Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Ambull01]

No way Ambull - you are a 'gear guy' and have to have a set anyway!

Philbert

lol. I don't know how much of a gear guy I am. Love tinkering with stuff but this saw just reinforced something. I really, really don't want to tinker with my primary firewood saw. Want that sucker ready to go at all times. That's where the older Poulan will come in. I'll tinker with that and my Homelite, leave the Makita as is (of course that's after I muf mod it, tune carb, and install a BBK!).

@svk : You're right, it doesn't have the ? shape. The cutters look really short. Plus the cutter blades were at a weird angle. Someone may have sharpened them at the wrong angle I guess. I use a Oregon round file with guide bar to sharpen. Went through that round on base fast hell.

 

[Ambull01]

On that note, did some cutting today (sorry, no pics). A friend had tried to drop an old dead Red Maple, and could not cut the notch out with his 16" Craftsman.

The tree was about 28" in diameter. I dropped it and cut it up for him, but it was a swampy area, and the tree was totally on the ground (no air). The 046 was making short work of it, till I rocked the chain. So I just fired up 044 #2 (also with a 24" bar) and kept going.

A previous time I was cutting the notch in a Sugar Maple and hit a nail, and I put down the 044 #2 and picked up the 046.

I like having the 4 saws, 2 w/20" bars and 2 with 24. It gives me redundancy, and I can take care of the problem when I get home.

Did all the limbing with the 362.

Since I am using square file, I have not purchased a round file chain in so long I don't know what they are going for, sorry!

Nice. A blown 5.0 and square files.

 

[Philbert]

Are they more effort to maintain the edge over chisel or is it nearly the same just with a flat file?

Not sure exactly what you are asking. Most people use round files for chain. 'Square filed' chains require special file shapes to get the cutter profiles. Most are actually 6 sided, even the ones called 'triangular'. There is also a 4 sided, single bit file that some use, but it is trapezoidal, not rectangular in cross section. Just to confuse us mortals.

Bottom line - if you want square filed chain, you will pay more for your files to get it.

Is there really a huge difference with anti-kick semi chisel vs regular semi chisel?

Some guys will say 'Yes'. I think that reduced kickback chain works fine for most firewood, storm damage clean up, etc. tasks, if properly sharpened. They can be slower for plunge cutting, or when cutting with longer bars (24" and longer) if the full bar is buried in the wood, due to reduced chip clearance. If you don't do a lot of that, then it is not a problem.

There are different styles of 'bumpers' on these chains. I like the ones in the middle, on the drive link, better than the ones on the side, on the tie straps. I have seen guys win races at GTG with the first kind.

Philbert

 

[Ambull01]

Not sure exactly what you are asking. Most people use round files for chain. 'Square filed' chains require special file shapes to get the cutter profiles. Most are actually 6 sided, even the ones called 'triangular'. There is also a 4 sided, single bit file that some use, but it is trapezoidal, not rectangular in cross section. Just to confuse us mortals.

Bottom line - if you want square filed chain, you will pay more for your files to get it.



Some guys will say 'Yes'. I think that reduced kickback chain works fine for most firewood, storm damage clean up, etc. tasks, if properly sharpened. They can be slower for plunge cutting, or when cutting with longer bars (24" and longer) if the full bar is buried in the wood, due to reduced chip clearance. If you don't do a lot of that, then it is not a problem.

There are different styles of 'bumpers' on these chains. I like the ones in the middle, on the drive link, better than the ones on the side, on the tie straps. I have seen guys win races at GTG with the first kind.

Philbert

Perfect, drive link safety chain it is then.

On another note, noticed you fellas don't give a lot of thought to four stroking. Do you guys tune your saws to four stroke out of the cut or just run as is? This 4 stroke tuning thing is giving me fits. May just used nmurph's general Makita 6421 carb settings and forget about it.

BTW, you just missed a 6401 for $250 in the Trading post!!!

