Pioneer chainsaws

[Lou]

I meant I liked your thought process on the chain brake Jerry and I agree with your analysis.

I am a hobbyist with a chain saw. From 1980 until 2005 welding gloves, steel toed boots and ear plugs were my only PPE.
I cut on mountain sides and valleys all over southern NM. I always had a sharp properly tensioned chain. My saw slept from the mid 80s until 1990 when I retired from the Air Force. 1990 Washington State became her permanent home and again she cut standing trees to blow downs (the greater the diameter the better) on all types of terrain. I hung the pull rope in brush and ruined the take up pulley and needed to replace the Pioneer 2005±.

This site convinced me of the need for PPE. The Air Force probably taught me the need to pay attention to the project at hand and to act as safely as possible.

Early on I developed a bad habit of resting the bar flat on my thigh when the saw idles. Every pair of jeans I owned prior to PPE had cut (3/6 - 3/8" as the chain chatters) or pull about mid thigh on my left leg. I do not recall ever finding a mark or cut on the leg. My worst habit today I think is standing over the operating chain. I have made an attempt to move slightly left but find it unnatural.

I have no problem operating the old monsters without a brake. I have not to date operated any saw one handed but the time is nearing. I am somewhat apprehensive about that.
Lou

 

[pioneerguy600]

I meant I liked your thought process on the chain brake Jerry and I agree with your analysis.

I am a hobbyist with a chain saw. From 1980 until 2005 welding gloves, steel toed boots and ear plugs were my only PPE.
I cut on mountain sides and valleys all over southern NM. I always had a sharp properly tensioned chain. My saw slept from the mid 80s until 1990 when I retired from the Air Force. 1990 Washington State became her permanent home and again she cut standing trees to blow downs (the greater the diameter the better) on all types of terrain. I hung the pull rope in brush and ruined the take up pulley and needed to replace the Pioneer 2005±.

This site convinced me of the need for PPE. The Air Force probably taught me the need to pay attention to the project at hand and to act as safely as possible.

Early on I developed a bad habit of resting the bar flat on my thigh when the saw idles. Every pair of jeans I owned prior to PPE had cut (3/6 - 3/8" as the chain chatters) or pull about mid thigh on my left leg. I do not recall ever finding a mark or cut on the leg. My worst habit today I think is standing over the operating chain. I have made an attempt to move slightly left but find it unnatural.

I have no problem operating the old monsters without a brake. I have not to date operated any saw one handed but the time is nearing. I am somewhat apprehensive about that.
Lou

Thanks Lou; that is the way I took it,..guessI just like to gush too much sometimes. :chatter:

Pioneerguy600

 

[Sprintcar]

Having been around saws all of my life I have never given any thought to running a saw without a brake versus one with a brake. We grew up around the big pulpwood saws that had bow bars and before that buzz saws driven by a five, six or eight horsepower Wisconsin engines with two or three belts driving a 36 inch circular saw. When it comes to PPE I am now a firm believer in safety equipment, chaps, ear plugs and a helmet. We were dropping a dead white oak with a snag about forty feet up, sticking out about eight feet. About halfway through the dropping cut the snag figured WTF, I want to be on the ground before the rest of this. Missed my head by about six inches. Learned my lesson that day. I have learned that one does not fear powered equipment, you respect it. You treat it with respect from the time you take it out of the truck, till you put it away for the day.

Jerry, if I get that P61 I'll try to post some pictures as soon as I can.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[pioneerguy600]

Having been around saws all of my life I have never given any thought to running a saw without a brake versus one with a brake. We grew up around the big pulpwood saws that had bow bars and before that buzz saws driven by a five, six or eight horsepower Wisconsin engines with two or three belts driving a 36 inch circular saw. When it comes to PPE I am now a firm believer in safety equipment, chaps, ear plugs and a helmet. We were dropping a dead white oak with a snag about forty feet up, sticking out about eight feet. About halfway through the dropping cut the snag figured WTF, I want to be on the ground before the rest of this. Missed my head by about six inches. Learned my lesson that day. I have learned that one does not fear powered equipment, you respect it. You treat it with respect from the time you take it out of the truck, till you put it away for the day.

Jerry, if I get that P61 I'll try to post some pictures as soon as I can.

