Starting a chainsaw repair buisness

[Chainsaw Jim]

One of the most important things you'll need to know is which saws to turn away. You'll kill yourself quick taking on projects that aren't fixable when not realizing it until you and the customer have already spent time and money.
If you're learning as you go then you'll also risk losing money...you'll get to a point where you're stumped and you may end up buying the wrong part at your own expense in the end.

 

[Motorhead]

Good luck is what you'll need,Especially if there is already someone established in your area,Compared to the general population there is but a hand full of people that buy and use quality chainsaws.

 

[jmssaws]

I don't sell saws local,lots more people on here that buy saws

 

[Mattyo]

Ok, so just today, I had the best saw I've probably ever done come back after 10 minutes of run time. lean siezure. its the husky oem 51.4 cylinder / piston ...ported. the fuel was blue (this is a tree guy thats been doing this a while...and has used another one of my saws w/o burning the engine).... vac test ok, cylinder was sealed, seals intact. the ONLY thing that MIGHT have contributed to the lean running was the carb screws were SLIGHTLY loose. carb tore down fine, scored exhaust, rings welded in, whitish plug. I've done probably 40+ rebuilds and just when you think you know what you are doing, just when you think you are about to turn a profit, God has a sense of humor to just punish your ego. this business is NOT easy, even after you've been doing it a while, and have the right tools etc. mistakes happen, and I don't even really know where the actual mistake was here...which is even more frustrating....because you can't learn from what you don't know, except to quit.

i mainly sell local, that way if people have issues they can bring it back and I can fix it or show them what to do. saws will never be my business... I just don't see it happening.

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

Ok, so just today, I had the best saw I've probably ever done come back after 10 minutes of run time. lean siezure. its the husky oem 51.4 cylinder / piston ...ported. the fuel was blue (this is a tree guy thats been doing this a while...and has used another one of my saws w/o burning the engine).... vac test ok, cylinder was sealed, seals intact. the ONLY thing that MIGHT have contributed to the lean running was the carb screws were SLIGHTLY loose. carb tore down fine, scored exhaust, rings welded in, whitish plug. I've done probably 40+ rebuilds and just when you think you know what you are doing, just when you think you are about to turn a profit, God has a sense of humor to just punish your ego. this business is NOT easy, even after you've been doing it a while, and have the right tools etc. mistakes happen, and I don't even really know where the actual mistake was here...which is even more frustrating....because you can't learn from what you don't know, except to quit.

i mainly sell local, that way if people have issues they can bring it back and I can fix it or show them what to do. saws will never be my business... I just don't see it happening.

I wonder if the fuel in the carb matched what was in the tank.

 

[Mattyo]

yup, it did...but I like the way you are thinkin

 

[Four Paws]

A smart and pretty girl to manage the books, bring you beer and keep you company!

 

[Al Smith]

A controls engineer is pretty good .I work with a bunch of them .

As far as repairing chainsaws it's a nice hobby but damned few ever got rich from it .In my case what few I repair for others I'm selective for whom etc .If I did it for a living I'd soon tire of it .

 

[Mattyo]

I honestly can't see making a living wage, let alone getting rich. Too much stuff goes wrong too often for stupid reasons. Takes a long time to really know what you are doing so you don't overlook something silly ...which can cost you bigtime, not just in $$, but in reputation as well. some side $$ is fine, and at this point the I think the real $$ is in parts, but you have to be SUPER organized. best of luck whatever you do, to the OP

 

[CR500]

An oil that no one in your area uses....

Nothing better than knowing that a saw did not blow up running "your fuel" especially when the gas comes out not mixed and your fuel is purple in color.

I even show people what color my fuel is if they feel like debating.

