It's Stihl 044 time

[redline4]

If one delves deep into internet 2 stroke garden tool lore one will hear of the Stihl 044.
According to ancient scrolls it houses mythical tree killing capabilites and human healing powers.

I've never even pulled a start rope on one much less made a cut, but figured it's finally time.

Bear in mind I'm not a trained professional in any aspect and I fully expect Dallas to tell me I'm a slacker multiple times before this is over.
Available time, money and parts availability will dictate the speed of this build.

I have no set direction other than get it going without breaking the bank.
If it's a good part, it will get re-used.
If it's repairable, it will get repaired.

So here we go.

Starting out with a grungy, west coast 044.




The wrap appears bent and the tank is definitely tweaked. We'll get a better look at that later


A quick spray down with degreaser and hit it with the garden hose.

 

[redline4]

Remove the 4 muffler cover bolts, 1 missing makes my job easier


And there's an unhappy piston


Unscrew the air filter cover, which is a bit faded, has 1 small crack but will for sure get used

And there's the air filter.
That I'll toss in favor of a new one.



Lift off the filter and there's the air horn and filter base.

 

[redline4]

Remove the 2 air horn fasteners, 8mm or 5/16.


Push the control switch down to the choke position to get it out of the way and pull the filter base straight back.

Pretty clean under the grime


There's the carb...


Next, pop off the coil wire and remove the plug

 

[redline4]

3 screws and remove the top cover


And there's the jug..


Stand it up and remove the 2 lower front handle screws


And the 2 on the side


The long screws were on the side, short on the bottom

 

[redline4]

4 screws for the recoil


At quick glance the pawls and spring look OK

And there's the coil and flywheel


Over to the pto side.


1 bar stud was already removed.
Using the bar nuts, tighten them against each other, then use the bottom one to turn the stud out.

 

[Kiwioilboiler]

What's the yarn about 10mm vs 12mm 044s slacker?

 

[redline4]

Remove the bar plate


Remove the tensioner screw


Pop out the tensioner, gear and thrust block


Not much left of the o ring that's supposed to be there...

 

[redline4]

Remove the screws from the upper and lower brake/dust covers.


And pop them out.


And behold, there may be clues to the whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa and D.B. Cooper's treasure in there...

Remove the E clip


Take off the washer, drum and bearing exposing the clutch

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

And there's an unhappy piston
View attachment 368334

Also looks like a unhappy exhaust port...
My brother has an 044 with the red kill switch.

They are nice saws.

 

[dall]

If one delves deep into internet 2 stroke garden tool lore one will hear of the Stihl 044.
According to ancient scrolls it houses mythical tree killing capabilites and human healing powers.

I've never even pulled a start rope on one much less made a cut, but figured it's finally time.

Bear in mind I'm not a trained professional in any aspect and I fully expect Dallas to tell me I'm a slacker multiple times before this is over.
Available time, money and parts availability will dictate the speed of this build.

I have no set direction other than get it going without breaking the bank.
If it's a good part, it will get re-used.
If it's repairable, it will get repaired.

So here we go.

Starting out with a grungy, west coast 044.


View attachment 368325View attachment 368326

The wrap appears bent and the tank is definitely tweaked. We'll get a better look at that later
View attachment 368327

A quick spray down with decreaser and hit it with the garden hose.
View attachment 368328

this isnt the one i sent in parts long ago
slacker

 

[redline4]

Apply the brake



I grab the spring with vice grips and remove it.




Pop off the E clip and say a few special words when it buries itself in the land of forgotten bar oil and wood chips.


Remove the lower band screw


Tilt the brake handle up off the recoil side

 

[redline4]

Pull the handle off
Remove the linkage from the band


Pull forward on the band and pop it out of the case


I then took out the 2 muffler to jug fasteners.


Is there supposed to be a heat shield? I didn't look at the ipl yet..

 

[redline4]

Remove the handle screw


Lift it up


If it's not packed with funk, expect the spring to launch the operator presence lever.
If not, lift it out

Pop the rod off the go button..


And slide the carb plate back.

 

[redline4]

Rotate the link counterclockwise and disconnect it from the carb


Remove the rod and plate


Pull out the carb adjustment guide


Slide the carb off the studs, fuel and impulse lines

Remove the inner intake ring

 

[maulhead]

Is there supposed to be a heat shield? I didn't look at the ipl yet.

No heat shield was used on the early 044's, with the nice big exhaust port.

Heat shield came later on, when they started using the small choked down exhaust hole.

 

[redline4]

Remove the outer ring



And I just push the intake through


Remove the upper AV mount

Pop out the plug


And remove the lower AV mount screw

 

[redline4]

No heat shield was used on the early 044's, with the nice big exhaust port.

Heat shield came later on, when they started using the small choked down exhaust hole.

Cool.
Thanks for the info Matt.

 

[redline4]

Flip it over and pop out the AV plugs and screws



Tilt the handle away and you can pull the impulse off the case


At this point you could remove the handle expect some dumbaśs forgot the wiring...


Disconnect the coil and push the wires through while separating the tank and case.

 

[redline4]

I don't know if I'll be able to do anything about this tank, but I'm going to try to salvage it...

Remove the coil


Remove the intake

 

[redline4]

Remove the cylinder to case bolts


And lift it off


Piston...