Bernie’s MS250 Upgrade

[GMB74]

This might be a good upgrade if you are playing with the timing.
I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

Clip 1128 195 3500
Dog (pawl) 1125 195 7200

 

[GMB74]

The chain catcher is a small arm of plastic coming off the clutch cover.
It works OK the first couple of times you lose your chain, then breaks off the cover.
Replacement chain catcher 1123 656 7700

 

[GMB74]

The OEM high output oiler is over $46 at my local dealer.
Do the AM Chinese ones work or are they junk?

I run a 16" bar on mine, the factory oiler works fine for that.

 

[MAF143]

I've done the same MM they mentioned above, timing advance, dual pawls on the starter, and run full chisel square file chain on an 18" bar. With the MM it took about half a turn out on the high jet and it is a whole different saw than stock. The oiler on mine seems just fine as long as you keep the bar clean. I clean and flip mine every 3 tanks anyway. Air filter isn't very impressive so I grease the sealing points and run the AM nylon mesh style. I also run an 8 tooth rim sprocket. It'll throw a pretty serious shower of chips for a saw this size with this set up.

After market felling dogs are handy for me as I use it to girdle a lot of trees as well. Those aren't really needed for most stuff on a saw this size, but it is nice for girdling.

I've been very happy with it over the years, however if I was buying a new saw, I think there are other saws out there that are a touch lighter with the same power. I won't spend money to replace it though unless there is a major catastrophe... It gets used a lot in my woods and always delivers what I ask of it.

 

[slackinoff]

One of my favorite clam shell saws. With the above mods, they are surprisingly strong.

 

[sawmikaze]

One of my favorite clam shell saws. With the above mods, they are surprisingly strong.

I know guys in the tree business that buy them for their ground guys, they work just fine.

 

[PA Dan]

Yowza!
That's a lot of advance.
How did it start, especially cold?

It's a sub 50cc homeowner saw. A little timing advance won't make it that much harder to start.

 

[PA Dan]

The OEM high output oiler is over $46 at my local dealer.
Do the AM Chinese ones work or are they junk?

I run a 16" bar on mine, the factory oiler works fine for that.

What's the part number?

 

[DND 9000]

The higher output oiler is 1123 640 3201.

 

[GMB74]

It's a sub 50cc homeowner saw. A little timing advance won't make it that much harder to start.

025/MS250 has a reputation of being hard pulling/hard starting in some circles.
I never had a problem with my saws- I have had several- but some people apparently have.
I will give my current one a little TA and see what happens.

 

[PA Dan]

025/MS250 has a reputation of being hard pulling/hard starting in some circles.
I never had a problem with my saws- I have had several- but some people apparently have.
I will give my current one a little TA and see what happens.

A well tuned saw that is treated right should never be hard to start.

 

[GMB74]

A well tuned saw that is treated right should never be hard to start.

Well tuned
Treated right
I suspect this is why some people had problems.
These little saws often don't get the respect they deserve.
Another possibility is a faulty part that was never addressed under warranty when new.

 

[5155]

I have this one 55, I need to treat better lol.

 

[Hulpio]

Replacing original black fuel hose with clear one kind of opened my eyes. I can not expect chainsaw starting easily if it just does not have fuel. Could be a Husky disease could not, do not know.

 

[sawmikaze]

Well tuned
Treated right
I suspect this is why some people had problems.
These little saws often don't get the respect they deserve.
Another possibility is a faulty part that was never addressed under warranty when new.

They have a quiet cough on choke and a lot of people who don't know much about chainsaws keep pulling and flood them.

I never gave a cold one more than 3 or 4 yanks before I moved it up to half, never had a problem.

 

[sawmikaze]

Well tuned
Treated right
I suspect this is why some people had problems.
These little saws often don't get the respect they deserve.
Another possibility is a faulty part that was never addressed under warranty when new.

They can last a couple seasons under heavy commercial use. For a seasonal firewood cutter a long time.

 

[GMB74]

I cut my yearly supply of firewood with an 025 for 10-15 years before getting an MS250.
The 025 still ran great, but the MS250 was on sale at the dealership where I worked and the rumor was they were going to stop production.
I figured I should upgrade while I could.
That was almost 10 years ago now.
I have bigger and better saws for bigger work, but the MS250 is the one I grab first for most jobs.

 

[Loony661]

They have a quiet cough on choke and a lot of people who don't know much about chainsaws keep pulling and flood them.

I never gave a cold one more than 3 or 4 yanks before I moved it up to half, never had a problem.

This. Then they blame the saw for not being adjusted correctly or being junk… In reality, one of the toughest “homeowner” saws made IMO.

 

[GMB74]

They have a quiet cough on choke and a lot of people who don't know much about chainsaws keep pulling and flood them.

I never gave a cold one more than 3 or 4 yanks before I moved it up to half, never had a problem.

A "quiet cough" is right.
They will crank it over until they have gas running out of the muffler or it hydrolocks, then bring it back saying it's junk.
I would take the saw out back, clear it out then instruct the new owner (again) on the correct starting procedure.

 

[Paul Fithian]

Thanks fellas, I really appreciate your input on this!