McCulloch Chain Saws

[Eccentric]

The last saw in a box I tackled was a Husqvarna 55 Rancher. Put it back together and it runs fine. Makes me wonder why someone took it apart.

My first saw was a tired 031AV that was given to me by my 4-H small engines project leader when I was 11. It'd been donated to the club by somebody who'd torn it down and lost interest. Bought a piston and rings from the dealer (this was 1984 or so) using some hard earned lawn mowing money and put it together using the IPL in the back of the owner's manual as a guide. Had it up and running by my 12th birthday and used it over several summers doing property cleanup jobs. It helped me make a buncha dirt bike/car money before wearing out (the jug was already a bit scored when I started). Put it aside for many years. bought an NOS P/C for it on feebay, but never got around to rebuilding the saw. Sold the whole thing to an AS member last year (to get money for Homelite and Mac parts), and he finished rebuilding the saw a few months ago.

 

[Mastermind]

My first saw was a tired 031AV that was given to me by my 4-H small engines project leader when I was 11. It'd been donated to the club by somebody who'd torn it down and lost interest. Bought a piston and rings from the dealer (this was 1984 or so) using some hard earned lawn mowing money and put it together using the IPL in the back of the owner's manual as a guide. Had it up and running by my 12th birthday and used it over several summers doing property cleanup jobs. It helped me make a buncha dirt bike/car money before wearing out (the jug was already a bit scored when I started). Put it aside for many years. bought an NOS P/C for it on feebay, but never got around to rebuilding the saw. Sold the whole thing to an AS member last year (to get money for Homelite and Mac parts), and he finished rebuilding the saw a few months ago.

Now I'm feeling old...........I was 20 in '84 and had already experienced a bad breakup with my first ol' lady.

 

[Eccentric]

Now I'm feeling old...........I was 20 in '84 and had already experienced a bad breakup with my first ol' lady.

You're only 9 years and 2 days older than me Randy. Lately, I've been feeling old when dealing with 18 year olds that were born three years after I graduated high school.....

 

[Toolslinger]

Well in the interest of covering my bases while looking for a manual...

I just picked this up earlier today off Craigslist. Starts nice, and seems to run good, though I didn't have much of anything to bury it in...

795L

So, I'm looking for an owners manual before I go and do anything to it I shouldn't... And also, are there any specific things that are known issues with these that I should be checking, or keeping an eye on...
Sadly the chain is about done, but will get me through the project I bought it for... After that, I'll start looking for chain...

-Tim

 

[little possum]

You guys are old, Im not so much, so I will gladly let you put me in your chainsaw wills

 

[Eccentric]

You guys are old, Im not so much, so I will gladly let you put me in your chainsaw wills

Well Junior...............I think you're doing just fine between your saws and those that belong to your dad.

Just looked at your profile. You weren't quite 17 months old when I graduated HS. Now I'm feeling old. Thanks Zachary.....

 

[little possum]

Just figured Id offer. Really have slacked up on the saws. Things that go bang and vroom get most of my $.

Trying to get rid of some saws, but nobody wants to deal on the ol classics. Oh well, they dont eat anything.

Dad and I once went halfs on a 25 dollar saw.. He gave 20, I gave 5. He gave one piece of paper, I gave the other so that was half

 

[Ambull]

You're only 9 years and 2 days older than me Randy. Lately, I've been feeling old when dealing with 18 year olds that were born three years after I graduated high school.....

I started feeling old when I hit 42, because I had lapped the legal drinking age. I didn't realize it until I went into a bar on my 42nd birthday, and the DOB posted on the wall was the first day I had legally drank in a bar..... ouch!!!

 

[Warped5]

Thanks guys .... I just found my glasses and cane!

... now where'd I put my teeth? (hope the dog dint get 'em again!)

:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[rwoods]

You guys aren't old. In fact you're not even half grown. Here's a picture of a good friend of mine at 87. Long time Mayor of our town (now retired); throwing out the first pitch last week at one of our Astros farm league games.

View attachment 245762

I hope I'm half that tough if I make it to 87. Heck, I hope I'm half that tough now.

Ron

 

[heimannm]

Back to McCulloch saws for a minute or two...I did take the 850 out this morning and it seems to run fine. Still needs a bit more tuning and perhaps a better chain, but it will be a keeper for sure. I was by myself and ran both of my SP81's and the PM850 in a big maple log, the better SP81 is still a much stronger saw but perhaps the 850 will get a little better when it breaks in a bit. I couldn't take a photo cutting but did get the saws in the back of the truck with a little big of oak I brought home.

Mark

 

[heimannm]

And on to the next project, McCulloch 10-10E. I picked this one up off e-bay a short while back and it was dirty, worn, broken, missing parts, and generally unfit for anything. I torn it down to the block for a good cleaning, rounded up some missing parts, and decided to give it a pressure test before reassembly. Fail. Split the case to replace the PTO side seal and noticed one of the shroud screws had broken off and someone before me had tried to drill it out and wandered off into the magnesium. I spent an hour or so getting that squared away by drilling it out way overize and installing large O.D. 10-24 threaded insert. While it was apart I also noticed 5 "dents" in the top of piston near the OD, and corresponing dents in the top of the combustion chamber. It looked like a small ball bearing may have passed through, and the top ring groove was pinching the top ring. I did manage to get the ring off in three pieces and with a small file got the ring groove cleaned up enough to fit the ring again.

