Stihl Orange Handles?!?!

[sloch24]

I never paid any attention to my 031's handle before today. I was reading in some thread somewhere that someone had some saws with orange handles on them instead of white.

Are there any differences? Were they made somewhere other than Germany? My 031 says made in Germany on the sprocket cover.

Just curious. I've never seen an 031 like mine before. It's a 031av Farm Boss 45cc special. Was this some short-run promo saw? It's all I've used for years before I got to this site Always starts and runs good. I've always run a 16" 3/8 chain with no problems.

 

[blackoak]

I never paid any attention to my 031's handle before today. I was reading in some thread somewhere that someone had some saws with orange handles on them instead of white.

Are there any differences? Were they made somewhere other than Germany? My 031 says made in Germany on the sprocket cover.

Just curious. I've never seen an 031 like mine before. It's a 031av Farm Boss 45cc special. Was this some short-run promo saw? It's all I've used for years before I got to this site Always starts and runs good. I've always run a 16" 3/8 chain with no problems.

Got a picture of it??

 

[synness4]

orange handles are non pro models no biggie 031 is one darn good saw

 

[sloch24]

Got a picture of it??

I'll post a pic tonight or tomorrow morning... Check back

 

[sloch24]

orange handles are non pro models no biggie 031 is one darn good saw

Why then is the 270 and 280 white handles, and the 290 back to orange? They're all "mid-range" saws.

Also, did they do this back when the 031 was being made?

 

[blackoak]

orange handles are non pro models no biggie 031 is one darn good saw

When the 031's were made, non pro model saw were unheard of. They were all pro models. Home owner saws were unheard of back then.

 

[JohnO]

The 031 was made with both color handles, and as others have stated, it made no difference (pro vs. homeowner grade). Here are a couple of mine:

If you look up by the body of the saw, you can see that they attach differently, and are not interchangeable without also changing the tank housing.

-John

 

[sloch24]

Pics of mine

Here it is.. Dirty and the bar is off, but here's the pics!

<img src="http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85094&stc=1&d=1230518607"><br />

<img src="http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85095&stc=1&d=1230518607"><br />

<img src="http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85096&stc=1&d=1230518607"><br />

<img src="http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85097&stc=1&d=1230518607"><br />

<img src="http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85098&stc=1&d=1230518607"><br />


These pictures actually don't show it, but it's in very good condition... Anyone ever seen a 45cc special before?

 

[Messenger]

Hit the Nail on the Head !

When the 031's were made, non pro model saw were unheard of. They were all pro models. Home owner saws were unheard of back then.

Absolutely correct.

Question >> if the 031AV was a "homeowner" saw in this size class, what
model, 50cc+/- saw, was Stihl's Pro-Saw ??

I believe a HomeOwner type saw, generally, was a Size Classification
during the 70's & 80's. Ususally 30-35cc range from Mac/Poulan, et. al.
They sold a blue jillion of them to homeowners. Of course some saws this size were pro-grade. The makers had not yet figured out how to cheapen the larger saws!!, or even cared to at that point...

Regards.

 

[stihlfarmer]

when people rrefer to an orange handled saw being a "homeowner type" they are refering to the newer saws such as 021-025 and 029-039 (and corresponding MSXX0 models the 270 and 280 while being a midrange saw does have a magnesium crankcase and wears a white handle along with all the "pro models" the "orange handled" saws have a motor unit that sits in a plastic cradle visible from the bottom of the saw also the bar studs and tensioner all sit in this plastic "frame" if you will. Also these saws have a plastic sprocket cover wheras the pros have a mag cover

your vintage 031 could never be mistaken for a homeowner saw it is almost entirely mag

hope that helps a bit

 

[JohnO]

As far as the "45 cc Special" or "Farm Boss" version, I've never heard of such a thing. The 031 is 48cc, so I'm not sure why less would be special. Saws in this era would also likely have a different nameplate if it was a different model. Even "electronic" and "quickstop" features were worthy of a recognition on the metal plate. For reference, you can just barely see these on the picture of my white handled saw.

Some of the Stihl experts may know better, but it's possible that they have avoided this thread, thinking that it's another one of the periodic "all orange handled Stihls are homeowner junk saws" threads.

Either way, you've got a nice saw.

-John

 

[GASoline71]

orange handles are non pro models no biggie 031 is one darn good saw

Then there are a lot of 056's out there that are just homeowner toss aways...

Gary

 

[sloch24]

As far as the "45 cc Special" or "Farm Boss" version, I've never heard of such a thing. The 031 is 48cc, so I'm not sure why less would be special. Saws in this era would also likely have a different nameplate if it was a different model. Even "electronic" and "quickstop" features were worthy of a recognition on the metal plate. For reference, you can just barely see these on the picture of my white handled saw.

Some of the Stihl experts may know better, but it's possible that they have avoided this thread, thinking that it's another one of the periodic "all orange handled Stihls are homeowner junk saws" threads.

Either way, you've got a nice saw.

-John

I don't know about the "45cc special" either... Maybe I'll start a new thread about it, but I bought it from my father who bought it from a friend of his who was the original owner. The original owner only used it a handful of times, and my father only once or twice (he already had 2 others), so it's still in like new condition mechanically, good condition cosmetically.

It sure would be nice to know what that "45cc" label is all about though. As for the Farm Boss, it's on the bar (which I believe to be the original).

 

[the westspartan]

when people rrefer to an orange handled saw being a "homeowner type" they are refering to the newer saws such as 021-025 and 029-039 (and corresponding MSXX0 models the 270 and 280 while being a midrange saw does have a magnesium crankcase and wears a white handle along with all the "pro models" the "orange handled" saws have a motor unit that sits in a plastic cradle visible from the bottom of the saw also the bar studs and tensioner all sit in this plastic "frame" if you will. Also these saws have a plastic sprocket cover wheras the pros have a mag cover

your vintage 031 could never be mistaken for a homeowner saw it is almost entirely mag

hope that helps a bit

I have often wondered about this. I have been trying to decide between a 260 and a 280. If the 270/280 have a magnesium case and white handles, why are they considered mid-range and not pro? What are they lacking? (the standard ms 260 does not have an adjustable oiler or a compression release, but it is a pro saw) After looking at the 270/280 at the dealer, they look like a step up from the 290/310/390 series, but the stihl catalog has them listed as mid-range.

 

[stihlfarmer]

I have heard that the 270-280 are more difficult to work on though i do not have much personal experience maybe some of the actual stihl techs (IE t hall , andy etc) can tell us what exactly sets them apart from a "pro saw" being as they do have a mag crankcase

 

[Rftreeman]

it depends a lot on the year of manufacture and model.

 

[lewis16]

the best way to classify it is like this,
black handles = home owner saws
orange handles = landscaper saws/semi pro saws, medium to heavy use
white handles = pro saws/ heavy to extreeme use

 

[blsnelling]

the best way to classify it is like this,
black handles = home owner saws
orange handles = landscaper saws/semi pro saws, medium to heavy use
white handles = pro saws/ heavy to extreeme use

That will not apply to the older saws. Like has already been mentioned, saws like the 045 and 056 had orange handles and were professional saws in every sense of the word.