My dad taught me to always start a saw on the ground, foot through handle, with the chain break on. Its the only way i ever have done it.
How Too Start Your Chainsaw
- Thread starter Gypo Logger
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svrfsvp
ArboristSite Lurker
When my 088 wouldn't start this past weekend, I started looking around for the kickstarter, then realized they had switched over to electric start on saws over 125cc. In my dreams. Thank goodness for compression release, and the fact that it's now available on saws, too...
I'm in the "foot through the rear handle, hand on the front handle" school, although I will drop start my 046, 029 or my neighbor's lil bitty John Deere (and tell him to never start it that way). Safety first, my one-armed Great Granddaddy always said.
As for handedness, depending on the cussedness of any particular saw, I may tug the rope with my right hand for a while, until my pulse rate reaches about 200 or so, then switch over to my left hand, then go sit down and contemplate just how badly I wanted to saw wood anyway. When my tunnel vision goes away, I return to the saw and start again...
I'm in the "foot through the rear handle, hand on the front handle" school, although I will drop start my 046, 029 or my neighbor's lil bitty John Deere (and tell him to never start it that way). Safety first, my one-armed Great Granddaddy always said.
As for handedness, depending on the cussedness of any particular saw, I may tug the rope with my right hand for a while, until my pulse rate reaches about 200 or so, then switch over to my left hand, then go sit down and contemplate just how badly I wanted to saw wood anyway. When my tunnel vision goes away, I return to the saw and start again...
starting
That hold the rear handle method was use on the old Poulan/Craftsman saw my inlaw had. Tell you something about how good they started?
I am not trying to pick on Poulan/Craftsman.....wait a minute.. WHAT am I saying!!!! I just worked on a Dayton/ Poulan! Yes..YES I AM picking on them!
That hold the rear handle method was use on the old Poulan/Craftsman saw my inlaw had. Tell you something about how good they started?
I am not trying to pick on Poulan/Craftsman.....wait a minute.. WHAT am I saying!!!! I just worked on a Dayton/ Poulan! Yes..YES I AM picking on them!
chainsawworld
ArboristSite Guru
just walked in the door from a competition in pa. lots of guys lost points in the chainsaw events because of drop starting. drop starting was classified as an un-safe act. marty
sedanman
Just cut the piano!!
I was watching Stihl Timbersports a while back and remember something about the stock-saw event. Seems there's a rule that if a competitor drops starts the stock-saw(066) he's disqualified! Some competitors asked the Stihl saw techs to start the saw for them, as it's a hot start race.
Well, i drop start 020, 009, 019 only from my saws (on ground); ok really i only touch the 020..........
But, i am write handed, and pull those saw's recoil with my left hand, holding the saw in my right. Then it starts and my left hand goes to wrap around handle nature-ally. My right hand just stays on the top handle.
i don't touch a saw without a chain brake, it is on when i start; turn, move or pause; slick and quick. int the tree i might use a branch for on/off in a special circumstance, like one handed action.
The way i picture it TreeCo's way i see unnecesary extra moves.
The angle i pitch a med. to heavy weight saw at, makes the curve in the wrap around handle point about straight up, when starting between my legs, this makes the axis of any kick about from 8:00 to 2:00; once again into the more meatier part of my thigh (yes JP even for me!)
But, i am write handed, and pull those saw's recoil with my left hand, holding the saw in my right. Then it starts and my left hand goes to wrap around handle nature-ally. My right hand just stays on the top handle.
i don't touch a saw without a chain brake, it is on when i start; turn, move or pause; slick and quick. int the tree i might use a branch for on/off in a special circumstance, like one handed action.
The way i picture it TreeCo's way i see unnecesary extra moves.
The angle i pitch a med. to heavy weight saw at, makes the curve in the wrap around handle point about straight up, when starting between my legs, this makes the axis of any kick about from 8:00 to 2:00; once again into the more meatier part of my thigh (yes JP even for me!)
sedanman
Just cut the piano!!
