Porting of chainsaws

[Andy Klindt]

Good evening to you all. I asked mr Snelling on his Facebook page about porting and working on saws and he recommended that I start here. I am interested in learning the science behind the modifications that some of you are doing to your saws. Do I have to go to school? Can I find books? I have looked on YouTube and honestly still feel a bit in the dark about several aspects. i know I could just copy what some of you have done to saws to get a desired effect but I actually want to know why for example advancing the timing can be of benefit, or why the transfers need to be changed. How to get measurements of the ports etc....... I have a strong desire to know how this works. So could you guys that have learned all of this share with me where I can go to learn. How did you learn? I don't know a lot about saws but I am learning. Thank you for taking the time to help me know where to start.

 

[El Moobs]

Just start grinding....

 

[ATH]

Scroll down further to the "Equipment" forums and the "Chainsaw" section.

Use search feature too.

 

[jefflovstrom]

don't move to california,
jeff

 

[Westboastfaller]

Are you sure about all this? Ok then we do it my way. First off I would like you to google " the benefits of advancing timing" (erm... something to that effect)
and come back and tell me what you learned.

Seriously man, its all been written on here. scroll through some threads in the chainsaw sec... Will give you a good start.

 

[El Moobs]

Here's a thread I did a few years ago. Covers a lot of stuff.

http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/ms461-giveaway-saw-build-thread.246494/

 

[BC WetCoast]

You want to search in the chainsaw forum for some threads by Mastermind. He has some complete porting threads with pictures of every step.

You will also want to read some of the fight threads between Mastermind and Brad Snelling about things like doming pistons, squish size etc.
Saw porting seems more of a black art than a science so there are many opinions on how to do it properly.

 

[El Moobs]

You want to search in the chainsaw forum for some threads by Mastermind. He has some complete porting threads with pictures of every step.

You will also want to read some of the fight threads between Mastermind and Brad Snelling about things like doming pistons, squish size etc.
Saw porting seems more of a black art than a science so there are many opinions on how to do it properly.

That Mastermind guy is a dang hack.

 

[Andy Klindt]

I really appreciate it you guys!! I'm sorry that I'm asking the proverbial questions that have been asked six million times! A little background on myself. I decided recently that I wanted to learn how to repair and modify my own chainsaws. I have been an arborist for about 15 years and have in the last four years taken up chainsaw carving. I am now doing that full time. I have a pretty good amount of saws and I just flat can't afford to have someone else work on them. To my surprise I am having a ball working on my own stuff!! I wish I had not waited so long to dig in to them but I was just afraid to I guess. I just put together my very first two boneyard saws. It feels so darn good to start to understand what's going on inside of my saws. Changes the way I use them even. Anyway thanks again for steering me in the right direction. I Appreciate it!!

 

[Westboastfaller]

That Mastermind guy is a dang hack.

You're calling him a hack then what are you? MR " Just start grinding". thats quite something!
The 'poor fella said he's trying to save money.
How's tricks Randy? and thats a very disturbing picture. Had a Persian like that but the tongue wasn't so long.
She eventually went back to persia

 

[Andy Klindt]

Just finished going through that thread of Masterminds 461. Dam!! That's impressive!

 

[El Moobs]

You're calling him a hack then what are you? MR " Just start grinding". thats quite something!
The 'poor fella said he's trying to save money.
How's tricks Randy? and thats a very disturbing picture. Had a Persian like that but the tongue wasn't so long.
She eventually went back to persia

Well......you really do have to just start grinding brother.

The first saws I ported were the cheapest ones I could find. Poulan Wild Things, 025 Stihls, stuff that was given to me.

Get a saw that runs correctly, but is not a prized possession, and change one thing at a time. Make videos and check cut speed. Does widening the exhaust really make gains? Try it and see.....

That's how you can learn without breaking the bank.

Warning.....

Porting is addictive. Next thing you know, you will be buying up some pretty pricey tools...

 

[treebilly]

I love seeing those ported saws run but steer clear of it myself. To me I see the added power as a trade for life on the motor. As an employee, that's not my decision to make. For my personal saws, I've only done a muffler mod and timing advance on two. It woke them up. I might have them ported once they are due for an overhaul.
Also I will add the MM is not a hack by any means.

 

[CR888]

No one can teach you to properly port/modify saws in one post or even ten. Could someone teach you to play the guitar well in a post? You need passion and dedication to read theory and practice hands on. Along your journey you will have questions that you can't find answers too, that's normal but after YOU have put in the work/done the hard yards THEN come and ask a specific question in which many experienced folk can help you with. Like anything in life effort is required so you can achieve your goals. Putting everything on a silver platter would not help you in any case.

 

[Andy Klindt]

Cr888. You sound like a fun person!!!