Stihl Saws

[brent smith]

I currently own 5 Stihl saws from 011 to 066... 4 of which have the new style gas and oil caps (which I hate) I've been told Stihl went to that style cap because Joe Homeowner couldn't be trusted to carry the adjustment tool with him that was needed to loosen the old fail proof caps... I am so fed up with these new caps failing and not staying closed that I am ready to jump ship after 35 years of faithful Stihl use... anyone have anything to offer in the way of tricks to keep those caps from failing...

[ladylake]

Sure a lot of complaints about those caps, you'd think Stihl would come out with different ones.   Steve

[Woodpulp]

I don't get it.  I have the "flippy" caps on my MS261 and Stihl BR600 backpack blower and have never had a problem with them.  Just need to take an extra second or two to make sure they're seated correctly.  Last I saw, Husky was going to a hybrid cap that screws in but doesn't require a tool to loosen/tighten, which is probably a good compromise. 

[lone wolf]

They do break , either the ethanol swells them up or your helpers break them. If you have them long enough and use them often you will see failure. Not to mention a cap that opens up and dumps oil or gas on you!

Stihl should have made them just for the homeowner saws and left the pro saws alone. Let the homeowners deal with them.

[gspren]

  I have 3 Stihl saws and each has a different style cap. Yesterday I ran and gassed all 3 and I like the caps on the old 041 Farm Boss, just use your fingers and if you over-fill the oil just screw on the cap and the extra leaks out on a block of wood that I'll eventually burn. The flippy caps on the 261 are OK if you never over-fill, and you keep clean, and really pay attention when reinstalling, I've only oiled my boot once  from not getting it on correct. The 044 needs the scrench which I keep handy.

[MidWestTree]

Will those scrench caps fit a newer model saw, if even available?

[lone wolf]

No if they did we would not be talking about the problem.

[msjdgman]

The little 250 was my first Stihl, and at first I hated these darned caps.  Eventually I got used to them and don`t have any complaints about them now.  The oil cap on that 250 did want to stick in the locked position when removed on occasion, until my son borrowed it and broke it.  We put a new one in and end of issue.

[AKDoug]

Your only choice is going to be to change brands. There really isn't any interest on Stihl's part to change back or redesign the caps. Honestly, I sell very few replacement flippy caps in my shop. I own several brands of saws and have no issues with the flippies. Hell, my Cat backhoe uses a similar style fuel cap.

[beenthere]

I hope they keep the flippy caps.
I like them and have had no trouble at all with them.
I didn't mind the screw on caps either, but didn't like the need to use the scrench to open and close that type.

So I am wondering what the problem is with the few that can't get them to work.  :

;D

[clww]

I use Stihl saws with these caps six days a week. Average is at least eight fill-ups a day. Zero problems with these caps.

[trapper]

Once I learned to remember the position of the cap  when i remove them I dont have any problem.  .

[thecfarm]

brent smith,welcome to the forum. Some members don't have the patience that most members have.  :

[JohnG28]

On my 3 saws with them I only had an issue with the fuel cap of my 361. Always wanted to not close. It eventually broke an d since replacing has had no issues. I believe some early ones were recalled.

[AKDoug]

On my 3 saws with them I only had an issue with the fuel cap of my 361. Always wanted to not close. It eventually broke an d since replacing has had no issues. I believe some early ones were recalled.

Flippy caps on just about everything other than chainsaws were recalled. On the chainsaws they did make a new cap with an alignment mark and they were phased in.  I actually sell very few of these caps.

[brent smith]

They do break , either the ethanol swells them up or your helpers break them. If you have them long enough and use them often you will see failure. Not to mention a cap that opens up and dumps oil or gas on you!

Stihl should have made them just for the homeowner saws and left the pro saws alone. Let the homeowners deal with them.

I couldn't agree more about leaving the pro models alone... For you guys that have them and have had no problems, consider yourself lucky... I'm a very meticulous person who takes the extra time to pay attention to the details of how these caps work, and what position they come off in, therefore what position they need to go back on in... my position is that one shouldn't have to be that careful or pay that much attention when dealing with a chainsaw gas cap... I've threatened Sthil in my mind for years over these silly caps and after joining this site and viewing the ported saws from wicked saws the time has come to put up or shut up for me... Sorry Stihl "you lose" I'm gone, I'm one of the ones who "can" be trusted to carry a tool... Craigslist here comes 5 chainsaws and Wicked Saw I'll call you soon... Good day Gentlemen...

[beenthere]

That'll straight'n 'em out. 

[jhellwig]

Take a deep breath and calm down when you install them.  They only break if you force them when they aren't in the right place. Try not to overfill and gently twist the cap till it falls in the hole.  If you do over fill just gently push the cap down and let the excess oil bubble out before you lock it.

I like the flippy caps.  It is nice not having to use the scrench to get the caps off.

[Yatt]

Flippy caps is one of the reasons I switched to Huskies XP's and have never looked back.

The other day  I picked up a MS362 and MS261 and couldn't help wondering why anybody would want a saw this bulky/heavy let alone the anti vibe system. :

[brent smith]

beenthere, I'm under no illusion that I'm going to "straighten Stihl out", to many homeowners out there to sell their flippies to... and jhellwig, I couldn't be any more calm and breathing just fine when dealing with your beloved flippies, you guys that think the only thing that goes wrong with those caps is pilot error are dead wrong... its a mechanical cap made by humans and both fail... this whole thing boils down to homeowner and pro, if you make your living or run your saws all day then carrying the tool to adjust the chain tension with you is a must anyway and you would never be without the tool to loosen the "foolproof" gas and oil caps... Its really that simple. 

[ely]

I hated the flippy caps when they came out, I broke several of them, I do now pay more attention to the caps and how they are oriented, and I have less problems with them also... my fix to the problem of breaking the flippy caps is after several trips to the shop to purchase another one... I bought seven of them at once, then I have not broken one since. keep in the glove boxes of several trucks just in case.

[SawTroll]

No if they did we would not be talking about the problem.

Likely true! 

[H 2 H]

A wise man once said

"You have to be smarter then the flippy cap"

[JohnG28]

Brent, of all your Stihl saws listed that you have I don't see any that would have flippy caps?  ??? Either way, if you decide you are selling all your Stihls send me a pm, I like em. ;D

[beenthere]

At the Stihl dealer today, and looking at their blower. Had a fuel cap that unscrewed.
So...
Tried it and realized how much easier and quicker the flippy cap came off (for me). Just sayin.....