Must have saws

[Blackgreyhounds]

So, I'm a relative newbie/non-pro. I'm lucky to have two great local shops for support, and both are Stihl and Echo shops. So, my personal "must have" saws are: 1-saw plan = MS361. I love this saw, great balance of size, power, weight and reliability. For the "unlimited plan, " I think the MS461 is my favorite saw. That bugger rocked in stock form and is ridiculous after a good port job.

 

[Stihlkillstrees]

I can walk to the dolmar dealer here but he has a pretty bad reputation.

 

[hseII]

I agree and have been, mostly on AS... but for the most part a few saws get mentioned and I figured there are others out there.

Example, I bought the 044 because I had ran my dad's and like it. A lot of people say that's an awesome saw, but the 046 is a little bigger and close to same weight, so they are also popular... and then the dolmar 7900 is apparently a great saw that I had never heard of.

Just wait till you run a properly Ported Saw.

HeeHeeHee


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[unionvillecountryboy]

Sounds like you need to re-tune the L screw. Sounds like you may need new clutch springs as well. Seals may be the issue, or a leak in the impulse line.

Best saw tuning information is on the Madsons site here: http://www.madsens1.com/saw_carb_tune.htm

Thanks, I'll give that a shot... I went off this vid,

Steps were, set L + H to 1 turn, adjust LA to get 3300, then adjust L for the max rpm but stay under 3700 or readjust LA, once at max idle adjust LA for 3300, check throttle response, richen L until 2500 RPM, check throttle response. Then max is fairly easy.

 

[Czed]

I've got three favorites out of many stihl 261 echo 590 and for the big stuff a husky 288 with a 24 inch bar im not brand specific i just like the way they cut lol

 

[hseII]

Thoughts on 661 with auto tune carb? I am not familiar at all, but have been looking at a few. It doesn't even appear to have any adjustments on the side. Is it electronically controlled and if so how robust of a system is that vs a couple screws.

I'll have one eventually.

I've got my eye on a low-hour number, has come across my radar, with a small chip out of the case in front of the oil cap.

I like character saws.


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[hseII]

The 461 is kinda what got all this started. I have the 044, but the 461 seems to be all the rave. Then I saw a nice dolmar 7900, both similar, but close enough to the 044 to make them unnecessary. I guess I just like buying stuff haha. I am also interested in a 460 P/C on the 044, and a 660 for milling or an 090... ugh my list just grows.

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[hseII]

My kid is pretty hot with a Ported 026.

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[unionvillecountryboy]

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Whats the Echo and Stihl model right after it? That echo looks sweet, a lot different then the local farm stores.

 

[Stihlkillstrees]

Echo 1201, not sure which stihl you mean.

 

[hseII]

Whats the Echo and Stihl model right after it? That echo looks sweet, a lot different then the local farm stores.

CS-1201. You won't get those here.

Well, unless 1 of 2 people decide to sell 1 of theirs.

090

MS461

026


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[unionvillecountryboy]

CS-1201. You won't get those here.

Well, unless 1 of 2 people decide to sell 1 of theirs.

090

MS461

026


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The stihl leaning vertical is a 461?

 

[hseII]

The stihl leaning vertical is a 461?

One of them.
The 2nd, 3rd, & last pic are all 461s.

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[unionvillecountryboy]

so the Echo is only sold overseas? is it discontinued?

 

[hseII]

so the Echo is only sold overseas? is it discontinued?

It's not offered in the US because it does not have a chain brake, & certainly doesn't meet emissions.

It is still offered in Asia.


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[hseII]

Pull the drum and see how much slop the clutch shoes have. If they're tight then poor mans vacuum testing is WD40 while its idling. If it drops when you spray around the seal you've got a leak.

I've not heard that trick: thank you.


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[mdavlee]

I've not heard that trick: thank you.


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Quick leak tester. Better if you have a clutch spider to use so you can spray easier around it with no oiler gear on a 44 or 372. The 460 and 660 can be done without those since the clutch doesn't hold the sleeve down. I found a leak on a decomp with it.

 

[Windthrown]

Thanks, I'll give that a shot... I went off this vid,

Steps were, set L + H to 1 turn, adjust LA to get 3300, then adjust L for the max rpm but stay under 3700 or readjust LA, once at max idle adjust LA for 3300, check throttle response, richen L until 2500 RPM, check throttle response. Then max is fairly easy.

044 idle speed is actually 2,700, acc'd to the service manual. Then they say after setting the L screw to set that, to back off on the idle LA screw until the chain stops running, and then just a tad more. The book also says that an erratic idle in an 044 is likely the L screw set too lean. I have the 044 manual in PDF format if you need it.

 

[hseII]

044 idle speed is actually 2,700, acc'd to the service manual. Then they say after setting the L screw to set that, to back off on the idle LA screw until the chain stops running, and then just a tad more. The book also says that an erratic idle in an 044 is likely the L screw set too lean. I have the 044 manual in PDF format if you need it.

I thought we were supposed to set all Stihls like that?

I know I do.


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[Windthrown]

I thought we were supposed to set all Stihls like that?

I know I do.

Many ways to tune a saw: tach, no tach, standard default settings, by ear, limiter caps on, limiter caps off (or trimmed), or a combination of them. The 044 manual is old school (pre limiter caps). The 440 is the same saw, but with limiter caps, and the manual for that has this new school method: set L&H to default, set LA to idle at 3300, adjust L screw to get the max revs, reset LA to 3300, adjust L again to get max revs (repeat until max revs setting L at 3300). Then fatten up the L to 2500. Then test throttle response and adjust as needed.

After that I set the H screw to burple/4-stroke at max revs. Then I run it in wood, and adjust until I get a clean 2-stroke sound at max rev in wood, and a burple out of the wood. I tune my saws by ear most of the time. I use a tach to check the settings now and then.