Author Topic: Lets see your old [still working] chainsaws (Read 14676 times)

mike_van · « **on:** November 24, 2007, 02:41:29 pm »

I bought this 041 new in 1972, it was about 220.00 if I can remember back that far. The guy at the shop had a Homelite XL 104 ordered for me that never came, so he talked me into this "new line" he was going to carry. I don't know how many chains I've sharpened away using this saw, but it's quite a few. I've got a 28" bar I use once in a while with it, have cut some 50" oak, maple & ash. With the 28" bar you can't lean on it then, just let it cut, but it gets the job done. I use 32/1 gas mix, always have. This isn't the Farm Boss model or the AV either, pre-dates them I think. The guys long since gone out of business, but I'm glad he talked me into trying the "new line"

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2007, 08:14:23 pm »

I've got an 031AV that looks just like that. Leaking gas tank and no inertia brake made it an early retirement candidate. Was a strong runner though.

Dave

beenthere · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2007, 09:17:46 pm »

I've an old 041 Stihl bought in '75. Still the original Windsor bar. Have run a lot of chains through it, and had to replace the handle once. Never been opened, but has had a new fuel pickup and new pull cord.
Never failed to start (when it had fuel anyway

).

Edit 11/29/07 Fired this one up today to cut down a spruce tree, as it has a fairly used chain and I wanted to cut close to the ground...as well as give it some exercise.

It ran great, and idled, as well as started on idle with one pull.

sawguy21 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2007, 11:18:40 pm »

I started working in a Stihl shop in 1975. The 041 was my favorite, light with lots of power. It has put on a lot of weight since.

I recently picked up a low hours Husky 35 that runs like a champ. The owner said he could not start it but he hated the noise more than anything. The little rascal is LOUD but a great camp saw. It is fun cutting firewood next to the tent of the clowns that kept us awake until 4 a.m with their stereo.

aaronak · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2007, 11:35:05 pm »

Ive got one of those old 041's, I cant get the thing to start with fuel in it, I think its the gas cap.....cause the fuel line presurizes real good, it squirts fuel out when I pull it off the carb, but the fuel doesnt get into the carb. I thought about doing a new post about it, but God only knows what is wrong with it and I dont know enough about saws or have the money to let a guy at the shop toinker around with it. I do some wrenching on vehicles, and can get anything else to start but this dang saw. Reason I brought it up is because it seems to be a pretty popular, reliable saw. The saw was given to me. I cleaned out the carb and put a new gasket kit on it, that hasnt done much. There wasnt enough junk in the carb to even justify rebuilding the carb. I dont get it. Can it be the fuel cap?

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2007, 11:47:24 pm »

Welcome to the Forum!

Dave

aaronak · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2007, 12:43:11 am »

Thank you Dave.

I keep thinking maybe I am a victim of somebody elses problem saw, but the darn thing has good compression, the fuel pressurizes in the fuel line, when I pull the starter cord I can tell the saw would start if I could just figure out that one bug keeping it from starting. Then I put it down and put it off for another day......and then I come online to this forum and see the saws you people have been using for over 30 years, and man I really wish I could get it to start. Maybe I'll take it down to the shop after all, but I really like solving my own problems. The sarter pawls dont always engage with what they're supposed to be engaging with, the spring is weak, but it has good compression, and I KNOW it will start once I figure out why it wont. Wish I had a picture of it to show you guys. I think its a farm boss. Anyway, hope somebody else posts some pics of their saws.

Aaron

beenthere · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2007, 01:30:55 am »

Aaron
Jerk the spark plug out and pull it a few times to see if there is spark at the plug. Then pour a bit of fuel in the cylinder, reassemble and see if you get some kick out of it. Might give you some ideas. If it fires with the fuel, then track down why it's not getting there. If there is no spark, then track that down.

aaronak · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2007, 02:02:01 am »

Ive tried all that Beenthere. I get a spark, I got a short burst of fire once from this saw before, and thats it. My dad used to try, he said it ran rough when he had it, and never really got it to run well. It was given to him, now its been given to me.

Its a saw I stare at when I dont have anything else to do. I am not going to pitch it cause it came to me with a good bar, and chain, and it turns over, and I know I can fix it once I figure out how, but so far no luck.