Thanks,

Jerry

Yep, sitting here with bated breath waiting to hear if you get it, and of course we need picts. I would like to find one myself, I have some nice goodies saved up to bolt into one or two when they come along.
Pioneerguy600

 

[Mastermind]

Great conversation about safety. I have seen two guys get bit by a saw, both saws had chain brakes too, which made absolutely no difference when the chain cut into the operator's leg. From what I've seen, fatigue, carelessness, and a lack of PPE is the most dangerous combination when using any power equipment. Cutting too long, too fast, without PPE, can be much more dangerous than using a saw without a brake, just my two cents.

 

[briantutt]

Drop start?

Yep, I still do it but I now know where I have to be...

 

[oldmar]

Hey Pioneer folk, I've got a chance to pick up a running P50 in decent shape. I don't really need it, although I have been planning to mill a few logs. Thought I might bring it to the PA GTG if someone wants it. What should I pay for such a beast?

 

[pioneerguy600]

Hey Pioneer folk, I've got a chance to pick up a running P50 in decent shape. I don't really need it, although I have been planning to mill a few logs. Thought I might bring it to the PA GTG if someone wants it. What should I pay for such a beast?

My take is that you live in the US so prices vary over there but around here they fetch $250-$300. for one in good shape and running properly.

Pioneerguy600

 

[oldmar]

The asking price is considerably less than those two numbers, perhaps I shall acquire it.

 

[SawB]

Pioneer 450 Fuel Pump Gasket

Hello Everyone,

I'm brand new here and I currently have two Pioneer saws, a 450 and a P28.

The 450 is a new acquisition for me and it turns out that the fuel pump/primer was not working. Actually, it was leaking gas all over the place through the pump button and apparently none was getting into the cylinder. I pulled it apart and discovered the gasket for the primer was broken or deteriorated and could not pump the fuel.

I am wondering if anyone knows where I might be able to get one or perhaps a way to make one (I have thought about this but I'm at a loss for ideas)?

Any help would be appreciated.

Brent

PS I was unable to attach a picture but I'll try again later...

 

[briantutt]

PS I was unable to attach a picture but I'll try again later...

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=65204&highlight=posting+picture

 

[SawB]

Pioneer 450 Fuel Pump Gasket (Pics attached)...

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=65204&highlight=posting+picture

Thank you Briantutt for the link. The problem was converting my pics to files that were small enough...

I think I've done it now. They should be attached. Case_Cover shows the gasket that I am looking for. It is the black part in the bottom right corner of the cover plate. The missing round section is where the manual fuel pump "bulb" should be. When I pulled it apart, it looked like it was melted. Probably from 40 years exposure to gasoline.

The other two pics show the other part and what it looks like when they are put together.

Once again, any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Brent

 

[DSS]

Here ya go...

 

[pioneerguy600]

Here ya go...

You may have to try again Chris,.. all I see are red X`s.

Pioneerguy600

 

[67 Mustang]

Here's SawB's Pics

 

[DSS]

You may have to try again Chris,.. all I see are red X`s.

Pioneerguy600

Well, apparently there is something that I haven't quite figured out Jerry. That's the second time that happened to me. I can see them , both posts, yours and mine. Oh well,somebody else got them anyway...

 

[WesternSaw]

Welcome aboard!

Glad you found and joined up with us Saw B.Now if memory serves me right those gaskets and primer bulbs are to come by,Pioneerguy 600 or another member will correct me if I'm wrong. I'm thinking that someone on here took another primer bulb and made it work on a 400.You might want to do a search of this thread,try primer bulb and see if that brings anything up.
Lawrence

 

[oldmar]

Got me a Pioneer

Picked up the P50 today, it's very heavy.

Also, it seems to be angry. It's quite loud and it shakes a lot, the way Father did when he was angry.

Original bar (I think) 22", fresh chain. Had to turn down the idle a ways, but seems to be running fine. Haven't put it in wood yet, maybe tomorrow.

Oil pump is very enthusiastic- screw all the way tight (clockwise), and still plenty of oil. I guess better too much than not enough.


Here's some crappy phone pix.

 

[Arrowhead]

Nice looking saw Oldmar. I think you will like it once you get it in the wood.

 

[WesternSaw]

P50

I agree with Ed, nice looking machine you have there,a little paint and voila a real tree slayer
Lawrence