First ever rebuild: Stihl 038magnum?

Manofstihl661 · Oct 25, 2019

qurotro said:
Yea.. cover the exhaust and intake and blast it with compressed air.

Awesome I’ll give it all a good wipe down then blast it best I can

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

Well I started cleaning and thought...I don’t remember ever looking in the intake side of the jug...

Guess this thread is dead quicker than it started...

As soon as I had to remove a strange piece of metal from the boot i knew it wasn’t going to be good. Looked in and knew where it came from immediately and decided cleaning the saw was useless so I pulled the jug. Guess I have a few parts maybe that I could dish out but other than that I’ll just practice taking it apart I guess.

Moparmyway · Oct 26, 2019

What’s the diameter of the piston or the bore ?

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

Cylinder doesn’t seem bad...maybe? I don’t feel anything besides the dark colored area which I’d assume is carbon deposit? Maybe it could be saved for if I find a better specimen later? I’ll get measurements and numbers in a second. Also a picture down around the crank coming.

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

Moparmyway said:
What’s the diameter of the piston or the bore ?

Appears to be a 51mm bore

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

51.75 or so...so maybe 52 since my calipers were bought off amazon and either way probably have some leeway

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

qurotro · Oct 26, 2019

That's kinda odd damage... Lucky enough 52mm 038 psiton is easy to find.. Yes the cylinder is good.

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

qurotro said:
That's kinda odd damage... Lucky enough 52mm 038 psiton is easy to find.. Yes the cylinder is good.

I thought so too but I dont have much experience. I thought with the piston seemingly being destroyed it would have scarred up the cylinder at least too.

Wolverine · Oct 26, 2019

For some reason, your pics aren't loading for me.

Do you have any previous experience with an 038mag? I rebuilt and flipped one a few years ago. It was a turd stock. Boat anchor weight and 60cc performance in a 72cc package. My ported 56.5 cc would rip it a new azzhole so after that I've never understood the lure of these saws.
This is how I bought it. Using the MM method of transfer removal, it cleaned right up.

After:

Wolverine · Oct 26, 2019

Oh wow, just saw pics of the bottom. Not looking good. I was guessing you had transfer on the cyl.

Moparmyway · Oct 26, 2019

I’d split the case, inspect the crank/rod real good. If it checks out, install new bearings and seals.

Let’s see what you decide to do with it, have you ever split a case before ?

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

Moparmyway said:
I’d split the case, inspect the crank/rod real good. If it checks out, install new bearings and seals.

Let’s see what you decide to do with it, have you ever split a case before ?

Never split a case. So if anything I may go through the motion on it to an extent to get the experience of it. Then if anything I have spare parts for later and could find another builder or a runner or who knows. But I want to go through and learn how to check things and them apart at least if that makes sense

Manofstihl661 · Oct 26, 2019

Wolverine said:
For some reason, your pics aren't loading for me.

Do you have any previous experience with an 038mag? I rebuilt and flipped one a few years ago. It was a turd stock. Boat anchor weight and 60cc performance in a 72cc package. My ported 56.5 cc would rip it a new azzhole so after that I've never understood the lure of these saws.
This is how I bought it. Using the MM method of transfer removal, it cleaned right up.

No previous experience with one but I’ve always heard good things actually.

Al Smith · Oct 28, 2019

Don't listen to any negativity about an 038 Mag because you can add some soup to them if you know how .Those Mahle cylinders are tough .I rebuilt one with a grenaded piston worse than that one and the cylinder didn't have as much as a dent in it . Even stock they do very well .The one I rebuilt had served over 20 hard years of service for a tree company and ten more after I rebuilt it and it was given to me .
That one is pretty funky inside .Soak it in a bucket of kerosene for a while to get all that sludge and crude off it .
Parts for the 038 mag are relatively inexpensive and pletifull in both OEM and after market .--good luck

Manofstihl661 · Oct 28, 2019

Al Smith said:
Don't listen to any negativity about an 038 Mag because you can add some soup to them if you know how .Those Mahle cylinders are tough .I rebuilt one with a grenaded piston worse than that one and the cylinder didn't have as much as a dent in it . Even stock they do very well .The one I rebuilt had served over 20 hard years of service for a tree company and ten more after I rebuilt it and it was given to me .
That one is pretty funky inside .Soak it in a bucket of kerosene for a while to get all that sludge and crude off it .
Parts for the 038 mag are relatively inexpensive and pletifull in both OEM and after market .--good luck

I appreciate the encouragement. I’m keeping an eye out for parts saws and such to supplement this one. It’ll be a long journey but eventually I’ll get it done

qurotro · Oct 28, 2019

038s are tough though they are heavy. I've seen guys ran diesel motor oil as a mix in them all day long without blowing it up.

Al Smith · Oct 29, 2019

About a pound more than a 372 Husky or an 044 Stihl .These thing have some meat on their bones ,made for the long haul .

Al Smith · Oct 29, 2019

Seriously if anything a pound or two doesn't make any difference and if anything bucking on the ground is a help .You just hit the gas and it eats it's way right through .No hooking a dog and leaning on it hard .Fact I did two 15" maple logs yesterday with a souped 038 mag in almost no time at all . Just let -er-rip and move it along at about 16" apart .Roll it over with a cant hook and cut them all loose in a flash .Done--put the saw away and drink beer .There was about a face cord in those two logs and it took me maybe 15 minutes .Not bad for an old retired fart

OC455 · May 22, 2020

So, how did this turn out or is it on the back burner?

First ever rebuild: Stihl 038magnum?

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