To Port or Not to Port

[Lakeside53]

Hey, it's my day off. don't remind me of what it's really like..:jester: :jester:

 

[Tree Sling'r]

Hey, it's my day off. don't remind me of what it's really like..:jester: :jester:

You better run back to the shop right quick Andy, we need you to measure something.

 

[Lakeside53]

Ha! I have my own shop at home with real tools to to measure things.. and most things that need measuring...


As for the mod stuff... In the last two years the store has serviced over 2000 saws, sold maybe another 1000... pro and homeowner.. and (apart from RBTREE who searches out the backyard mechanics for service ) I've only seen maybe two modded saws... I even "suggest" to several pros they'd get better performance with dual ports on their bigger saws, but they just shrug and say thing like.. 'it cuts fine", "don't like the noise", "$50!!!! ???? " etc etc..

Outside of AS and a few "communities", modded saws, even just mufflers, are rare.

 

[spacemule]

The saw will run 20dB faster.

Ha! Sounds like a good signature line.

 

[Lakeside53]

Ha! Sounds like a good signature line.

Yep, and 77.82% will believe it:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[bcorradi]

Ha! I have my own shop at home with real tools to to measure things.. and most things that need measuring...


As for the mod stuff... In the last two years the store has serviced over 2000 saws, sold maybe another 1000... pro and homeowner.. and (apart from RBTREE who searches out the backyard mechanics for service ) I've only seen maybe two modded saws... I even "suggest" to several pros they'd get better performance with dual ports on their bigger saws, but they just shrug and say thing like.. 'it cuts fine", "don't like the noise", "$50!!!! ???? " etc etc..

Outside of AS and a few "communities", modded saws, even just mufflers, are rare.

Great Post

 

[spacemule]

When most people hear of modded saws they think of Joe Blow's teenage son down the street who chopped the mufflers off of his little rice grinder to go faster and has no concept of second gear or paying for tires. That's my take anyway.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

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.

Bingo!!!


Members here on AS are the excption not the rule!!!

More saws are damaged or fubared by Joe Average not running a sharp chain and reefing up on the handles than from porting!

I don't know if I gain production from a modded saw.........all I know is what I like..........modded saws is one of them!

Go to a local saw shop and have a look at what these huys are fixing..........Tom Hall, Stihltech, Lakeside53.....etc. know all too well!!!

 

[Gypo Logger]

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.

Hey RB, here's my top drawer 346KD. It's almost 4 years old now and it smells a 20 acre stand of 12" cedar just acheing to get stump jumped. That's a 15" bar and 3/8 chisel it's sporting. I also have a 13" bar for it, but it's .063 gauge. Anyone know where I can find a 3/8 1.3 mm 13" small mount bar?
John

 

[troutfisher]

Hot Rod'em!!!!

 

[Ax-man]

Excellent thread you got going here Brad, I have enjoyed reading every post.

I am not a saw builder but have ported some of my work saws and have done muffler mods so far no ill effects except for an ms200 that got a muffler mod, the muffler just fell apart in two pieces. I have no idea exactly how it happened, I fault the muffler more than the mod because the saw was an older one and bought used. The other ms200 I have recieved a more radical mod and has shown no ill effects.

There is a marked increase in performance in a ported saw, if the saw has a good heavy bottom end to it I see no reason not to jazz up a saw, especially if you make a living using a saw like a tree service or logger. A modded saw starts much easier, idles nice and smooth and has a nice quick snappy response to the trigger, accelerates faster, not to mention the faster cutting, who couldn't love that. Add in a sharp chain and bigger sprocket and you have one good cutting machine.

The only thing I have never seen asked or discussed after modding a saw is how much it affects the springs in the clutch, I haven't had any problems but I am sure there getting pushed to the max. It's no big deal if they get streached or break, but that is just one of those little maintenance jobs I hate to do, takes second place to carb rebuilding in the fix-it department.

Just my 2 cents.

Larry

 

[rahtreelimbs]

The only thing I have never seen asked or discussed after modding a saw is how much it affects the springs in the clutch, I haven't had any problems but I am sure there getting pushed to the max. It's no big deal if they get streached or break, but that is just one of those little maintenance jobs I hate to do, takes second place to carb rebuilding in the fix-it department.

