hillwilliam
ArboristSite Operative
Thanks, Gentlemen! Maybe because I spent so many years with it, the balance and feel with a 28" bar seem like another limb on me.
I'm bumfuzzled, though. I first put it together stock, and it ran pretty strong. I considered leaving it alone, but I couldn't help myself. I tried the porting in various stages and ended up with the same port timing, etc. it had on the last build (very much like the timing of my stock 655BP and very strong). Thing is, nothing significantly improved performance at any stage! I've ported a number of Pioneers, as well as some other saws, with good results. But not this time.
What can I learn from this (other than to put more dang bar oil in it when I'm trying it out)? I know saws and other machines are idiosycratic, in that sometimes there's an odd one that's especially good. This one may have been like the P51 that used to sometimes beat me - if I'd left it alone. The guy running that P51 was especially good, but there was something special about his saw. About all he'd done to it was to hack the divider out, leaving the stubs. And I know my chains were faster. Maybe some of you guys have some thoughts and can learn me a thing or two about building a saw. Or being smart enough to leave it alone.
