To Port or Not to Port

[bcorradi]

What is everybody's feelings on if it is worth the investment to send off a saw to be ported vs doing a muffler mod? Is it something you'd suggest for the average joe cutting firewood to heat his home? Is it something you would suggest strictly for professional/commercial users? Is it something you would suggest for people if they want a cool conversation piece?

Arguments you see for porting
1) Better PWR - Ability to have more saw in a smaller/lighter package
2) Durability/Longevity - Allows the saw to breath better which in turn increases longevity. A lot of saw builders argue the port timing on a lot of saws are extremely convervative due to EPA regulations.
3) Coolness factor - Self explanatory.


Arguments you see against porting
1) Durability - People question the durability vs a stock saw. More potential for things to go wrong. They have a hard time believing the saw builder's designs vs the manufacturers designs.
2) Leariness - People tend to get a little nervous trusting some saw builder doing portwork on their semi expensive investment.
3) Expense - Most of the time you can buy at least a size or two bigger pro saw for the porting expense.
4) Voids Warranty - If done on a new saw.

 

[Four Paws]

Read up and port it yourself! Under $50 of tools and an afternoon of your time is required. Once you run a ported saw you will be all grins

 

[Lakeside53]

A typical homeowner doesn't need it.

A muffler mod will take you most of the way for little $$..

A sharp chain is like doubling your horsepower. Oh NO.....

The saw will run 20dB faster.

 

[GASoline71]

A sharp chain is like doubling your horsepower. Oh NO.....

The saw will run 20dB faster.

DOH... HAHAHAHAHA!:hmm3grin2orange: :help:

Gary

 

[Mr.]

Andy, do you have hp envy? LOL

Fred

 

[Lakeside53]

Nope, just too many bigger and bigger saws!

 

[rbtree]

Hey brad, how are tricks?

I don't think a good woods port job shortens the life of a saw. Mine all are running well and some have been done for several years now. I did have a rod bearing give way on a Madsen's modded 372 and ruin the bottom end as well as the top. But if I recall, its muffler was stock till near the end of its life...which means it wasn't running cooler.....which surely must help a saw last longer.
I did have another Madsen's saw, an 044, spring an air leak, which meant a new jug....but i could have avoided that by not running the saw after it started acting up...

Having run ported saws for years now, I'll never go back to stock...a great benefit is having a saw one or two classes smaller and lighter be able to perform the work of the larger saw....though, I'm sure a larger saw would last longer.
But my 346 that I got from gypologger in 2003 is still going, and it was ported by Dennis Greffard in 2002.....too bad I sold it to a friend for $150.

 

[Mr.]

What is everybody's feelings on if it is worth the investment to send off a saw to be ported vs doing a muffler mod? Is it something you'd suggest for the average joe cutting firewood to heat his home? Is it something you would suggest strictly for professional/commercial users? Is it something you would suggest for people if they want a cool conversation piece?

Arguments you see for porting
1) Better PWR - Ability to have more saw in a smaller/lighter package
2) Durability/Longevity - Allows the saw to breath better which in turn increases longevity. A lot of saw builders argue the port timing on a lot of saws are extremely convervative due to EPA regulations.
3) Coolness factor - Self explanatory.


Arguments you see against porting
1) Durability - People question the durability vs a stock saw. More potential for things to go wrong. They have a hard time believing the saw builder's designs vs the manufacturers designs.
2) Leariness - People tend to get a little nervous trusting some saw builder doing portwork on their semi expensive investment.
3) Expense - Most of the time you can buy at least a size or two bigger pro saw for the porting expense.
4) Voids Warranty - If done on a new saw.

Don't you have a couple ported saws? Something happen?

Fred

 

[woodfarmer]

my only experience is with the jonny 2159 cat, that ran like a dead cat until it was piped and ported, now it runs top dog

 

[bcorradi]

Don't you have a couple ported saws? Something happen?

Fred

Yes I do have one I'm just curious what other people's thoughts are. The saw still works great.

 

[bcorradi]

Hey brad, how are tricks?

I don't think a good woods port job shortens the life of a saw. Mine all are running well and some have been done for several years now. I did have a rod bearing give way on a Madsen's modded 372 and ruin the bottom end as well as the top. But if I recall, its muffler was stock till near the end of its life...which means it wasn't running cooler.....which surely must help a saw last longer.
I did have another Madsen's saw, an 044, spring an air leak, which meant a new jug....but i could have avoided that by not running the saw after it started acting up...

Having run ported saws for years now, I'll never go back to stock...a great benefit is having a saw one or two classes smaller and lighter be able to perform the work of the larger saw....though, I'm sure a larger saw would last longer.
But my 346 that I got from gypologger in 2003 is still going, and it was ported by Dennis Greffard in 2002.....too bad I sold it to a friend for $150.

Not sure what you mean by "how are tricks?". Thanks for sharing your experience with ported saws.

 

[romeo]

Mod `em. MOD THEM ALL.

 

[bwalker]

For the average Joe I think its best to stear away from ported saws.
With that said, if you can keep and maintain a sharp chain, run good gas and oil and in general take care of your stuff mod saws are a hoot.

 

[bcorradi]

Thanks Ben

What are you reasons for staying away for the average joe? Gains not needed?

 

[timberwolf]

What is your basis for using good fuel and oil? opcorn:

 

[bwalker]

The average Joe cant maintain a chain so any gains int he motor are lost. The average joe also doesnt maintain a saw worth a darn and isnt too picky on what he feeds it, which can get you into trouble on a ported saw.

 

[A100HVA]

For the average Joe I think its best to stear away from ported saws.
With that said, if you can keep and maintain a sharp chain, run good gas and oil and in general take care of your stuff mod saws are a hoot.

that's the way i look at it ( being a dealer to boot too )

 

[bwalker]

What is your basis for using good fuel and oil?

It means using premium, non alky pump gass and a aircooled JASO FC,FD and or ISO EGD oil.
Alky doped 87octane pump gas mixed with 30wt, cheap boat oil or ATF doesnt cut it. Gas sitting in the garage for several years doesnt cut it(a buddy does this BTW).

 

[timberwolf]

I was not realy asking what good fuel or oil is, I was asking how you arrived at the decision to use such stuff?

Any scientific studies?

 

[bwalker]

TW, go to your local saw shop and take a peak at the saws that come in for service.