Why shouldn't I "air start" my chainsaw???

[rogue60]

Every saw I pick up is started drop start style, I wouldn`t know or even try any other method as I would feel unsafe due to its awkwardness, anytime something feels awkward it would more likely lead to me doing damage to myself. A heavy saw helps with the drop start method, my 070 and ContraS all weigh in close to the 090AV,heavy saws compared to most modern saws.

I find my 090AV with a 30in bar very easy to start dropping starting it.
But on the flipside I can say with confidence trying to start it on the ground you are in for an awful experience! and very painful if the starter handle rips out of ya hand which it seems to like doing starting on the ground..

 

[sean donato]

I find my 090AV with a 30in bar very easy to start dropping starting it.
But on the flipside I can say with confidence trying to start it on the ground you are in for an awful experience! and very painful if the starter handle rips out of ya hand which it seems to like doing starting on the ground..

My old 084av was a bear like that. Guys would ask to run it, I'd say "if you can start it " most would give up when it kicked back after the second pull. Drop start was a must on it, and it still took some skill so it didn't rip the cord out of your hand.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I find my 090AV with a 30in bar very easy to start dropping starting it.
But on the flipside I can say with confidence trying to start it on the ground you are in for an awful experience! and very painful if the starter handle rips out of ya hand which it seems to like doing starting on the ground..

The saws I learned to drop start on were the early Pioneer 600 series and the earlier IEL model RA, those saws are about the same size as the 090 and 070, we seldom ran saws with bars longer than 24" as the trees here generally were easily felled with a 24" bar and we did not want to make the saws any heavier than necessary. Starting any saw on the ground would be an awful experience for me. When I can no longer drop start a chainsaw that will be the end of my sawing days. The men in my family all drop started saws and did so up until their death from natural aging out.

 

[rogue60]

My old 084av was a bear like that. Guys would ask to run it, I'd say "if you can start it " most would give up when it kicked back after the second pull. Drop start was a must on it, and it still took some skill so it didn't rip the cord out of your hand.

Me 090 is the only saw I own that'll do it trying to start on the ground all my other 90cc and 120cc saw don't kick back (all stock).
If I owned a saw that consistently kicked back and pulled the starter out of ya hand I'd sent it down the road damaged ripped/torn tendons in ya hand isn't worth it.

 

[Michael E]

Every saw I pick up is started drop start style, I wouldn`t know or even try any other method as I would feel unsafe due to its awkwardness,

I have never drop started a saw and wouldn't even try it, because it would feel awkward.

It's all about what you are used to.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Me 090 is the only saw I own that'll do it trying to start on the ground all my other 90cc and 120cc saw don't kick back (all stock).
If I owned a saw that consistently kicked back and pulled the starter out of ya hand I'd sent it down the road damaged ripped/torn tendons in ya hand isn't worth it.

You wouldn`t want to start my flat top 066 then, that saw is a beast to start and coming from me that is a rare term. I built that flat top back many years ago when machining down cylinders was the ,in, thing to do, compression is over 220 lbs. and the timing advanced too far for starting, the old module no longer retards timing for startup so it will rip yer fingers right off the cord handle if ya don`t have a vicegrip hand hold on it, the saw has often bloodied the back of my hand when it has rolled up on its side when pulling.It laughs at Elastostart handles and recoil cord, has gone through 4 new ones to date. I could easily change out the module and return the saw to a mild starting state but it is just one of those love hate relationships between me and that saw, my other 066`s and MS660`s are a kitten to start compared to that ole flattop. No one else ever wants to run it wherever we go together, its noisy/loud brash and will punish you but I love the way it runs and cuts.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I have never drop started a saw and wouldn't even try it, because it would feel awkward.

It's all about what you are used to.

I would say, "exactly".

 

[rogue60]

You wouldn`t want to start my flat top 066 then, that saw is a beast to start and coming from me that is a rare term. I built that flat top back many years ago when machining down cylinders was the ,in, thing to do, compression is over 220 lbs. and the timing advanced too far for starting, the old module no longer retards timing for startup so it will rip yer fingers right off the cord handle if ya don`t have a vicegrip hand hold on it, the saw has often bloodied the back of my hand when it has rolled up on its side when pulling.It laughs at Elastostart handles and recoil cord, has gone through 4 new ones to date. I could easily change out the module and return the saw to a mild starting state but it is just one of those love hate relationships between me and that saw, my other 066`s and MS660`s are a kitten to start compared to that ole flattop. No one else ever wants to run it wherever we go together, its noisy/loud brash and will punish you but I love the way it runs and cuts.

I wouldn't even attempt to start it lol
I've got too many torn and ripping off the bone tendons as it is. Worst being bloody ripped rotator cuff it was instant pain that never let up put my left arm out action for over a year. Was an awful experience I try and take it a bit easier on my body now days.

