What's the most recent reed valve saw that was made?

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I'm pretty sure the Dolmar 3410 top-handle arborist saw, currently in production, has reed valve induction.
 
The piston port design is a rather old one, but it's simple and works. The reed valve design is more advanced, but more complex. IMHO, I believe that piston port design is utilized because it is simpler and more compact than the reed valve. As for sucking a petal, done it on my Ski-doo. It's sucks.:dizzy: Boysens are good, but I'm more of a V-Force guy. And yes, it was an early version that broke and sucked into the cylinder.


As emissions continue to get tighter, i would not be surprised to see reed valve saws with fuel injection (like rotax and inject fuel into transfer port) in the next several years.


Rotary valve 2-strokes......those things ripped!!! too bad they were heavy. A finely tuned, triple piped Mach Z is a sight to see and hear.

As to age, my Mall two-mans are piston ported.....1940s.
Homelite XL 925 is my favorite reed valve saw
Igpoe:cheers:
 
A little upgrade done on a read valve Stihl, actually it was a bit of a PITA to do.

I think the 009 was in production until 2005 in USA and maybe 2006 in Canada.
 
Old thread, I know. I have a Poulan 1800 chainsaw that was given to me. It's an oldie, about 1996, I think. It starts and wants to run after a thorough carb cleaning (and new gaskets & diaphragms) but can't quite get going. I also replaced the gas line and checked the exhaust port/spark arrestor - both clear. Piston has no scoring. I note from the parts diagram that there is a reed valve on this unit which is merely a flat piece of metal that resides in an opening under the carb. This is my first encounter with a reed valve which, as I understand, is a one way valve letting gas & air into the cylinder. Today's saws accomplish this through their porting configuration. I suspect that this reed valve could be my problem but I have no idea how to test it or otherwise examine it to see if it is functioning properly. Anyone know? It is #23 in the diagram.

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Out of an Intertec service manual. Check your inbox.

A single petal reed valve is located under the
carburetor and attached to the underside of the handle assembly. Maximum
gap between tip of reed petal and seating surface is 0.010 inch (0.25 mm).
Renew reed if bent, broken or otherwise damaged. Inspect reed petal seat and renew
carburetor housing handle assembly if seat is damaged or warped. Washer
under reed retaining screw serves as a reed stop and should be installed
with sharp side against reed petal. Tighten reed petal screw to 8-10 in.- lbs. (0.9-1.1 N·m).
 
Have some gasket material handy when checking the reed. Pulling the reed block will no doubt rip the gasket and if memory serves it is no longer available
 
Old thread, I know. I have a Poulan 1800 chainsaw that was given to me. It's an oldie, about 1996, I think. It starts and wants to run after a thorough carb cleaning (and new gaskets & diaphragms) but can't quite get going. I also replaced the gas line and checked the exhaust port/spark arrestor - both clear. Piston has no scoring. I note from the parts diagram that there is a reed valve on this unit which is merely a flat piece of metal that resides in an opening under the carb. This is my first encounter with a reed valve which, as I understand, is a one way valve letting gas & air into the cylinder. Today's saws accomplish this through their porting configuration. I suspect that this reed valve could be my problem but I have no idea how to test it or otherwise examine it to see if it is functioning properly. Anyone know? It is #23 in the diagram.

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it's not unusual to find debris, that made it past the crude foam filter, stuck between the reed and the valve seat. i've seen this numerous times in the echos. the reed valve in the poulan is dodgey. it's like a bumblebee, no way it can fly but somehow it does. if you remove the air filter and run it, you will see a cloud of mix above the air intake. that's gotta be why the air filters in those things are usually soaked with mix.
 
Interesting that this thread was revived, as I've just been thinking about reed valve engines. Has anyone ever made a rear handle reed valve with A/V and a chain brake?
 
Interesting that this thread was revived, as I've just been thinking about reed valve engines. Has anyone ever made a rear handle reed valve with A/V and a chain brake?

chris-

i think the echos meet your requirements. my memory is the model numbers ar 302 and 346. i gave a 346 to my groundperson, angela, several years ago. it's the only saw she will use.

that beiing said, both the echos and the poulans (in the many incarnations) have only one reed, directly behind the carb. the high performance saws tend to have multiple reeds in a prism shaped cage. i suspect the single reed limits the performance.
 
Thanks, I will look into those. I've never messed with a reed valve, primarily as rear handle, chain brake and A/V are the minimum requirements for me to actually use the saw. I forgot about those Echos though.

Also, I can see the single large reed might have slow response.
 
I only know about them because I recently repaired one. It is sitting on the shelf in the shed. I need to get a bar, chain, and at nuts for it. Or get rid of it, whichever happens first!
 
Reed valves have many advantages. One of which is achieving higher crankcase pressure. Their are a couple of disadvantages and cost being the biggest one. The only other disadvantage would be a reed breaking and going through the engine. Reed valve engines can rev just a high as a piston ported engine in most cases. A cr250 does not have any problem getting 11-12500 rpm.
Yeah ppl that say reeds are slow my ass and better torque too. The echo 340 was slow turd but they had a really small port that did not match the carb bore. Run a hone through the reed Plate and that helps the saw big time with rpm. Kinda wish I still had the saw, but I don't miss it
 
Out of an Intertec service manual. Check your inbox.

A single petal reed valve is located under the
carburetor and attached to the underside of the handle assembly. Maximum
gap between tip of reed petal and seating surface is 0.010 inch (0.25 mm).
Renew reed if bent, broken or otherwise damaged. Inspect reed petal seat and renew
carburetor housing handle assembly if seat is damaged or warped. Washer
under reed retaining screw serves as a reed stop and should be installed
with sharp side against reed petal. Tighten reed petal screw to 8-10 in.- lbs. (0.9-1.1 N·m).
You can also get some really thin carbon fiber and make a reed. Older moto x bikes had boisen reed upgrade they were stiff thin and light if they snap they didn't chew up a engine like a steel reed does
 
Up to now, the Echo 346 has been my favorite grab and go saw--never fails to start (have a spare in waiting)! Just acquired an Echo 330t, putting a new short block in it. In my thread about the 330, I get the idea it may become my new favorite saw--but it'll have to be good to pass the old reed valve 346!
 
MTD has a reed weedeater and blower lately allows them to mount carburetor on plastic crankcase cover.
 
Meanwhile, back to the Poulan 1800 ...
Ray, wow, an old service manual!! Thanks so much. Based on the instructions therein, I don't think my issue is the reed valve. It says that there should be no more than a maximum gap of .010" between the tip of the petal and its seating surface. Mine actually looks flush on the surface but it is definitely not more than .010. It also is not bent or damaged. My concern was that the valve was not opening to allow fuel from carb to cylinder. But I can push it open with light pressure. So, should I presume that it is, in fact, opening via the pulse action of the piston and cylinder and thus not preventing gas/air from entering?

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