Pioneer chainsaws

[oldmar]

I just now got to put it through some 26" or so White Oak, and it goes ****** THROUGH White Oak. I've never run a saw this big before, and I got a whole lotta respect for it, but damn this thing is fun. I did a 8 or 10 inch limb with it, and it just 4-stroked most of the way through, like it wasn't even trying. I don't have a lot of use for a 5 cube saw, but for what I paid, I think I may keep her around. We'll see what the GTG brings.

 

[DSS]

I just now got to put it through some 26" or so White Oak, and it goes ****** THROUGH White Oak. I've never run a saw this big before, and I got a whole lotta respect for it, but damn this thing is fun. I did a 8 or 10 inch limb with it, and it just 4-stroked most of the way through, like it wasn't even trying. I don't have a lot of use for a 5 cube saw, but for what I paid, I think I may keep her around. We'll see what the GTG brings.

It'll grow on you. I have a p40 and it's a torque monster, so I'm sure a 50 will make you giggle.

 

[P62]

I just now got to put it through some 26" or so White Oak, and it goes ****** THROUGH White Oak. I've never run a saw this big before, and I got a whole lotta respect for it, but damn this thing is fun. I did a 8 or 10 inch limb with it, and it just 4-stroked most of the way through, like it wasn't even trying. I don't have a lot of use for a 5 cube saw, but for what I paid, I think I may keep her around. We'll see what the GTG brings.

Oldmar
Nice straight looking P50. That`s an early one with the thin top cover.
Most of them lost their paint. Same problem with the P40`s as well.
I have a few 50`s and 60`s. They are hard to beat and will fill your boots full of chips in a hurry. That would be a great saw to restore. Decals are availible.

 

[Brmorgan]

I was up at my friend's workshop today and he had an old P50 sitting outside his door that some guy had dropped off for him, sounded like to keep. In about the same condition, by the looks of it, though it has a full-wrap handle.

Anyway on a different topic, I got talking to him about using FOPs for rakers etc. and he showed me his "favorite depth gauge ever", one which I'd never seen before:

He has two of them - this one is his original which is apparently worn out; I guess the edges of the gap in which the raker depth plate itself sits have gradually gotten eaten away by errant file strokes, so it's no longer very accurate.

He apparently got these from the Pioneer dealer in town here ages ago, said this one in the pics is the first from ca. 1961, thinks he got it the same time he bought his first 750. Anyway he'd love to get one or two more, and frankly after seeing it I wouldn't mind having one too. He can't find anyone with them though, so I told him I'd take some pics and ask around here. Jerry, Brendon, Lawrence, you guys have any ideas or literature on them? At least there's a part number to work with.

 

[Brmorgan]

I just now got to put it through some 26" or so White Oak, and it goes ****** THROUGH White Oak. I've never run a saw this big before, and I got a whole lotta respect for it, but damn this thing is fun. I did a 8 or 10 inch limb with it, and it just 4-stroked most of the way through, like it wasn't even trying. I don't have a lot of use for a 5 cube saw, but for what I paid, I think I may keep her around. We'll see what the GTG brings.

YET... Trust me, you'll start looking for uses for it.

 

[WesternSaw]

Pioneer gauge

Brad,I will let you know if I come up with anything
Lawrence

 

[pioneerguy600]

I was up at my friend's workshop today and he had an old P50 sitting outside his door that some guy had dropped off for him, sounded like to keep. In about the same condition, by the looks of it, though it has a full-wrap handle.

Anyway on a different topic, I got talking to him about using FOPs for rakers etc. and he showed me his "favorite depth gauge ever", one which I'd never seen before:

He has two of them - this one is his original which is apparently worn out; I guess the edges of the gap in which the raker depth plate itself sits have gradually gotten eaten away by errant file strokes, so it's no longer very accurate.

He apparently got these from the Pioneer dealer in town here ages ago, said this one in the pics is the first from ca. 1961, thinks he got it the same time he bought his first 750. Anyway he'd love to get one or two more, and frankly after seeing it I wouldn't mind having one too. He can't find anyone with them though, so I told him I'd take some pics and ask around here. Jerry, Brendon, Lawrence, you guys have any ideas or literature on them? At least there's a part number to work with.

That is an old Pioneer filing gauge for sure, seen them at the dealers during the late 60`s and likely had them up until mid 70`s. There were several style filing gauges back then and the one that was bent like a capital U that had the lowered part near the center, lengthwise, gave the depth for the rakers, they were simple and non adjustable, there was also one with an adjustable half disc that was mounted on one end of a U shaped body , the half disc had a rim that was deeper on one side than the other with thousands of an inch stamped at intervals around the rim. I think it started somewhere around .010 and went to .050. in .005 incrediments. We had many of them but have not seen any for a long time.

Pioneerguy600

Found some parts #`s for the guides/gauges I mentioned above. 47357 and 473587, these were in some old Pioneer accessories catalogues.

 

[oldmar]

Oldmar
Nice straight looking P50. That`s an early one with the thin top cover.
Most of them lost their paint. Same problem with the P40`s as well.
I have a few 50`s and 60`s. They are hard to beat and will fill your boots full of chips in a hurry. That would be a great saw to restore. Decals are availible.

