The Buckeye Bound MS441

[huskihl]

Awhile back, DDave was looking for someone to go through his ms441 and port it. It needed some new av springs and a half dozen other smalls, as well as a good cleaning and general looking-over.
Upon disassembly, I noticed a small gouge on the intake side where (I believe) at one time, the piston lost a ring locating pin.

He sent a different cylinder to install. This one is more better.
So I reassembled the saw and made a few test cuts for comparison.

Once I had a benchmark, I disassembled the saw and sent the jug to @Miller Mod Saws to have the base turned, as this was before I picked up my lathe.

Here are a couple pics showing the lower transfer layout before porting.

There's not a whole lotta room between the cylinder extension and the case once assembled, so I tapered the extension near each lower transfer port, and widened and lengthened each port. These are roughed in. Not finished

More pics coming

 

[huskihl]

Exhaust port raised to 99°

Intake port is very close to the edges of the skirts, so i only smoothed it out removing casting flash


I was back into the saw several times, finally setting the upper transfer openings at 124°, for a blowdown figure of 25°.



Strato ports weren't raised or lowered, only cleaned up like the intake.

 

[huskihl]

Here are some reassembly pics. These are a bit more involved than an 026, 036, 044, 066 etc. Quite a few more pieces. I do like the ability to remove the carb support box




Being able to move the carb box, you don't have to remove the rear handle to attach the impulse line. There's no room to do it from the side like older saws. Also, makes it easy to reattach the fuel line elbow
Carb box attached

 

[huskihl]

Intake manifold fits nicely through the hole, with access to all 4 screws

Intake boots installed through carb adapter

After the carb, I attached the throttle cable with needle nose pliers


And then, insert the cable sheath

 

[huskihl]

Air induction shroud installed

Kill switch wire mounted in master control lever

Air filter housing and baffle installed

 

[huskihl]

Upper spring av

Air filter


And a slightly modded muffler

Dave says this is mainly a gtg saw, and as such, there was no need for a spark arrestor screen on this saw. And if it's a gtg saw, ya may as well be able to hear it

 

[huskihl]

I think she turned out nice. Pulls 24" round LGX with authority now

Stock

Ported

Square filed 16"

 

[huskihl]

Graphics in the last video were kinda psychedelic lol. I didn't change anything. Must've been the lighting.


Being a 441 virgin, I asked for some input from others. Special thanks to @Miller Mod Saws, @Mastermind, @Termitebuffet, and @jmssaws for your help along the way

 

[huskihl]

@Definitive Dave

 

[Definitive Dave]

NICELY DONE KEVIN!!!
That looks like it picked up 2 or 3 rpms since you got it
Does it make me a bad person that I watched the 16" square filed clip first ?
Thanks much for doing this. I use a 441 as half of my two saw plan and loved how smooth the AV and power band were, even though I hear guys badmouth it all the time.
From the video it has a much more usable grunt now and some giddy up and go that they lack in stock form.

 

[Woodpecker]

Wow great job! Pretty nice gains. One of these days I will have to make my way up there and shake your hand sir.

 

[huskihl]

Nah I would have watched the 16" video first too. I've only looked at cut times from starting to ending a cut. In the stock vid, the log was about 2" smaller diameter. I ended up noodling a bunch off that end so I flipped it for a fresh end.

Stock looked to be about 13.5 to 14.5 seconds. Ported was closer to 10 or 11, plus 2" larger diameter in the log.

I've only put 1-1/2 tanks of fuel through it, so it'll gain more when the new rings seat in.

And yes, they are a very smooth saw

 

[huskihl]

Wow great job! Pretty nice gains. One of these days I will have to make my way up there and shake your hand sir.

We all need to meet up at the MI gtg in august. Sounds like a great time

 

[jmssaws]

Nice work kev,I love how a ported 441 runs. Great saw

 

[huskihl]

Thanks J. Stock, they're good, a bit lethargic tho. They feel like they're held back. No snap. Ported they have snap

 

[CR888]

The 441 gets a bad wrap sometimes like DD says being heavier than the 440, early strato design, bulky etc. But if you pick up a well ported one or stock and judge the saw based on running characteristics & not numbers on a spec sheet they are very nice smooth good power saws. I like them, really nice to run for hours on end.

 

[bryanr2]

Randy @Mastermind had said in the past that they were his favorite 70cc saw. I don't know if that is still as he regards them, or not.

 

[MasterMech]

I like mine. It's my go to for felling and while it was pretty good stock, it woke up very angry after I got it back from MMWS.

These are indeed a saw that everybody loves to hate.

 

[Woodpecker]

We all need to meet up at the MI gtg in august. Sounds like a great time

I'm fixing to make it to the August GTG.

 

[sawmikaze]

Boy i got nervous when i read the title of this thread...

Nice work mang.