Dueling Homelites

[Pioneer]

Here are a couple of Homelites that I have fixed up. They are Identical except for paint and chain type. The blue one has a .325 RS and the Red one runs a .375 RS. As soon as the weather warms up I will take them out and run them against each other to see which one cuts faster. Any predictions?

 

[Lawn Masters]

No idea. it'll be close though.

 

[lesorubcheek]

Pretty saws Pioneer! I'd bet the 3/8" will be faster. I know my SEZs have great torque, but aren't in the high RPM class of modern saws. I think the XL1 has a slightly smaller motor than the SEZ, but I bet characteristics are similar. That's my vote.

Dan

 

[sedanman]

Those saws look great!

 

[Ax-man]

Nice job, Shoot, them saws are to nice be cutting wood with, build a shelf and display them in your living room, maybe even put them on top of the TV make sure the gas and oil are out of them Are you married??

Larry

 

[asharrow]

The XL 1 looks a lot like a Super EZ. How do they compare?

Jim in Maine

 

[Pioneer]

Asharrow, I believe there are minimal differences between the super EZ auto and the Xl1 auto. Both use the same parts including the piston and cylinder (41cc). The only difference is probably the padded handles and manual+auto oiler on the EZ.
When I look for parts, I look for EZ parts first, there seems to be a lot more around. Perhaps this was just a Canadian/American difference in models, much like GM did for the different markets in the 60's and 70's. They produced the same car with different badges and trim for the different countries.
I have read that super EZ owners really like the power of their saws, It's the same way with the Xl1.

Just out of curiosity, I compared the Xl1 blue to a sample of the old Evinrude outboard motor blue, it's exactly the same. Did Textron have anything to do with OMC?

 

[ray benson]

Nice job on the saws. I'd bet the Blue saw with the big profile stihl .325 chain
is quicker.

 

[Bill G]

Pioneer,

I am real interested in what you used for paint on the saws. I know you mentioned OMC (Evinrude) is that where you got the blue ? What about the red ? Also where did you fid the decals ?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[blackoak]

Them are some fine looking saws. What type of paint did you use. When I repaint a saw it looks good until I spill gas on it.Is there any type of paint that is not broken down by gas? I heard powder coating is the way to go, but I don't have the stuff to do it with. My money is on old blue.

 

[ozflea]

Pair of nice ones there Pioneer if only my gal had a pair that good.

Mc Bob.

http://www.users.bigpond.com/ozflea/saws.html

 

[lesorubcheek]

Pioneer,

Please excuse ignorance in regards to engine size. I guess I was thinking about an XL-Mini that's a bit smaller than the SEZ. Its hard to keep all the specifics of these saws straight. I think there was like a 2.1, 2.3 and 2.5 ci used on different variants of these saws. I was thinking the XL-1 was one of the smaller displacements also, but I was wrong. That being the case, I bet on the 3/8" chain for sure! Can't wait to hear the results.

Dan

 

[Pioneer]

The blue paint is a close match to the original Homelite blue, but slightly more silver in it. It's a Canadian tire special. I have an old stand that I painted 25+ years ago with a spray bomb of Evinrude paint, I found out after the saw was done that it's a perfect match.
The red is also a very close match, it is Volkswagen "mars red". I just had a N.O.S. drive cover delivered and the color is just a hint more orange- perhaps faded over time. The only way to see the difference is to hold them side by side, thats good enough for me.
I bake my paint on in the oven, so far no problems with gas. Perhaps a clear coat of Tremclad would help? Try this on a piece of scrap, Blackoak. Powder-coating is best, but expensive.
The blue saw is the older one, they originally came with the 2.3 ci engine, but I upgraded it to 2.5 like the later models.

Decals are homemade, reversed, printed on a transparency, then the backside is painted white, then clear-coated. Trimmed and glued on with contact cement. Here is an example.

 

[ray benson]

Awesome work!!

 

[blackoak]

Is the paint enamel, or lacquer. How long and at what temp.do you bake a saw for. I would have to wait until the wife left for work to do any chainsaw baking here. Idon' know why, but shes kind of funny about things like that. Decals look great to. I like you method of producing them.

 

[Pioneer]

I think the paint is lacquer, it stinks bad enough though it doesn't say the type. It will lift some other paints, so thats my guess. I usually bake at 175-200 degrees, although as low as 150 will work. Use 150 on surfaces you have filler or other non-metalic compounds to prevent bubbling. Good idea to have the wife leave, it stinks up the house for a couple of hours. Run an exhaust fan or open the windows.