Stihl 056 AV parts or a bigger powerhead for 56" mill?

[TheCreativeHand]

I have a Stihl 056 AV that I bought from a logger like 10 years ago. At the time, it had already seen better days and he called it a "scarred dawg." I could barely understand what he was saying. It had the chain brake missing, the kill switch wiring missing, a large hole cut in the side the size of the clutch, a huge hole in the handle bar, the gas tank busted and repaired several times... you get the picture.

Still, it has been a great saw for me. I have even been using it to run an alaskan mill with a 56" bar. I really should have a bigger powerhead than that, but it was the biggest I have and it worked.

I have been having trouble getting it started for a while and last time I used it on the mill it conked out on me and I couldn't get it started again. I ordered parts to rebuild the carb, took it apart and cleaned everything, put fresh gas in it and still couldn't get it to start. I took it in to the Stihl dealer who looked it over and said it doesn't have good compression, only 60 when it should have 90. So according to him, it is dead.

I'm now at a point to either try to find used parts, or get another saw.

It looks like a 660 or 880 would run the mill much better, but I'm not sure I can come up with $1-2k right now.

Does anyone have a good used saw for sale that will run a 56" bar or suggestions for where I can find parts for my 056? The bar can take 2 powerheads, so 2 smaller motors is an option as well.

Thanks for any help or advice!

 

[BobL]

The mill is to some extent immaterial as its the size of the logs being cut that matters
Assuming that you will want to regularly be able to use 40"+ capacity the 56 AVE as an 81cc saw is IMHO too small for this task.
Even with a 90cc saw I reckon they struggle in 36"+ milling cuts (maybe that's my Aussie hardwood experience coming out).
OTOH if you will only encounter large logs occasionally then something like an 660 would be OK.

 

[mdavlee]

If it's the mag II it's 94 cc or so. Still way short on power for that big of a mill for me. Anything over 36" I want a 120cc powerhead.