Stihl Contra Info Sharing Thread

[Frank Savage]

Perfect, thank You, Teddy.Scout. From what I have seen about silentblocks-a tiny and beefy one, I was prone to believe that there are two versions. I´m happy to be on the new side (from the point of easy machining only, of course). Still I would ask someone for basic measurements, it´ll make things way much easier.
BTW, those bigger dia, straight fin starters make me jelaous At least because for some time it seemed that it´s Contra S, what´s going to be mine

 

[Teddy.Scout]

No problem,
Let me know if you end up needing it measured.
If I go out of town for work, I am sure Dave K or a good many others can help you out.
If every one gets busy, PM them.

 

[Frank Savage]

Aside from handlebar structural problem.


Bars for Contras confusement
What bars do you use, when it comes to anything over 36"?
I´m looking for 42" rolltoped bar and nothing in the vicinity, but it must exist, I think.
My local Stihl dealers can only deliver Duromatic bars-hardnose, from Oregon it seems as only Laser tip-again a hardnose, in this lenght.
From Oregon site I can´t milk info about bar type, lenght and mount combinations availible, the selector is good for nothing, because it even don´t list the Contra or non-G 090.
Being from Europe makes the search harder, since no SugiBara, Canon, Total etc. or equivalents around here.
Both dealers can get somehow most from what´s availible in the US, but they must know exactly what. And their catalogues don´t list everything, because of the "EPA", "market optimalization" and "cost cutting" bulls*its. I wouldn´t like to end up with a 36" sisi bar, when I can easily end up with a 6 foot beech (maybe even to fell, hope to) after next year firewood order. Also, Contra has better balance with 42" ;-)

So, please share your tips on bars, Stihl, Oregon, whatever

 

[dave k]

I have a a good selection of bars for my 090/070 and Contras they use the same mount slot as the 084 and 088/880 but for the Contra the new bars will have to be re drilled for the adjuster hole.
I have a Stihl 41" ES Rollamatic I will get the part # for you. A few months ago I bought a 60" ES so they do exist ! but be prepared for a big price the list for the 60" was just a few pennys under 600 euros and I think the 41" was around 260 euros with a good discount.

 

[7oaks]

Stihl Company and Contra History

Just came across this information while searching for an IPL for my sand cast Contra/Lightning and thought I'd share it here. Don't know if it's been posted before but here it is:

 

[Frank Savage]

So my Contra AV arrived just before Christmas and now I get some time to inspect it closely. The missing peg was found and included, which makes things easier. Thaks again, TeddyScout, it was calming to know about ready backup solution. Just the silentblock on the right side of the front handle needs to be replaced.

But I was surprised with the HL 112B (?) carburetor. It turned out that adjusting needles are placed from behind of the body of the carburetor, just below screws of the intake manifold. The placement is well visible in second photo in the first post in GASoline71´s thread here http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/64450.htm as a bit messy hole with larger dia offset on the begining.

The holes from side were simply pluged with lead plugs (in abovementioned photo, they seem to be unpluged). No threads cut there also. Is this a standard on Contra AV? I had possibility to check non-AV Contra from 1971 and the needles were from the left side, just as in GASoline71´s photos.
I suppose that on the left side is the L (slim) needle, on the right side the fat H needle.
Any other hints for cleaning if different from side-needled version, or more info about this version?

 

[stihldriver]

that's my best lightning of 3
With the new engine has zero hours

 

[blsnelling]

Stihldriver, you have some beautiful saws. You should start a new thread, introduce yourself to the community, and post up pics of your fine collection

 

[stihldriver]

Stihldriver, you have some beautiful saws. You should start a new thread, introduce yourself to the community, and post up pics of your fine collection

topic: MY STIHL power tools
of stihldriver

 

[blsnelling]

topic: MY STIHL power tools
of stihldriver

I rarely ever venture out of the Chainsaw forum. Very nice collection!

 

[stihldriver]

that's 3 of my Stihl 090

 

[stihldriver]

I rarely ever venture out of the Chainsaw forum. Very nice collection!

are just some of the collection

 

[stihldriver]

I'd like to start a new thread for sharing info on my newest purchase - a Stihl Contra. I've mentioned it here before when I first purchased it on eBay but want to learn much more about it and share what I learn with others. Many of you have already responded to some of my questions and I appreciate the assistance.

I know that several members also have a deep interest in this saw that is credited with starting the one-man chainsaw business.

First I need to learn how to post images to the thread so I'll start by trying to upload a recent image of me running my "new" saw. Wish me luck.

