MCCULLOCH The official McCulloch thread

[NeSurcaster]

I have a few kobalt tools, some good some bad. I have one 3/8ths kobalt ratchet that has been abused, in the rain/pipes/hammers. I pulled apart in spring to clean /grease it's still in good working order (4-5 years and still going). Last year I bought the black kobalt ratchet(heavy duty beast ratchet according to kobalt), I broke it the first time using when I put some weight on it, no hamers or pipes used. I've beat the kobalt sockets on to bolts/nuts and have yet to split one. I feel the kobalt tools are just as good as modern day craftsmen, I've broke about equal amounts of both. Snap on/matco aren't options when they are used underwater and in the rain/mud unless your rich. Those stay in my personal box at home. Kobalt have been good work tools so far, I still keep a spare of the most often used tools.

 

[Al Smith]

Those look great.

What would you say if I asked how the minis compared to a 200t?

Not even in the same sentence .Some time ago before any body owned either a 020t or 200T we raced little two cubers .It was kind of fun.I had and have a mini mac 120 with a tuned pipe that out ran them all until some 200t's in stock form showed up .That changed the out come .

 

[hseII]

More Mini Mac's today. The Mini Mac 1 followed the Mini Mac 6 and features a removable starter. That alone makes working on the saw so much easier since you can easily slide the engine out of the housing & back in again with the starter removed. I tried to make this one as original as possible including the button on the manual oiler (no automatic oil pump on the MM1) and the Mac 6 hardnose bar in grey. Brakes were not offered on the early saws.

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The black Mac is made from parts, I am not worried about damaging this one so it will be used when it's appropriate. I would like to find a black Pro Mac style clutch cover to cover the muffler and make use of the wrap about brake handle since this saw will be used primarily up in the trees/bucket.

View attachment 138700

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The short clutch cover with the brake were standard on the Mini Mac 25, 30, and 35 models as well as the last of the PM6 models.

View attachment 138702

Time to take inventory of the Mini Mac saws and see which models are needed to fill out the collection. I think I have on hand now:

Mini Mac 6, Mini Mac 1, Mini Mac 35, Mini Mac 110, Mini Mac 120, Mini Mac 130, Mini Mac 140 AS, Mini Mac 160S, Mini Mac 165, SE2014, and the Orange Mini Mac. I still have a Mini Mac 2.0 in the attic that I haven't worked on yet, and may have a Mini Mac Eager Beaver too.

Mark

Not even in the same sentence .Some time ago before any body owned either a 020t or 200T we raced little two cubers .It was kind of fun.I had and have a mini mac 120 with a tuned pipe that out ran them all until some 200t's in stock form showed up .That changed the out come .

Were there any TH McCullochs that we’re comparable to the 200Ts?

MS200T #2 again earned her Keep yesterday.

#1 & #3 have small health issues that will soon be addressed.

 

[Al Smith]

Having said the above ,a mini it good running condition with everything operating doesn't cut or handle badly .However to find one without working to get them so would be rather rare .Mark H is one of the few who has enough patience to work on them.

 

[PogoInTheWoods]

Those look great.

What would you say if I asked how the minis compared to a 200t?

Way ahead of their time as tree and bucket saws, but there's really no comparison to a 200T especially when it comes to overall performance and long term reliability. The PM6 is probably the closest in raw power with the later minis being closer in agility and speed..., at least in my own experience having both a PM6 and 020T (200T without flippy caps) and a couple of the 100 series minis. That said, I'll grab the 020T every time. On the other hand, even a beat 200T is bringing anywhere from $400 to $600 these days (which tells you something about the value placed on em by tree guys) when Mini-Macs are more often than not either ultra cheap or outright free. Now if they were just a little easier to work on and maintain, held a tune a little better, had larger fuel and oil tanks, didn't vapor lock, started on first pull, all had the smaller brake flag, maybe a lanyard ring, a couple more cc's, and another couple thousand rpms, well...., they wouldn't be nearly as easy to find everywhere for free and would definitely have a niche following of tree and bucket guys. One interesting comparison is that the power band is only 500 rpm's apart at 7500 for the 200T and 7000 for the PM6 according to the information I have on hand so the grunt factor is pretty even. The main difference is chain speed and agility when it comes to the trimming and fast limbing.

All of the above spewed, I do happen to be one of the few who believes the Mini-Mac has gotten a bad rap all along and is still a viable tree or bucket option for folks who know and understand the foibles of their particular saw and can adjust accordingly along the way. They're certainly plentiful enough to always have a couple of spares floating around if needed.

Here's one of mine.

