dissecting an earthquake chainsaw

[erlk?nig]

I got sucked into this thread when it was about 70 pages long and it convinced me to get two of the 3816s for experimenting and dirty work. Luckily I got two at $30 each before the guy jacked up the price. So far I haven't had the chance to do anything to these saws except slot the carb screws, but I'm working on my first muffler mod. I sawed it open to remove the cat and baffle, now I just need to weld it back together. I'm keeping one saw stock (and for parts) and modding the other. Since I'm pretty busy this time of year, the Earthquakes have been put on the back burner.
Fast forward to today and I've got the well guy out to take a look at my system (I'm getting air in my lines, sounds like a leak in the well pipe). When I expanded my chicken run this summer I didn't think about the eventuality of getting a service truck into my back yard. I either undo my fence work or demo a rotting landing on my deck. Enter the Earthquake! Even though it struggled a bit in the 4x8 beams (using the stock saw), it was sure a lot faster than using the circular saw and sawzall. I had the landing cut up and in the truck within an hour of the well guy leaving. Because I'm lazy (and like to live dangerously), I left myself a redneck staircase to get on the deck (once I get some time I'll frame some new stairs). Done and done!
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[MechanicMatt]

now listen up non believers of earthquakes,,, now follow me on this,,, a cord of wood saves me right at 500.00 worth of electricity since our house is all electric,, my little 40.00 earthquake has already saved me 500.00 worth,, i have already cut almost a full cord of wood with it,, so in turn i have saved 460 if you factor in the cost of the saw,, i still haven't sharpen the chain yet and its still throwing chunks,,, seems every time i use it its getting stronger,,, so for a $40 saw i am not complaining,, heck i still haven't fueled up my huskie or stihls yet this cutting season

Scott, I fully agree with you about heating our homes with wood. But I think you could have cut up 3 cords of wood in that time the quake cuts 1 if you were using one of your orange saws. Oh and BTW a wildthingy would have cut 1.5 cords

 

[Chris-PA]

Scott, I fully agree with you about heating our homes with wood. But I think you could have cut up 3 cords of wood in that time the quake cuts 1 if you were using one of your orange saws. Oh and BTW a wildthingy would have cut 1.5 cords

You gotta run a ported CS3816! It is after all a copy of a G3800 - no slouch. And given what they weigh they certainly don't wear you out.

I want to get mine out to try the newest muffler mod I did and see how it compares to the wide-open one I did. I didn't get to put enough time on it after I changed it out.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Scott, I fully agree with you about heating our homes with wood. But I think you could have cut up 3 cords of wood in that time the quake cuts 1 if you were using one of your orange saws. Oh and BTW a wildthingy would have cut 1.5 cords

I'd say 3:1 is about right compared to my 'built' 346xp

 

[H 2 H]

:computer2:

 

[Streblerm]

I'd say 3:1 is about right compared to my 'built' 346xp

I'd like to see that.:greenchainsaw:

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I'd like to see that.:greenchainsaw:

what? the speed difference between the two? w/o question the difference is that much.

 

[diggers_dad]

I didn't think about the eventuality of getting a service truck into my back yard. I either undo my fence work or demo a rotting landing on my deck. Enter the Earthquake! I left myself a redneck staircase to get on the deck (once I get some time I'll frame some new stairs). Done and done!

I worked for my Dad as a Water Well Service guy for about 10 years when my shoulders and elbows would handle the work. 99 out 100 people who build something in the back yard never think about servicing well. We always carried a sawzall and extension cords, if we knew it was coming we took a little chainsaw with us, too. You did good in my book. I never liked the ones who just sit back and complained while we worked.

 

[diggers_dad]

Scott, I fully agree with you about heating our homes with wood. But I think you could have cut up 3 cords of wood in that time the quake cuts 1 if you were using one of your orange saws. Oh and BTW a wildthingy would have cut 1.5 cords

I can't say about the orange saw, but the little Quakenstein of mine will run with any WT out there.

I think we need some WT vs EQ races. :hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

You gotta run a ported CS3816! It is after all a copy of a G3800 - no slouch. And given what they weigh they certainly don't wear you out.

I want to get mine out to try the newest muffler mod I did and see how it compares to the wide-open one I did. I didn't get to put enough time on it after I changed it out.

WHW is also right about the weight issue. The EQ has better balance. At least the Chinese copied a good design and kept some of the best stuff.

Earthquake - the little saw I hate to love.

 

[Chris-PA]

Earthquake - the little saw I hate to love.

What I appreciate about the saw is primarily the design, which is RedMax. The manufacturing quality is indifferent - basically good enough not to ruin the design, but barely. So I generally think of it more as a RedMax designed saw than as a saw made by whatever Chinese company built it or the Earthquake importer.

 

[MechanicMatt]

I plan to have a race, I've been building up a WT just for it. Its gotta be something we all can repeat though. Maybe take a 2x12 and cut it or two 2x12's, and make a video so we can see the times it takes.

 

[o8f150]

Scott, I fully agree with you about heating our homes with wood. But I think you could have cut up 3 cords of wood in that time the quake cuts 1 if you were using one of your orange saws. Oh and BTW a wildthingy would have cut 1.5 cords

guess i need to make another vid tomorrow since i have about 4 tanks through it then see if the pos WT will keep up:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

 

[diggers_dad]

What I appreciate about the saw is primarily the design, which is RedMax. The manufacturing quality is indifferent - basically good enough not to ruin the design, but barely. So I generally think of it more as a RedMax designed saw than as a saw made by whatever Chinese company built it or the Earthquake importer.

