Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Ambull01]

Ambull, youcut with that thing today? What did you think running a real saw?

Well I had to work on it all day. Don't remember if I mentioned it on this thread, been kind of hectic today. There was some paint residue under the filter and on the carb's valve. I took the carb off and cleaned everything up. Sprayed it with carb cleaner. Put everything back on and discovered I left off a piece. Man, I hate it when that happens. Took everything back off and put the part on.

Anyway, enough of the whole story. I'm actually boring myself with it lol. Bought a gallon of Husqvarna Bar and Chain oil. Stuff is super thick, just like maple syrup. Oil wasn't making it onto the chain. First cut was awesome, sliced right through a round. Second cut on a round stood up to try noodling went great at first. Then chips became real fine. No oil probably dulled the chain so I stopped. Spent a while trouble shooting the reason for the oil issue. Cleaned the bar groove, bar oil hole, watched the oil come out of the saw, etc. Finally narrowed it down to the actual oil. Way too thick. Took it back and exchanged it for Ace Hardware brand.

Long story short, AWESOME saw. For one cut at least lmao. Huge pain in the rear but I've probably had more hands on experience with a saw in one day then I had for years with the Homelite.

He's probably cutting by the van's headlights.

Haha! Not that crazy. Although I did just run it in my back yard in total darkness. Didn't cut anything though. I think I'm going to like this little blue and white monster.

 

[MustangMike]

Lack of oil will bind the bar & chain, but will not dull the cutting teeth. If the chain was moving and the chips changed, either U hit something in the wood, or sometimes with noodling, the angle of the grain changed.

I run the cheap stuff (bar oil) I get at TSC ($7/gal on sale) and have had no problems with it (several other members also use it).

Check the chain before U go out again, make sure it is sharp and lubed.

Sorry U had so much trouble, but glad U got it working and at least got to try it.

One time I had a saw (new to me) and the chain got jammed while cutting (was buried in wood). Took the bar & chain off, but could not get them to move ... the chain brake was on ... egg on face!

 

[Zale]

Ambull- no oil does not dull a chain. If it is throwing fine dust, your chain is dull. It only takes a split second to dull one. More than likely you might have hit the dirt. Don't try to cut all the way through the round. Stop a couple of inches above grade then turn the piece over. Then make the final cut. It will save your chain.

 

[Philbert]

You need winter weight oil in colder temps, or thin summer weight stuff up to 50 percent with kerosene.

Philbert

 

[Ambull01]

Lack of oil will bind the bar & chain, but will not dull the cutting teeth. If the chain was moving and the chips changed, either U hit something in the wood, or sometimes with noodling, the angle of the grain changed.

I run the cheap stuff (bar oil) I get at TSC ($7/gal on sale) and have had no problems with it (several other members also use it).

Check the chain before U go out again, make sure it is sharp and lubed.

Sorry U had so much trouble, but glad U got it working and at least got to try it.

One time I had a saw (new to me) and the chain got jammed while cutting (was buried in wood). Took the bar & chain off, but could not get them to move ... the chain brake was on ... egg on face!

Oh okay, thought it dulled the chain too. I shut it down quick once I noticed no oil was coming out. I noticed some of the cutters had little tiny ridges on them. Need to run the file through them a few times each.

I despise the Ace Hardware near me. Everything is really marked up. I'm all for supporting local small businesses but that place is ridiculous. Their Ace Hardware brand oil was only $1 cheaper than the Husqvarna oil so I went with the Husq. Now I know better.

I like to so far. Sounds and feels much more like a chainsaw now.

I actually thought the chain brake was broken lol. It has the inertia brake so it feels a lot different than the Homelite.

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull- no oil does not dull a chain. If it is throwing fine dust, your chain is dull. It only takes a split second to dull one. More than likely you might have hit the dirt. Don't try to cut all the way through the round. Stop a couple of inches above grade then turn the piece over. Then make the final cut. It will save your chain.

I was no where near the ground. I cut about 3/4 of the way through then rolled the round. Guess the grain changed.