​

 

[Steve]

This is my mini. It is one that I put way too much time and money into depending on who you ask!

Put a new piston and rings in it, new seals, new points/ condenser, and a Zama carb. It runs very well. I also pieced it together from several minis to make it all yellow too. I think it runs very well and has more power than my Echo CS352.

 

[Steve]

I have a few kobalt tools, some good some bad. I have one 3/8ths kobalt ratchet that has been abused, in the rain/pipes/hammers. I pulled apart in spring to clean /grease it's still in good working order (4-5 years and still going). Last year I bought the black kobalt ratchet(heavy duty beast ratchet according to kobalt), I broke it the first time using when I put some weight on it, no hamers or pipes used. I've beat the kobalt sockets on to bolts/nuts and have yet to split one. I feel the kobalt tools are just as good as modern day craftsmen, I've broke about equal amounts of both. Snap on/matco aren't options when they are used underwater and in the rain/mud unless your rich. Those stay in my personal box at home. Kobalt have been good work tools so far, I still keep a spare of the most often used tools.

No way in hell I would use my snap on under water either!

 

[heimannm]

I have never even seen an 020 0r 200T so I don't have any way to try and compare them. As far as operating saws, I prefer the PM6 or Poulan Super 25 Deluxe for balance and handling. The Mini Mac's all seem nose heavy and uncomfortable on my right index finger with the odd trigger. I use a Mini Mac when I am up in a tree or in a bucket as I wouldn't feel bad about breaking one, I just have other models I like to use for small saws when there is little risk.

Mark

 

[hseII]

I have never even seen an 020 0r 200T so I don't have any way to try and compare them. As far as operating saws, I prefer the PM6 or Poulan Super 25 Deluxe for balance and handling. The Mini Mac's all seem nose heavy and uncomfortable on my right index finger with the odd trigger. I use a Mini Mac when I am up in a tree or in a bucket as I wouldn't feel bad about breaking one, I just have other models I like to use for small saws when there is little risk.

Mark

Sometimes I’m a little slow on the uptake.

Thank You for spelling it out for me Sir. [emoji16]

 

[FergusonTO35]

I have a few kobalt tools, some good some bad. I have one 3/8ths kobalt ratchet that has been abused, in the rain/pipes/hammers. I pulled apart in spring to clean /grease it's still in good working order (4-5 years and still going). Last year I bought the black kobalt ratchet(heavy duty beast ratchet according to kobalt), I broke it the first time using when I put some weight on it, no hamers or pipes used. I've beat the kobalt sockets on to bolts/nuts and have yet to split one. I feel the kobalt tools are just as good as modern day craftsmen, I've broke about equal amounts of both. Snap on/matco aren't options when they are used underwater and in the rain/mud unless your rich. Those stay in my personal box at home. Kobalt have been good work tools so far, I still keep a spare of the most often used tools.

You should take a look at Wright tools. USA made, near tool truck quality, priced about the same as the old Craftsman Industrial was. If I was starting my career over today I would buy all the Wright products I could.

 

[Al Smith]

. As far as operating saws, I prefer the PM6 or Poulan Super 25 Deluxe for balance and handling.

Mark

FWIW the Poulan s-25 was the top dog of the trim saws in its day .They weighs almost the same as a Stihl 020av top handle (early trim saw) and cuts just about the same .I have both in my collection.
The minis sold for about 100 bucks as did the Homelite xl's,single or double trigger .These were almost considered "throw aways" .The trimmers that used them might get a season out of them with luck maybe two .When they died they just bought another .Fact I have examples of both with the original chains that had never been filed from home owners.Freebies of course

 

[ursinykb24]

Well been updating the sp81 working on repainting it found an entire piston and cylinder kit with crankcase just in case. But when I start it up and let it idle it constantly is going higher and lower in rpm's the stalls out never really had this happen before don't know if it's sucking air or not?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[Steve]

Well been updating the sp81 working on repainting it found an entire piston and cylinder kit with crankcase just in case. But when I start it up and let it idle it constantly is going higher and lower in rpm's the stalls out never really had this happen before don't know if it's sucking air or not?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Only way to tell is to do a pressure/vacuum test on the crankcase.

 

[Al Smith]

It's a lead pipe cinch it's sucking air some place .

 

[Gizzard]

@heimannm that orange 2.0 may be Montgomery Ward brand? I have one similar color and it is branded monkey ward. I'll dig that box out sometime and get a photo for comparison.