Oh well.....back to the pics....anybody got more pics of their old[still working] chainsaws?

mike_van · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2007, 06:52:26 am »

aaronak, thats happened to mine before, and it's probably something simple like a tiny jet or port gummed up in the carb, especially as it's sat so long. It could be as easy as a partly sheared flywheel key too, you have spark, just not at the time it's needed. Where about's do you live? I'd just enjoy the heck out of getting it running for you - - Keep reading here, someones going to fix that saw for you, no reason it shouldn't be making sawdust

beenthere - your saw looks like new! Nice one!

thecfarm · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2007, 07:17:06 am »

aaronak,welcome to the forum.You might want to start another thread on you saw.You might get better results.I use to have a 032 when I was cutting just firewood for myself.That started leaking all over the place.Had it for years and went through many chains and quite a few bars with it too.A clutch too.I was very happy with that saw.You mention the pawls for the starter.On my 032 there was this plastic pawl that engage the starter.All of 76¢,but that cost me a few hours.I bought 2 more and never used them.Good luck.

blueduck · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2007, 01:20:39 pm »

Though the saw dont run anymore after the rings were burnt it it a few years ago, I still have the saw i cut my knee with back in '79 when i was 15 workin on the landing just afore we shut down for the day on hoot owl..... an old McCullough 710 series that was lighter than first fallin saw i had which was a model 81e .... which i have and it still runs.... tough i aint used it in 15 years cause i went to the punkin patch and gots me a swede 288 Husky for the big timber i was in at the time..... made in 1994 it has a few parts and pieces broke off and missing but it still cuts better than a few newer saws. I also have a couple 266's with 32 inch bars that i run in the bigger timber which are older by a year or so than the 288, but i got them later in life and not new......

Pictures? would that mean i need to clean em up so they looks perty?

And i guess I could add the 2 cross cuts that have been in the family since...... well before the power saw was available to us.... the handles are in great shape, and ive got spares.... but never learned to set the teeth or sharpen them.... smaller saws at 7-8 feet.

William
Central Idaho

Ironwood · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2007, 03:30:00 pm »

I bought a Disston for a buddy up north (didn't get it home yet) It is the old swivel bar style so the power head can remain hortizontal. I forget the model #. It is orange (I think), w/ handlebars. He only wanted $100 for it and I almost bought a Mudd (I think that is the name) off the internet last year, so I figure a Disston is at least as collectable.
any collectors out there can help me w/ this find? How many are around? Value? I wanted an "antique" I think I basically got one!

Ironwood

aaronak · « **Reply #13 on:** November 26, 2007, 05:49:58 pm »

Ok Mike_Van, I am going to check out the flywheel like you mentioned. Because this saw turns over real nice, and it has decent compression enough that I can hold the saw by the cord, and it takes a while for the saw to drop to the ground, if it does.

I didn't want to tear it down as far as the flywheel because I am not quite sure where it is, but I will find some diagrams and get started thinking about it.

In the meantime I have a new 441 I am going to make firewood with if my boss will let me leave work to do it. If I get to the cabin where the saws are at I will take a LOT of pictures of the old Farm Boss(I think it is) and post them on here, and do a new post about it for us newer folks to chainsaws.

Thanks a lot Mike, and everybody else that does this forum stuff.

sharp edge · « **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2007, 01:20:49 pm »

the first thing I do when a small engine won't start, take the plug out pour 2-3 tablespoons of oil in the hole then either. If it has spark and a good plug the extra compression will make it start. If its the only way to get going change piston rings.

My oldest still working saw is one I got at Wallmart a mo. ago 45cc, 18",$150.00. I don't like junk so I stayaway from the 33cc saws.

aaronak · « **Reply #15 on:** November 29, 2007, 02:50:00 am »

If I cant get a small engine to work I do the same thing, just a lil bit of oil tho. Then I use Carb cleaner......and if the machine has gas it usually starts. I used gas on this 041, I got it to fire once a long time ago. Hasnt dont squat since....except laugh at my futile attempts. I took a fuel line off the carb and it was squirting fuel pretty good. So I say the fuel is getting to the carb, but not in the carb. I have cleaned out the carb and rebuilt it. Put it all back together, and try it again, same exact results. Nada. So I am going to check out flywheel when I get the saw in my hands again. Actually I will probably try everything everybody has suggested first. Then start taking pictures and track down problem that way.

WDH · « **Reply #16 on:** November 29, 2007, 08:16:32 am »

Husky 61 Rancher. 29 years and counting. I need to put a bar on it.

Tom · « **Reply #17 on:** November 29, 2007, 10:29:19 am »

That Bow looks just fine on there, WDH.

