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Effective porting

Usato

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First of all, excuse my English.
This is my first post
I am 42 years old and have already done work with an electric cable saw.
Unfortunately, my back is not exactly perfect having struggled as a young man. :(


I want to buy a small 30cc saw that weighs little (9lb) and I am undecided between these models:
Stihl ms 170
Stihl ms 180
Echo 310
Makita EA 3200 / Dolmar Ps 32
(If you have anything else to recommend with a good weight / power ratio, I listen to you).

I want to modify the muffler and carburetor if needed,
light porting and advance flywheel.
I would like to know which of these would give me the best results in percentage of power gain.

On the Dolmar / Makita I have some doubts because I don't see many spare parts (even aftermarket) ... maybe because Dolmar / Makita have decided not to make internal combustion engines anymore.
Finding a lot of aftermarket parts online would make me happy.
I'll probably just do muffler and carburation. Porting and advance modto such a small saw is difficult and not too effective for me, but I accept advice.

I have the house for sale and I hope to change it as soon as possible, trying to warm myself with wood in the next one.
The idea is to buy wood to be cut by making 100 quintals a year as a minimum (it all depends on the performance of the stove or fireplace) or to cut it directly by myself in nearby woods.
I had thought about buying a 50cc or a 40cc, but for some reason I feel an unstoppable desire to have one even earlier, small and cheap to play with its engine ...
for this I asked for a 30cc.
However, if you think it is an unnecessary expense, I am here to listen to you.
Now the money is very low, but when I sell the house, I will have the option to buy a real professional or semi-professional saw, this is not why I want to buy a small saw that is useless.

I leave the word to you.
 

davidwyby

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Welcome


I think the first question might be what diameter wood you will be cutting.
 

Fruecrue

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Of the choices, the Makita is the only one that tickles my pickle.
Modding an ms170/180 seems like an exercise in futility as their pretty much stihl’s disposable saws, their “wild thing” if you will...

I’m not familiar with the echo.

If a husky 346 can be had and isn’t too heavy, all the performance those little saws could dream of plus some would be in your hands in a stock saw.
 

Usato

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I don't want to spend a lot on a "small saw" so I guess I leave the pruning ones on the shelf.
For the professional saw, it seems to me soon, since I don't know what diameter I will cut. I haven't bought the new house yet and I don't know what size.
For sure with the little one, I would only cut branches that have fallen by wind and storm, so I don't think more than 20cm.
I also like the Makita, you can't find spare parts easily ... maybe because they won't make more petrol parts?
 

jacob j.

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If you could find an MS-210/211 on the used market, that might be the way to go for you. I bought my mom a 210 (14" bar) years ago and it was her main
firewood saw for about three years. She was cutting up to 16" diameter material with it regularly.
 

Usato

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Nutball

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My choice would be either a ms180, but I would not port it, only modify the muffler,

or and Echo 352 or 353. The ms170 and Echo 310 are pretty bad performance wise. The ms180 performs very well in my opinion, and the 352 takes well to porting and isn't nearly as hard to work on as a MS 180 or 170. The Echo 400 performs well too without modifications.
 

Usato

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in Italy the Echo 352 is sold to 340€.
how disgusting
 

Nutball

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Wow, too much. They are $260USD here, still a bit pricey except it has better features than a ms180.
 

Usato

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If it cost $ 260 here I would have bought it already.:hmmm:
 

RockiesRider

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I have gotten decent gains on a ms 180 with the above mentioned mods along with the walbro wt215 carb swap and opening up the air box
 

Usato

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I apologize for the ignorant question. What diameter should the file be for 3/8 LP 0.50 chain? 4mm right?
 

Wilhelm

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I apologize for the ignorant question. What diameter should the file be for 3/8 LP 0.50 chain? 4mm right?
Yes, 4.0mm or 5/32" for 3/8" LowProfile (Picco).

Chain gauge doesn't matter!
 

Wilhelm

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Having processed firewood for heating for nearly three decades now I wouldn't go under 50cc for a dedicated firewood saw.
Power does matter and 50cc saws are actually quite manageable weight wise.

If You can not swing the cash for a new saw go used.
Buying a used saw is always a cat in a bag, but one can get lucky and score a good to great deal.

I recommend a Dolmar PS-5105/Makita EA5000 or Dolmar PS-550/Makita EA5600 as a minimum.
If You can swing funds for a bigger saw Dolmar PS-6400/7300/7310/7900/7910 is the perfect firewood saw for me!
I buck hardwood firewood logs.

DSC05922.JPG
 

NorcalFlyingsquirrel

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If the echo timberwolf cs 590 is as inexpensive as it is here (300 usd) it is one hell of a saw, with a muffler mod and a carb limiter removal it is quite a beast. it is also a "pro" saw in that the cylinder unbolts from the crankcase and can be ported and compression raised by a gasket delete. The echo 2511 with a 1/4 pitch is awesome if you climb or go places, and is also a "pro" saw but small for firewood duty. The stihl 170/180 echo 355t are consumer saws or clamshell where the cylinder and crankcase top are one piece, making it difficult to get in there for porting, however all wake up nicely with muffler, carb and timing advance. welcome to chainsaw addiction!
 

Nutball

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$300 for a 590?

The 352 doesn't really wake up with a muffler mod, porting is where it's at, and the places that need porting are not hard to get to in it.
 

NorcalFlyingsquirrel

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$300 for a 590?

The 352 doesn't really wake up with a muffler mod, porting is where it's at, and the places that need porting are not hard to get to in it.
yeah, my 355t is ported, ex blown out and timing advanced 1/2 a key and it gives my 200t a run for its money.
 

Usato

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I buy a 50 / 60cc chainsaw as soon as I buy a new house, the small chainsaw is for fun or for recreation or to keep in the camper for emergency.
Yes, I am a fool who believes that things in the world are not going very well.

Do any of you know a site where they sell aftermarket spare parts for Makita or Dolmar?
For stihl parts I found farmertec, but for makita I find nothing.
 
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Usato

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I have a little question:
I saw on youtube that some ms180 have a muffler like the ms170, that is with a removable plate stopped by two bolts.
Under it there is a perforated part that would have to be opened to make mod mufflers.
Other models of ms 180, on the other hand, do not have this removable plate, so it would be necessary to intervene from the inside.
In the second case, can any of you tell me (even with photos if possible) how and how much to open the muffler?
 
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