MCCULLOCH McCulloch 797 help

[Scott Kelsey]

Hi everyone. I recently purchased a McCulloch 797. Saw is in relatively good shape for its age in my opinion. Are there any resources or repair/parts manuals available? Also, in collecting various items throughout the years there always seemed to be a person whom had a wealth of knowledge and or parts for sale that has been willing to help. Is there a person or persons that can help with this saw? If you have any information, tips, etc. You are willing to share here or through a personal message please do so. Thank you for reading.

 

[Canadian farm boy]

I'm no help here but maybe these two guys can shed some light @heimannm
@Lee H

 

[Scott Kelsey]

I appreciate the reply. If anyone else reads this can you tell me of the difference between a Super 797 and a regular 797 and how to identify them.

 

[Yukon Stihl]

Difference is in the name.Find the numbers on the bottom of the block.

 

[Yukon Stihl]

Saved these two Gear Drives this weekend a 1-61 and a 895 Both wearing hard nose McCulloch bars not seized.

 

[Scott Kelsey]

Nice saws. Do the gear drive make a better saw?

 

[Lee H]

Hi everyone. I recently purchased a McCulloch 797. Saw is in relatively good shape for its age in my opinion. Are there any resources or repair/parts manuals available? Also, in collecting various items throughout the years there always seemed to be a person whom had a wealth of knowledge and or parts for sale that has been willing to help. Is there a person or persons that can help with this saw? If you have any information, tips, etc. You are willing to share here or through a personal message please do so. Thank you for reading.

The 797's and Super 797's are great saws. I have passion for them and been in quite a few. I don't know of
any repair manuals but there isn't really any need for one. They are pretty basic. If yours is a regular 797
it should have the Mac Flat back carb which was made by Walbro. I personally don't like them. Diaphragm
kits are available aftermarket but expensive. Other parts like needle and seat are NLA. I like to convert
them to a Tillotson HL carb and you can use a 103, 19, and 63 models. Point gaps are like most large Mac's
set at .020. The block number will be 66251 stamped in the bottom. It will also have thin ring piston rings
as well as a boost port.

Super 797's Have think ring pistons, Early ones had HL103 carbs, Later have Walbro SDC carbs, Early have
boost ports while later ones didn't. Later ones also had no numbers stamped into the block. All supers were
painted all yellow.

If I can help in any way don't be afraid to shout out.

 

[sawfun]

Nice saws. Do the gear drive make a better saw?

Gear drives work well with long bars, slow but can run a larger pitch chain to more than make up for the reduced chain speed. They are a different breed and behave a bit differently than a direct drive saw.

 

[sawfun]

Saved these two Gear Drives this weekend a 1-61 and a 895View attachment 147729View attachment 147730View attachment 147728View attachment 147731 Both wearing hard nose McCulloch bars not seized.

Way to go, complete 895's are hard to find as most tended to get used up. Those will pull a 72" bar with .404, no problem and likely a 60" with 1/2". I got one that had a 30" bar and 5/8 chisel.

 

[Scott Kelsey]

Here is the saw. I just received it.

 

[Scott Kelsey]

Pictures

 

[Lee H]

That's a pretty nice one and someone already changed the carb to a Tilly.
How's the piston look. It also has the wrong muffler.

 

[Scott Kelsey]

Lee, I have not had a chance to look at the piston. I am going to order a carburetor rebuild kit. Do you know if they are specific to each different HL pr are the kits universal? I can't find a specific one? I thought the muffler did not look right from what I have seen. Do you have a picture of a correct one? I recieved the saw after I left for work last night so I am going to give you a call either Friday afternoon or Saturday if you are available.

 

[Lee H]

There are quite few different HL kits. I believe the one you want is RK88HL. Make sure you
buy a genuine kit not some aftermarket junk. I buy all mine off ebay. Search a bit as there are
many prices for the same kit. The 797's are came with a square type of muffler but many
changed them to the Mac round directional muffler. Yours is and older style where the cover
is held on with two screws which was used in many older 80 and 87cc saws. I'll be around
Fri and Sat.

 

[Scott Kelsey]

Heres some pictures of the the piston. I can see cross hatching in the cylinder, but noticed the top of the piston was quite dirty. Hoping you guys can give me an opinion about the chain. The sprocket seems quite large for size of the chain. Am I missing something here or does it look like the correct sprocket. I have yet to be able to take it apart and look for numbers.

 

[Scott Kelsey]

Picture of the chain.

 

[Lee H]

Piston looks good. Do a compression test and see where it's at.
The chain is the old Oregon 58 chipper chain. Not what I use
but it's good in dirty applications.

 

[Al Smith]

Considering every thing that spur doesn't look that bad .

 

[Al Smith]

I looked the chain up,it's .058 gauge .As a matter of fact my 48" Mac bar is also .058 .You can find .404 by .058 but you have to look for it .

 

[Scott Kelsey]

Thank you Al Smith for the information. I am curious if anyone makes bars these days that will fit on this saw. Also, looking on threads I see pictures of what's called a roller nose bar. Can anyone tell me the ins/outs of these? Just trying to learn. Also does the sprocket on these need to be changed for different chain sizes?

I started up the saw a short while ago, and it seemed to run very well. It won't idle on it's own so I will look into the carburetor and adjustment after the rebuild kit comes. I am hoping anyone here can help me with parts sources. Is there anyone out there that may have good used parts or NOS (engine, etc.)? I need a fuel tank cap as it is missing the center piece. Any and all help is and has been appreciated.