Anyone transported a chainsaw in commercial checked baggage?

[John Lyngdal]

It's just a clean Husqvarna 351 that I found locally and a friend in France wants it to keep his 371 company.
Obviously it will be empty of fuel and oil and well cleaned before shipping, then bagged for transport in a suitcase.
Oh.. It's on an international flight.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

It's just a clean Husqvarna 351 that I found locally and a friend in France wants it to keep his 371 company.
Obviously it will be empty of fuel and oil and well cleaned before shipping, then bagged for transport in a suitcase.
Oh.. It's on an international flight.

Id call the airline before attempting this.

 

[Philbert]

Many years ago, I checked an electric chainsaw through in my luggage. Cleaned it meticulously. Had the bar and chain wrapped separately in corrugated cardboard. Marked the packaging clearly.

TSA ripped the packaging all apart. I guess they could have prohibited it?

I would ask the airline, as suggested above. Cleaning any fuel residue is important even for mailing.

Let us know?

Philbert

 

[cscltd]

Pre 9/11 probably no issue.
post 9/11 and unit has been used with fuel and oil-may not go
and even if airline says it is good, who ever is at check in counter may say no
better off mailing in via surface( boat-not air)

 

[Yukon Stihl]

Take it apart so its a box of parts not a chainsaw.

 

[Bill G]

Pre 9/11 probably no issue.
post 9/11 and unit has been used with fuel and oil-may not go
and even if airline says it is good, who ever is at check in counter may say no
better off mailing in via surface( boat-not air)

I fully agree but it must go air as there is no sea mail anymore that I know of. Whether you ship it or check it in baggage it will go on a plane

 

[edmxz2002]

For international shipping I would use FedEx or DHL. even if the airline says it is okay, you still have TSA and immigration/customs in France.

 

[Bill G]

For international shipping I would use FedEx or DHL. even if the airline says it is okay, you still have TSA and immigration/customs in France.

UPS is much cheaper to Europe

 

[PEK]

I brought one of my saws over here to Bulgaria from UK in a suitcase, no problem.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I bough a saw from a member in Greece. It took quite a while but arrived.

 

[BobL]

In 2010 I checked a Mac 10-10 (no bar) onto commercial flights from Calgary to Australia (Calgary-SF, SF-Sydney, Sydney-Perth). I removed all the fuel and oil and cleaned it up but even I could still smell a faint odour. No questions asked.

 

[nick 55]

TSA stateside leaves small engine equipment up to the discretion of the airline IF it is completely purged of all fuel, including vapors. If there is any fuel it is not allowed on a commercial plane as checked or carry-on baggage. So you should check the specific airline, as well as the Tavel security agency for the country that you are headed to.

TSA.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

 

[Valpen]

In 2000 I bought my MS200 in Sweden with a "tax-free" discount, as I took it back to Norway with me in my hand luggage on a commercial flight.
Note, this was pre-9/11, but nobody asked me if I had any fuel with me.
It was a strange feeling to know that I had a potentially fully functional chainsaw in the plane cabin.
I don't think I would try to do this today...

 

[John Lyngdal]

After going through security at the Dulles(IAD) airport on my way home today, I posed the chainsaw question to the TSA lead on duty. Basically, if there is no fuel in it, there isn't an issue. I'll let everyone know in about three weeks when I board my flight to Paris.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

After going through security at the Dulles(IAD) airport on my way home today, I posed the chainsaw question to the TSA lead on duty. Basically, if there is no fuel in it, there isn't an issue. I'll let everyone know in about three weeks when I board my flight to Paris.

What about residues? Gas, oil?
tanks can be drained but there will still be traces that can trip a sensor.

 

[cscltd]

I leave tank open for a few days to dry up any fuel left over and use tissue or something to wipe inside oil tank as much as possible and also let it drip out as much as I can. Then bag it with garbage bag to keep any seepage at limit any smell

use coffee grounds to hide smell??

 

[rd35]

Several years ago my brother checked an MS390 on a flight from Portland to Indy. No problem whatsoever. International may be different.

 

[Vintage Engine Repairs]

I have flown from England to Italy to Dubai to Australia with a saw in my checked in! All in bits though.

 

[HansFranz]

"Chainsaw"

 

[dboyd351]

I sold a Solo 680 to a guy in Greece in 2021. Shipped it thru Ebay's international shipping. Emptied fuel and oil, let it air out a day or 2, nothing else. Took a long time to get there, but it went thru with no issues.