Drop start is when you hold the saw with one hand usually the left with you arm bent, the starter handle is in your right hand, you move the saw away from the starter handle at the same time you move the starter handle away from the saw. Essentialy you are throwing a chainsaw that is about to be running on high idle....no thanks, I'll take a shot in the nuts first!
chainsawworld
ArboristSite Guru
deadtrees,
sorry. i can't explain it. maybe someone else will. if someone takes my explaination as instruction and gets hurt i don't want to feel contributory, even though i only give brief narratives on the net and not instruction. marty
sorry. i can't explain it. maybe someone else will. if someone takes my explaination as instruction and gets hurt i don't want to feel contributory, even though i only give brief narratives on the net and not instruction. marty
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daveb
ArboristSite Operative
drop start
Have I been doing it wrong all these years without incident? I have always held the handlebar with my right hand and pulled the rope with my left. This is how my dad showed me and it's the only way I've ever done it. I've seen people start other ways like foot in the handle or handle between the legs and it always looked a lot harder than my way. I guess you never stop learning. There's a lot of good knowledge to be had from everyone on this forum. Dave
Have I been doing it wrong all these years without incident? I have always held the handlebar with my right hand and pulled the rope with my left. This is how my dad showed me and it's the only way I've ever done it. I've seen people start other ways like foot in the handle or handle between the legs and it always looked a lot harder than my way. I guess you never stop learning. There's a lot of good knowledge to be had from everyone on this forum. Dave
mryb
Resident Creep
So in "laymen's terms". how do you start a chainsaw?...Creep/Pal/Puke/Rick
Creep on loggin'
Creep on loggin'
sedanman
Just cut the piano!!
I'm fat and worn out! bending over to start a saw on the ground does not appeal to me. Getting smacked in the face with a running chainsaw does not appeal to me. Getting smacked in the nuts with a chainsaw handle is the lesser of evils for me, and I haven't done it yet, so I stand with the saw between my legs and start my saws.
tundraotto
Addicted to ArboristSite
dropstart the saw safely and if you cant - you need a saw you can drop start safely. safety above all.
PS. if you cant droptart your saw youre not a man/real woman
PS. if you cant droptart your saw youre not a man/real woman
It is safer if you put more rope pull in the motion, than saw drop.
i do both at once compounding their motions, but only do this with the 'baby' saws in my right hand. So, i do let the saw drop some, but maybe only a foot, directly away from me (not in arc towards my legs), while pulling a few feet of rope with my left.
Most guys i see drop starting a saw, slam the saw weight down with right hand, just holding the recoil handle, or giving very lil movment with left. i might do that in tree, when legs are clear outta the way behind a log, and arm motion is minimized. My legs barely are long enough to reach the ground when i'm standing as it is!
Always, always, always with the brake on. But start like it is off, jsut in case, that is a double check/catch that we use in many critical situations, and the reason for 10/1 SWL on stuff. This is serious buisness, we are at war with the odds.........oops here comes one of my favorite qutoes, o no, i can't stop it.....
".......You're going to war, always have a backup; 2 is 1 and 1 is none...." Drill Seargeant to troops in G.I. Jane
About 10 times a year someone comes up to me wanting to trade, sell, give etc. a saw, no brake/ no look; gets me outta plenty of them deals! Plus my guys have to listen to me tell someone else about chain brakes!
Shouldn't catch yo'nuts if you slant saw on thigh so that bend of wrap around handle points up, this puts kick's axis of motion from 8:00 to 2:00 rather than 6:00 to 12:00. And curiously serves up recoil handle from left to a nice, maximized pull from right, almost like it was made for it!
i do both at once compounding their motions, but only do this with the 'baby' saws in my right hand. So, i do let the saw drop some, but maybe only a foot, directly away from me (not in arc towards my legs), while pulling a few feet of rope with my left.
