Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Husqvarna => Topic started by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 07:13:22 pm

Title: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 07:13:22 pm
long time lurker first time poster,

disclaimer i dont advocate that i know anything about chainsaws logging felling etc

ive been checking websites etc for awhile now and came across this particular site so i figured i would post a question see what happens.

ive got a 1984 rancher 55 which i bought off ebay a year ago. runs fine no problems currently has a 20 inch 3/8 .058 chain and bar on it. i am not a professional arborist as i only use wood for a woodstove to supplement my heating bill. i have found that with craigslist i get alot of free wood but it is usually the knotted up huge pieces of wood that are not easy to cut and burn. so i am trying to decide whether to buy a bigger bar and chain and try to increase the performance of my current saw or if i should cut my loses (get it in a chainsaw forum saying "CUT" my losses lol) and buy a bigger saw.  i am wanting to know what i can do to increase performance of it. ive found that when i cut into wood where i have to make 2 cuts, 1 on one side than another on the other side to completly cut the trunk in half, sorry my brain isnt working well tonight, that it doesnt really cut well and i have to apply alot of force to get it to cut even with a new full chissel chain on it. sorry if my terminology isnt great. so if i am going to fix er up i need to figure out how. i read alot about 3/8 chain is to big for 50 series chainsaws etc. i am assuming this is because of the low horsepower, 3.4, that these saws are rated at. ive also read somewhere about adding a 372 intake onto this to increase the horsepower. also read about cutting and modifying the stock muffler to an open one. other than that i am not sure what else to do. im a diesel mechanic so i am familiar with tinkering, just not anything this small. i am not asking to directions just if yall could point me in the right direction. thanks in advance
Title: Re: rancher 55
Post by: Cut4fun . on January 31, 2014, 07:18:28 pm
Welcome to the site.

A 372 intake on a 55. I wouldnt think so.  You know what those 2 intakes look like right.
Title: Re: rancher 55
Post by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 07:25:28 pm
not really (disclaimer i dont advocate that i know anything about chainsaws logging felling etc
) it may have been a different model it was a couple days ago on another site
Title: Re: rancher 55
Post by: SawTroll on January 31, 2014, 07:35:23 pm
The 55 came out in 1990/91, so there are no 1984 ones. The only saw in that "family" that existed in 1984 is the 50 Rancher.
Title: Re: rancher 55
Post by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 07:43:20 pm
well i always assumed it was a rancher as it says rancher on the cover but the serial tag says 1984 so mayby its a 50 series than in the morning i will attempt to post a picture mayby that will help
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 07:46:37 pm
im sorry for some reason i was thinking 55 but it says 61 on the side of it
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: Cut4fun . on January 31, 2014, 07:59:05 pm
OK now you sure you wasnt talking 272 intake not a 372 intake which is way different?

 61 268 272 intake. http://www.hlsproparts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=H18272&Click=2139&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shoppingengine&gclid=CK3ZlrfcqbwCFeYWMgodQycA8Q
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on January 31, 2014, 08:30:58 pm
If it actually is a 61, not a 50 then as Kevin says it is no big deal to convert it to a 272. Except that you will have a problem with top covers and filters. Where are you?
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 08:36:02 pm
indianapolis indiana
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 08:41:15 pm
and yes 272 is what i meant





Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on January 31, 2014, 08:56:01 pm
OK, so here is the deal, if you have a white top or gray top saw they are somewhat problematic when attempting to convert them to a 272. There is not enough room under the top cover to clear the muffler and spark plug on a 272, and you cannot just use a 272 cover because the top cover bolts will not match up with those in the case. You might want to consider a 268 jug/piston.

I asked where you were at because if you were in upstate NY we may have been able to get together and do something for your saw. The 61 is a pretty good saw, are you sure your chain is correctly sharpened?
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on January 31, 2014, 09:20:16 pm
yeah i bought several full chisel chains new from a small engine store. i only have problems when im trying to cut through on something that the end of the bar doesnt stick out of like cutting bigger than 20 inches i really like the saw just wanted to put a bigger bar and chain on it and since i already have the issue of it lagging when trying to cut through something bigger than 20. its definitly a white top. it may come down to i have to really learn how to cut wood lol
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: jmester on February 01, 2014, 09:55:25 am
Sounds to me like you have some bar issues. Maybe all it needs are the bar rails squared up. If you are using the whole bar and a new chain and it hangs it the cut you may have some burrs on the edge of your rails or the top of the rails are uneven. Just something simple to check that can make a world of difference to any saw.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: bustedknuckles on February 01, 2014, 09:12:50 pm
Probably the best solution for you is to either seek smaller wood or get a saw large enough to buck up the big stuff. Do you split it on site so you can load it? Some wood maybe just isn't worth getting if there's other wood available.

Some tree services will give you wood if you can be there at the right time.

