So I've had a windfall of saws lately that I have been working on which has led me to a surplus of equipment and a deficit in the bank. Going to be thinning a few saws and was curious what your opinions were on the keepers.
Until recently, my saw lineup has been an MS201TC-M, an early red lever 026 that runs extremely well (my go-to), and a tired 10mm 044 slant fin. These are my users. I just put a new Meteor Piston/Caber Rings in the 044 last night and she is running extremely well now. Need to get it in some wood again and let the rings fully seat, but this one will be hard to turn loose of. The MS201TC is a fun saw that I use to clear tops on trees that I drop, but it honestly doesn't get much use. It is handy to throw on the 4-wheeler to keep trails cleared.
1. I also have an 009L that runs good that I used with my kids when they were younger to help them get used to a chainsaw. Great saw, but not used or needed and this one is definitely on the chopping block although it won't bring much at all.
2. I have an 024 that was my father-in-law's. He didn't use it much and had it torn apart in the shed when he passed due to a cracked tank. He had purchased a tank, but didn't get it back together before passing. It is an original model that is not compatible with the 026 series (different plastics, different air filter, etc). I've since put it back together with new seals and rings, and it runs great. My second boy (12yo) has been learning with this saw. It does hold a little sentimental value, but this isn't one the FIL used, so it doesn't have to be a keeper. For what it is, it will go before a good 026 does.
3. I have a spare 026 (early red lever) that runs good but doesn't have as good compression as the one I go to. Bore and piston look very reasonable, so I picked up a set of Caber rings to put in it soon. My oldest boy (15yo) uses this saw when he helps me. We run the same bar and chain, so that is handy, and it makes spare parts inventory easy.
4. Recently purchased an 064 on the cheap to try my hand at milling some boards/slabs to finish projects such as a lean-to and a woodshed. It came to me with a Farmertech piston/cylinder, which I recently replaced (earlier this week) with a great condition KS OEM cylinder (Thank you T_Fishaa!) and Meteor Piston/Caber Rings set. It is running extremely well and I'm looking forward to getting it in some wood as well. This one will probably be a keeper if not just for the milling and the small price I have in it.
The next two saws were acquired as non-running/parts, but were salvageable. I am putting them back together to either replace saws in my current lineup or sell to recuperate some funds:
5. MS192TC runs, but the gentleman dropped a tree on it and busted the housing, including the oil tank and recoil cover. A donor saw has been acquired with a bad piston (on the way to me, again thanks T_Fishaa!) that will get this one running again. This one may replace the MS201TC due to the little use that a saw like this gets and the value of the MS201TC is considerably more than this one. I know I would give up considerable power and durable construction by going with this one over the MS201TC-M.
6. MS261C (non-MTronic, old clutch cover style) came from the same gentleman that was told it needed a new piston/cylinder. The cylinder has cleaned up great and a new Meteor Piston/Caber Rings kit are to be purchased for it. It is missing some minor stuff that has been lost since he got it back from the shop to include a variety of screws, the air filter baffle, choke rod, and that might be it. This is definitely one worth saving and is being considered to replace my current 026.
The truth is, most of these saws are solid, but aging, and my kids are young enough that they are not going to be out on their own anytime soon to need their own saw(s). Plus, if everyone is cutting, I don't have hands splitting/loading/unloading, which are what kids are for, right?!
So to wrap up this long post, I'm considering keeping the rebuilt MS261, 044, and the 064. I will probably keep my old 026 for the boys and as a spare saw. I'm thinking of moving both top handles, the 009L, the 024 and the spare 026, but may keep one of the top handles (which one?!) for convenience of a small, packable saw. My primary use is firewood, but I would like to try my hand at a little milling (Grandberg small log waiting to be used) and I have a little acreage with woods that I manage.
Hit me with your opinions!
Until recently, my saw lineup has been an MS201TC-M, an early red lever 026 that runs extremely well (my go-to), and a tired 10mm 044 slant fin. These are my users. I just put a new Meteor Piston/Caber Rings in the 044 last night and she is running extremely well now. Need to get it in some wood again and let the rings fully seat, but this one will be hard to turn loose of. The MS201TC is a fun saw that I use to clear tops on trees that I drop, but it honestly doesn't get much use. It is handy to throw on the 4-wheeler to keep trails cleared.
1. I also have an 009L that runs good that I used with my kids when they were younger to help them get used to a chainsaw. Great saw, but not used or needed and this one is definitely on the chopping block although it won't bring much at all.
2. I have an 024 that was my father-in-law's. He didn't use it much and had it torn apart in the shed when he passed due to a cracked tank. He had purchased a tank, but didn't get it back together before passing. It is an original model that is not compatible with the 026 series (different plastics, different air filter, etc). I've since put it back together with new seals and rings, and it runs great. My second boy (12yo) has been learning with this saw. It does hold a little sentimental value, but this isn't one the FIL used, so it doesn't have to be a keeper. For what it is, it will go before a good 026 does.
3. I have a spare 026 (early red lever) that runs good but doesn't have as good compression as the one I go to. Bore and piston look very reasonable, so I picked up a set of Caber rings to put in it soon. My oldest boy (15yo) uses this saw when he helps me. We run the same bar and chain, so that is handy, and it makes spare parts inventory easy.
4. Recently purchased an 064 on the cheap to try my hand at milling some boards/slabs to finish projects such as a lean-to and a woodshed. It came to me with a Farmertech piston/cylinder, which I recently replaced (earlier this week) with a great condition KS OEM cylinder (Thank you T_Fishaa!) and Meteor Piston/Caber Rings set. It is running extremely well and I'm looking forward to getting it in some wood as well. This one will probably be a keeper if not just for the milling and the small price I have in it.
The next two saws were acquired as non-running/parts, but were salvageable. I am putting them back together to either replace saws in my current lineup or sell to recuperate some funds:
5. MS192TC runs, but the gentleman dropped a tree on it and busted the housing, including the oil tank and recoil cover. A donor saw has been acquired with a bad piston (on the way to me, again thanks T_Fishaa!) that will get this one running again. This one may replace the MS201TC due to the little use that a saw like this gets and the value of the MS201TC is considerably more than this one. I know I would give up considerable power and durable construction by going with this one over the MS201TC-M.
6. MS261C (non-MTronic, old clutch cover style) came from the same gentleman that was told it needed a new piston/cylinder. The cylinder has cleaned up great and a new Meteor Piston/Caber Rings kit are to be purchased for it. It is missing some minor stuff that has been lost since he got it back from the shop to include a variety of screws, the air filter baffle, choke rod, and that might be it. This is definitely one worth saving and is being considered to replace my current 026.
The truth is, most of these saws are solid, but aging, and my kids are young enough that they are not going to be out on their own anytime soon to need their own saw(s). Plus, if everyone is cutting, I don't have hands splitting/loading/unloading, which are what kids are for, right?!
So to wrap up this long post, I'm considering keeping the rebuilt MS261, 044, and the 064. I will probably keep my old 026 for the boys and as a spare saw. I'm thinking of moving both top handles, the 009L, the 024 and the spare 026, but may keep one of the top handles (which one?!) for convenience of a small, packable saw. My primary use is firewood, but I would like to try my hand at a little milling (Grandberg small log waiting to be used) and I have a little acreage with woods that I manage.
Hit me with your opinions!