 

[Lightning Performance]

More Mini Mac's today. The Mini Mac 1 followed the Mini Mac 6 and features a removable starter. That alone makes working on the saw so much easier since you can easily slide the engine out of the housing & back in again with the starter removed. I tried to make this one as original as possible including the button on the manual oiler (no automatic oil pump on the MM1) and the Mac 6 hardnose bar in grey. Brakes were not offered on the early saws.

View attachment 138698

View attachment 138699

The black Mac is made from parts, I am not worried about damaging this one so it will be used when it's appropriate. I would like to find a black Pro Mac style clutch cover to cover the muffler and make use of the wrap about brake handle since this saw will be used primarily up in the trees/bucket.

View attachment 138700

View attachment 138701

The short clutch cover with the brake were standard on the Mini Mac 25, 30, and 35 models as well as the last of the PM6 models.

View attachment 138702

Time to take inventory of the Mini Mac saws and see which models are needed to fill out the collection. I think I have on hand now:

Mini Mac 6, Mini Mac 1, Mini Mac 35, Mini Mac 110, Mini Mac 120, Mini Mac 130, Mini Mac 140 AS, Mini Mac 160S, Mini Mac 165, SE2014, and the Orange Mini Mac. I still have a Mini Mac 2.0 in the attic that I haven't worked on yet, and may have a Mini Mac Eager Beaver too.

Mark

I have an Eager Beaver and a 110 if you need anything give a shout.

 

[Lightning Performance]

This thread went mini. I used all the top handles out there but a Solo and some small top Macs. The 020T ain't catching a 200T with a 14" or 16" bar. They run neck and neck with an 043 12" b&c with open exhaust. The Poland 25S would be my second pick for weight vs power with a 14" 050l lp. They run good and start on one pull. The Tanaka is smooth but heavy. Same with the Husky Tsaws IMO. The rest all fall about where the Echos do according to cc's. Never really used my 191T much or the 190T. 192-3's lack on hot days with 14" 050. Remember they mostly get used for larger dead hardwood removals and not much trimming. 150T is just not up to the tasks I threw at it. It is Ok for trimming small pine branches.

My average time on one tank is under fifteen running minutes. Big branches and tops eat fuel with the screens out. Sharp chisel chain and extra power makes most jobs faster and safer. I want it off now not in three more seconds. I think most climbers start with a lesser trim saw and move up to what they need and feel comfortable with the power when one handed cutting. Everyone I know still using old Macs and Poulans use a much more aggressive chain than I do. That does not suit my cutting style or comfort level in a tree. I prefer top RPM's and smooth chains that never grab. My 2in1 lp is just about right on a well worn chain. Sharp cutters a good hook and high drags. It does not give enough bite to my little ground saws with long cutters.

The Macs like aggressive chains in any model. All grunt.

 

[Al Smith]

This thread went mini. I used all the top handles out there but a Solo and some small top Macs. The 020T ain't catching a 200T with a 14" or 16" bar. .

.

I beg to differ a point .An 020AV top handle and an 020T are not the same saw .The av model was from the same era as the S25 Poulan around mid 70's .The 020T is in fact the same as a 200T except was not equipted with a so called "intelecarb " and the parts are interchangable .I've repaired more than one of them that had a flip cap on one end and a screw cap on the other .Fact I've worked on a lot of 020 and 200's .
Before they came out with after market piston and cylinders for the 020T and 200T you used the able to buy the complete lower end for 50 bucks,E-bay .Because using OEM parts was about half of what the saw cost new .
I've got a picture with all three some where on one of my hard drives .If and when I find it I'll start a thread under the Stihl section of the forum.

 

[Lightning Performance]

I beg to differ a point .An 020AV top handle and an 020T are not the same saw .The av model was from the same era as the S25 Poulan around mid 70's .The 020T is in fact the same as a 200T except was not equipted with a so called "intelecarb " and the parts are interchangable .I've repaired more than one of them that had a flip cap on one end and a screw cap on the other .Fact I've worked on a lot of 020 and 200's .
Before they came out with after market piston and cylinders for the 020T and 200T you used the able to buy the complete lower end for 50 bucks,E-bay .Because using OEM parts was about half of what the saw cost new .
I've got a picture with all three some where on one of my hard drives .If and when I find it I'll start a thread under the Stihl section of the forum.

I never even mention that heavy turd 020av or ave. I have four. How many you want

My 020T does not keep up with my 200T's, better?

 

[Al Smith]

It's a difference of opinion .Never the less they are basically the same saw .I have two 20oT's myself,a stocker and one with a can of soup .However like I said I've worked on a lot of them other than my own .
Back to the Mini's which I've also wrenched and hope I never have to again .However some of the later ones with floating anti vibes were certainly more user friendly than the earlier versions .I think they were 140 and 160 models .