Tell me about the 046

[wesley]

I am a firewood cutter. Have run several differnt brans of saws. They all cut good at first but after several years of doing this, I like the stihl saws the best. Mostly the big ones I have run I bought second hand and fixed them up from parts off ebay. I have a friend that manages a large firewood company. He has dealt and used Stihl saws for years. He has told me that the 044 has held up better than any saw. He saws they get 1000 cord from a 044. Dont know that to be fact but I believe they must get a lot of use out of them. He told me the dealers will tell me the 046 is as good ,but, "thay wont hold up as good". I recently got one with a scored piston. He said that is the problem with them. He said it is something to do with the compression realease (which the 044 dont have). Does anybody know about this? Whats your oppinion? I do know if you are getting too much air it will burn. Can I take the compression release off and plug it? The 044 starts just fine without one. Whats your thoughts?
Wesley

 

[RiverRat2]

Yes there is a plug for it and yes they run fine without the decomp, I have a 460 with A baileys big bore kit and I plugged it and it works fine, If you plug it,, Stihl makes a plug for your air shroud,,, you should plug it too if you remove the Decomp valve,,,,,

Good luck and yes the 044/440 is indeed,,,, a legendary saw

 

[wesley]

thanks

Ok thanks . Make me feel more confident I am heading in the right direction.

 

[sawinredneck]

I call BS on the decomp!!!!! I also have a BB 046 and wouldnt even consider a trade for a new 660, I have more power and less weight, it's a nice feeling!!
Andy

 

[RiverRat2]

If you go to the expense to install the big bore kit, be sure to check your saws crank case/seals & intake rubber for pressure & vacuum leaks,,,,
someting caused the piston to score and you dont want to do the same to your new BB kit,,,,,, You will need to re-adjust your carb to handle the additional displacement..............:rockn:

 

[sawinredneck]

There are at least two threads that I know of covering all of this.
Andy

 

[RiverRat2]

I call BS on the decomp!!!!! I also have a BB 046 and wouldnt even consider a trade for a new 660, I have more power and less weight, it's a nice feeling!!

Andy

Thats what I said,,, I removed mine and it runs just fine

Gday Mate

 

[computeruser]

I recently got one with a scored piston. He said that is the problem with them.

An inherent design flaw? Not that I've ever heard about. I suspect that the scoring on your piston has more to do with someone running the saw on bad mix, straight gas, the saw having an air leak, or the operator neglecting to tune the saw properly.

He said it is something to do with the compression realease (which the 044 dont have). Does anybody know about this?

Compression releases on old saws running lots of oil in their mix would sometimes get gummed up and not close. So it doesn't seem that much of a stretch to suspect that they could instead almost seal and leak just a bit of air. But this has not, to my knowledge, been a problem with properly maintained modern saws. Incidentally, the more recent 044/440s have compression releases.

Whats your oppinion? I do know if you are getting too much air it will burn.

The saw comes with a comp release for its benefit and not the operator's; it is there to reduce the wear on the starting components. I would determine if the release on your saw is/was a problem and replace if necessary, or alternatively I'd just replace it as a matter of course.

Can I take the compression release off and plug it?

Yes, but you shouldn't need to.

The 044 starts just fine without one. Whats your thoughts?

I think you're over-thinking things. I doubt that the compression release had anything at all to do with your saw getting burned up, and even if it did then the replacement of the decomp should resolve the problem.

 

[sawinredneck]

Thats what I said,,, I removed mine and it runs just fine

Gday Mate

Sorry, I mean that I don't see how it will shorten the life of a saw in any way at all. I think the dealer didn't know what he was talking about.
Andy

 

[elmnut]

A scored piston is an inherent design flaw? When did AMF take over Stihl? The guy who sold it to you has an inherent BS flaw.

 

[RiverRat2]

agreed, that the decomp had nothing to do with saw scoring original cylinder, That is why I RE-replied for him to check for whatever caused lean running condition I removed mine cause it was worn out, and the plug was about 15 bucks cheaper,

 

[04ultra]

A scored piston is an inherent design flaw? When did AMF take over Stihl? The guy who sold it to you has an inherent BS flaw.

Ouch AMF that was low...Anything mechanical built by AMF had to be replaced with real parts... :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:






.

 

[sawinredneck]

Ouch AMF that was low...Anything mechanical built by AMF had to be replaced with real parts... :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:






.

But they sure built a mean basketball
Don't let them touch you're Harley though:monkey:

 

[Mr.]

Yes, the 046 is terrible.

Send it to me.

Fred

 

[SmokinDodge]

Yes, the 046 is terrible.

Send it to me.

Fred

WELCOME BACK FRED!

 

[04ultra]

Yes, the 046 is terrible.

Send it to me.

Fred

Dont let Fred steer you wrong...I'll take it...........:hmm3grin2orange:



.

 

[RiverRat2]

Ultra must be a Harley owner

Hey Ultra you know what,,,, U R Right,,,,


Low Blow,,, BUt if we were smart we would have all bought 10K$ worth of Harley stock when it was @ it's all time low with AMF,,, We would all be Rich

 

[sawinredneck]

Yes, the 046 is terrible.

Send it to me.

Fred

Watch out, these scavangers will jump on anything not bolted down
Back off, I want this one LOL!

 

[04ultra]

Hey Ultra you know what,,,, U R Right,,,,


Low Blow,,, BUt if we were smart we would have all bought 10K$ worth of Harley stock when it was @ it's all time low with AMF,,, We would all be Rich

Back then they couldn't give it away.....:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:





.

 

[ciscoguy01]

Ummm

Fishhuntcut, Where are you??? How bout we ask him since he runs one pretty much every day of the week. I did talk to a buddy of mine that used to run the 46's all the time. He said he couldn't keep'em together either. I dunno about that. I still think that mixing to lean and leaning out your carb too much kills them faster than anything else. I also think most people forget that these bigger saws aren't made to run with the rpm's of the smaller ones or the husky's. ON the same hand, put a little bit of pressure on the husky's and watch them choke like sissy saws, the stihl's just keep churning out the chips and cutting away. Just me ole' .02... Everyone else I know has always said great things about the 46, I've always had good luck with'em also...