file is work I'd rather not do. But sometimes even us elites must get our hands dirty. My SOP has been to store my chains in an off brand tupperware like bowl, sorted by length. Yes they tangle, but I guess I enjoy cutting my fingers untangling them. At the start of the season, I take them all up the hill (everyone is uphill from me, I live in the river bottoms.) I turn them in to the aforementioned Bubba and then I beg. He tells me a few days, which could mean a week. When I come back, he's preloaded his future by grinding them a bit too far, meaning they don't get too many sharpening cycles.

But when you cut an item called "sanded wood", they don't last real long. Its the river sand embedded in the trees that does the damage. I know, you can get hard chrome plated chain, or just as good, carbide cutters on the chain. But those are expensive and when you hit a rock or insulator (the trees grow around old fences) it takes the cutter off. Then poor Bubba has to break the chain in multiple places to cobble together a working set.

I've always felt that when my saw starts cutting a curl, as in not straight, its time to change chains. Those go into a rejects tub so Bubba has beer money.

 

[M28]

...and don't forget to wear chaps when using a chainsaw. I learned the hard way, don't let it happen to you.

Brian~