 

[dancan]

Well not much scrounging brought home today , I went to the fella's house where I had the atv and logging trailer , rounded up about 3/4 of a cord and put it in a pile for later retrieval , loaded the atv on my little trailer , dismantled the logging trailer and fit it all in the van then came home .
At 16* out there with the wind gusting to 40mph bringing the wind thrills to -3* it was a brisk day LOL
Got the house at 72* on scrounged wood

 

[steved]

Is there really a huge difference with anti-kick semi chisel vs regular semi chisel? I kind of like my face as it is so not really concerned it the anti-kickback is a tad bit slower. Under $20 a chain sounds great.

It cuts better in my opinion, I don't see any more or less kickback.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G730A using Tapatalk

 

[svk]

Perfect, drive link safety chain it is then.

On another note, noticed you fellas don't give a lot of thought to four stroking. Do you guys tune your saws to four stroke out of the cut or just run as is? This 4 stroke tuning thing is giving me fits. May just used nmurph's general Makita 6421 carb settings and forget about it.

BTW, you just missed a 6401 for $250 in the Trading post!!!

Couple of things.

I noticed a difference from safety chain to regular semi-chisel even when sharpened by the same person. But that's just me and I'll say Philbert knows WAY more than I do about chains. Never had a problem with kickbacks in any of my saws with pro (another term for non-safety) chain.

Figure out how to tune your saw even if you have someone else show you. Don't chance it. 4 stroke out of wood means it's perfect.

 

[Ambull01]

Couple of things.

I noticed a difference from safety chain to regular semi-chisel even when sharpened by the same person. But that's just me and I'll say Philbert knows WAY more than I do about chains. Never had a problem with kickbacks in any of my saws with pro (another term for non-safety) chain.

Figure out how to tune your saw even if you have someone else show you. Don't chance it. 4 stroke out of wood means it's perfect.

Yeah, Philbert is a little crazy with chains lol.

Haven't touched the carb settings just yet but I did cut some cookies by my porch light. Could swear it was 4 stroking every time I lifted the bar out of the wood to test. Also sounds like it's four stroking at throttle with no load. I'll make note of where the screw are then try nmurph's settings, see which one sounds more like the ideal adjustment.

 

[cantoo]

I hauled out 2 more loads and then cut down 6 more trees and then hauled out another load before dark caught me. My chest is getting worse instead of better, I'm starting to think I'm not bullet proof anymore. I'm away on the road most of this week so that will give it a rest. I'm afraid to complain to my wife because she says we have enough wood for 4 years and she has a bunch of stuff she wants done in the house. Some of this stuff is over 24" and is nice, I might keep some for my nephew to play with on his grandfathers sawmill. This section of the bush is a little drier and the ash trees don't have as much of the staining as the stuff I have been cutting. My daughter's forestry teacher says it is staining and not Ash Yellows or borer damage.

 

[dancan]

Ambull , are the limiter tabs still in the carb adjusters ?
Oregon chain is cheaper than Stihl by a fair margin and even though I prefer it I have no real complaints about the Oregon , it works fine .
Get the Stihl gizmo for sharpening , go forth and scrounge on LOL

 

[dancan]

When I got to the quad and RonCo Lh1 this afternoon I figured I'd have to boost it to get it going ,,,, Ignition froze up , choke froze up , start button froze up ,,,,, **** !
After fighting with the key I had to use a booster cable with a long screwdriver to power up the starter , when I figured out that the choke wasn't working I pried the air intake snorkel off of the carb and used my hand as a choke to get it going .
Since it starts ok with the pullcord when warm I went about my gathering .
When I was done and loaded I shut it off on the trailer , pushed the start button and off she went
I get home to unload ,,,,,,, Off comes the seat , long screwdriver .... Never did have to boost it though LOL

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull , are the limiter tabs still in the carb adjusters ?
Oregon chain is cheaper than Stihl by a fair margin and even though I prefer it I have no real complaints about the Oregon , it works fine .
Get the Stihl gizmo for sharpening , go forth and scrounge on LOL

Yep, limiter tabs still on. The thing I don't understand is why do I need to cut them off if it's manufactured to pump enough fuel to last a long time if stock. Saw is totally stock so the 4 stroke position should be able to be reached with limiter tabs. I think I may need to stick to my spreadsheets and finance, so many variables with chainsaws/wood burning.

