Dolmar Ps401 And Makita Dcs401 Owners

danrclem · Aug 10, 2008

Does your saw leak like this? This a new saw and I cut down two small honey locust trees with it. The first pictures the case is tilted and a pool of oil is in the right lower side. I don't know if it continued leaking after I put it back in the case or if so much oil was slung around and it just dripped off afterward.

davefr · Aug 10, 2008

My Dolmar 401 has a non adjustable oiler and it oils very aggressively. The residual oil does leave a little puddle similar to your image. Maybe I should get a chainsaw diaper for it.

I also have an older Makita 401 with adjustable oiler and it doesn't have the issue and I usually adjust oilers for max. output.

rms61moparman · Aug 10, 2008

I don't think mine leaks because it doesn't "mark its territory" after the first couple of days. It does pump out the oil while cutting and I think that is just residue dripping off.
It's the first saw I have ever owned that will ooze bar oil out of the sprocket greasing hole. With the cost of bars and chains these days I don't have an issue with heavy oiling.
How does your 401 cut?
I really like mine. It has become my "go to" saw for small stuff.
Mike

danrclem · Aug 10, 2008

rms61moparman said:
I don't think mine leaks because it doesn't "mark its territory" after the first couple of days. It does pump out the oil while cutting and I think that is just residue dripping off.
It's the first saw I have ever owned that will ooze bar oil out of the sprocket greasing hole. With the cost of bars and chains these days I don't have an issue with heavy oiling.
How does your 401 cut?
I really like mine. It has become my "go to" saw for small stuff.
Mike

I've haven't cut much but it seems like it cuts really well. I like the weight and the way that it feels. It's my only small saw now so it'll be the one that I use for limbing.

It really bogged off of idle when I first got it and I have worked with the carb adjustment. It's still kinda slow off idle but maybe that'll get better as it breaks in. I've got the top rpm tached to almost 12,000 rpms and it runs good up there.

The oil filler hole is really small but as long as I'm careful it doesn't seem to be that much of a problem.

I've said that I'm going to buy an adjustable oiler and I will but don't know when. The picture of the case doesn't do justice to the amount of oil that is in it. I want to keep my bar and chain oiled but I just don't like that much of a mess after every use.

Danny

ut_volunteer · Aug 10, 2008

Purchased my PS-401 about two/three weeks ago, Have been using it quite a bit around my 17 acres. While I do find oil at bottom of case, I do not find as much as your pictures seemed to show. Great little saw for the money. Easy to use and maintain. FWIW, it does seem to go thru quite a bit of bar oil to me while cutting.

Fastcast · Aug 10, 2008

My 401 slings a lot of oil too but won't leave a puddle quite that big. The adjustable oiler I believe cost approx. $12.00......I've considered purchasing it also, just to cut down on the mess but moparman has a point.....better to have excessive oil, than not enough. Although with the adjustable you can control it.

You may still be lean on the L......I would richen it up till you know without a doubt you're too rich (you may need to cut/trim the epa tabs) and then lean it out a little at a time till you get crisp throttle response.

If I get the AO I'll the let you know how it works out and if you get it, please do the same...... :cheers:

danrclem · Aug 10, 2008

Fastcast said:
My 401 slings a lot of oil too but won't leave a puddle quite that big. The adjustable oiler I believe cost approx. $12.00......I've considered purchasing it also, just to cut down on the mess but moparman has a point.....better to have excessive oil, than not enough. Although with the adjustable you can control it.

You may still be lean on the L......I would richen it up till you know without a doubt you're too rich (you may need to cut/trim the epa tabs) and then lean it out a little at a time till you get crisp throttle response.

If I get the AO I'll the let you know how it works out and if you get it, please do the same......

If I make the mix any richer it wants to slow down and die. I think I'll try speeding the engine up and then give it a richer mix and see what that does.

When I do get the AO I'll be sure to post on here to tell you guys what it does.

Danny

neelix · Apr 3, 2009

danrclem said:
If I make the mix any richer it wants to slow down and die. I think I'll try speeding the engine up and then give it a richer mix and see what that does.

When I do get the AO I'll be sure to post on here to tell you guys what it does.

Danny

Updates,interested in this AO also...

Fastcast · Apr 3, 2009

neelix said:
Updates,interested in this AO also...

Contact your Dolmar dealer or one of the sponsor/dealers here.

bundy · Apr 4, 2009

leaker and gusher

My 401 leaks and gushes oil too. No adjustment for oiling and I just don't fill it much more than I will use! Good saw but a messy one.

HEAVY FUEL · Apr 4, 2009

Mine is 2 years old, Oiler is working fine, Carb does seem a little fussy.

excess650 · Apr 4, 2009

I have a couple or 3 of the Makita DCS401s. The one purchased new doesn't seem to leak oil, but the one purchased lightly used does. I've since muffler modded that saw, pulled the limiter caps, and adjusted the carb. It MUCH stronger now, and is strongest at 13.6-13.8K no load. You can't get this many revs without the muffler mod detailed in the thread(Hotsaws-Modded work saws-Dolmar 401).

I ordered parts from site sponsor Edge and Engine, and I think the oiler(listed for PS-341) was $12 and change. I didn't change the oiler yet, but the "leaky" saw uses a full tank of oil with a full tank of fuel.

If your saw accelerates slowly, or seems otherwise cold blooded, it needs the carb adjusted. Just pull the limiter caps and do it!

The 3rd saw was purchased with "scored cylinder". Actually, the cylinder was fine, but the ring was stuck. It now has a new ring, and decreased squish for more compression, but I have an air leak somewhere....anyway, its a bit older and the muffler is different inside. The newer saws have a muffler with an internal "spacer/baffle" and another removeable, internal baffle that has the screen. On the older saw that part isn't removeable.

danrclem · Apr 4, 2009

excess650 said:
If your saw accelerates slowly, or seems otherwise cold blooded, it needs the carb adjusted. Just pull the limiter caps and do it!

I bought my 401 new and it had a really bad bog from idle. I took the limiters off and adjusted it until I was blue in the face. I made it better but couldn't get rid of that bog off idle. I used a tach for the high and adjusted the low just about everywhere that it could be adjusted and I couldn't do any good.

I finally sent it back to Makita and when I got it back it runs good but is running a little rich on the high end. I don't know what the top rpm is now but a muffler mod is planned soon.

When you get a chance to put your oil adjuster on the 401 let us know how it turns out.

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