McCulloch Chain Saws

[FreakinCoolUsername]

I'm searching and studying 80 cc class Macs.
My largest Mac is a PM70 except a D44 I'm trying to revive.
I'm looking at models 81, 800, 805 and 850.
Which of those are parts most available for?

My grandfather has a 850 and that thing is awesome.

 

[clint53]

My grandfather has a 850 and that thing is awesome.

It seems that everyone that has an 850 really likes them.
Thanks

 

[vinnywv]

Sp81 for me. My favorite. Then i have an 850 thats 2nd for 82cc ones. Then the list gets more difficult to rank.

 

[Maintenance supervisor]

I have an 81 also, its a very good saw and dosen't hesitate to pull the 32" bar on it.

 

[Woodslasher]

I have an 81 also, its a very good saw and doesn't hesitate to pull the 32" bar on it.

In PNW softwoods my SP81 doesn't mind pulling a 36" with full skip chisel chain, but I don't know how that work in hardwoods.

 

[Jethro 2t sniffer]

In PNW softwoods my SP81 doesn't mind pulling a 36" with full skip chisel chain, but I don't know how that work in hardwoods.

My 800 and 850 pull a 32 full comp in bluegum happily enough. Its a tough old wood to cut. It would pull a 36 full comp if the rakers were set just right. We don't really run skip here.

 

[Maintenance supervisor]

Honestly I'm still breaking it in some. I don't know if I've run 2 gallons through it yet. Im trying to rotate my saw collection at work and I'll drop a few trees and buck then swap 2 out .
Obviously I ran McCulloch for a few years straight (solid plan) so I'm working my way through.

 

[Xpropane]

Sp81 for me. My favorite. Then i have an 850 thats 2nd for 82cc ones. Then the list gets more difficult to rank.

Ok I got to ask, what is it that makes the 81 your favorite?

 

[Xpropane]

The 850 that I recently acquired from the flee bay market.first tank of gas through it was unimpressive. I checked for air leaks didn't find any. I did just put a kit in the carb, and only made one cut. Haven't had any play time yet. Here's a piston pic, maybe this has something to do with it?

 

[Xpropane]

How many people have bought a saw missing the dog spike. Where I come from they where called buck rakes. Some with some help from the programming pro at work I made some. Made 10 to fit 10-10 , and 10 for the pro Mac 700. Powder coated black.

So if someone needs one of these, I can mail em one .

 

[Jethro 2t sniffer]

Ok I got to ask, what is it that makes the 81 your favorite?

They have a better power to weight. By a fair amount too. Little touches of older mac like emblems cast in.

The brace on the bottom is nicer.

Nothing wrong with the others but definitely a lighter saw from an earlier time. Built to perform rather than a price

 

[Brufab]

A great guy on the forum traced one out for me and mailed it for a saw as a template for me to copy. Worked perfectly. Was that 850 the one with the super long bar?

 

[Xpropane]

A great guy on the forum traced one out for me and mailed it for a saw as a template for me to copy. Worked perfectly. Was that 850 the one with the super long bar?

No it actually had a rather short 404/ .063 bar I did bid on another, just not high enough.

 

[clint53]

Sp81 for me. My favorite. Then i have an 850 thats 2nd for 82cc ones. Then the list gets more difficult to rank.

Thanks very much Vinny. The 81 seems to be favored by many.

 

[clint53]

How many people have bought a saw missing the dog spike. Where I come from they where called buck rakes. Some with some help from the programming pro at work I made some. Made 10 to fit 10-10 , and 10 for the pro Mac 700. Powder coated black.

So if someone needs one of these, I can mail em one .

Very very nicely done.

 

[clint53]

The 850 that I recently acquired from the flee bay market.first tank of gas through it was unimpressive. I checked for air leaks didn't find any. I did just put a kit in the carb, and only made one cut. Haven't had any play time yet. Here's a piston pic, maybe this has something to do with it?

Sorry to see that. I've been bit that same way too many times. But those were saws I could buy aftermarket jugs for.

 

[clint53]

I have an 81 also, its a very good saw and dosen't hesitate to pull the 32" bar on it.

Thanks very much for the input. I will look at the 81's more seriously.

 

[heimannm]

I have a few "B" piston kits for the 82cc saws to spare if anyone is in need. Some include the connecting rod and wrist pin if you need a bit more...

Mark

 

[heimannm]

And FWIW, I have a relatively fresh PM850 that I enjoy using. It is equipped with a 28" bar, I have several chain options but all are full comp chisel or semi-chisel. I find that works well for the hardwoods we have in this area.

I have bucked some bigger stuff with and SP80 and and SP81and they are a bit lighter in weight and more nimble with the smaller clutch cover but I wouldn't be quite as broken hearted if I had a problem with the 850.

In a head to head test a few years ago with most of the 82cc models the PM850 proved to be the fastest in 24" sycamore log. The PM8200 was also pretty good, the DE80 was lagging but it was lower on compression. The SP 80 and 81 were also right in there. At the end of the day, which ever saw is the freshest and has the sharpest chain will be the best.

Mark

 

[Maintenance supervisor]

I think any 82cc saw from McCulloch would be good , they are going to at least do well with a 28" bar regardless. There are modern saws that can be faster but I can lean on my PM800 even harder then my most of them.