032AVE help.. low rpms in wood?

[Sparky_NY]

I just got a 032AV electronic with a 20" bar, the saw had a dead electronic ignition module which I replaced with a new part and a new stihl semi chisel chain for good measure. I gapped the coil at .010 as the dealer suggested.

Today I cut a bunch of maple firewood mostly 15-20 inches. In bucking these logs it seemed to me the saw rpms were lugged down quickly, this is without forcing the cut. On the good side, it sure threw chips and seemed to cut through the logs without much effort. It just seems the saw rpms are much lower than I would expect. The saw revs high fine without load, just lugs down much easier than I would expect. I leaned the high speed needle a bit and the rpms did gain a fair amount not under load but not any real difference under load.

I understand a 20" bar is about max for this saw, even over max depending on who's opinion. I am using my Poulan Pro 295 20" saw as a benchmark to compare to, the stihl is a slightly larger motor I believe but the Poulan does not lug down like this. The compression on the stihl seems real good, great I would say by the feel of the recoil starter. Although used the saw is in super condition, possibly the original bar and chain, extremely low hours I would say.

Any Ideas or am I expecting more than is in the cards?

 

[tony marks]

no expert here.. but try going the other way with that high adjustment..
back when i knew it all . the high no load meant nothing.. it ll always be weak
if too lean.. but that was info i had back when i thot i knew something..
dave sent me my saw performing beautifully at 16000+ rpm .. it scared me a bit and i richened it up a bit on the h side.. ive never got it to adjust back to the torque it had when he set it..
but its still a fast saw ..i just cut an have fun now .. but lesson learned.

 

[Sparky_NY]

no expert here.. but try going the other way with that high adjustment..
back when i knew it all . the high no load meant nothing.. it ll always be weak
if too lean.. but that was info i had back when i thot i knew something..
dave sent me my saw performing beautifully at 16000+ rpm .. it scared me a bit and i richened it up a bit on the h side.. ive never got it to adjust back to the torque it had when he set it..
but its still a fast saw ..i just cut an have fun now .. but lesson learned.

It sounded "burbly" at full throttle and took a couple seconds to "clear" all of which pointed to a rich mixture, I peaked the rpms a bit under no load/full throttle by leaning a bit, still staying on the slightly rich side but no difference when in wood was noticed. I would say that it was quite rich and going richer would have put it in the extremely rich zone hurting performance.

 

[tony marks]

sounds like it bud.. like i say, ive give up thinkin i know much anymore..if a pro builder sends you a saw .. leave it alone.. if its running rite..they know stuff we just dont ..
hope you solve your problem.
ps if it was 4 stroking [burble] at wot.. reset it back the way it was..
in cut it ll find the power hopefull..then theres always the possibility that somebody else got the best years it had in it..mite need an rebuild

 

[Lawn Masters]

Its probably that the 032 isnt a high RPM saw, its a low revving machine. by no means is it a 346XP that rips through wood like a hot knife through butter.

 

[TonyM]

I was going to say lean on top, but you obviously have an idea about adjusting the carb, so I'm just going to say you are asking a bit much out of an 032 at 51cc. Maybe the new chain on the Stihl has a little better bite than what's on the Poulan. What about the drive sprocket on the 031? Did someone up it a tooth?

 

[Sparky_NY]

Its probably that the 032 isnt a high RPM saw, its a low revving machine. by no means is it a 346XP that rips through wood like a hot knife through butter.

The owners manual says 13000 rpm with bar and chain, they don't say however if that drops to 7000 or something the second you put the bar to wood.

 

[Sparky_NY]

I was going to say lean on top, but you obviously have an idea about adjusting the carb, so I'm just going to say you are asking a bit much out of an 032 at 51cc. Maybe the new chain on the Stihl has a little better bite than what's on the Poulan. What about the drive sprocket on the 031? Did someone up it a tooth?

Have to check the sprocket teeth count, I think the bar/chain are the original with the saw. As I mentioned the saw is electronic ignition. I was told the correct coil gap is .010 but also wonder about ignition timing. From my 2 stroke cycle days I remember that the timing was quite critical but the saw does not seem to have provisions for adjusting ignition timing.

I may be looking for too much, but I would have never guessed a smaller (45cc) poulan saw would have more torque than a stihl.

 

[asharrow]

The comparison of the two saws might better be which goes through a given log in the least time. The Stihl may be cutting thicker chips with a more agressive (brand new) chain while the Poulan is just more hysterical about it.

My Homelite 330 lugs down a lot faster if I have just filed the rakers or put a new chain on. It's because I am used to forcing it when the chain was not so efficient.

Jim in Maine

 

[tony marks]

i know men in this area that just grin when people talk about their saws..in their opinion they got the best to be had.. they want their 032 in there hands when they go to woods..i use to be the same way about my 028..