dissecting an earthquake chainsaw
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o8f150
Tree Freak
well i did some experimenting today,, i glued some 044 plastic that i had on one of my earthquakes and it turned out pretty good,,, heres the vid of how it turned out
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lzdbwLFKUG0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lzdbwLFKUG0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
diggers_dad
Sawchologist
I'll take three of those to go, please. You can put whatever plastic you like on the outside, I just want the Quake on the inside.
stihl023/5
Addicted to ArboristSite
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
The manufacturer already has that covered:I'll take three of those to go, please. You can put whatever plastic you like on the outside, I just want the Quake on the inside.
It's amazing how they dress up these same G3800 and G5000 platforms to look like a bunch of different brands.
It amazes me how people don't like Earthquake chain saws after watching this vid :msp_ohmy:
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
I was bored last night so I was surfing around trying to figure out who manufactures chainsaws in China. I had already found the guys I posted before who I'm pretty sure made the Earthquakes ( 3800 gasoline chain saw,View chain saw,EMAS Product Details from Taizhou Emas Machine Co., Ltd. on Alibaba.com ), but there appear to be quite a few manufacturers making the same basic two saw designs based on the G3800 and G5000 RedMax saws.
These guys seem to have the same design: China 38CC Chain Saw Crank Case (TD-YD38) - large image for Crank Case
These guys sell the old Mac 3200 series: 38cc Gasoline Chain Saw (YD-KU02-38) - China Chain Saw, Garden Tools
It is very hard to tell exporters from manufacturers, and maybe there is someone else actually making all of them. Still, it kind of seems like these two designs have been detailed and everyone has access to the designs. There are other saws that have been copied in remarkable detail too, but these two are everywhere, dressed up as all manner of things from Husky to Stihl to Jonsered by playing with the shapes of covers and colors. We already know RedMax was making variants in China (including the GZ400 and the Ryobi versions).
Rather than just saying they're "Chinese" I'm just curious about what what particular organizations make the stuff, but it is very opaque. At one time here in the US if someone told you they bought a "Husqvarna" power tool it would have been good for a laugh too.
These guys seem to have the same design: China 38CC Chain Saw Crank Case (TD-YD38) - large image for Crank Case
These guys sell the old Mac 3200 series: 38cc Gasoline Chain Saw (YD-KU02-38) - China Chain Saw, Garden Tools
It is very hard to tell exporters from manufacturers, and maybe there is someone else actually making all of them. Still, it kind of seems like these two designs have been detailed and everyone has access to the designs. There are other saws that have been copied in remarkable detail too, but these two are everywhere, dressed up as all manner of things from Husky to Stihl to Jonsered by playing with the shapes of covers and colors. We already know RedMax was making variants in China (including the GZ400 and the Ryobi versions).
Rather than just saying they're "Chinese" I'm just curious about what what particular organizations make the stuff, but it is very opaque. At one time here in the US if someone told you they bought a "Husqvarna" power tool it would have been good for a laugh too.
diggers_dad
Sawchologist
We think a lot alike, my friend. I did a little digging myself and found much the same thing you did, but I went a step further. On each of the saws made in China there will be a tag detailing the production facility. Apparently there are several plants making them and there seems to be competition to build the best product. The plant making the EQ's is regarded as being one of the best, followed closely by the plant that made the PowerHorse products for Northern Tool.
I now have a Ryobi clone of the RedMax 4000, a Craftsman clone, and a McCulloch clone. The Ryobi has a Zenoah cylinder marked "Made in Japan" but I haven't got the others tore down yet.
igpoe
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'm thinking about putting my ported 3816 quake on the bay for a BIN of $1,875. If you can sell one of those stupid SallySaws for over a thousand, why not a Quake. The quake will cut faster with less operator fatigue!
Igpoe
Ain't it Saturday night yet?
Igpoe
Ain't it Saturday night yet?
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
Interesting! Do you know where the tag is on the CS3818? Do you think they are from the EMAS facility?
My McCulloch MS4018 was made in Taiwan, but the castings are all quite nice. I suspect it may be Zenoah parts just assembled in Taiwan. The first RedMax saw I read about here on AS was a G5000, and I I've liked the designs ever since. I'd like to play around with one if it was made by the group that made the Earthquake - I think this one was based on details that match images on their site: 52cc 20" Gasoline Chainsaw Cutting Wood Gas Chain Saw Aluminum Crankcase | eBay
diggers_dad
Sawchologist
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
Lol - talk about ignoring the obvious.....!
Edit: I didn't get any relevant hits when searching on that company. Did you?
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diggers_dad
Sawchologist
I did when I first started looking at them. I don't remember the name of the one that made the PowerHorse, probably couldn't spell it if I did, but it was the one that led me back to the EQ connection. I remember it wasn't an obvious connection, I was on page 8 or 9 of a Google search on Chinese saws and came across an article on some kind of quality control contest or worker pride thing. I should bookmark things but I have two pages of bookmarks already and don't remember what most of them are for.
