Are plastic clamshell saws worth pimping out ?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

bigbear3

ArboristSite Lurker
AS Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2019
Messages
8
Reaction score
3
Location
Tuolumne
I ended up with this ms 311. Looks like doneone ran straight gas in it. I could get away with honing the cylender and slapping a new piston in it. I'll do a little port and polish either route i go on this saw. Im thinking about geting the bigest topend that will bolt up . I see these huge top ends with everything dirt cheap. Are they any good ? They all say if they fit your more popular stihls but dont mention the 311. Even if this saw isnt worthy of pimping out these top ends are so cheap it wouldnt cost any more to go this route than throwing a stock piston back in it. Has anyone done this ? Does anyone know what will fit the ms 311 ? Or does everyone think i should just throw a stock piston in it and run it ? My other question is what is the deal with these knock off saws. Alot of them look lime they were built witb husky or stihl parts. Sone look exactly like a 372xp. And these others that dont look like a name brand saw but they look good. And tbe specs look great. And weve seen the prices. I tried asking Iowa performance saws about these things, and he said he didnt want to give me free advice. I was excited to talk to someone that really knows saws. I work on everything. I really enjoy working on saws and outboards. I want to learn alot more about the saws. Theyve been my bread and butter since i was 12. Thank you guys in advance.
 
I ended up with this ms 311. Looks like doneone ran straight gas in it. I could get away with honing the cylender and slapping a new piston in it. I'll do a little port and polish either route i go on this saw. Im thinking about geting the bigest topend that will bolt up . I see these huge top ends with everything dirt cheap. Are they any good ? They all say if they fit your more popular stihls but dont mention the 311. Even if this saw isnt worthy of pimping out these top ends are so cheap it wouldnt cost any more to go this route than throwing a stock piston back in it. Has anyone done this ? Does anyone know what will fit the ms 311 ? Or does everyone think i should just throw a stock piston in it and run it ? My other question is what is the deal with these knock off saws. Alot of them look lime they were built witb husky or stihl parts. Sone look exactly like a 372xp. And these others that dont look like a name brand saw but they look good. And tbe specs look great. And weve seen the prices. I tried asking Iowa performance saws about these things, and he said he didnt want to give me free advice. I was excited to talk to someone that really knows saws. I work on everything. I really enjoy working on saws and outboards. I want to learn alot more about the saws. Theyve been my bread and butter since i was 12. Thank you guys in advance.
 
Although I have been in tree service work since 1991 I don’t spend much time on this site…often have too much on my plate. So what is meant by clamshell plastic saws? Since 1991 I’ve had two Poulans, I have had six Echo was, seven Stihls, one Jonsered, two Tanaka limbing saws, one McCulloch 610 Timberwolf and now use a DeWalt 20V for a limbing saw. This year bone marrow cancer has had me out of work since March but since September I’m feeling better and trying hard to regain my health.
 
Skip the piston and get a complete 390 engine off ebay.
The extra CC's will pay off even if it's an off brand Chi-Com El-Cheapo $60 - $70
Question about that. Will all the ms 311 fit on that ? I kinda pimped out my johnsered instead of the stihl. I might stihl pimp out the 311,but now might just throw a piston in it and sell it. But every mod I see is for the 310 not the 311. Are the cylender fit ups the same ? On my johnsered I got that 49mm setup,left out the base gasket, and drilled two 3/8 holes in the exhaust. I did the squish ,and it still comes in around 40 thou. It rips for a little homedoers saw. Im thinking about drilling two holes in my husky 288. Maybe weld a port on each side curving out towatds the front like ive seen some done on 372s. I thaught I might port that cylender for the johnsered when it came in,but it looked like it didnt really need it , and I need that saw back to work. On the 288 I have to weld,drill,and tapp where the three bolts hold the top cover on. I'll post pics when its done. .
 
Back
Top