My cousins Stihl 029 Question

[Jeff Lary]

My two cousins are cutting fire wood each winter to pay their land taxes each year and his 029 has given up the ghost aparently.
I just spoke to him in the woods and he said "well my 29 is all done I guess".When I asked what happened he said well it runs fine but has no power at all in the cut, so he looked down the plug hole and said " she's all scared up" His neighbor who he listens to quite closely says throw her in the trash and buy new it will cost ya $300.00 or more to put a piston and cylinder on it.Evedently neighbor just did one of his stihls and figures thats what it cost him. (Do'nt know bout that?)
I just said " hua " about 10 times as his story unfolded.How much would it cost to get a cylinder and piston/ rings for his saw do you think? He mentioned a few times I should make his my first Stihl saw repair.I have ever even looked under the cover of a Stihl I have only done my Partners.
I told him probably a jug , piston , and rings would fix him up maybe new gas line /filter plug and carb rebuild.
Then he says "nope brand new carb about 2 weeks ago, never should have changed carb's I guess after I did the saw has no power now" I wonder if he ran her too lean? Thanks for the advice Jeff

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

My two cousins are cutting fire wood each winter to pay their land taxes each year and his 029 has given up the ghost aparently.
I just spoke to him in the woods and he said "well my 29 is all done I guess".When I asked what happened he said well it runs fine but has no power at all in the cut, so he looked down the plug hole and said " she's all scared up" His neighbor who he listens to quite closely says throw her in the trash and buy new it will cost ya $300.00 or more to put a piston and cylinder on it.Evedently neighbor just did one of his stihls and figures thats what it cost him. (Do'nt know bout that?)
I just said " hua " about 10 times as his story unfolded.How much would it cost to get a cylinder and piston/ rings for his saw do you think? He mentioned a few times I should make his my first Stihl saw repair.I have ever even looked under the cover of a Stihl I have only done my Partners.
I told him probably a jug , piston , and rings would fix him up maybe new gas line /filter plug and carb rebuild.
Then he says "nope brand new carb about 2 weeks ago, never should have changed carb's I guess after I did the saw has no power now" I wonder if he ran her too lean? Thanks for the advice Jeff

Pretty tuff to tell anything looking down the plug hole.
It sounds like you have some experience inside a saw. I would say get ahold of it and pull the muffler and see what it looks like from there.
Did your cuz retune the saw with the new carb or just bolt on and run? Did he put it on or a dealer? If a dealer did the work he might want to take it back.
It may be too lean or too rich. Did he run it enuf to hurt it is the biggest question and without opening it up you or he will never know. Lots of variables here.

 

[KenJax Tree]

If he's gonna rebuild it he should get the 390 kit

 

[Jeff Lary]

Pretty tuff to tell anything looking down the plug hole.
It sounds like you have some experience inside a saw. I would say get ahold of it and pull the muffler and see what it looks like from there.
Did your cuz retune the saw with the new carb or just bolt on and run? Did he put it on or a dealer? If a dealer did the work he might want to take it back.
It may be too lean or too rich. Did he run it enuf to hurt it is the biggest question and without opening it up you or he will never know. Lots of variables here.

I am not sure if he put it on or not but guessing he did. If it happened to start up he would have just left it at that,...He is VERY HARD ON EQUIPTMENT. His motto is "run her" I want to volenteer to take a look at it but I dont know anything about stihl muffler bolts like are they prone to breaking off on the head?
I am sure the Muff has never been off I bet the fuel line filter and plug are the orig prolly 20 years old?

 

[Jeff Lary]

If he's gonna rebuild it he should get the 390 kit

He is not your avrage human,...is this 390 kit free to maine farmers? if so he mayyyyy be into it . ha ha ha ha ha

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

I am not sure if he put it on or not but guessing he did. If it happened to start up he would have just left it at that,...He is VERY HARD ON EQUIPTMENT. His motto is "run her" I want to volenteer to take a look at it but I dont know anything about stihl muffler bolts like are they prone to breaking off on the head?
I am sure the Muff has never been off I bet the fuel line filter and plug are the orig prolly 20 years old?

Lol sounds like a few people I know myself.
I have had one 029 muffler off/apart to do a muffler mod and as I recall it came off pretty easy.

 

[Jeff Lary]

Lol sounds like a few people I know myself.
I have had one 029 muffler off/apart to do a muffler mod and as I recall it came off pretty easy.

Ok the plot thickens I just got off the phone with him. He put the carb on and did not tune it at all. He went to the local stilh dealer and told them about his issues, they attempted to remove the Muffler but only got about 1/4 to 1/2 turn then got nervous about breaking off the bolts. Their saw mechinic came out and saw them and said well I will just use this small light and look in the plug hole,....then..."Oh yea shes all scared up scoured and stuff shes junk" So I told him to drop it off here asap and I will look at it for him. I have acetylene torches so I can apply a little heat to them if I can get to them? I think we need to see the inside dont you? It may be a day or 3 weeks before I get it here but when I do I will let you see what i see. So lets say the muff bolts break off what then? small easy out?

