Author Topic: Craftsman Chainsaw  (Read 2006 times)

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Offline TexasErn

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Craftsman Chainsaw
« on: March 28, 2014, 07:40:09 pm »
Big Mystery Problem:
God bless Sears. I am on my fifth (5th) Craftsman saw from Sears. Each and every saw has cut well for 4 12 inch diameter slices from a tree trunk for firewood and then frozen. Four of the saws were sent to Sears Warranty Service where each time they replaced the cylinder, piston, carb and exhaust. Each time the saw was burned up with zero compression. Each time I used NEW Gas and the prescribed 3.2 ounces of oil mix supplied with the saw. Today, I went in and exchanged the saw for the 5th. time and got a 51cc Remington. It cut like a charm for 10 pieces off of the same tree trunk and then abruptly stopped just like the others. Pull cord has no compression when pulled.

WHAT IS WRONG. I have used chainsaws for 40 years and am a fairly good mechanic but I don't understand what is happening.

Any Thoughts?

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Offline Cut4fun .

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2014, 07:44:52 pm »
Just my WAG. Learn to tune the saw as soon as you get home.
The newer saws from box stores etc I have seen are tuned really lean from factory. Just a matter of time before they self destruct IMO.

I tune them from the get go and save the headaches for me and other folks.

What craftsman saw and cc?

Offline TexasErn

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2014, 08:07:29 pm »
The four Craftsman saws were 2.6 CU 18 inch 42CC ,Model 358.341900. Two of those went back to Sears Warranty Service where they replaced almost everything including the cylinder, piston, Rod,rings and exhaust.

The latest saw,which I picked up today was a Remington 51CC Model RM5118R. It stopped in the middle of a cut and now will not fire.

Offline fordfairlane78

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2014, 04:03:42 am »
+1 on learning to tune a saw as I have no experience with the remington (mtd I believe? ) but I do know the poulan/craftsman saws are extremely lean....Also few quick questions, I know you mentioned how much oil you were adding but what gas/oil ratio are you trying to achieve?  Also what brand/type of oil are you using? And 1 more, what type of gas/octane level are you using?  All could play a part in what might be happening. ..
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Offline TexasErn

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2014, 02:39:10 pm »
I think your first analysis was correct. All big box store supply saws with very lean setting. I use stand gas which is 10 percent ethanol and the oil mix supplied with the saw that came from Sears and the spec amount 3.2 ounces per gal at 40 to 1. The first saw lasted for about 6 hours of cutting and I think it was because I started in on trimming the small branches from the top and worked my way back to the trunk. The saw had time to break in. Later, when I was cutting sections from the 18 to 20 inch trunk it got hot and gave out. The other saws crapped out because I started right in on 12 and 14 inch trunks with the saw wide open. It cut about 5 or 6 slices before freezing up. I have done a lot of reading and talked to a fellow at a local small engine shop. He agreed with you that because of EPA emission rules the saw are initially set as lean as possible and will rapidly burn if they are not broken in slowly.  I am going to to tune my next one as rich as I can while still getting good revs and operation. The specs in the manual say you can run it on 10 percent ethanol but the fellow at the store said I should run it on non-ethanol. Sears and other places sell quarts of regular premixed gas at $5.35 a can. That's 24 bucks a gallon. Where do you set your high jet to? I appreciate your reply's.
I also read that the EPA makes it illegal for us home fellows to even own the tools for setting the jets. As you know, here are 4 sizes. A Spiral, a Pac-Man, a 'D' and a 'Double D". Craftsman, Poulan Husvarna and Remington are all Spirals.

Offline Cut4fun .

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2014, 03:14:48 pm »
You can still get the splined  tool or homemade redneck make one  ;). Just do a search here for info. 

Offline TexasErn

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2014, 04:02:24 pm »
I'm a Redneck. I made a nice one.

Offline fordfairlane78

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2014, 03:23:33 am »
It is best to use non ethanol fuel but very hard to find in bulk and the truefuel is expensive.  I run premium with Lucas synthetic mix @ 40:1 and I use Lucas ethanol treatment in all my small engine stuff. I typically take the low needle out about 3/4 turn and raise the idle  back up on the poulan products.  I usually don't have to mess with the high needle after this. I recently purchased 4 pp4218avx saws off of feebay as customer return items and each one has been the same adjustment.......
Trapped in time, surrounded by evil, low on gas

Offline TexasErn

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Re: Craftsman Chainsaw
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2014, 12:36:49 pm »
As far as I can tell, there is not a single place in Texas where one can buy bulk ethanol free gas. Yep. The quart can stuff is very expensive.
Do you find the Lucas mix better than the stock oil that says 'Stabilized' on the can?
Ernie

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