a McCulloch 1-43 walked into my shop today.

[pdqdl]

I had a fellow bring an old McCulloch into my shop today for repair. I laughed the moment he stepped into the door, challenging him "I'll bet you want me to fix that, don't you?"

He responded by telling me that it starts when he primes the carburetor, but won't remain running. He seemed to think that it only needed the carburetor adjusted.

It was an old 1-43 saw; specs here: Model Profile: 1-43
The picture on this page pretty much matches the saw I was looking at, including the wide, solid nose bar.

I determined that the compression was a bit low (just by pulling the rope), and that the old saw wasn't going to have much in the way of parts available. It started and sputtered on the first pull, but didn't anymore, probably because I didn't attempt to prime it.

I declined to work on it, advising him that it probably needed a new diaphragm in the carburetor, which might be hard to find. I also told him that he needed to sink his money into a newer, more practical saw, since he wasn't a collector of antique chainsaws.

I also told him that he might get good money for that saw on ebay, given it's decent, "almost ready to run" condition.

I don't really do much with antiques. Your opinion on this saga?

 

[heimannm]

A 1-43 should have a Tillotson HL carburetor with the plunger type choke.

Carburetor kits are readily available and the HL carburetor is easy to work on.

In many cases when those saws have some hours, the choke will not lock in properly and does not really provide the desired effect when starting. Often times it is a easy as bending the control rods a little to get the choke to close properly.

The older McCulloch saw could run well and provide plenty of power with 90-100 PSI compression.

If the fuel line in the tank, or from the tank to the carburetor need replaced, they can be done without much need to disassemble the saw but can be frustrating, particularly the line in the tank.

Mark

 

[struggle]

I have one as well. They are kind of neat looking. I have not tinkered with it yet though. Looks simple to work on.

 

[zogger]

Saws like that are why you need a shelf of cheap and running used saws in the back someplace. the "hundred bucks and under" rack. The guy just wanted a running saw, you might could have gotten if for "ten bucks off on this baby right here".

I mean, that's an 80 cc saw!

Instead he walks out, you make no money, plus he is proly annoyed now. You could have owned that saw, plus made a sale on something, in other words, get paid to take a cool old saw!

 

[pioneerguy600]

Those old 80cc McCulloch saws are really easy to work on and keep running well. Tillotson HL carbs came on some and can be swapped in to most if not all of them, carb kits are very easy to find for the HL series and nnot costly at all. I keep a bunch of those ole saws running for many older owners that refuse to give them up. They will start and run half decent even if the comp is as low as 100 lbs cold.

 

[pdqdl]

Well...Thanks guys!

I thought the carb parts were available, but I try not to be "the mechanic" around my shop. At least in theory, I have better things to do.

I also had no interest in profiting off of the guy's ignorance or misfortune. He bought it for about $30 on craig's list, and I was only trying to help him out. I will confess to having a bit of interest in looking at the old saw, which I explained to him at the time. I have two old saws sitting around collecting dust already, and I don't need any more. If it isn't ready to run, or ready to be fixed, I pretty much don't want it. I have enough junk already.

On the other hand, I still have enough pirate in me to seek a profit. I showed him what a professional saw looks and sounds like (357XP), and I pointed at a stack of some of our climbing goodies on the way to the door, followed by an offer to come cut down anything he didn't think he was ready for.

Almost nobody makes a more likely tree removal customer than a guy holding a dead chainsaw that has a tree that he can't cut down himself.

 

[Sprintcar]

If it wern't for old saws I'd have nothing to do. Check that, If it wern't for new and old saws, I'd have nothing to do!

 

[67L36Driver]

If it wern't for old saws I'd have nothing to do. Check that, If it wern't for new and old saws, I'd have nothing to do!

Ditto. But, I have no use for new.

 

[OREGONLOGGER]

Great series of saws indeed. Those 80cc Mac saws have the HL series carbs and kits are a dime a dozen in the shop RK-88-HL fits all that series. Not much tinkering will get those saws running again I buy em right up when I see them. Nice to here some old yellow walked in though

 

[Ed Styles]

I had a fellow bring an old McCulloch into my shop today for repair. I laughed the moment he stepped into the door, challenging him "I'll bet you want me to fix that, don't you?"

He responded by telling me that it starts when he primes the carburetor, but won't remain running. He seemed to think that it only needed the carburetor adjusted.

It was an old 1-43 saw; specs here: Model Profile: 1-43
The picture on this page pretty much matches the saw I was looking at, including the wide, solid nose bar.

I determined that the compression was a bit low (just by pulling the rope), and that the old saw wasn't going to have much in the way of parts available. It started and sputtered on the first pull, but didn't anymore, probably because I didn't attempt to prime it.

I declined to work on it, advising him that it probably needed a new diaphragm in the carburetor, which might be hard to find. I also told him that he needed to sink his money into a newer, more practical saw, since he wasn't a collector of antique chainsaws.

I also told him that he might get good money for that saw on ebay, given it's decent, "almost ready to run" condition.

I don't really do much with antiques. Your opinion on this saga?

Send them to me, old saws is about all I work on.