I had the same problem on the 361. If you look up "Stihl 361 Problems", you'll get a detailed description. Basically, w/it clean and the oiler turned up ALL the way, it would still look like Independance Day at the local mall. However, this only was apparent around dusk-dark. The only difference between hard and soft woods was that hard threw more sparks.
Yes, the bar would get too warm to touch many times and the drivers didn't have a film of oil on them by the time they got to the sweet spot under the bar. This was with the recommended 20" bar. The distributer that I talked to said this was normal. My question is this: "Is what is considered normal by the ones selling the product the correct amount of flow that is needed for long chain and bar life, OR is it what they call in industry, "planned obsolecence?" I don't know. (For those not familiar w/the term, "Planned Obsolesence" is defined as the lifespan of a part, or product will normally become obsolete, worn out by a time defined by the company under normal use. Companies give a certain lifespan to their products in order to maximize their bottom line, so that the consumer must by parts products and services from the company.) I guess the only scientific way to deturmine this is to put comparable saws, chains, and bar combinations side by side; one new Stihl and others by various companies in the same wood. Chain stretch and bar wear could be easily measured. I doubt if consumer reports would try this. Any volunteers? I'll volunteer and publish the results if someone will donate the equiptment.
I've used friends Stihls (albeit shorter than 20" bars) at jobs in the same wood and noticed that their older Stihls oilers put out more. Which leads me to my next point.
Another thing is that I was told by a company tech that the newer Stihls HAVE recently cut back on their oiler output due to new gvt regulations. This might be why our friend Glen and others haven't noticed any problems yet. The small engine restrictions are rachetting tighter and tighter, esp for two cycles. Maybe they factor in bar oil with each unit?.....Just a guess. Someone told me that they thought that bar oils were vegetable based instead of petrolium based. Does anyone know if there is truth to that? If that's true, then I don't see why the hoopla about enviro-friendly oilers.
FYI, the weeping willow that I used the 361 in was mostly green. It didn't flare up very much like the hard woods.
BTW I don't care if their saws put off sparks as long as:
1. They are NOT posing a fire hazard.
2. The bars and chains wear at the same pace as those that put out more oil.
Hope this helps. If this is truely a problem, then maybe one of us can (or has, ie. Sedanman's fine post), come up with a solution that the company wasn't able to accomplish.
Yes, the bar would get too warm to touch many times and the drivers didn't have a film of oil on them by the time they got to the sweet spot under the bar. This was with the recommended 20" bar. The distributer that I talked to said this was normal. My question is this: "Is what is considered normal by the ones selling the product the correct amount of flow that is needed for long chain and bar life, OR is it what they call in industry, "planned obsolecence?" I don't know. (For those not familiar w/the term, "Planned Obsolesence" is defined as the lifespan of a part, or product will normally become obsolete, worn out by a time defined by the company under normal use. Companies give a certain lifespan to their products in order to maximize their bottom line, so that the consumer must by parts products and services from the company.) I guess the only scientific way to deturmine this is to put comparable saws, chains, and bar combinations side by side; one new Stihl and others by various companies in the same wood. Chain stretch and bar wear could be easily measured. I doubt if consumer reports would try this. Any volunteers? I'll volunteer and publish the results if someone will donate the equiptment.
I've used friends Stihls (albeit shorter than 20" bars) at jobs in the same wood and noticed that their older Stihls oilers put out more. Which leads me to my next point.
Another thing is that I was told by a company tech that the newer Stihls HAVE recently cut back on their oiler output due to new gvt regulations. This might be why our friend Glen and others haven't noticed any problems yet. The small engine restrictions are rachetting tighter and tighter, esp for two cycles. Maybe they factor in bar oil with each unit?.....Just a guess. Someone told me that they thought that bar oils were vegetable based instead of petrolium based. Does anyone know if there is truth to that? If that's true, then I don't see why the hoopla about enviro-friendly oilers.
FYI, the weeping willow that I used the 361 in was mostly green. It didn't flare up very much like the hard woods.
BTW I don't care if their saws put off sparks as long as:
1. They are NOT posing a fire hazard.
2. The bars and chains wear at the same pace as those that put out more oil.
Hope this helps. If this is truely a problem, then maybe one of us can (or has, ie. Sedanman's fine post), come up with a solution that the company wasn't able to accomplish.