OKAY...It looks like this is going to work. I'll post some more pics a bit later. Do note that the Contra is gray (same as my shirt) not the newer white. If I had a cover for it it would be red and gray .

I cleaned up the saw and then with a small amount of mix in the carb it started on the third pull and would restart on the first pull everytime after that. I'm running 20:1 in it at this time. It oils well. The chain was a mess. I cleaned it up as best I could and tried to even out the teeth and sharpen them but it wasn't perfect. As you can see it did cut.

I purchased a compression tester and before I started it the first time it registered 125psi which I know is kinda low. I haven't tested it again since running it but expect it might increase after being lubed up.

It did cut okay (old dead dry hickory) but did bog down and I expect that was due to the low compression.

Cheers and enjoy...Carl

Hi seven oaks
Beautiful old Contra

 

[7oaks]

Hi seven oaks
Beautiful old Contra

Thanks buddy...That is my first and came without the bonnets. I had a bit of a time finding those items and both came, at different times, from a new AS friend in Australia. Looks like you are in Germany home our favorite chainsaws. Welcome to AS. You'll find out that we are a real international "mongrel" pack of chainsaw addicts. LOL

Do you restore your saws our do you find them in that good of condition? I don't have a Contra AV "yet" but do have a sand cast 1st year and a Contra S. I've got two of mine tore down right now and hoping I can learn enough to get them back together without missing parts.

 

[stihldriver]

Thanks seven oak. Contra is very easy to unscrew.

my Contra G sold at Stihl. They have done a good price.

 

[7oaks]

Thanks seven oak. Contra is very easy to unscrew.

my Contra G sold at Stihl. They have done a good price.

Did you buy it from Stihl a long time ago or more recently? Was it new when you bought it or rebuilt? Very interesting!

 

[stihldriver]

Did you buy it from Stihl a long time ago or more recently? Was it new when you bought it or rebuilt? Very interesting!

Ich habe die G an Stihl verkauft

Please paste in Google Translate

 

[stihldriver]

So my Contra AV arrived just before Christmas and now I get some time to inspect it closely. The missing peg was found and included, which makes things easier. Thaks again, TeddyScout, it was calming to know about ready backup solution. Just the silentblock on the right side of the front handle needs to be replaced.

But I was surprised with the HL 112B (?) carburetor. It turned out that adjusting needles are placed from behind of the body of the carburetor, just below screws of the intake manifold. The placement is well visible in second photo in the first post in GASoline71´s thread here http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/64450.htm as a bit messy hole with larger dia offset on the begining.

The holes from side were simply pluged with lead plugs (in abovementioned photo, they seem to be unpluged). No threads cut there also. Is this a standard on Contra AV? I had possibility to check non-AV Contra from 1971 and the needles were from the left side, just as in GASoline71´s photos.
I suppose that on the left side is the L (slim) needle, on the right side the fat H needle.
Any other hints for cleaning if different from side-needled version, or more info about this version?

The H needle is short and the L needle is long.

On my Contra AV its a Tillotson HL 244 A Carburetor. H and L needle from backside

 

[Frank Savage]

Stihldriver: realy nice saws, makes me jelaous in the best way they can. Thank You for pointing out the different carb number, still I didn´t found it on the castings.


So some more dumb questions regarding Contra disassembly, since I don´t wanna do any oops:

How to get the clutch shoe and drum off the crankshaft?
The clutch looks like this (the center nut can be unscrewed with no problem):

Seems to me it´s factory original, but it leaves no way how to get the cover down. Do I need to drill the rivets off? How it´s now, I don´t see anything to get it off.
The clutch drum is for the rim sprocket. I´m not so familiar with this saw, but doesn´t the drum look too thin (worn)?


From initial measurement, the thread for pulling down the flywheel seem as a M 36x1,5, resp. 36 mm outer diameter and 1,5 mm pitch. Any proof I´m right?
Also, since it will take some time for me to acces a lathe, is the pull force reasonably low to use a piece of bar with pulling screw in the middle and two studs threaded into two opposite holes for fan screws? Or is the force so high it´s likely going to strip them?

Fuel line "plug":
that plastic boss/plug, which leads fuel through the tank is of the snap-in kind, or is fastened there somehow? Just pry out with some alike screwdriver, or some other procedure needed?

Thaks for help

 

[stihldriver]

Pull off the Spider and the chain sproket with a puller.

The clutch is secured with a Spieth adapter sleeve on Crankshaft.