That saw is never going to turn into a saw of the size it sounds like you need to carry out your task.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on February 02, 2014, 04:03:43 pm
yeah with craigslist its free wood and usually its you get what they have sometimes its great sometimes its not. its at a good price free. usually i take the large chunks and store them until i have time to split them usually a couple months later this time it will be this spring as i ran out of time before winter set in. im thinking on purchasing another bar mayby 24 inches staying with .058 though and seeing if that helps. i have to replace fuel lines before spring time and probably an ignition coil, when its hot after its been running awhile it doesnt want to start, so i may attempt to make a muffler for it to add some umphhh to it than. i dont uasually run into large sections of wood usually its around 30 inches or so but this last fall i ran into alot of pieces 40+ inches. thanks for the replies though. off to research building a muffler.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 03, 2014, 07:04:29 pm
On the muffler just open all the holes for the exhaust to about twice the size they are right now.   You can also take the gasket for the muffler and use it for port matching the muffler to the cylinder.   Also I would leave the spark arrestor screen in place for it is required by law if you ever cut wood in national forest.   

I cut wood with saws in that size engine all the time with 20" bars in wood that is sometimes 32" across.    I never have any problems unless the chain is dull.    That saw (husky 61) should have no problems with that bar.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 03, 2014, 07:25:09 pm
3000FPS is not steering you wrong on this, my go to saw is a 1986 61 and it hs no problem with a 20 inch bar in big wood! Are your chains sharp? Just because a chain is new does not mean it is properly sharpened!
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 03, 2014, 07:44:15 pm
I would also use a dial indicator to make sure the bar and chain are both .058.   You should not have to lean hard on the bar to get it to cut.    If the chain is sharpened correctly it should self feed into the cut and if you want to lean on it a little then you can.    Most chains if cutting correctly will make the clutch slip and stop the chain if you put to much pressure on the bar.     


When cutting big wood like your referring to, it helps to put a plastic wedge in the top to prevent pinching as you get towards the bottom.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on February 05, 2014, 03:56:58 pm
my bar is in fact pretty worn out with some extremely worn out places as well as some flatter than the rest of the bar spots so gonna buy a new bar and chain, which brings up my next question. what size bar. i have read alot of different comparisons between the .050 and .058 but when pricing bars on ebay most are .050 so should i stick with the .058? the only difference i can find is .008 of width. so my understanding is really what size is easier for me to get chain for .058 or .050. also will the 61 rancher pull a 24 inch bar okay? what about 28 is it overkill? the way i understand is that it is the speed of the chainsaw to turn the chain that makes the difference and whether or not a chainsaw can pull a longer chain through hardwood. also when checking out bars a 61 rancher is the same as a husqvarna 61 as far as bar mounting.

thanks
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 05, 2014, 04:38:06 pm
.050 is definitely more available than the other two sizes at least on the East coast. I have had everything from 16 to 24 inch, .375 .050 on my Husqvarna 61 without a problem. A 28 may be a bit much for the 61, probably would pull it in soft wood but it would be a waste of money IMHO since you cannot control the size of free wood and your saw would gain weight and a 28 is expensive!

If you want to increase chain speed you can go to a 8-tooth rim sprocket and say an 18 inch bar, however the 61 was never known as a high rpm saw; so the gains may be minimal.

Yes a Rancher 61 and the Husqvarna 61 are essentially the same saw.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 05, 2014, 04:53:59 pm
+1,    I agree the max bar for that saw is 24".    I just worked on one of these today.   The oiler had stopped working and I found the worm gear bad.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: SawTroll on February 05, 2014, 08:36:25 pm
.....

If you want to increase chain speed you can go to a 8-tooth rim sprocket and say an 18 inch bar, however the 61 was never known as a high rpm saw; so the gains may be minimal. ......

I strongly doubt an 8-pin will work well on a 61 - but I haven't actually tried it.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 05, 2014, 08:40:19 pm
.....

If you want to increase chain speed you can go to a 8-tooth rim sprocket and say an 18 inch bar, however the 61 was never known as a high rpm saw; so the gains may be minimal. ......


I strongly doubt an 8-pin will work well on a 61 - but I haven't actually tried it.

Maybe with a 16" bar but other wise I would not.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 06, 2014, 08:31:43 am
Agreed!
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: SawTroll on February 06, 2014, 09:05:38 am
.....

If you want to increase chain speed you can go to a 8-tooth rim sprocket and say an 18 inch bar, however the 61 was never known as a high rpm saw; so the gains may be minimal. ......


I strongly doubt an 8-pin will work well on a 61 - but I haven't actually tried it.

Maybe with a 16" bar but other wise I would not.

Maybe, if the wood is really small - like in (most) limbing..... ;D


Anyway, rims are cheap - so there is nothing wrong with trying!
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on February 06, 2014, 09:18:30 am
Well yes they are cheap but not if the saw came with a spur which I believe some did. It probably wouldn't hurt to change it to a rim drive if it has a spur on it.
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: heathd on March 13, 2014, 03:46:28 pm
sorry to revive this topic after so long and not sure if i should have posted in another forum or not. im going tomorrow to look at a stihl 066 magnum, a bigger saw than my rancher 61, and wasnt sure what i should look for. the guy said it has less than 2 hours on it since a stihl dealer installed a oem pistin, cylinder, and tank housing on it. he wants 550 for it with a 32 inch bar. it has the poly flywheel which means a late 90s early 2000 s saw im guessing. is there anything i should watch for in particular when i am looking at this? and is this a decent price?

thanks in advance for the replies
Title: Re: rancher 61
Post by: 660magnum on March 13, 2014, 04:33:18 pm
Pull the front off the muffler and and look at the piston/ring for scoring anyway.

Observe the over all condition/appearance of the saw?