Good news, I did have one set of NOS 10-10 rings on hand (as well as a couple of sets of 51747 but that will be another post) so back together it went. I had some issues getting the ignition located properly and back in order but that task was finally complete and work continued. The cylinder shroud was pretty rough, but I didn't have another with the bump for the lower portion of the rear handle/battery box so I had to use it anyway. The spacer (between the lower handle and cylinder shroud) was missing as well so I had to make one out of UHMW PE. Evidently something on this saw is bent up as in the end the top cover for the batter box does not fit up properly but most of the unintiated won't notice it up on the top shelf.

In the end it was back together and running well enough for having worked hard the past 40 years or so. This completes the 10 Series E part of my collection (3-10E, 5-10E, 10-10E) until something better comes along.

Enjoy!

Mark

P.S. A big shout of thanks out to McTodd that sent me the battery box and cover plus the tank and rear handle for this project.

 

[rwoods]

Good work, Mark. I mowed all day and posted during my breaks so no saw work for me. I did build a saw thing or two - in my mind. Ron

 

[heimannm]

Back to the thread repair question

If you don't go the heli-coil route and opt for JB, you might want to enlarge the opening to make sure the JB will flow into it completely, and make a tape "dam" on one side, secure the saw so the hole is vertical and fill the "well" with JB then let it set overnight for the regular stuff. I would not recommend the 5 minute stuff on your first try or it will set up before you can get the hole filled.

Once it is cured, drill and tap as normal but be gentle, the JB is not really quite as hard and strong at the original magnesium.

Mark

P.S. We haven't had to mow for a few weeks now due to drought conditions...

 

[rwoods]

Mark, thanks for the tips on the stripped screws. According to the labels, the five minute stuff isn't near as strong as the regular JB Weld. Anyway unless I can find a buddy who has a kit, I think I'll just buy a shroud as it is cheaper than buying a heli-coil kit.

We haven't had to mow for weeks either but the weeds didn't seem to mind the lack of water. Then before I could mow, we have been having T-Storms almost every evening that have dumped a lot of water at once. I have mixed grass in the field; the patches of warm season grass actually required me to mow in 1st gear mid range (3 to 4 gears below my normal mowing speed) which is why it took me all day. Too hot to saw anyway. I had two buzzards circling me and found myself wanting to chase their shadows for a little heat relief. I am ready for fall, just need to get those MACs done.

Ron

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Mark, thanks for the tips on the stripped screws. According to the labels, the five minute stuff isn't near as strong as the regular JB Weld. Anyway unless I can find a buddy who has a kit, I think I'll just buy a shroud as it is cheaper than buying a heli-coil kit.

We haven't had to mow for weeks either but the weeds didn't seem to mind the lack of water. Then before I could mow, we have been having T-Storms almost every evening that have dumped a lot of water at once. I have mixed grass in the field; the patches of warm season grass actually required me to mow in 1st gear mid range (3 to 4 gears below my normal mowing speed) which is why it took me all day. Too hot to saw anyway. I had two buzzards circling me and found myself wanting to chase their shadows for a little heat relief. I am ready for fall, just need to get those MACs done.

Ron

Our weatherman seems to think this hot weather is gonna continue into the fall season.

 

[rwoods]

A. Palmer, Jr., let's hope your weatherman is wrong.

Back to MACs. I just bought a used shroud clothed in PM8200 grey. So my stripped threads can wait for another day. Now for the other fastener ill, I can't find any 12/24 1" Hex heads anywhere so I quess I'll have to switch to a socket head and drill it for safety wire. This is MAC's "special screw" part number 83811, common to all AV Ten Series, that fastens the engine to the rear AV mount.

Ron

 

[Toolslinger]

Now for the other fastener ill, I can't find any 12/24 1" Hex heads anywhere

McMaster Carr has 12-24 x 1" hex...
Stainless - 92314A296
Zinc - 93075A296

 

[promac850]

Warped, you bet yer ass I got to work on the 790. I determined the coil is most definitely dead. Bought a new coil off of fleabay. Should be here Thursday.

As for the banning, it had nothing to do with Macs or polluting some other good old brand thread.

It was something some dipweed (not a moderator, though) thought it'd be funny to commit me to. No idea exactly who, but I'm fairly sure someone reported my quite tame short rant on gov. over in another part of this forum. I think it was a wrongful banning, but none of us get to choose whether we get banned or not.

I heard from another member regarding two of whom may have reported the post, thus getting me banned... there are several other folks that made tame posts like mine and they haven't gotten banned, nor do I or others think they should be banned anyhow.

Demote me, whatever, I really don't care. I don't think I did anything wrong to begin with.

 

[promac850]

He is definitely not lacking conviction. Remember how he attacked me for owning a GMC truck..... Not that I cared, but it showed how he can fly off the handle. Probably got into trouble in the off topic forum.

Yeah, I can fly off the handle. And yes, OT forum it was. I wasn't even mad/making a huge rant when I posted in one of the threads there. Some dipweed still reported me though.

He does get spun out too easily. In one of the "Ethanol sucks" threads he got into a major pissing match with a few guys recently. Then there was the time he ranted here about how stupid his dear mom was for daring to move his chainsaw parts that he'd put on the kitchen counter. We gave him a ration of #### for that one.....

Flying off the handle has nothing to do with what I got banned for. I do fly off the handle, but you don't see every post of it. I almost posted many of them, but end up not posting it and just relax. Trust me, things would be a lot more cluttered had I posted those times. A few post were good commentary, but not needed/would clutter as well, so I did not post them.