simmech said:
Sometimes stuff is worth paying more for. And as your story shows, taking two saws with you when cutting is always a good idea!
craftsman chainsaw and homelite weedwacker
- Thread starter jerseydevil
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Sometimes stuff is worth paying more for. And as your story shows, taking two saws with you when cutting is always a good idea!
I got both my saws on Thurs. The craftsman was a bit tough to start, but once i did i let it run for awhile. On Fri it fired right up. They replaced a scored piston, scored cylinder, and gaskets, not to mention the starter rope and spring i broke.
Also i got my 290 on the same day, Big difference betwwen the 2 saws. Gonna try them out today, got a few small scub oaks to cut down and get cut up. Can't wait to get out of here. Comeon 3:30
Also i got my 290 on the same day, Big difference betwwen the 2 saws. Gonna try them out today, got a few small scub oaks to cut down and get cut up. Can't wait to get out of here. Comeon 3:30
Elmore
Addicted to ArboristSite
Still running my sister's red 42cc Craftsman hard and heavy. About six hours yesterday. It is hard to restart. I try to keep it running, idling when moving debris. Using a 40:1 Poulan oil mix at 32:1. After awhile I will clean out the spark screen and use a couple of tanks of Mobile synthetic mix, 32:1, and see if it transforms this toad into a tiger...heh heh.
jerseydevil
ArboristSite Operative
Sorry I took so long with this info. I finally got a chance to investigate yesterday and guess what. The Craftsman repair shop must have removed the air filter during the piston repair and didn't put one back in. So... I had been cutting with it and it was sucking in wood chips or sawdust or whatever you call it. Plus any thing else in the air at the time. I guess the carb is clogged up. I will try to clean it out. If that doesn't work I will take it back to sears again. Lucky I got the 200t and an electric remington. I also plan to buy another remington because it work out great around the yard. I used to be ashamed to be seen with it but like i said it works great. I have considered a stihl electric, any thoughts? Does anyone know if remington sells parts for their saws? I kinda broke the chain adjuster while abusing the saw trying to grind a stump with it. I live in west chester pa and would consider buying parts used from anyone, just let me know what you have and we'll see if they match up. thanks, see ya
JD
JD
jerseydevil, running without an airfilter for any amount of time, esp in dusty conditions is not good. I would guess that the saw was running too lean (too much air relative to gas). This will cause the saw to get too hot, score (somtimes actually melt) the piston & cylinder near the exhaust port -- this in addition to wearing out the engine just from all of the dirt that got sucked into it. In addition to cleaning all the junk out of the carb, I would take the muffluer off & pear into the exhaust port. If you pull the starter you will see the piston move up & down through the port. Does it look shiney, scrached, melted? If it does, dont waste any more time. Take it back (again) before the warranty is out. If this is the saw's second rebuild, the cylinder walls are probably very beat up. They really should give you a new saw (a new cylinder is usually nearly as expensive as a whole saw).
If it were me, I'd try for a refund on the Craftsman, or at least peddal it for whatever you can get for it on ebay (do be honest in the description). My favorite cheap (but worthwhile) saw is the stihl 210. About $219 w/ 16" bar. Its 2hp, 35cc compared to your 200T's 2.2hp. Cant go wrong with the 290/310/390 if you want more power, for a reasonable price. The 290 will pul a 20" & is just a bit north of $300. I run an 039 for bucking and 021 for limbing (older models of the 210 & 390) they serve me well.
I dont know much about Stihl electric saws. Stihl usually has good stuff & will stand behind it with service & parts. That said, I would guess you may have fewer problems with the cheapie electric saw than the cheapie gas ones. Personally I'd want 2 gas saws. That way you have a backup when your "in the field" harvesting your firewood.
After reading this post, I can't help but to throw my $0.02 on craftsman stuff. I like the hand tools. The powertools are usually OK for the price, but no where near as good as Makita, DeWalt, Milwakee. Sears lawn & garden stuff are almost always trouble.
