Author Topic: The change in Chainsaws and other small engines.  (Read 426 times)

0 Members and 22 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Giles

  • 6 cube
  • ****
  • Posts: 157
  • Karma: 12
  • Location: Florence Alabama

  • Total Badges: 19
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary Level 4 100 Posts Avatar
The change in Chainsaws and other small engines.
« on: May 06, 2015, 09:35:46 pm »
I have worked on small engines for over fifty years, and I have seen a lot of changes.
The last chainsaw that I bought new, was a 1980 Husqvarna 40. I wore out three bars and countless chains and rebuilt the carburetor two or three times. It still runs like new and engine hasn't been into.
The point I am trying to discuss is the fact that I never had to periodically adjust the carburetor. Each time I rebuilt/cleaned the carb, I would just return the screws to where they were.
I found this to be true with lawnmowers as well.
With any of todays saws, even a change in brands of gasoline or oil will likely change the carb settings.
I am referring to muffler and carb modded saws and other small engines, but more so with chainsaws.
Do any of you have the same memories and why do you think we have to really watch carb settings today?

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Offline 660magnum

  • Global Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 6437
  • Karma: 249
  • For The Love Of Chainsaws
  • Location: NCO

  • Total Badges: 39
    Badges: (View All)
    Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary 5000 Posts Third year Anniversary
I had an old Homelite 150XL from 1975 until 1997 and I don't remember ever having to adjust the needles.

I have Husqvarna 357XP and every time I get it out I have to go through the ritual of setting the needles.

A few weeks ago I got out my Stihl 026 PRO which has been ported and muffler modded and had to fiddle with the needles to get them reset and balanced out from being extremely rich. The last time I run it the temperature was about the same but it had Klotz oil before and now has Pennzoil so that was probably it.

I ran a 371XP several times since the snow melted and didn't have to change the needle valves but it is stock.

I have a couple of AT saws and they don't have needle valves.
We should share what we know... someone may learn...
That knowledge can live after us... and that "Pays It Forward".
Be all that you can be . . .

Offline Giles

  • 6 cube
  • ****
  • Posts: 157
  • Karma: 12
  • Location: Florence Alabama

  • Total Badges: 19
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary Level 4 100 Posts Avatar
I should have mentioned that I have adjusted the carb many times on the 40, in the last few years.
I think it is in the quality of the gasoline we get today. Just wanted some other opinions.
Old Craftsman (roper) 3.7 I bought new in about 1980, would barely run until I adjusted the carb, then ran excellent.
It had been stored dry for over eight years.

Offline aclarke

  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 1676
  • Karma: 172

  • Total Badges: 25
    Badges: (View All)
    Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary 1000 Posts Second year Anniversary Level 5 500 Posts
Oxygenated fuels/alcohol added fuels will cause variations. We get different formulation during the year which can cause tuning issues

Offline JohnG28

  • Piped Saw
  • *****
  • Posts: 315
  • Karma: 27

  • Total Badges: 24
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary Level 5 Second year Anniversary 100 Posts
I am sure the fuel has some to do with it. The additives chance from winter to summer I believe and you never can really tell the ethanol content, even if supposedly E0. Along with that I also would guess with manufacturing tolerances much tighter than in years past that things like carb adjustments are probably a lot more precise than older models which could make them more sensitive to variations. My guess anyway.

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
3 Replies
508 Views
Last post February 26, 2011, 06:46:30 pm
by Cut4fun .
44 Replies
4711 Views
Last post February 25, 2012, 10:26:16 pm
by CASE5854x4
45 Replies
3411 Views
Last post January 27, 2014, 01:15:35 pm
by Cut4fun .
4 Replies
1046 Views
Last post February 13, 2012, 07:26:47 pm
by man of stihl
7 Replies
905 Views
Last post December 19, 2013, 06:09:47 pm
by flatsix
4 Replies
570 Views
Last post March 02, 2014, 02:09:39 pm
by tassin85
4 Replies
641 Views
Last post April 22, 2014, 08:57:25 am
by KilliansRedLeo
4 Replies
398 Views
Last post November 22, 2014, 12:00:58 am
by 660magnum
3 Replies
559 Views
Last post June 04, 2016, 04:09:27 am
by Le Maisonniau
3 Replies
461 Views
Last post April 15, 2018, 03:14:35 pm
by dpjones