The short version of the story was several plants made similar (or duplicate) saws; the EQ plant and PW plant were the leaders of the pack which got them more contracts (or more profitable contracts) than the others. It was kind of a "Look how our workers love to get paid 17 cents a day for back-breaking work" article. It probably lost a little in the translation process.
diggers_dad
Sawchologist
I did a little digging on the McCulloch and Craftsman saws tonight. I know the Ryobi plainly said it was the Zenoah engine. The cylinder had it on the casting. Strato design.
The Craftsman is not marked on the cylinder, but the oiler is stamped with the Zenoah name and so is the cylinder cover plastic. It is also the strato design, but appears to have a little variation (nothing too significant) from the Ryobi.
The first McCulloch I have is labeled as being manufactured in Taiwan; although it has a strato cylinder the ports above the intake for the carb are sealed off. It is the XM40 model. The strato on it is not being used. Why have a strato cylinder and close it off?
The second McCulloch is the same as the first, except the strato IS being used. It is the MS 4016 model. Also labeled Taiwan and nothing on it that says Zenoah.
The Craftsman is not marked on the cylinder, but the oiler is stamped with the Zenoah name and so is the cylinder cover plastic. It is also the strato design, but appears to have a little variation (nothing too significant) from the Ryobi.
The first McCulloch I have is labeled as being manufactured in Taiwan; although it has a strato cylinder the ports above the intake for the carb are sealed off. It is the XM40 model. The strato on it is not being used. Why have a strato cylinder and close it off?
The second McCulloch is the same as the first, except the strato IS being used. It is the MS 4016 model. Also labeled Taiwan and nothing on it that says Zenoah.
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
I figured the Earthquakes were made by the EMAS group based on the shape of the clutch cover, pull handle and a few other bits. No one else I saw showed those parts, although I'm sure I didn't see all there was.
I had noticed that Jenn Feng had blocked off the strato ports on the MCC3514 as well - figured that out just the other day looking at the IPL and some parts on eBay. It must just be a cost cutting move, but it seems nuts. I've bid on a couple of those saws thinking they were strato and I'm glad I didn't get one. My MS4018 is from 2005, a fairly early strato saw. The air valve is different from the later RedMax saws - I'm not sure if it is a modification by Jenn Feng or an earlier design:
Air vavles don't seem to come up on eBay very often, but maybe you could retrofit that XM40 to be strato? I bet it has the strato piston too.
I had noticed that Jenn Feng had blocked off the strato ports on the MCC3514 as well - figured that out just the other day looking at the IPL and some parts on eBay. It must just be a cost cutting move, but it seems nuts. I've bid on a couple of those saws thinking they were strato and I'm glad I didn't get one. My MS4018 is from 2005, a fairly early strato saw. The air valve is different from the later RedMax saws - I'm not sure if it is a modification by Jenn Feng or an earlier design:
Air vavles don't seem to come up on eBay very often, but maybe you could retrofit that XM40 to be strato? I bet it has the strato piston too.
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
OK, I did some more searching on Zhejiang ZhongJian Technology Co, Ltd., which is the name on the saw (I had typo'd it last night). They come up mostly as an electric equipment manufacturer. However, I did find a link to chainsaws, and they seem to have their own brand called TOPSUN ( Zhongjian tools Manufacture Co.,Ltd. ). These are clearly the same basic designs but with different styling from the Earthquakes.
Note how the recoil cover goes completely around the rear A/V mount line the Earthquake does, but unlike any other G3800 variant I've seen (PITA too).
I did not find any link between them and Taizhou Emas Machine Co., Ltd. which has pictures that look very much like the Earthquakes.
Note the styling of the clutch cover, chain break handle, air filter cover, recoil handle, colors, etc. But the recoil cover does not go all the way around the rear A/V mount.
i suspect they are connected, but who knows how.
Note how the recoil cover goes completely around the rear A/V mount line the Earthquake does, but unlike any other G3800 variant I've seen (PITA too).
I did not find any link between them and Taizhou Emas Machine Co., Ltd. which has pictures that look very much like the Earthquakes.
Note the styling of the clutch cover, chain break handle, air filter cover, recoil handle, colors, etc. But the recoil cover does not go all the way around the rear A/V mount.
i suspect they are connected, but who knows how.
diggers_dad
Sawchologist
You are correct on the strato piston. I've got the saw apart on the bench and have located a donor saw with a bad p/c and the air valve system. The muffler mod is complete and hope to have it back together and running (strato) before the week is over.
Topsun was stamped on the PowerHorse I worked on. It looked just like the Topsun chainsaw you pictured. Hmmmm....
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
So it does!
It looks like PowerHorse has been dropped by Northern tool - I guess they were the only ones carrying that brand. Apparently they were the same as the Earthquake under the covers (although they had "Easy Start" and advertised Walbro carbs), which is what I though originally.
Gotta post pics of your strato-ized Mac when you're done!
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