Newbie and a Stihl 090

[Brad_bb]

Howdy ya'll! New to this forum. I'm a regular on another site, but I heard this one is better for chainsaw stuff. I've used a small 16" Poulan on the farm for years just to cut fence line scrub trees- Mulberry and such. So I'm comfortable with that saw. But now I'm getting serious. I bought a used Stihl 090 with a used Granburg 48" Alaskan mill. I consider this my first serious chainsaw. I wanted the biggest I could get to run the mill. I also hope to use it for crosscutting when needed. It also came with a separate 40" bar.

So I want to ask, what am I in for with this 090? I've read on the web it can be a bear to run? It came with the original manual, which says to use a 25:1 gas/oil mixture. It also said to stay away from high octane fuel because it contains more Benzene. Not sure how true that is today. I'm guessing this saw is from maybe the early 80's?? Cosmetically it's in great shape. The previous owner said it was only used on the mill and that it didn't see a lot of use. Thanks, Brad

 

[cgraham1]

Welcome! And nice saw!!!

You should be fine at 32:1 - 40:1 with modern oil, and I would use the lowest octane non-ethanol fuel you can find...

 

[Jason280]

Feel free to post more pics of the 090...

 

[scallywag]

That saw apperas to be a original first model 090!.... With an original tool kit!.......If that is the case, there's no way I'd run it as a mill power head!
Build date would be more like late 1960's early 1970's.
More pics please!

 

[Brian VT]

That saw should be in the hands of a collector.
I'm sure someone here would trade you for a modern saw that would be even better for your needs.

 

[z71mike]

Couldn't agree more. That's not the right saw for a newbie. Store it on a shelf for when you get CAD and buy a used 3120 for the mill.

 

[scallywag]

That saw should be in the hands of a collector.
I'm sure someone here would trade you for a modern saw that would be even better for your needs.

Ssshhh!...........Judging by the white fullwrap handle, I'd say that saw should have the embossed log logo type starter cover.
Hope the OP post more pics!

 

[z71mike]

Question for the universe: How the hell do all these people find these gems? And like 'stumbling' into these huge barn finds. I been searching for more than a decade for some classics. Nada. Phuck me haha.

 

[Brad_bb]

I'm an hour south of Chicago. (Can't figure out how to get my location on my profile). Around here, as far as I know, all the fuel contains up to 10 percent ethanol. What do I do about that? I wonder if there is somewhere where you can buy smaller quantities of non ethanol?

I bought it on ebay- $1600 for the saw and mill not including shipping. I talked to the seller. He'd owned it a long time. I figured he'd bought it in the 80's, but I didn't ask. The manuals and paperwork he sent with it look like they could be older. It would be nice to actually know how old it is. As I said, it looks to be in great shape. He said he fired it up before putting it up for sale and said it fires right up and runs good. I won't start it until I settle what fuel I should use.

I'm not a believer in "collecting" for the sake of collecting. I restore classic cars, my 1947 and 1955 tractors. I restore them to show condition, but then I use them. I will not restore anything I'm not going to use. It has to have a use for me to put the work into it. If something happens you can always repair it or restore that part again. All of my antique wood working tools get tuned and used also. How can you enjoy and appreciate these type of things unless you use them?

I'm not a newbie overall, just to this forum and stepping up to bigger chainsaws.

 

[z71mike]

Take a pic of the green "VIN" plate.

 

[Wolfcsm]

This may help in finding ethonol free gas:

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=IL

The page has all of the states and provences available on it.

Hal

 

[Brad_bb]

Thanks for the fuel site Wolfcsm. Unfortunately none closer than 2.5 hours of me. The only thing I found on this saw was a serial number plate with SN # 4233366 (the first number is a 4 even though it looks like a one in the picture.). Is there anyway to figure out how old this saw is? I also found that the sprocket is for 1/2 inch pitch chain. The mill as an .063 gage, 1/2 pitch, 145 link ripping chain. I called Granberg and they haven't sold 1/2 inch pitch chain in a long time. He said I do have an oldie on my hands. It is in good condition though. He recommended i switch to .404 .063 154 link ripping chain that they sell. So that meant I needed to find a .404 sprocket for the saw. I have the original manual for the saw and it gives the part number for the optional .404 sprocket. I found that Stihl still has them so I ordered a few today. I do need to figure out what other spare parts to keep on hand.
Here are some more pics.

 

[texican65]

Welcome cousin! Ya...that suckers alot older than the 1980's! I've got an early 090 also that I inherited, and instead of putting it on a shelf or selling it to somebody, I decided to use it. I've beat it up pretty good over the last 10 years, some bozo that fell a tree in the wrong direction smashed it while it was sitting on the ground one day, drove it a foot into the ground. I replaced a few parts on it, but I've beat her up pretty good just using it for a decade and it was pristine like yours. I wish I hadn't. And being an early one without anti-vibration....it will trash your hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders too. I cant hardly run it anymore, only for short periods of time, it rattles me to death....and I'm 32. Thanks for sharing...its real nice!

Dow

 

[WheresWally]

Thats as neat as you are ever going to find one of those used of that vintage, well done, great score

 

[WidowMaker_1]

Id use it... but not as my main mill saw, use it but not abuse it. Im not a believer in letting anything just sit on s shelf for the next idiot to enjoy when im dead.

 

[scallywag]

Forward brace on the white fullwrap handle, Stihl log logo emblem on the stater (very early 090's had embossed logo) and no 'Stihl' script on the fuel cap.
I'd say early 1970's saw.

 

[WheresWally]

Forward brace on the white fullwrap handle, Stihl log logo emblem on the stater (very early 090's had embossed logo) and no 'Stihl' script on the fuel cap.
I'd say early 1970's saw.

I know that you would be on the ball with this stuff, the only time I have seen an imbost cast logo on an 090 is when it has been wearing a contra or contra s recoil cover, I always thought the old cross cut logo was first production for the 0 series, so there ya go, ya learn something new every day...

 

[jeepyfz450]

Man I really hate to say it but if it were mine I would sell it too and buy a 880. I have a 090 and they are cool.....BUT I wouldn't want to run it a lot they shake like crazy.

 

[z71mike]

...imbost ...

*embossed*

 

[Brad_bb]

You guys are getting me nervous with all this talk about vibration. Is it really that bad? On a chainsaw mill? What is the AV (anti vibration)? Can it be retro fitted onto my saw?