Jeff, I'm thinking seriously about keeping this saw, and I have a tendency to fix things up. I'm gonna take it to the GTG, and if someone is just bonkers for it, I may let it go, but I'm getting a little bonkers myself. I always thought older saws were cool, but I had no idea they could be such beasts. It's just a piss to run, and what a freaking roar it lets out.

I have an old 86 Honda VFR Interceptor, and it's a fantastic bike, just good all around, but I swear that half the reason I ride it is so I can listen to it. It's got a V4 that sounds like a pair of Harleys fighting over something when it's idling, and at 12k rpm it's just nuts. Bucketloads of torque, right when you need it, and the cam gears sound like a Porsche.

Sorta reminds me of a neat old saw I recently acquired...

BTW, you say it's an early P50- how early, about? 82ish?

 

[pioneerguy600]

The jointing gauge in Brads post, the# 47115 sold in the 1967 catalogue for $1.90.
Pioneerguy600

 

[P62]

Jeff, I'm thinking seriously about keeping this saw, and I have a tendency to fix things up. I'm gonna take it to the GTG, and if someone is just bonkers for it, I may let it go, but I'm getting a little bonkers myself. I always thought older saws were cool, but I had no idea they could be such beasts. It's just a piss to run, and what a freaking roar it lets out.

I have an old 86 Honda VFR Interceptor, and it's a fantastic bike, just good all around, but I swear that half the reason I ride it is so I can listen to it. It's got a V4 that sounds like a pair of Harleys fighting over something when it's idling, and at 12k rpm it's just nuts. Bucketloads of torque, right when you need it, and the cam gears sound like a Porsche.

Sorta reminds me of a neat old saw I recently acquired...

BTW, you say it's an early P50- how early, about? 82ish?

The P50 saws were made from 1974-77. In 1978 they became a P51.
The later P50 saws had a thicker top cover and intake air went through the back of the cover. (See page 239 of this thread) Yours will draw air from the bottom. My guess would be 74 or 75. There may be a date on the serial tag on the bottom of the saw.
It would be interesting to see the ignition modual under the rewind. Some early models used a different ignition system.


.

 

[oldmar]

The P50 saws were made from 1974-77. In 1978 they became a P51.
The later P50 saws had a thicker top cover and intake air went through the back of the cover. (See page 239 of this thread) Yours will draw air from the bottom. My guess would be 74 or 75. There may be a date on the serial tag on the bottom of the saw.
It would be interesting to see the ignition modual under the rewind. Some early models used a different ignition system.


.

This makes sense. i had read that the P50s were 1980s, and was having trouble squaring the style of the saw with a 80s Stihl or Dolmar. The form of the P50 reminds me much more of the old Mighty-Mac my Dad had in the late 70s.

 

[Sprintcar]

I have a line on a P60 saw. I thought it was a P61 but now I'm informed its a P60. Whats that saying, Christmas in November? Pics when I get it.

 

[dhammond3]

Pioneer Holiday

So what's a Pioneer Holiday worth? Just picked one up at auction, not much wear and ran, gave $25 for it hoping wasn't too much. Just thought it looked like a neat old saw.

 

[WesternSaw]

Pioneer Holiday

I'd pay $25.00 for one if it's good shape.It would be great if you posted up a picture or two of that baby.
Lawrence

 

[oldmar]

Just wanted to report that the P50 did not embarrass itself at the PA GTG. Started right up, and made short work of some 12" red oak.

It was not as fast as the Homelite 2100 that HomeDelightMan and his Dad brought.

But it was the fastest Pioneer in attendance.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Just wanted to report that the P50 did not embarrass itself at the PA GTG. Started right up, and made short work of some 12" red oak.

It was not as fast as the Homelite 2100 that HomeDelightMan and his Dad brought.

But it was the fastest Pioneer in attendance.

Any other Pioneers there?

Pioneerguy600

 

[oldmar]

Albert brought a Pioneer/Partner in minty shape. Jack's (JWalker's) pic is on page 9 of the PA GTG thread, but I'll post it here.

Really, go check out the vintage iron I got to play with yesterday;
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=152009&page=9

 

[pioneerguy600]

Those 500-5000 Partners are fast saws stock, ported they are screamers. They are not Pioneers though but the Swedes had a good design on their hands when those saws were made.

Pioneerguy600

 

[P62]

Just wanted to report that the P50 did not embarrass itself at the PA GTG. Started right up, and made short work of some 12" red oak.

It was not as fast as the Homelite 2100 that HomeDelightMan and his Dad brought.

But it was the fastest Pioneer in attendance.

A 5 cube Pioneer P50 against a 7 cube Homelite 2100. Sounds like you had fun.

 

[moparman]

450 fuel pump gasket (primer diaphragm)

SawB,
You can find a NOS primer diaphragm on Ebay from seller jmowerbope. It is called "new" pioneer rubber part #426815. He has 8 of them @ $4 each. I purchased 3 of them a while ago and they are in good shape. This will fix your 450 if that is all that is wrong with your primer.