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Author Topic: Drop Starting  (Read 4102 times)

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Offline timberbeast

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Drop Starting
« on: December 22, 2001, 05:49:41 pm »
Is it just me?  Come clean,  guys.  Every safety manual says to never drop start a saw,  but,  even though I only wear size tens,  I've never had a saw where I could fit my boot in the handle to start it the "safe" way.  How else are you going to start it?  I drop start every time.  Maybe if I had bare feet........
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Offline Jeff

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2001, 06:17:07 pm »
Always, and I know its not by the book too. Almost everyone I know does it too. The only saws that I have not drop started are ones with compression releases that makes them easy to hold on the ground.
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Offline allyson

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2001, 07:49:53 pm »
Same here. I always drop start and everyone I know does. It seems to be the only efficient way for me.

Happy Holidays,
Billy
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Offline Don P

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2001, 09:17:55 pm »
shhh... :D, But I do know 2 people who do it the right way.
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Offline woodmills1

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2001, 04:36:57 am »
drop start every time unless it happens to flood, then on the ground with the trigger wide open.  could really use an extra hand for that method. :D
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Offline Jeff

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2001, 05:13:17 am »
ya know, it would really be interesting to see the statistics that caused someone to say that putting the saw on the ground is the safest method. Could it be that that statistically that starting by the foot on the saw on the ground method is so much safer because if nobody does it, nobody gets hurt?

Its clear to me that if 99 guys out of a 100 drop start, statistically more of them will get hurt thus making it a more dangerous form of starting the saw.

BTW, my method is more of a throw the saw away from me then drop.
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Offline Tom

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2001, 08:44:13 am »
I drop start, but I don't have hold of the operating handle when I do it.  I hold the oval front handle at the top with my right hand and hold the pull cord handle with my left.  Then I drop the saw straight down, in effect giving the rope a short pull.  My Husky will take 2-4 pulls with the choke on when cold to pop then run when the choke is taken off and the rope pulled once again.  No locked on throttle.

I think that is where the most safety is.  Fire the saw up in idle and the chain doesn't run.

:D :D If I were to put my foot through the operating handle with the saw on the ground then pulling the rope would become a two man operation.  I don't think I could reach it. :D :D
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Offline DanG

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2001, 11:08:13 am »
I tried to do it "right" the first couple of times I started my new Echo, but, by the time I got it started, I was too tired to use it.  Drop starting works better, and doesn't seem dangerous unless you're in thick underbrush. In that case, I start it while kneeling, and hold it down by the front bar with my left hand. In most of our woods down here, there is a lot of brush and vines, making it tough going, at times.
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2001, 12:39:06 pm »
Well as much as I would like to answer this thread I can't. Just in case my insurance man reads this board. :-[ :-X

Thats all I'm going to say on the subject. Guess it relates to stuff the turkey with dressing or not when you cook it. I stuff the turkey, I'm still alive. So take it with a grain of salt. :)

Gordon
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Offline Corley5

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2001, 03:17:08 pm »
I've also always "drop started" chainsaws by holding the front handle with my left hand and pulling the rope with my right.  To me it's the only way.  A bad thing I've been know to do with a stubborn saw is to hold the trigger with my right and pull the rope with my left.  When it starts I grab the front handle and away I go.  It works, I know it's not the way to do it and I don't make a habit of it.  I always make sure I'm in wide open spaces and can let go if something happens.  Don't try this at home :D
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Offline L. Wakefield

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2001, 03:41:20 pm »
   Til I got my Husky 51, my experience was limited to saws where no matter WHAT met ::)hod, you'd be so tuckered out by the time it consented to start, you'd be toast. The Husky was the first where I read and was taught to try the 'safe method. It starts well either way. The first start I will frequently do on the ground, cuz of the safety issue. But once it's warmed up and I'm pretty sure it'll only be one pull on the fly- I do like the drop start.

   It reminds me of the way you can draw back a compound bow where you start with it pointed up at about a 45* angle, left arm out straight, right hand close to the left- and then as you bring it down to the horizontal you are pulling your hands apart at the same time and drawing the bowstring back. I don't know WHY it works- but I can get that little bit of extra pull that way that lets me use a heavier weight bow. Dropstarting the saw does the same thing. I think it somehow recruits more upper body strength. Does that make any sense?  ::)   lw
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Offline Kevin

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2001, 03:49:58 pm »
Another method is to place the rear handle between your legs and hold the handle bar with one hand and pull the starter cord with your other hand.
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Offline timberbeast

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2001, 05:19:36 pm »
Kevin,  how long after it starts do you keep the rear handle betw....um.....never mind.   :D  Often,  after I drop a tree,  I'll hold the saw (chain not touching anything) against the trunk by the front handle and kinda put my knee up on the rear handle.  Hey,  here's a business opportunity for the creative!!  Build a cheap jig that slips over the bottom of the rear handle with a small platform to put your foot on to hold the saw down!  Could be called the ForestryForum Safe-T jig! :D :D
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Offline Jeff

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2001, 05:58:56 pm »
How about a recessed stand plate. Something substantial that slides out of the saw body to stand on to start it,  then slides back in and latches when not in use.
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Offline woodmills1

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2001, 07:48:16 pm »
I know you said drop start but isn't it really throw start? 8)
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James Mills    Lovely wife   collect old tools  vaccuming fool  36 bd ft per hour
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Offline DanG

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #15 on: December 23, 2001, 09:57:46 pm »
Jig, Schmigg! How 'bout ELECTRIC START? 8)
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Offline allyson

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #16 on: December 23, 2001, 10:17:14 pm »
I sure would like an ELECTRIC start!

Happy Holidays,
Billy
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Offline timberbeast

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #17 on: December 24, 2001, 01:03:14 am »
Never thought of that!!!  How much could that cost??  I suppose the starter would be purty heavy,  though,  but it could be like an accessory with a spline that fits into the saw and a trigger.  Hmmmmm..........
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Offline L. Wakefield

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #18 on: December 25, 2001, 12:06:55 pm »

Quote

I know you said drop start but isn't it really throw start? 8)


  No, no, you throw it after you decide no way it's ever gonna start :D   lw
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Offline Kevin

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Re: Drop Starting
« Reply #19 on: December 25, 2001, 12:12:15 pm »
Wake, that`s a drop kick!
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