If it were me, I'd try for a refund on the Craftsman, or at least peddal it for whatever you can get for it on ebay (do be honest in the description). My favorite cheap (but worthwhile) saw is the stihl 210. About $219 w/ 16" bar. Its 2hp, 35cc compared to your 200T's 2.2hp. Cant go wrong with the 290/310/390 if you want more power, for a reasonable price. The 290 will pul a 20" & is just a bit north of $300. I run an 039 for bucking and 021 for limbing (older models of the 210 & 390) they serve me well.
I dont know much about Stihl electric saws. Stihl usually has good stuff & will stand behind it with service & parts. That said, I would guess you may have fewer problems with the cheapie electric saw than the cheapie gas ones. Personally I'd want 2 gas saws. That way you have a backup when your "in the field" harvesting your firewood.
After reading this post, I can't help but to throw my $0.02 on craftsman stuff. I like the hand tools. The powertools are usually OK for the price, but no where near as good as Makita, DeWalt, Milwakee. Sears lawn & garden stuff are almost always trouble.
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jerseydevil
ArboristSite Operative
AND WE'RE BACK!!!!!!
Well, I just about completely diassembled the Crapsman/Wildthing; I rmoved the carb and cleaned it up. I removed the muffler and took out the spark screen( it was not that dirty). I then reassembled it and made sure all the fuel line ends were tight and not leaking. I also cranked down the carb as someone suggested it might be loose and causing the no start problem. After all of that, it started right up(after the fuel system primed). I ran it for a few minutes and it seems ok. I still need a new air cleaner. btw the piston looked good, smooth and shiny, not like last time when it had deep scratches running from the top to the bottom. It almost looked splined last time.
I can't stress enough what a poor investment this saw was. Sure it got me through last fall and winter but I worked more on getting it to run and stay running than I did cutting with it. Some days my arms would feel like falling off from pulling so much(however I guess I am in better shape because of this and I can pull on that thing for ever without breaking a sweat)! Then this summer it failed me. So after sears fixxed it once, I had to fix it again. I bet I will have to do the same thing again after I use it next time.
For those who are still reading this after my lengthy rant I have a few more points and then I'll shut the f up.
1. For an extra hundred I could have bought a desent pro or semipro saw.
for an extra two hundred I could have bought a preffered pro saw. Which I eventually did.
I too like crasftman hand tools and air tools both serve me very well.
I do enjoy tinkering with machines, so this whole episode has not been too bad, I can't imagine what people who are not mechanically inclined do when these things happen. I guess they have the manufacturer fix what the can for free(warranty) for as long as possible and then they start to pay(which would not always equal big bucks but sometimes it would) Or they learn to fix them themselves as it is not that hard usually.
OK thanks for the ear. see ya
JD
Well, I just about completely diassembled the Crapsman/Wildthing; I rmoved the carb and cleaned it up. I removed the muffler and took out the spark screen( it was not that dirty). I then reassembled it and made sure all the fuel line ends were tight and not leaking. I also cranked down the carb as someone suggested it might be loose and causing the no start problem. After all of that, it started right up(after the fuel system primed). I ran it for a few minutes and it seems ok. I still need a new air cleaner. btw the piston looked good, smooth and shiny, not like last time when it had deep scratches running from the top to the bottom. It almost looked splined last time.
I can't stress enough what a poor investment this saw was. Sure it got me through last fall and winter but I worked more on getting it to run and stay running than I did cutting with it. Some days my arms would feel like falling off from pulling so much(however I guess I am in better shape because of this and I can pull on that thing for ever without breaking a sweat)! Then this summer it failed me. So after sears fixxed it once, I had to fix it again. I bet I will have to do the same thing again after I use it next time.
For those who are still reading this after my lengthy rant I have a few more points and then I'll shut the f up.
1. For an extra hundred I could have bought a desent pro or semipro saw.
for an extra two hundred I could have bought a preffered pro saw. Which I eventually did.
I too like crasftman hand tools and air tools both serve me very well.
I do enjoy tinkering with machines, so this whole episode has not been too bad, I can't imagine what people who are not mechanically inclined do when these things happen. I guess they have the manufacturer fix what the can for free(warranty) for as long as possible and then they start to pay(which would not always equal big bucks but sometimes it would) Or they learn to fix them themselves as it is not that hard usually.
OK thanks for the ear. see ya
JD
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