Just my 2 cents.

Larry

Don't reef on it and the clutch will be fine!!!

 

[bcorradi]

My intention of the thread wasn't to bash saw porting or to have a saw builder war. My main purpose was to enlighten potential newcommers to the site the advantages/disadvantages to porting.

 

[bcorradi]

Hey Larry,

Thanks for sharing your personal porting experience and knowledge.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Not to port is somewhat like saying that being constipated it is better than being on a high fibre diet. Stock saws are retarded and are testament to how tough 2 cycle is. Stock saws run in spite of their inefficientcy, not because of them.
John

 

[stihltech]

port or starboard

I think for the average saw user, it is a waste.
I would say the people on AS are not the average saw user.

As for the maintenance, if you saw what we see in the shop, you would understand.----
What airfilter?
It only lasted that long without oil in the fuel?
I liked the old saws better, you could burn through the wood.
So the fuel is 4 years old, so what?
Hey, I cleaned the airfilter daily with a toothbrush.
I got it stuck in the tree, so we both grabbed on and pulled it out.

And my favorite,

After it came around the second time on the skidder tire chain, I forgot about it.
A few days later it came around on the chain again, think you can fix it?:yoyo:

 

[klickitatsacket]

I've waited to post for a while to see what others had to say. As a saw builder, I say that for the average guy it is definitely not needed. However if you are a professional or you count on your saw to make you a dollar then you may want to look into it. If you are jsut a guy (or gal) who likes high performance; then definately.

Ben mentioned "Average Joe" the average joe does not spend another 2-6 hundred dollars for performance or he would not have bought the home owner or poulan saw in the first place. He most likely isn't the guy considering buying a modified saw. The guy who buys a top quality saw and then spends 5 bills having taken to sweatness is already using the best fuel and oil he or she can get.

Lakeside mentioned modified not being very common or at least not where he is at. Maybe so up in the city but down here in this part of Washington; every logger and his grandmother ports his own saws. I have stacks of different cylinders from shops I have bought out where guys have done their home made jobs. Most are workable and some are funny. Some done with great skill and others look like they where done with a cold chisel. It is not just an AS phenomenon. It's been around ever since there where saws and always will be. City folk do tend to be a little less self reliant though.

 

[Lakeside53]

When most people hear of modded saws they think of Joe Blow's teenage son down the street who chopped the mufflers off of his little rice grinder to go faster and has no concept of second gear or paying for tires. That's my take anyway.

Ha.. that's what MY neighbor a 1/4 mile way said about RBtree and his modded 372.. what's he using up there? a trail bike? I told him .. yes..

 

[Lakeside53]

Lakeside mentioned modified not being very common or at least not where he is at. Maybe so up in the city but down here in this part of Washington; every logger and his grandmother ports his own saws. I have stacks of different cylinders from shops I have bought out where guys have done their home made jobs. Most are workable and some are funny. Some done with great skill and others look like they where done with a cold chisel. It is not just an AS phenomenon. It's been around ever since there where saws and always will be. City folk do tend to be a little less self reliant though.

Your area was one of those "communities" I was referring to... It's still tiny in comparison the entire marketplace.... and you are goiing to see more than the norm because of the business you are in.

 

[bwalker]

Ben mentioned "Average Joe" the average joe does not spend another 2-6 hundred dollars for performance or he would not have bought the home owner or poulan saw in the first place. He most likely isn't the guy considering buying a modified saw. The guy who buys a top quality saw and then spends 5 bills having taken to sweatness is already using the best fuel and oil he or she can get.

I wouldnt make that assumption. You would be surprised at the number of guys that walk into a saw dealer and buy the biggest saw they can afford, despite being clueless. I have also noticed that many guys buy saws based on what the local loggers use. thats why the 440, 372, 357 and 361 are big sellers around here.
Just the other day I was at my dealers shop and he had a nearly new 385 on the bench that was seized up. No oil in the gas. The saw also had the paint burnt of the bar just a head of the dogs which is a telling sign.