can somebody tell me the basics

[064 stihl]

i just started racing saws this year and i would like to know some specific things to do to a 066 stilhl for competitions only. Around here it is all 8 x 8 wood and it is not a cold start. What should i do to my head, ports, carb, muffler, and timing? What gas ratio should i use and what should i use for chain oil? Any info would be a help. Thanks.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Stihl 064, the first thing you have to learn, is to how diplomaticly slam your saw into some granite and move backwards from there. Mobil MX2T is a good start at: 32;1, with a hogged out muffler, then your loggin'. I file chain @ 200$ a loop U.S. that will get you into the running, and if you dont believe me, just ask Walt Galer of Eureka Montana.
Fur Fer Sure

 

[064 stihl]

Gypo Logger
When i remove everything from my muffler should i put another hole in it somewhere. I have a Jill Leveque chain from QC.

 

[husky394]

Although building your own saw can be rewarding, it is tough to do. If you want to experiment in saw building, I would start with something less expensive than an 066! This is especially true if you don't have somebody who knows what they are doing to help you. There is no way that anyone can explain the process of buildling a hotsaw to you over the internet. You will need access to machine tools, or know somebody that can do the machine work involved with porting the cylinder, and making the head and manifold. I have made the mistakes, and am in the process of paying somebody who knows what he is doing to sort them out. I'll bet I'm not the ony one on this forum who has done that. (anybody else want to fess up?) I have a couple of old homelites that I work on to learn about modifying saws. I will leave the work on my good race saw to somebody who knows what is going on.

If you want to race, try to find a used hotsaw that is already set up. If you can't find one, go to somebody who knows racing saws and have them build you one. This will save you time and money in the long run. I had the chance to buy a mostly completed saw from a good builder, but I didn't. That was two seasons ago. I fooled around with my own creations for those two years, when I could have been racing a better saw, and learning how to run it. I've spent as much on my mistakes as that saw would have cost.

I don't want to talk you out of racing, it is great fun, but I believe that you will have a better chance of staying in it for the long term if you go into it with you eyes open. Keep going to the contests and asking questions.

Good luck in your racing, keep at it.

P.S. Are you sure that you don't have a Gilles Levesque chain?

 

[Jacob J.]

One good way to learn about 2-cycle technology and theory is to frequent karting forums and to talk to old kart guys. Most of the karters I know build their own engines and know some dynamite tricks. Even though some kart guys work with motorcycle engines and motorcycle theory is quite a bit different than industrial/chain saw applications, some of the work can be carried over. I learned about alcohol and nitro from kart guys as well as making and modifying intakes and tuned pipes. You can also purchase a saw that is used but was modified and take it apart and learn from there. Macdizzy had a fantastic site on 2-cycle technology that included a lot of information on fuels, timing, air filtration, exhaust and tuned pipes, and port timing and volume. I don't know if his site is still up.

 

[064 stihl]

Thanks for the info. I have a wicked mechanic that has everything to work with but has never built a saw. Is there a formula for tuned pipes or how should i go about making one. Is a seperate head an advantage and can i mount a 3120 carb on to my cylinder without the rubber boot, and is a full crankshaft an advantage. There now i can cut 3 8 x 8 off around 4 seconds with my own tuning but i would like to be alot faster.

 

[husky394]

McDizzy is still up, and has the formulas for tuned pipes. You will make some assumptions for the state of tune of the engine, but at least it is a start.

Most of the modifed saws use tillotson carbs, but the 3120 carb might be worth a try on gas. It is a good idea to run gas until you get used to tuning a hotsaw. I suspect that most of the top guys run alcohol and nitromethane, and the 3120 carb probably won't allow that without modification. A gas carb + alcohol = lean siezure, if you aren't careful.

Many hotsaw have a fabricated head. I have heard of full circle cranks being used, if you can build one it can't hurt to try it. The world record for 3 cuts in 8x8 white pine hot start is 2.2, so engine mods should make you competative.

 

[064 stihl]

What kind of saw is the world record holder?

 

[husky394]

The saw isn't listed, just the operator.

 

[Jacob J.]

Another thing you can do to help yourself big time is take a trip to your local library. Most libraries have a small, rudimentary selection on 2-cycle engines but often you can find some very informative books, and in this business, you need all the info you can get your hands on.