Red lever Stihl

[redlight066]

A buddy of mine picked up a 10mm 044. He asked me about this saw. Told him that the red lever saws had better port timing, from what I’ve read on the internet. I also mentioned it may just be folk lore too. Lol. He called Stihl tech support and here’s what little they were able to tell him.
1. The saw was manufactured in ‘91
2.No historical service records or original place of sale.
3.it was not produced on the regular production line.

I have not seen the saw in person. Just this pic and another. Appears to be all original. The guy he bought it from has owned it for a long time. Dunno if he was the original owner or not.

Discuss....

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Here to learn. I think it’s kind of a myth. My gut tells me that earlier production saws are less choked up. I always equate red levers as earlier models.

 

[huskyboy]

Some of the first had black levers, then they changed to red and then black again. Some of the early 12mm had the 10mm cylinder. I had one.

 

[Canadian farm boy]

I’m not sure exactly when stihl started with the red levers or if all the pro saws had red levers at the same time. I’ve seen some pretty early 10mm 044 with red levers. I have a 1989 036 with a red lever (first year of production I believe)
I’m pretty sure the only 0 series pro saw that stihl didn’t produce at one point with a red lever is the 046. (Later production saw)

 

[MG porting]

Ether case that's a good find for your friend the 10mm 044 in my opinion is a darn good saw.

 

[Lightning Performance]

There is an 89' -90' red lever 036 here. I have seen this same saw with the same early type of lever in black. My 036 pro needs to be checked for the year and lever color. Why they made black and red then change the lever style and went black again is a mystery to me.

 

[Wonkydonkey]

The serial # will tell you something, but what,, idk. Maybe early or later production. Does have a auto choke or not what carb it’s got...the list is long

I'm rebuilding the one I picked up atm.. so I’m learning, well trying to..

Here’s a bulletin I found with a few differences in the production..

http://opeforum.com/threads/whats-saw-is-in-the-package-an-ooerr44-arctic.18349/page-7#post-972997

 

[foragefarmer]

I have a 10mm red lever saw with a KS cylinder. I didn't do anything to the cylinder and put a fresh OEM piston in it. Gave it a dual port muffler cover, a base gasket delete, and a HD 2 filter. Pulls 190 psi and likes to be tuned to 14200.

I also have an early 12mm red lever but it had a seized AM jug on it when I got it and is a hybrid now.

 

[Ketchup]

Have your buddy check the jug. The K$ jugs seem to show up on the early saws. I’m told those are the best to port. Not sure if that’s true but all the ones I’ve seen have been very good.

I miss my KolbenSchmidt 066 Redlight. It was a real screamer.

Edit:
FWIW, my 2 red lever 026’s are both Mahle. Neither jug is remarkable.

 

[drf256]

The red lever just denotes an earlier saw. Like mason said, the really early models (like 034 and 024) had black levers and went to red at some point. Then back to black.

It only means that they used red instead of black plastic to make the lever. It does, however, clue one in as to the era the saw was produced in.

A red lever original 026 has a smaller combustion chamber than later models that have the cast in decomp provision in the chamber. The exhaust is also 1-2* lower. It makes a bit more compression than the later jugs, but most of the gains were from the less restrictive mufflers.

Think about the era and solid performers that came with red levers and you’ll understand the genesis of the folk lore:

Early 026/034 Super/10mm 044/064

 

[redlight066]

The red lever just denotes an earlier saw. Like mason said, the really early models (like 034 and 024) had black levers and went to red at some point. Then back to black.

It only means that they used red instead of black plastic to make the lever. It does, however, clue one in as to the era the saw was produced in.

A red lever original 026 has a smaller combustion chamber than later models that have the cast in decomp provision in the chamber. The exhaust is also 1-2* lower. It makes a bit more compression than the later jugs, but most of the gains were from the less restrictive mufflers.

Think about the era and solid performers that came with red levers and you’ll understand the genesis of the folk lore:

Early 026/034 Super/10mm 044/064

Al, I think you’ve made a great point here. These were the first gen “modern” saws, couple that with being pre-EPA restricted and you’ve got a factory hot rod. Larger less restrictive mufflers, bigger jets in the carb etc.

My redlight has the KS jug. The port work is really nice from the factory. Definitely a strong runner. T Roller (Dave) ran it at Randy’s this year and immediately wanted to buy it.

 

[redlight066]

This 10mm 044 just sold here. Seller said it was bone stock and original. What a fine example of what an exhaust port should look like.

 

[RI Chevy]

Might even be a D jug...

 

[Wonkydonkey]

What’s the serial #.

That vid about the 3 nos with Scott & Julian posted in the saw vid thread, says a lot.. your elasto starter is orange, Scott says about the non elasto and the black top
I wonder what serial/time they fitted the HD defilther or if it’s one of those states side things
Here’s the link, save yourself looking if you missed it

 

[Orangeinthebarn]

This 10mm 044 just sold here. Seller said it was bone stock and original. What a fine example of what an exhaust port should look like.
View attachment 212071

I wanted that saw. Buyer got a dandy

 

[ktmtigger]

How were the 029 with red lever?

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[Whiskers]

This 10mm 044 just sold here. Seller said it was bone stock and original. What a fine example of what an exhaust port should look like.
View attachment 212071

I sold this saw. It was a black lever saw. Mahle cylinder. It had an elastostart handle, but that was added by the original owner in hopes it would help his shoulder. I don’t know how early the serial # is but it started 120xxx.

 

[Dub11]

How were the 029 with red lever?

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That right there is probably the most epic saw ever.

 

[RI Chevy]

I had an 029 for 23 plus years. Piston and cylinder looked like it was never used.
I worked that saw much harder than it ever should have. Never, ever let me down.

 

[ktmtigger]

That right there is probably the most epic saw ever.

That's great cause it's free

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