 

[Old2stroke]

Every saw I pick up is started drop start style, I wouldn`t know or even try any other method as I would feel unsafe due to its awkwardness, anytime something feels awkward it would more likely lead to me doing damage to myself. A heavy saw helps with the drop start method, my 070 and ContraS all weigh in close to the 090AV,heavy saws compared to most modern saws.

Yep, pulling against the inertia of the saw as it drops is the key. Heavier the saw, more the inertia. I have added a 10lb weight to some nasty starters to help with the pull-through

 

[huskihl]

Control is the catch word , not likely a good method for the limp wristed crowd.

Wrists appear to be limpening with each new generation

 

[pioneerguy600]

Wrists appear to be limpening with each new generation.

Yes, much different world than what I grew up through,much less self reliant society..Politically correctness and suits telling us what we can and cannot do.

 

[HansFranz]

Wrists appear to be limpening with each new generation

Seems like it typically takes a fairly hideous war to stiffen them up...should be one before long if we're on schedule...

 

[rogue60]

Back in the day when my dad was falling old growth hardwoods for the big mills up north using 090's... A limb hit him in the elbow messed his arm up, he could still run his saw but not start it. The mill sent a bloke out bush to follow him around and start his 090 for a few weeks until his arm was better and he could start it himself.

 

[Czed]

I'm a left handed drop starter!

40+ years.

Same

 

[ballisticdoughnut]

I rarely drop start a saw. I do the “three point method” majority of the time. Between the legs, left hand on handle, right on the recoil. I start 3120 and 880/881 this way without decomp. Last “big” saw I ran was a 881 with 42” bar. Prior to that was 3120 with 44” bar. Everyone has their own way of doing things.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I rarely drop start a saw. I do the “three point method” majority of the time. Between the legs, left hand on handle, right on the recoil. I start 3120 and 880/881 this way without decomp. Last “big” saw I ran was a 881 with 42” bar. Prior to that was 3120 with 44” bar. Everyone has their own way of doing things.

This is true but what I don`t like/go for is ,suits, that don`t even run chainsaws or likely any other tools telling me I cannot start my saw the way I am comfortable with because they have a fear. I have a strong suspicion that the insurance companies are the ones pushing much safety agenda these days.

 

[J D]

This is true but what I don`t like/go for is ,suits, that don`t even run chainsaws or likely any other tools telling me I cannot start my saw the way I am comfortable with because they have a fear. I have a strong suspicion that the insurance companies are the ones pushing much safety agenda these days.

Based on statistics of what people are doing when they hurt themselves, with no consideration as to whether that individual had any proper understanding of what they were doing or business to be doing it

 

[Old2stroke]

This is true but what I don`t like/go for is ,suits, that don`t even run chainsaws or likely any other tools telling me I cannot start my saw the way I am comfortable with because they have a fear. I have a strong suspicion that the insurance companies are the ones pushing much safety agenda these days.

Lowest common denominator. Safety standards are set to protect the most inept and incompetent members of society from injuring themselves and unfortunately, we all have to live by these standards even when they don't make any sense. Helps to reduce litigation and insurance claims.
Most modern cars have "forward collision avoidance". So the driver can do some cell phone texting? Maybe open a bag of chips and pop a can of coke?

 

[pioneerguy600]

I often do volunteer work around my community and one project was building a community playground for the children. They needed heavy timbers ,what they called them and the money available would go a lot further if they did not have to spend it buying them. My friend had plenty of big hemlock that are sort of worthless for common lumber but great for bigger timbers like 6X6 and 8X8, we were doing a cleanup on his couple thousand acre plot and so we picked the biggest and best straight hemlock stems for sawing out these timbers to be donated to the project. Cutting the trees in the woods went well and even sawing them out on the big bandsaw mill went without a hitch but when we delivered the timbers to the project site there were a bunch of ,Govt. Suits, there to direct us how to cut/fit the timbers. They would not let me use a chainsaw for the miter cuts. They wanted only electric corded power tools used like circular saws or larger miters saws like my 14" Makita, being remote from power we were using generators for electric power and it was slow going. They stuck around for the whole first day of assembly and forbade me to use a gasoline powered chainsaw at all, I did mention I used them to cut the trees in the first place but they were adamant I not use them on the playground cuts. This became a multi day project and luckily on the second day it began raining and the suits ran for cover, myself and 3 others stayed to keep on working. The suits mentioned they would not be back that day so soon after they ditched, out came the 044 and those miter cuts became 75% faster, made a few as we placed 97 timbers that day instead of the paltry 30 we got done the previous day. The govt suits returned the next day and were very surprised we had nearly completed the timber works, even praising us for the nice tight fits we had for the pea gravel retaining timber works, not one of us mentioned the chainsaw cuts.

 

[MacAttack]

I always start a cold saw on the ground, it seems easier to get my right hand on the throttle / choke to get it running after I pull it over. A warmed up saw I will just start from the hip, very little drop required unless it's a big saw.
I will say this...the McCulloch 450 I am currently working on is NOT a drop-start friendly saw, at least for me. It's just kinda awkward and a lot of compression, it's much easier pulling over planted on the ground.