Chris J · « **Reply #18 on:** November 29, 2007, 12:00:03 pm »

Ironwood, you probably already know about this site, but here's a link...

http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/GasbyManufacturer?OpenView&Start=30&Count=30&Expand=31#31

Click on the Disston DA 211 & check out the photos at the bottom of the page. I have a 211, but mine is incomplete (understatement!) & has seized pistons.

ely · « **Reply #19 on:** November 29, 2007, 12:05:14 pm »

i have one of those 61 huskys except it has a real bar on it and it quit running the other day. the man at the saw shop said bring it by and he would look at it. told me it had two different electric modules on it maybe . and if they were both out it would cost more than it was worth to fix it.

how dare him say that to me. that has always been my favorite saw.
sort of surprised me that it showed up here in an old saw thread. i thought it was a newer model all this time. i have owned it since 1986 and i got it used then.

WDH · « **Reply #20 on:** November 29, 2007, 01:14:57 pm »

ely,

You have had yours for 21 years!

blueduck,

Everytime I see your name I think of Lonesome Dove

.

ely · « **Reply #21 on:** November 29, 2007, 01:50:23 pm »

ok thanks, now i have to go look for some other website to fit in, someplace where folks do not point out how old i am.
and i really did like it here.

i really got that saw in a trade, me and a buddy cut a semi load of firewood and my buddy wanted a car that i had, he gave me that saw and his half of the wood for my car. a 1972 toyota conrona deluxe. the saw has been a good one, the friend an even better one, and i bought the car back for 200 bucks a year later, still running.

mburrow · « **Reply #22 on:** November 29, 2007, 03:14:01 pm »

here is my Homelite Super XL925, it was made in the 1970s

sawguy21 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 29, 2007, 09:56:35 pm »

Tighten that chain before you fire the monster.

WDH · « **Reply #24 on:** November 29, 2007, 11:13:43 pm »

My experience with chainsaws growing up was a disaster. Every time we needed to cut something, we had to spend 3 or 4 hours trying to get the Poulan to run. It sputtered and smoked and generally defied us. I thought all chainsaws were a pestilence.

When as a young adult of 25 years of age, independent and ready to clear for my house site, I needed a saw. I bought the husky 61. It cost me right at $400. That was a fortune back then, but as history has proven, that was one of the very best investments of my life. Also, it started everytime I pulled the cord so my chainsaw cost per productive chainsaw-person-hour was astronomically low compared to the bevy of Poulan's that I grew up with

.

sawguy21 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 30, 2007, 12:47:02 am »

My dad's Mac 15 was like your Poulan. I learned to wrench on that miserable thing because he was not mechanically inclined and had no patience with it. I was thoroughly convinced there was no such thing as a good chainsaw. So began my career as a small engine mechanic.

ely · « **Reply #26 on:** November 30, 2007, 09:07:37 am »

that homelite in the picture hurts my head just looking at it.

dad and the uncle had several of those saws for years acually decades. they swore by them, sometimes at them. but now for some reason the only saw my dad grabs is the 55 husky.

mike_van · « **Reply #27 on:** November 30, 2007, 03:25:49 pm »

All those guys that did all that swearing probably never went back to the bucksaw though -

sawguy21 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 30, 2007, 10:40:01 pm »

At least the bucksaw started when they needed it.

weimedog · « **Reply #29 on:** December 09, 2007, 06:45:08 pm »

Listed Top down...these saws are in use frequently. There isn't a saw in these pictures that I can't start in three pulls hot or cold and even in 15-20 degree temps. Some are first pull starters. That husky 365 is the hardest when temps are cold.

1) McCulloch 797 (123cc Saw...runs excellent, easy starter. Used for milling.)
2) Homelite XL-800 (82cc)
3) Husqvarna 365 (65cc backup saw)
4) Homelite Super XL (Trail saw & clean up tops)
5) Homelite XP-1020A (100cc for blocking the big timber.)
6) (Left side) Homelite S-XL925 (82cc backup saw)
7) (Right side & yellow!) McCulloch 660 Gear drive (87cc just for fun & games blocking hard maple)

Me with a XL-903 Slicing fence rails
9) (Left side) My MAIN day to day saw...a 82cc Homelite XL-903 & (Right Side) C-7

RaisedByWolves · « **Reply #30 on:** December 14, 2007, 12:26:02 pm »

Nice saws there Weimedog!

Heres some pics of my 750 in action.

Yes its punky wood, No I dont have me earplugs in, No Red is not my color.

