New guy with a question

IndyIan · Apr 4, 2003

Hey Everyone,
I've been lurking for a while trying to learn as much as I can. I just bought a woodlot, a 372xp, and an Alaskan mill.

Running the alaskan mill gives the 372 a good workout and I'd like to keep the saw for as long as I can.

I'm thinking about sending my muffler to get "walkerized" just for the benefit of cooler running so the saw will last longer. More power would be nice too

Has anyone actually found that their saw lasts longer with a muffler mod? I don't mean to challenge the tuners here but I've done alot of searching and I haven't found anyone say that their modded saw lasted longer than their unmodded saw.

It seems many guys go through saws here quite quickly (as they work them everyday) so I'd like to hear what people's experience's have been.

Thanks,
Ian

treeclimber165 · Apr 4, 2003

I've never owned two identical saws at the same time with one modified muffler and one stock muffler, so I cannot be definitive in my response.
Only my opinion, but opening the muffler is proven to help the saw run cooler and breathe better. Marty posted some comparison tests a while back proving that the modified muffler resulted in substantially lower head temperatures. The power gains were impressive from better flow as well.

I can only assume that plugging up the muffler and cooking the head will shorten the life of your saw. This is what the EPA has done to ALL saws currently sold for use in the USA. I cannot fathom a single reason to leave a saw muffler stock. All gains and no losses from modifying the muffler.

Bill G · Apr 4, 2003

IndyIan,

I do not claim to know much (actually anything) about chainsaw milling but I do believe the 372 will be very underpowered for milling . My opinion ( notice opinion) is a wise investment would be a new 3120. You should use the 372 to cut the logs and the 3120 to mill them. There have been a ton of new 3120's being dumped on ebay for about $750. There was actually one that sold for $601 a while back. I have a 3120 and a 272 so I can speak about the power difference betwenn them and there is no comparison. If you want to spend a little more and buy a Stihl then get a new 088 from John. I realize there post was actually abot modifications so my opinion is modify them all.

Just my randon thoughts

Bill

Rotax Robert · Apr 5, 2003

A correctly modified saw is what you are looking for. K.D./ Dennis and Dozer on this forum can help you. Get yourself a modified saw and enjoy the ride, cuz your about to get one. Also I agree, go with the bigger powerhead 3120 or 088 modified for your use such as with the Alaskan sawmill. I might add that my buddies 090 works great with the formentioned mill. Modify or die

Rotax

IndyIan · Apr 5, 2003

Thanks for the responses.
I do realize the the 372 is not the ultimate milling saw but I can't really justify getting a monster saw just for milling. I'm mostly doing softwoods and from the little sugar maple I've done I can see how having twice as much grunt would be useful for hardwood.
Realistically I'm probably going to cut 8 cords a year for firewood, and a cord or two worth of thinning. At that rate my saw will hopefully last for decades so I thought doing a few beams and boards on the alaskan will not shorten its life too much... On the other hand I don't want to risk a scuffed piston either so I thought a nice simple muffler mod would do the trick.

I will contact tuner's mentioned here and see what they have to say on doing the muffler.

Ian

HUSKYMAN · Apr 5, 2003

The muffler is a no brainer as far as whether or not to have it done. There is ONLY one possible drawback to the mod, and thats noise. My 670 is LOUD. I dont know why but it had several db's on the PP372 I borrowed from Dan. Oh well.

Make your muff look like this, richen the carb a hair, and you have just bumped the hp from 5.4 to over 6.

Try it like that, and if you still want more talk to some saw builders