First post guys.
I picked up a cheap used Dolmar 5100s that appeared to be in really good shape about a month back. Once I got it home and tested the compression, I determined that the top end would need to be rebuilt. The further I got into the saw, the more it made sense why I got it so cheap. I first found the a few of the torx screws had been replaced by philips head screws, the worst being the bolts that hold the muffler on to the cylinder and the bolts that hold the cylinder down to the crankcase. it was obvious someone had already been into this saw. Once I had the muffler off i found out why I was getting low compression numbers. I'll let you guys look at the first attached photo to find out for yourself. Let me know what you see.
Once i got the cylinder off it was pretty clear that the piston and cylinder were going to need replaced.
I found a Dolmar service manual for the saw and started to looking into parts that I would need. I searched the forums on this site along with google for interchangeable parts and where to buy them. it doesn't appear that anyone make an aftermarket cylinder for this saw. I was able to find couple of aftermarket pistions, one from Lil Red Barn. So it looks like unless I can find a good used cylinder, I am stuck with buying a Dolmar/Makita piston/cylinder kit.
My service manual shows the part number I need is 181-130-215
I also found reference to part number 181-130-217 which appears to be the stock cylinder on the 5105
Are the cylinders interchangeable????
After looking into this even further I found the difference between the cylinders. the 217 is ported the 215 is not. I even found photos from a previous forum that really helped.
cylinder on the left is a 217, right is the 215 (photo not taken by me)
The cylinder I pulled off the saw looks like the cylinder above on the left (see the bulge near the bottom)
I'm thinking they are interchangeable since the cylinder I took off that appears to be a 217 and fit but would like to know for sure.
I picked up a cheap used Dolmar 5100s that appeared to be in really good shape about a month back. Once I got it home and tested the compression, I determined that the top end would need to be rebuilt. The further I got into the saw, the more it made sense why I got it so cheap. I first found the a few of the torx screws had been replaced by philips head screws, the worst being the bolts that hold the muffler on to the cylinder and the bolts that hold the cylinder down to the crankcase. it was obvious someone had already been into this saw. Once I had the muffler off i found out why I was getting low compression numbers. I'll let you guys look at the first attached photo to find out for yourself. Let me know what you see.
Once i got the cylinder off it was pretty clear that the piston and cylinder were going to need replaced.
I found a Dolmar service manual for the saw and started to looking into parts that I would need. I searched the forums on this site along with google for interchangeable parts and where to buy them. it doesn't appear that anyone make an aftermarket cylinder for this saw. I was able to find couple of aftermarket pistions, one from Lil Red Barn. So it looks like unless I can find a good used cylinder, I am stuck with buying a Dolmar/Makita piston/cylinder kit.
My service manual shows the part number I need is 181-130-215
I also found reference to part number 181-130-217 which appears to be the stock cylinder on the 5105
Are the cylinders interchangeable????
After looking into this even further I found the difference between the cylinders. the 217 is ported the 215 is not. I even found photos from a previous forum that really helped.
cylinder on the left is a 217, right is the 215 (photo not taken by me)
The cylinder I pulled off the saw looks like the cylinder above on the left (see the bulge near the bottom)
I'm thinking they are interchangeable since the cylinder I took off that appears to be a 217 and fit but would like to know for sure.
