Stihl 038 help?

[woodbe]

How much trouble is it to rebuild a carb for a Stihl 038 MAG? I have one that was picked up site unseen. So much for trusting your brother to check stuff out for you. It runs ok but it will sputter just a little under load and my not have full power. The saw has good compression. I changed the plug and fuel filter. That seemed to help but it is still runs a little rough. The shop thought that it may need a rebuild the saw is a 1985. Any help would be grate.


Woodbe
 

[joe_indi]

The Bing carb on the 038 unlike the Walbros and Zamas on other Stihl saws it a real jewel.
The fuel and air passages are not molded into the body , but are grooves which are easily accessible by removing the cover plate inside the metering chamber.
This plate is held down by 2 screws.

The major carb kit # 1119 007 1066
and a Valve jet  # 1119 121 5402 should enable you to do a complete rebuild job.

The sputtering under load could be too rich a setting of the H screw.
Or, a partially leaking metering needle/valve
Joe

[Al_Smith]

Ah ye olde 0  3  8 ,one of Stihls crown jewels .The mag was most likely the best of the best IMO . Until recently finding carb kits for the Bing was like looking for a hens tooth but that little problem has been solved . I think Baileys might sell the kits if I'm not mistaken but if not others have them,Google it .

I won't elaborate on it but that saw can be modified into a 72 cc powerhouse but actually does real well just as it is .

Talk about tough  .Just a few weeks  ago I partially rebuilt one for about the third time which has been in continues use for a tree  service compnay for around twenty years .Not many saws made can stand up to that abuse . Cuts as good today most likely as it did brand new .

[HolmenTree]

How much trouble is it to rebuild a carb for a Stihl 038 MAG? I have one that was picked up site unseen. So much for trusting your brother to check stuff out for you. It runs ok but it will sputter just a little under load and my not have full power. The saw has good compression. I changed the plug and fuel filter. That seemed to help but it is still runs a little rough. The shop thought that it may need a rebuild the saw is a 1985. Any help would be grate.


Woodbe
 

Woodbe, check the choke shutter in the airfilter. The spring that holds it open may be weak. When the saw is running the choke will close partially, especially at WOT the saw will run rich.
Many very good saw techs have overlooked this problem on the 038. I met many red faced techs when I was a Stihl technical services manager 20 yrs ago.
Willard.

[joe_indi]

I never knew the older air filter on the 038 suffered from the choke shutter problem.
They had the spring fitted in a simple transverse position. The MS380 and the current 381 have the longitudinal springs which keep slipping.

Well Willard, you have been in the game much earlier than me, so you should know.

Joe

[HolmenTree]

Hi Joe  I have read many of your posts and you have lots of knowledge, especially on Stihls. Are you a Stihl dealer or rep in India?
Yes the 038s airfilter choke was a excellent idea. But it did have drawbacks as I explained. Alot of people stretch the spring when they pry the 2 filter halves apart when they clean them. Rather then use a screwdriver in the slot to pry them apart, they push on the choke shutters lever to split the filter. After a few times doing this the spring gets stretched.
I bought my 1st 038 [61cc]in 1980, then a year or so later a Super [67cc] and then onto a 72cc Magnum. Last of the old school Stihls. Great solid well built saws. I had the pleasure in 1986 to meet one of the 038s design engineers, Yurgeon Wolfe. Brilliant man, he was near retirement at this time and he was very proud of the 038 saga. As a young man before he worked for Stihl he worked for Volkswagen.
Too bad we can't buy the 381 over here in Canada.
Willard.
 

[joe_indi]

......Are you a Stihl dealer or rep in India?

Well, till a couple of years ago I thought that I was, a Stihl retailer and was very proud of it because I had been pioneering Stihl saws since 1994.
As a 'One-man-show' I was able to successfully create a growing market for the 046/MS460 in my state in India.
But not anymore.The pride is not there anymore for many reasons.
Others have taken the credit for all the years of hard work put in.
Once I told a visiting executive from Stihl , I planted a tree,brought it up till it started bearing, but now others take credit  for the fruits now.
The one who planted the tree is ignored.

Joe

[HolmenTree]

Sorry to hear that Joe. Yes when it comes to sales it sure is a cut throat life style isn't it? I only hung around with Stihl for 6 mths, I realized soon enough I wasn't cut out for it. Excellent company to work for though.
In 1989 I helped plant the Stihl 044 seeds in western Canada. At that time the Husqvarna 268XP was the competition.
Willard.