Mod 038

[David Shelton]

Is a Stihl 038AV Super a good candidate to be modded for reliability and a little more power?

 

[Mad Professor]

If you take care of a 038 it's a most reliable saw already. 40 years old so should get all the rubber parts/seals/filters/buffers checked or replaced. Clean and inspect the carb and the oil pump/pump drive gears

You can adapt a OEM 038M P/C to the earlier 038 saws. Sometimes they show up in good condition, but have been straight gassed/lean seized, and can be had free/cheap. Open the muffler up and they run pretty good but still a little heavy.

 

[David Shelton]

I am really just curious. Thanks for the info. Actually, bought new, this 038 with 20" bar is the only chainsaw I have ever owned. Really very few actual hours on it. The worst thing about it is it sits for sometimes years before I need it. I always put it up clean. Haven't used it in 10-12 years so I got it out, cleaned and inspected it, bought a new Tillotson carb and now it runs and starts good. I think I still need to do some tuning on it. Open up the muffler? What does that consist of?

 

[Hman1024]

When I did my 038M muffler mod, it was just 2-3 5/16 holes in the center front facing baffle when you take the two halves apart. Just removed muffler, peened starting places and then drilled. Then reinstalled.