[img width=500 --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--/img187/1827/dsc01932om4.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--/img259/5479/dsc01941dk3.jpg[/img]

mike_van · « **Reply #31 on:** January 17, 2008, 03:53:59 pm »

I picked a Homelite XL 101 up on ebay, just came yesterday, 49.00. I bought one of these new when I was in high school, '67 I think? It was about 100.00 then - The most expensive thing I owned at the time! Runs good, just as advertised, chain was some dull though - I made a bumper spike for it this morning in the shop, piece of stainless, a little grinding, 2 holes & ready to go

It's got a really small muffler on it, man is it loud - I know there's a bigger 3 screw one, if anyones got one they'd part with, I'd give it a good home.

I like the old saws, no plastic, easy to work on -

letsgetitracing · « **Reply #32 on:** January 18, 2008, 08:15:45 pm »

I was at a guys house today that raced and built chainsaws for 40 years . He was the first one to put a snowmobile engine on a saw or more like it a chain on a snowmobile engine. He has the koolest saws I ever heard of Dolmar, Homelite, Partner, MCcullah *sp, Husky a few of them from 1958 when they started Husquavarna. You walk in his shop and there is saws hanging all over alot of them have pipes on them saying 80 cc 100 cc 200 cc He has a twin carbed mac daddy as he calls it yellow mcullah*sp

I told him about this site hopefully he comes on and shows pic they are neet as heck.
He built a twin engine saw 32 hp it had twin bar and chains and after he made 5 cuts in 4.86 sec they told him you can only use one engine. He said the class is open competition. He said next year i am going to make one that has 5 bars and chains and run it off a car motor and only make one cut and they sent him a rule book saying it had to be carried by one guy and had to be pull started and so on and so on so he didn't build it. This was back in mid 70's.

He told me that homelite started out one color then changed a few years later and he can tell from the color when it was made. It was facination he is like a computer when he opens his mouth knowledge falls out.

If anyone want his number i can get it he modifies saw also for a living.

Cut4fun · « **Reply #33 on:** January 18, 2008, 08:52:32 pm »

letsgetitracing , The guy didn't happen to live near Luther did he?
I know a guy that has a shop up that way that sounds similar.

Al_Smith · « **Reply #34 on:** January 19, 2008, 04:24:34 am »

Oh I have a bunch of old ones that run.These are most likely the nicest ones.http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/ed1d619968136da688256af40002b8f7/29f7cc7d4279fc0988256c260014ff02?OpenDocument And this one http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/ed1d619968136da688256af40002b8f7/cc6e27f21cad04bb88256c2e00782d34?OpenDocument .

In my case it is easier to paste the link than the picture.Besides that in the link they aren't all scatched up from use.

letsgetitracing · « **Reply #35 on:** January 19, 2008, 09:49:18 am »

Cut 4 fun no he lives in Bad Axe Michigan I hope he registers he is one of us bigger is allways better in life in most cases anyway

olyman · « **Reply #36 on:** January 19, 2008, 11:13:33 am »

It could be as easy as a partly sheared flywheel key too, you have spark, just not at the time it's needed. -------aaronak---------of the forums i attend--this sounds right--esp since it never ran right for his dad---i/e rough---take it to the stihl dealer----and have him put in a new flywheel key---mostly labor cost--and be careful--if you dont pull it right--could break the flywheel--or bend the crank---serious

musikwerke · « **Reply #37 on:** January 19, 2008, 03:21:18 pm »

I have a Jonsereds Model 52 which I bought new in 1974. I put a rebuild kit in the carb and a new drive sprocket on it a couple of years ago and aside from the occcasional new bar and spark plug, that it. Last year as part of my pre-retirement plan I bought a new Stihl MS 361. Yeah, it has more power but it's loud has more vibration so I tend to reach for the Jonsereds first.

mike_van · « **Reply #38 on:** July 21, 2008, 06:39:49 pm »

This one just came today,Homelite XL 113. Nice saw! Runs fine, right out of the box.

wudhed · « **Reply #39 on:** July 22, 2008, 04:41:25 pm »

I picked up a Stihl 051 with a 28" bar at a rummage sale, the previous owner said it ran great until one day and it wouldnt ever start after that. He said it would also kick back and try to jerk the starter rope out of his hands, I took a small engines class in high school and knew right away that he had put straight gas in it and not mix!

I paid the guy 5 bucks which he thought was too much and took it home dumped out the gas and put some mix in it. Fired on the third pull! That thing sounded like a well tuned Harley! It had so much vibration if you set it on the ground with it idling it would turn itself over on its side! One of the cuttingest saws I have ever seen!

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Author Topic: Lets see your old [still working] chainsaws (Read 14676 times)