 

[Onan18]

Ok, so just today, I had the best saw I've probably ever done come back after 10 minutes of run time. lean siezure. its the husky oem 51.4 cylinder / piston ...ported. the fuel was blue (this is a tree guy thats been doing this a while...and has used another one of my saws w/o burning the engine).... vac test ok, cylinder was sealed, seals intact. the ONLY thing that MIGHT have contributed to the lean running was the carb screws were SLIGHTLY loose. carb tore down fine, scored exhaust, rings welded in, whitish plug. I've done probably 40+ rebuilds and just when you think you know what you are doing, just when you think you are about to turn a profit, God has a sense of humor to just punish your ego. this business is NOT easy, even after you've been doing it a while, and have the right tools etc. mistakes happen, and I don't even really know where the actual mistake was here...which is even more frustrating....because you can't learn from what you don't know, except to quit.

i mainly sell local, that way if people have issues they can bring it back and I can fix it or show them what to do. saws will never be my business... I just don't see it happening.

Was this the XPW you added the G? Did the carb heat get turned on and boil the fuel maybe?

 

[Mattyo]

no carb heat on this guy...

just cleaned up the cylinder, it isn't super great, but it should be ok...ordered a new piston from Spike60. I really hope it was the airleak at the boot/carb joint....i'll recheck the pressure / vac test, and then i'll put a few tanks through it myself before it goes back to the customer.

yes, this is pretty much one of the nicest saws I've made... xpw-g ....was .....

 

[Onan18]

no carb heat on this guy...

just cleaned up the cylinder, it isn't super great, but it should be ok...ordered a new piston from Spike60. I really hope it was the airleak at the boot/carb joint....i'll recheck the pressure / vac test, and then i'll put a few tanks through it myself before it goes back to the customer.

yes, this is pretty much one of the nicest saws I've made... xpw-g ....was .....

VERY easy to over tighten the carb screws on a 372, too easy IMHO. Farmertec has come out with a replacement flange that is metal, I am going to put one on the next 372 that I build.

Joe

 

[mdavlee]

VERY easy to over tighten the carb screws on a 372, too easy IMHO. Farmertec has come out with a replacement flange that is metal, I am going to put one on the next 372 that I build.

Joe

I need some of those.

 

[CR888]

I do a bit of small engine repair work for folks locally but its a side thing as I enjoy fixing stuff. Usually a customer has been to a franchise dealer and walked due to the estimated cost of repairs. I don't have overheads like the shops, can fix a carb rather than replace & have various cost effective parts options. Any money make goes to tools, spares like rolls of starter cord, fuel line/filters common carb kits etc. Accept for a ultra sonic cleaner I have pretty much everything mentioned in this thread. All good suggestions! Only tool I'd add is a Mityvac 8500 & a decent chain grinder. Also keeping some bulk chain on hand is another way to get more $$ as OEM chain costs a fortune here and customers are wrapped when you spin them some spare loops at half the price. Good luck Brews!

 

[CR500]

Also have some sort of insurance waver system. The old shop I used to be full time at used to have stuff come in that was questionable on safety, even where I work at some stuff makes you wonder.

All things safety wise were estimated and most of it was fixed but some people out there have their own theory and they were asked to sign a waver declining repairs and essentialy saying we are not liable for death or injury and in extreme cases the saw was disabled. ( no bar or chain and no spark plug but was separate and handed to said customer.)


Had one farmer come in with no clutch cover, essentially told him that we can replace an oil pump but you need a clutch cover, he declined at the price and I even offered to give him one and he declined again saying this is how he cuts wood, last I knew he had a chain come off and damaged his truck one day.

Some cheaper stuff I don't mind paying out of pocket but some things like guards on a Deere MX5 cutter are just to much to " give" away.

Go ahead and bash me on that last part.

Sent from my non internal combustion device.

 

[Brewz]

Thank you all so much for all the advice and tips.

I am not looking to do this full time and I do plan to pick and choose the jobs I take on.

Will be looking into a pressure/vacuum tester and maybe a small parts cleaner.

Will sit down when I get time and catalogue all the stuff people have listed that I any need.

I spent this afternoon building additional work bench space that I can dedicate to this work.
Still have to set up a heap of shelving, run power and air, more lighting....... Lots to do

 

[Al Smith]

Tidy,certainly not a representation of my shop .

 

[panteliss]

Look me and take ideas .

 

[redtractor]

Don't forget to do all the initial tear down and clean on the kitchen table. The wife LOVES that! "Honey, you said you wanted more 'together' time."