 

[dancan]

Some saws are set on the lean side to meet epa requirements , trim the stops so you can richen them up as needed .

 

[Ambull01]

Some saws are set on the lean side to meet epa requirements , trim the stops so you can richen them up as needed .

Ooooohhhhh! I see now. Nmurph kept telling me to trim it but I never could figure out why lmao. I probably pissed him off with all my idiotic questions. Anyway, I'll stop asking my dumb questions and only post scrounge related things in this thread from now on. Thanks for clearing that up Dan.

 

[dancan]

Ambull , now that you have the basic essentials , van , saws , axe , access to a splitter , no need for a spreadsheet , go on and get to scroungin LOL

 

[MustangMike]

Lots of topics, especially if pics are included, are welcome on this thread!

RU happy with that saw now???

 

[Ambull01]

Ambull , now that you have the basic essentials , van , saws , axe , access to a splitter , no need for a spreadsheet , go on and get to scroungin LOL

I really want to, just been extremely busy. Work 7 days a week, bunch of kids, and a crazy dog. I'm going to make up not scrounging this weekend by going ape poop on my roadside scrounge Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Lots of topics, especially if pics are included, are welcome on this thread!

RU happy with that saw now???

Yeah I feel like I ask too many questions though. Everyone may not have as much patience as you.

This saw kicks major ass! LOVE this thing. Almost twice as powerful as the Homelite yet so much smoother. If it wasn't for the increase in cutting speed I would think it was weaker than the Homelite. Decomp button, love it too. Extremely hard to pull the cord without it. May buy another one from HD, make one a 80cc and leave one 64.

Heard you used to box. Mind if I ask you a few questions via private chat?

 

[troylee]

The only problem I have with the 6401 (had one that had been molested by Mastermind) is the limited coil. I don't feel it is a good fit for a novice tuner (me included). The limited coil can fool you. Otherwise it is one of the best saws I have played with, and will have another, before it is over.

 

[benp]

The only problem I have with the 6401 (had one that had been molested by Mastermind) is the limited coil. I don't feel it is a good fit for a novice tuner (me included). The limited coil can fool you. Otherwise it is one of the best saws I have played with, and will have another, before it is over.

I agree on the limited coil.

When I had Eric Copsey do mine, he put unlimited coils in. Makes my life a lot easier as I can now tune them with a tach.


Ambull,

Instead of buying another one to make a 7900, just get a Dolmar 7900 top end kit and put it on yours.

Imo, you don't need two saws that weigh identical in 2 different cc configurations.

Also, when I put the 24" bars on mine I found that the balance was better and actually felt lighter than when it had a 20".

Now one's 28" and 24".

 

[Ambull01]

The only problem I have with the 6401 (had one that had been molested by Mastermind) is the limited coil. I don't feel it is a good fit for a novice tuner (me included). The limited coil can fool you. Otherwise it is one of the best saws I have played with, and will have another, before it is over.

Yeah I've read a lot of threads about people putting in unlimited coils. Didn't really understand the reasons. Figured an unlimited coil could cause damage by over revving but I guess not. I was pretty sure my saw is 4 stroking out of the cut bit now I'm wondering if it's just hitting the limiter.

I would like to sample some Husqvarna and Stihl saws to compare to this thing. Had no idea it would be so smooth. Kind of heavy but that really doesn't matter when bucking which will be the primary use. Did I mention I love this saw?

I agree on the limited coil.

When I had Eric Copsey do mine, he put unlimited coils in. Makes my life a lot easier as I can now tune them with a tach.


Ambull,

Instead of buying another one to make a 7900, just get a Dolmar 7900 top end kit and put it on yours.

Imo, you don't need two saws that weigh identical in 2 different cc configurations.

Also, when I put the 24" bars on mine I found that the balance was better and actually felt lighter than when it had a 20".

Now one's 28" and 24".

Hey, where you been!? So you can't tune with a tach if it has a limited coil?

Good point. The 80cc saw will be able to do everything the 64cc can do and then some. Two different size bars will be cheaper and easier to drag into the woods. I may stick with the 20" or go to 18" and probably a 24" as the big bar.