I agree completely with your point about the RedMax design, although I differ with the opinion of most on the saws design past that.

Whatever company or engineer or nation built the things actually did a decent job, IMO.

All of the plastic on mine fits together nicely, the A/V is good, the "feel" is good, light weight, and it runs very well with the MM. When they copied it or reverse-engineered it or whatever they stayed away from the strato design and kept the earlier version, which I think was a good idea. The design is simple, straight forward, and makes good power.

 

[Chris-PA]

I agree completely with your point about the RedMax design, although I differ with the opinion of most on the saws design past that.

Whatever company or engineer or nation built the things actually did a decent job, IMO.

All of the plastic on mine fits together nicely, the A/V is good, the "feel" is good, light weight, and it runs very well with the MM. When they copied it or reverse-engineered it or whatever they stayed away from the strato design and kept the earlier version, which I think was a good idea. The design is simple, straight forward, and makes good power.

Actually the G3800 was never strato - it was the predecessor to the later GZ4000 strato design and has the same case. It's basically what we have, with the exception of the changed port sizes and the cat muffler. I assume that was done for emissions reasons, and there you see the obsolescence of the design.

I agree that the plastic parts fit well on mine and seem to be strong. There was a lot of molding flash that I trimmed off, a sign that the molds were not that well made and did not fit closely. The surface finish on the castings is also poor - but these things are mostly cosmetic. I'm waiting to see how the machining holds up - the surface finishes on the cylinder and the machining on the piston were not as clean as on Poulans I'm used to working on, but so far they seem to work fine. It may need more break in. Anyway, that's why I termed it that way. It really would not take much for them to improve these areas either.

 

[milkman]

I had my Quake out yesterday and now have a tank and a half through it. I have a 16" bar off a Husky 141 that is the same and two new chains for it. I will try them this W/E. I'd like to get some pics and videos, but don't have enough hands or a tripod. I might be able to get my brother to help me, but he always says he don't know how to run the camera so he gets to have the fun part.:mad2: The other problem with that is, I can run a saw WAY better than he can.:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Streblerm]

what? the speed difference between the two? w/o question the difference is that much.

I'm struggling with the statement. I'm not saying the EQ would compete with the 346 in any way but there is some math involved here. It boils down to RPM in the cut and chain speed. Sprocket size would account for much less than 10% difference. You're saying that the loaded chain speed of your 346 is is three times the EQ. I don't see how this is possible.

Again, I'm not putting down the 346 in any way. I don't own one and I do believe they are one hell of a saw from what I have read. But if the EQ cuts a 12" log in 15 seconds then the 346 is 5? sounds like magic to me.

Maybe I need a 346 after all:greenchainsaw:

 

[o8f150]

I'm struggling with the statement. I'm not saying the EQ would compete with the 346 in any way but there is some math involved here. It boils down to RPM in the cut and chain speed. Sprocket size would account for much less than 10% difference. You're saying that the loaded chain speed of your 346 is is three times the EQ. I don't see how this is possible.

Again, I'm not putting down the 346 in any way. I don't own one and I do believe they are one hell of a saw from what I have read. But if the EQ cuts a 12" log in 15 seconds then the 346 is 5? sounds like magic to me.

Maybe I need a 346 after all:greenchainsaw:

maybe this will answer your question

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0DppGwFHYyg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1XO2xB6XL5E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Streblerm]

I'm seeing about double the cutting speed out of the 346. I'll buy that. I also think you could crank the EQ a little leaner. Mine screams a little more and is harder to stall in the cut. Thee times faster is more insulting than necessary.

 

[Chris-PA]

Actual cutting time with the saw in the wood is a small fraction of what it takes to put a cord of wood on the porch. The difference in cutting speed is pretty much irrelevant to me and I use the smallest most efficient saw that will do the job. The CS3816 with a mild port job, a muffler mod and a sharp chain is more than fast enough and an effective firewood tool for wood up to the bar length.

 

[diggers_dad]

Actually the G3800 was never strato - it was the predecessor to the later GZ4000 strato design and has the same case. It's basically what we have, with the exception of the changed port sizes and the cat muffler. I assume that was done for emissions reasons, and there you see the obsolescence of the design.

I didn't phrase that properly. I meant they could have chose to copy a newer, strato design but elected to go with the simpler, non-strato version. I think choosing the older design was better from a production process simply because the strato would have required better quality control and tolerances. The non-strato is a good, solid design and (IMO) would handle some minor production flaws easier than the strato.

Actual cutting time with the saw in the wood is a small fraction of what it takes to put a cord of wood on the porch. The difference in cutting speed is pretty much irrelevant to me and I use the smallest most efficient saw that will do the job. The CS3816 with a mild port job, a muffler mod and a sharp chain is more than fast enough and an effective firewood tool for wood up to the bar length.

I couldn't agree more, especially with the "smallest most efficient saw" part. Husky, EQ, Poulan, Homelite doesn't matter to me, I'm color blind and my wallet runs a little thin trying to feed 4 kids. The price makes a difference, too.