Installing a CROSS PERFORMANCE cylinder Kit for my Stihl 084.

[riverrat2]

Chris,
Get us a close up of the chain too.
And yes, it's wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy rich.

I'm betting it is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy dull!!!

 

[Mastermind]

This is a perfect opportunity to introduce our friend Chris to the chain grinder.

 

[beaglebriar]

I bought a timberline sharpener after a buddy touched up a couple of chains for me with his. I really thought it was just another gimmicky thingamajig but that thing will make a razor sharp chain in just a little more time than it takes to file.

 

[riverrat2]

LOL!!! Yeah that is exactly what I am thinking

 

[beaglebriar]

BTW @quietfly don't get discouraged by some of the smartass comments. It's all in good fun. We'll help you get that saw up to snuff.

 

[quietfly]

Ugh i think i know what you guys are talking about . I've been *trying* to mill this dead Ash, the forestry gut said it was probably standing dead for about 3 years, some guy had illegally ringed it, but never came back to harvest it.
I sharpened my chain with a dremel sharpener but i needed to stop and sharpen mid cut each time. Here are some pic of the wood and the slab i cut. I think I'm going to switch to the 32 inch bar that's supposed to have the milling chain on it, and try again tomorrow. the saw runs well. I tried to lean it out a little on the high end screw, just a touch more maybe one "hours" worth on the clock. thats another thing, i'm going to have to learn to tune this engine to get the most out of it but still be rich enough for the long milling runs. The forestry guy said he has a line on some black cherry and black Walnut next week and instead of sending it to the mill that gives them 50 bucks a 10 foot run as long as it's 18 inches or bigger he'll give it to me, if i want. I really want it but don't know where to store the logs, with out incurring the wrath of my pregnant hormonal wife .
I'm sure i'll figure it out.

 

[Mastermind]

BTW @quietfly don't get discouraged by some of the smartass comments. It's all in good fun. We'll help you get that saw up to snuff.

Exactly.

We are smart asses by nature.........but we are good natured smart asses.

 

[quietfly]

BTW @quietfly don't get discouraged by some of the smartass comments. It's all in good fun. We'll help you get that saw up to snuff.

It's all good, I have pretty thick skin, and a daughter who's a marine, who butts heads with dad all the time.
The frustrating part has just been the "learning" aspect of it all. I've never had such a hard time cutting wood, i know that dead wood is supposedly hell to cut but this was ridiculous. I'm sure part of it was that the smaller bar is using safety chain, and the dremel sharpening method isn't the best thing.
I have a Harbor freight chain sharpener, I know you guys aren't fans of the "Chicago Electric" stuff but i figured it will be better than the dremel and i already own it so it can't hurt to try. I'm thinking of trying the safety chain down to 10 degrees and seeing if that makes a difference. I figure after a few more tanks, i'll pull the muffler again and take more pics of the piston to see if it's the same or worst.

-Chris

 

[riverrat2]

Yes the Grinder will help you keep all of your angles the same on each tooth,,, it doesn't matter what brand grinder you get, and practice will make perfect!!!

As for tuning the H Screw you need to learn to do it running, with at least 1/2 tank of fuel and a warmed up saw, I tune mine by ear, I will have it opened so that it is plainly 4 stroking,,, holding it WOT and turn it in till it picks up RPM then open it back up till you hear it just start to 4 stroke (usually about an 8th of a turn back open) that way it will clear up when you put it in the wood, Then for milling open it another 1/8th-1/4 or so. Please excuse my Smart AZZedness and stuff

 

[beaglebriar]

Chris, Maybe @mdavlee can give you some pointers on hand filing?? Mike is a good dude and from what I gather he's makes a hell of a chain. Plus he messes around with milling so if I were you that'd be the guy I'd be pestering.

 

[angelo c]

Chris, Maybe @mdavlee can give you some pointers on hand filing?? Mike is a good dude and from what I gather he's makes a hell of a chain. Plus he messes around with milling so if I were you that'd be the guy I'd be pestering.

Good call. I'm not a "miller" so if anyone call suggest some angle settings on a 511a that work for milling I'd be happy to run some chains for @quietfly . I have a timberline as well but am not sure if the angles translate to milling, as they are fixed.
Chris, I'm around Monday if ya wanna talk some. pm me.

 

[beaglebriar]

Good call. I'm not a "miller" so if anyone call suggest some angle settings on a 511a that work for milling I'd be happy to run some chains for @quietfly . I have a timberline as well but am not sure if the angles translate to milling, as they are fixed.
Chris, I'm around Monday if ya wanna talk some. pm me.

I was thinking the same about the timberline after I posted. Don't believe they offer a 10° option.

 

[Redfin]

I'm sure you have read it before but learn how to hand file consistantly. I won't say if it's better because I have never used a grinder but I do know a good hand filed chain is a pleasure to run.

 

[mdavlee]

I use square filed chain most of the time for milling. Works pretty good actually.

 

[angelo c]

I use square filed chain most of the time for milling. Works pretty good actually.

Same angles for milling and cross cutting?

 

[huskihl]

Same angles for milling and cross cutting?

Yea. Mike doesn't change any angles for milling. The advantage of using a shallower 10° top plate is smoother boards, but I'd guess it sacrifices some speed, but not much. The main thing for milling is that chain needs to be maintained razor sharp. A somewhat dull chain that you can dog in and will still cut rounds won't cut when milling

 

[riverrat2]

Chris It doesn't matter What kind of chain you use that dry wood will kill it especially trying to mill it...
Most people I know that use chainsaw mills go to great lengths to seal the ends of the logs they are going to use right after they are taken down so that they retain as much of the natural moisture they can. it leaves a much nicer finish and doesn't chatter the chain as hard... it would be ok for fire wood but for milling like you are doing,,,, I don't know??? Mike Lee what say ye Cuz??? @mdavlee

 

[VinceGU05]

Since pictures are worth a 1000 words, i figured these moving pictures should tell a whole bunch.....

The wood is some hemlock from my mushrooming pile.
So, how does she sound to you guys, let me know.

I think the chain is a bigger issue than the fatness of the saw ( which is way fat)
You should be seeing something similar to this.

This is good old Aussie gum. Not pine or soft wood!

 

[quietfly]

So i finally opened and set up the harbor freight chain sharpener.

These are pictures after i sharpened the chain. I also took the time to file down rakers with the raker bar and hand file.
Sharpening made a huge difference. The saw practically pulled itself through the log.

I know it's probably a function of tuning , however the saw bogged down a few times while cutting, i didn't have time to mess with it as i wanted to just finish the slab and had to get home for Sunday dinner.

 

[quietfly]

Look what just popped up last night......