Most guys i see drop starting a saw, slam the saw weight down with right hand, just holding the recoil handle, or giving very lil movment with left. i might do that in tree, when legs are clear outta the way behind a log, and arm motion is minimized. My legs barely are long enough to reach the ground when i'm standing as it is!
Always, always, always with the brake on. But start like it is off, jsut in case, that is a double check/catch that we use in many critical situations, and the reason for 10/1 SWL on stuff. This is serious buisness, we are at war with the odds.........oops here comes one of my favorite qutoes, o no, i can't stop it.....
".......You're going to war, always have a backup; 2 is 1 and 1 is none...." Drill Seargeant to troops in G.I. Jane
About 10 times a year someone comes up to me wanting to trade, sell, give etc. a saw, no brake/ no look; gets me outta plenty of them deals! Plus my guys have to listen to me tell someone else about chain brakes!
Shouldn't catch yo'nuts if you slant saw on thigh so that bend of wrap around handle points up, this puts kick's axis of motion from 8:00 to 2:00 rather than 6:00 to 12:00. And curiously serves up recoil handle from left to a nice, maximized pull from right, almost like it was made for it!
mryb
Resident Creep
I tried this drop starting thing on some of my saws. Every I do it, I break the rope. What goes?
Creep/Pal/Puke/Rick
Creep on loggin'
Creep/Pal/Puke/Rick
Creep on loggin'
Gypo Logger
Timber Baron
Rick, ya big Baboon, the saw isnt started as though it was a yo-yo. Get a life!
Question from member: "I just read your thread on starting your saw and it said if you are a leftie (which I am) it's bad news to hold the hand with the right and pull with the left because the bar is close to the thigh? Should I be pulling with my right and holding with my left? Would be ackward at first but in the long run if it's safer I'll practice that method."
All drop starters wether left or right handed should use the right hand on the starter grip with the starter side facing them. To do it any other way is dangerous. Proper dropstarting is a combination of pulling on the cord and droping the saw from a bent left arm. It is nothing more than a smooth flow of effort and co-ordination.
Anyway Robert Andrews and I had this same discussion about starting his Rotax. Anyway, I said I'd hit him with so many drop starts he'd think he was a broken recoil spring.
Gypo
Question from member: "I just read your thread on starting your saw and it said if you are a leftie (which I am) it's bad news to hold the hand with the right and pull with the left because the bar is close to the thigh? Should I be pulling with my right and holding with my left? Would be ackward at first but in the long run if it's safer I'll practice that method."
All drop starters wether left or right handed should use the right hand on the starter grip with the starter side facing them. To do it any other way is dangerous. Proper dropstarting is a combination of pulling on the cord and droping the saw from a bent left arm. It is nothing more than a smooth flow of effort and co-ordination.
Anyway Robert Andrews and I had this same discussion about starting his Rotax. Anyway, I said I'd hit him with so many drop starts he'd think he was a broken recoil spring.
Gypo
Gypo Logger
Timber Baron
If we all take a moment and listen very closely, we will hear Marty from chainsaw world in his livingroom practicing the dropstart with the ignition off.
Gypo
Gypo
chainsawworld
ArboristSite Guru
lambert you rat, you promised not to tell! marty
Gypo Logger
Timber Baron
Hi Marty, how you makin out with the dropstarting? Are you going to DD's in March? Whats saws will you be racing in the 6 and over? The West Coast guys prefer the live start, one cut thru a 20"+ log, thus eliminating all the fanfare.
I'm really good at the dead start, at a race in N.H., I forgot to turn the ignition on.
John
I'm really good at the dead start, at a race in N.H., I forgot to turn the ignition on.
John
StIhL MaGnUm
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hey John are you gonna go to Dans??What saws will you be haulin' down,I'll be there with the PP385XP,3120XPG,the 064AV,and maybe I'll bring down my new 357XP..
Later Rob..
Later Rob..
