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Chainsaw 2013
Looks like the last chainsaw thread was lost in the Great Crash.
Pulled out the saws and got them ready wood cutting season.
The Stihl is an MS290, 56.5cc with a 20" blade I pick up last year. Easily cut 10 cords of wood last summer plus some mitigation around the neighborhood. Never missed a beat. There are sites that argue what the best saw/size is. Really, there are. [Coffee] For what I do and the fact that the dealer/repair shop is in town made it a no brainer.
The second saw is a 15+ year old Craftsman/Poulan, 36cc, 16" blade. This is my "love hate" saw. I love to hate it. Every time I'm ready to toss it on the trash pile, it starts running. Great limber, when it runs.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063569.jpg
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In an ongoing endeavour to never leave well enough alone, I did some mods this winter.
First up was a 3/8" RS (Rapid Super) chain. These (yellow link) chains are more aggressive than the stock RM3 (green link) chains.
RS on top and RM3 on the bottom.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063564.jpg
Second was a muffler mod. Newer saws have to meet EPA guidelines. We all know what that means. Opening up the exhaust ports, in the muffler, helps the saw breath better and improve response.
Stock config.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063568.jpg
A peek down the exhaust channel.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063567.jpg
Stock exit.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063566.jpg
Modified exit.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063565.jpg
Opened up exit port with required spark arrestor still in tact.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063573.jpg
Seat of the pants impressions are the saw has better response, does not bog down as easily and is not noticeably louder. I wear hearing protection and live in the sticks, so noise is not really a factor. I need some more time behind the saw to say if there is more power.
The RS chain is definitely a better cutter compared to stock.
Total time for the above mods was about 20min.
Did a muffler mod on the Craftsman too. We'll see if it helps.
Stock exhaust.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063572.jpg
Opened up the channel holes and added some more.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063571.jpg
Opened up the exhaust ports.
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../407063570.jpg
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Yeah the chaps seem to work, but he'll picking thread out of his saw forever. I've seriously looking at these in the Bailey's catalog. Never saw a demo like this.
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-are the Stihl chaps the way to go in terms of that kind of product?
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I have the Stihl chaps. Fortunately, I can't answer your question. [Beer]
I'm way behind on firewood production this year. Mostly due to a deck project and a bad shoulder that's keeping me from using my saws. But I do have lots of deck lumber to burn.
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I wear a pair of the Stihl's also but have never tested them.
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Been out cutting a couple of days a week for the last six weeks. The saw mods were definitely worth it. The motor has better power and the chain is like night and day.
Luckily, the chaps still have not been tested.
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I have been using a chain saw for many years and never considered these chaps. It looks like it's time to go shopping and spend a couple bucks for the insurance provided by these chaps.
Thanks for sharing this!
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Did the Craftsman run better?