You need winter weight oil in colder temps, or thin summer stuff up to 50 percent with kerosene.

Philbert

It was only about 44 degrees here! Didn't think that would be cold enough to warrant special mixes.

 

[Philbert]

If it ain't flowing, it's too cold!

Philbert

 

[Ambull01]

If it ain't flowing, it's too cold!

Philbert

It's flowing and gumming up under the cover. That stuff is thick in the heated store.

 

[Zale]

Ambull- see if there is a adjuster for the oil pump. Don't get too caught up in brands of oil. Its all the same stuff basically.

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull- see if there is a adjuster for the oil pump. Don't get too caught up in brands of oil. Its all the same stuff basically.

There is, it's on the bottom of the saw. Set to max flow right now. I'll adjust it as I use it so it runs out with every tank of fuel.

It's going to be all off/cheap brand oil for me from now on. May use the Husqvarna stuff in summer, not sure. May have to cut that stuff for summer too lol

 

[svk]

It'll be fine for summer use. When it sits in the reservoir gathering heat from the engine it will be plenty thin.

Although if you've got it now you could always cut it down for winter use.

Unless you are running a really long bar there's no need to be running through a tankful of oil per tank of gas. Although a little extra is always better than not enough.

Good luck with the new saw.

 

[Marshy]

It'll be fine for summer use. When it sits in the reservoir gathering heat from the engine it will be plenty thin.

Although if you've got it now you could always cut it down for winter use.

Unless you are running a really long bar there's no need to be running through a tankful of oil per tank of gas. Although a little extra is always better than not enough.

Good luck with the new saw.

Any saw I've ever run has always used 1:1 tank of gas to tank of oil. You should run out of gas before oil though just so you know it's not using oil to fast.

 

[Ambull01]

It'll be fine for summer use. When it sits in the reservoir gathering heat from the engine it will be plenty thin.

Although if you've got it now you could always cut it down for winter use.

Unless you are running a really long bar there's no need to be running through a tankful of oil per tank of gas. Although a little extra is always better than not enough.

Good luck with the new saw.

Thanks. You do anything special with your saws during winter? Your winters are much more severe than mine so I'd like to follow your protocol to be safe. Or I may be over thinking things again

 

[Marshy]

You need winter weight oil in colder temps, or thin summer weight stuff up to 50 percent with kerosene.

Philbert

Idk why you guys keep suggesting that. I've never seen winter or summer grade bar oil an I've never noticed the saws to use and less/more oil pending ambient temperatures.

 

[Ambull01]

Idk why you guys keep suggesting that. I've never seen winter or summer grade bar oil an I've never noticed the saws to use and less/more oil pending ambient temperatures.

Search the web for Stihl winter bar oil. Should come back with a link to their site with a Faq section. Winter blend for temps consistently below 50, summer for 50 and up.

I could see how the thinner stuff would be used faster. Just like the old ketchup commercials. You remember? Took forever in the bottles. Although that's where the auto or manual oil adjuster would come in.

 

[Marshy]

Search the web for Stihl winter bar oil. Should come back with a link to their site with a Faq section. Winter blend for temps consistently below 50, summer for 50 and up.

I could see how the thinner stuff would be used faster. Just like the old ketchup commercials. You remember? Took forever in the bottles. Although that's where the auto or manual oil adjuster would come in.

I don't doubt that it exists and I can understand why you would want to change viscosity but it just seems uncommon. What other manufactures other than Stihl offer multi grade bar oil..?

 

[Ambull01]

I don't doubt that it exists and I can understand why you would want to change viscosity but it just seems uncommon. What other manufactures other than Stihl offer multi grade bar oil..?

No idea. I was searching old threads and it seems like many do. Although a lot of guys said they just let the saw warm up longer during the winter which heats up the oil.

 

[Zale]

Ambull- you are overthinking the oil issue. Trust me on this one.

 

[MechanicMatt]

I don't cut my tractor supply oil, run that stuff the same all year round.

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull- you are overthinking the oil issue. Trust me on this one.

I know. It's one of my curses. I'm becoming a doting chainsaw owner