 

[wkeev]

I usally soak them good with pen. oil work them back and forth . If they break you can just replace, they fit in a slot on the cylinder .

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

Ok the plot thickens I just got off the phone with him. He put the carb on and did not tune it at all. He went to the local stilh dealer and told them about his issues, they attempted to remove the Muffler but only got about 1/4 to 1/2 turn then got nervous about breaking off the bolts. Their saw mechinic came out and saw them and said well I will just use this small light and look in the plug hole,....then..."Oh yea shes all scared up scoured and stuff shes junk" So I told him to drop it off here asap and I will look at it for him. I have acetylene torches so I can apply a little heat to them if I can get to them? I think we need to see the inside dont you? It may be a day or 3 weeks before I get it here but when I do I will let you see what i see. So lets say the muff bolts break off what then? small easy out?

I have never had any luck with broken bolts in aluminum so I will let someone else give advice on that one.
Thats a pretty small hole to shine a light thru and try to look thru at the same time and really see anything. JMO

 

[H 2 H]

Like what was said above muffler bolts (head of bolt) just slide into a slot no biggy if they break they don't cost much on freebay

 

[Jeff Lary]

Got ya on the bolts all My partner 500 / 5000's are the same way 3" long square head super easy. As far as the light ya my thoughts exactly.I am wondering if his muffler screen may be plugged or somthing?

 

[discounthunter]

id go ahead and pull the cylinder off,dont worry about the muffler right now. see what your dealing with as far as just a new piston,or a new top end.

 

[Jeff Lary]

id go ahead and pull the cylinder off,dont worry about the muffler right now. see what your dealing with as far as just a new piston,or a new top end.

Yea I will, On my partners if you pull the muff it is a little eaiser to get the top end off is all.Like I said I have never even seen the saw so when he gets it to me I will have a look.

 

[H 2 H]

If your going to pull the cylinder first take flywheel and clutch off

 

[discounthunter]

If your going to pull the cylinder first take flywheel and clutch off

very good advice,lol. or you can learn to take it apart twice,lol.

 

[Stihlofadeal64]

Ok time to chime in -- on taking the muffler nuts off the front -- spray them with WD40 or with another better penetrating oil -- let them sit, then spray them again for good measure (especially if they are well rusted).

Taking them off then should be no big deal. (If you do break one as has been mentioned they are not expensive). The "T" bolts fit into a slot in the cylinder which is behind the muffler (don't lose the conical washers on the muffler front -- you will need them when reassembling the saw). Then slide the muffler off (remove the front plate and spark arrestor screen and lay them aside first). The "T bolts" do not thread into the cylinder like pro saw fasteners, you angle them into the U slots and position them for the muffler to mount when assembling the saw.

At this point you should be looking at the gasket on the front of the cylinder- slide the muffler gasket it off as well. If the piston is not at the top, pull gently on the pull rope -- you should see then if it is scored or not as it rises into the exhaust window. If it is down you should be able to see the intake side of the cylinder (you may have to shine a flash light in now, depending on how well lit your shop is).

If you need to rebuild it because of scoring you might as well do several other things in the process.
(1). Plan on replacing the fuel line and impulse line (while you have it apart). It will amount to maybe $20.00 but you might as well while you have it apart and its "cheap insurance against engine failure (my opinion). Buy the genuine Stihl fuel and impulse lines -- they are great!

(2). Buy new oil seals for the crank case (Northwoodsaw.com is a recommended source). Buy the smaller thickness seals, and purchase a liquid gasket sealer that you will need to seal the crankcase/clam shell bottom. Many people here use Yamabond (believe Northwoodsaw has it as well.). Or if you're going hog wild - buy the pricey Dirko sold at the Stihl dealership.

(3). Since you seem to be planning a top end rebuild you might as well upgrade to the 039/MS390 piston and cylinder. It is a top end swap for your saw. You will be replacing the 029 (smaller piston jug etc.), with the largest top end in this series.

(4). Since there is an ongoing debate about quality I'm not going to recommend a source for the top end in the aftermarket realm. I would say that I have also seen used genuine Stihl engines and cylinders which are a good choice recently on Ebay.

If this is a learning experience for you, ignore the nay-sayers that say "don't rebuild the 029" it's heavy and you can do a pro saw and have more. If this guy wants to give you the saw that is toasted that is even better -- you can work on it in your spare time and ask questions in this thread. Plenty of help to be had here! Then you can rebuild it, mod the muffler, retune the carb and let the previous owner feel the difference when you're done! Hey that's my stump speech for an 029 upgrade (especially after that Obama "address to the nation" sheesh! what a load of cr*p).
Happy Sawing!
Enjoy the Journey!

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

OP check my sig for a link to a thread about working on 290-390 saws.:msp_wink:

 

[Fish]

I am still curious about Jeff pulling his partner's muff..........

I think we need a pic......

 

[Naked Arborist]

strip it 390 kit no muff too tough mod it test tune smile

 

[Stihlofadeal64]

I am still curious about Jeff pulling his partner's muff..........

I think we need a pic......

Pics are always a help when helping those who need it...good advice.