DOLMAR/MAKITA The Official Sachs Dolmar Dolmar Makita Dolmar Chainsaws Thread

[David Young]

Yes its imported I couldnt resist it I bought it from @David Young its loud and strong

Did you get a sticker?

 

[Wilhelm]

Hey Wilhelm, great to hear from you!!!

The chain actually cut well and I was remembering another chain with those dog eared bumpers

I must have used $15 worth of Dremel cutoff discs cutting them off

LOL

$15 to "fix" a $10 chain...

Us Americans are crazy

Dremel cutoff wheels are not effective and it is painfully slow.
I did the first couple chains this way, then switched to my little bench grinder - more control, faster, lesser heat generated.
I have pictures on my desktop PC, I can post some later.
Right now I am running 4-5 saws with modified Vanguard chains which are sharpened with a Archer FastFiler jig, I like the cutting performance I am getting.


Nathan's vintage Dolmar 109 , she needs be fixed, and a original clutch cover.

 

[3browns]

Now that’s an awesome saw, a real blast from the past

yeah, I remember it taking forever to cut the rakers down with the Dremel

pics would be appreciated

TTYL

 

[Black Dog Chainsaw]

Now that’s an awesome saw, a real blast from the past

yeah, I remember it taking forever to cut the rakers down with the Dremel

pics would be appreciated

TTYL

Yes I love the looks of those old saws! It’s an original CC... by the time wilhelm got it shipped up to his place cheap we found out muffler, top end, and clutch cover might all need replaced. Kinda killed the mood if you know what I mean. I’ll probably wait for a CT or a 2 man Dolmar and have wilhelm send both!

Vanguard Chain: Use a set of channel locks and grab the 2 driver links under the vanguard dog ear. Then grind from the side inward on a bench grinder. Leave a little bit of the rolled edge or you’ll end up with your rakers at 0.040!!!

Nice 5105!!! I just picked up a 5105 with heat from Nate V. Last year and loved the heat all winter long! Mine is still stock but... I just picked this up... [emoji48]

 

[Black Dog Chainsaw]

Kiawe (Hawaiian for "F@#$ that hurts")

You should meet some Iowa honey locust... the thorns are 4-6” long! Hate thorny brush or trees!

 

[Wilhelm]

Now that’s an awesome saw, a real blast from the past

yeah, I remember it taking forever to cut the rakers down with the Dremel

pics would be appreciated

TTYL

Left hand


Right hand


Reshape raker


Done


Firm YES, after grinding off the rakers bent over section the chain will be quite aggressive, it will take several sharpening cycles to normalize this condition.
But since everyone runs ported chainsaws this should not be an issue, my fully stock Dolmar PS-550 pulled a freshly modded Vanguard loop without issues.

 

[3browns]

Yes I love the looks of those old saws! It’s an original CC... by the time wilhelm got it shipped up to his place cheap we found out muffler, top end, and clutch cover might all need replaced. Kinda killed the mood if you know what I mean. I’ll probably wait for a CT or a 2 man Dolmar and have wilhelm send both!

Vanguard Chain: Use a set of channel locks and grab the 2 driver links under the vanguard dog ear. Then grind from the side inward on a bench grinder. Leave a little bit of the rolled edge or you’ll end up with your rakers at 0.040!!!

Nice 5105!!! I just picked up a 5105 with heat from Nate V. Last year and loved the heat all winter long! Mine is still stock but... I just picked this up... [emoji48]

Thanks for the grinding technique tips on the rakers

I see porting is in your future...

lol

cheers

 

[3browns]

You should meet some Iowa honey locust... the thorns are 4-6” long! Hate thorny brush or trees!

Left hand
View attachment 206991

Right hand
View attachment 206992

Reshape raker
View attachment 206994

Done
View attachment 206996

Firm YES, after grinding off the rakers bent over section the chain will be quite aggressive, it will take several sharpening cycles to normalize this condition.
But since everyone runs ported chainsaws this should not be an issue, my fully stock Dolmar PS-550 pulled a freshly modded Vanguard loop without issues.

Thanks Wilhelm

Now I have a project

I’ll be headed back to Alaska in just over a week and I’ll take the chain and grind it there

There is so much I don’t have here in Hawaii and I don’t want to duplicate big stuff like bench grinders, etc until we figure out if we are going to sell essentially everything and start over here or possibly send a small container with shop tools, etc

It sucks when I need to do something like this and go “oh yeah, that’s in Alaska”

oh well

 

[3browns]

You should meet some Iowa honey locust... the thorns are 4-6” long! Hate thorny brush or trees!

The thorns on the tree version only get about 1 1/2”

There is a another low bush version that grows along the shore and it gets 3” thorns

Cutting into this crap is like playing Jenga

If you just barge in you are gonna get poked

It’s invasive here and in the climate it grows in it has pushed out all the native trees

The funniest or saddest part (depending on your personal sense of humor) is that in Peru where it came from it’s an endangered species

I will gladly donate mine to replanting theirs

 

[Wilhelm]

Thanks Wilhelm

Now I have a project

I’ll be headed back to Alaska in just over a week and I’ll take the chain and grind it there

There is so much I don’t have here in Hawaii and I don’t want to duplicate big stuff like bench grinders, etc until we figure out if we are going to sell essentially everything and start over here or possibly send a small container with shop tools, etc

It sucks when I need to do something like this and go “oh yeah, that’s in Alaska”

oh well

I only have a small afoordable bench grinder similar to those that are sold in supermarkets for ~30$.
I can stop the wheel when I grind soft steel, for this application I tend to mount a worn down wheel which is smaller in diameter that a new one is.

I can't even imagine how that is like, knowing what tooling You have just to be set back by the realization the tool You need is at Your other place.

 

[3browns]

I only have a small afoordable bench grinder similar to those that are sold in supermarkets for ~30$.
I can stop the wheel when I grind soft steel, for this application I tend to mount a worn down wheel which is smaller in diameter that a new one is.

I can't even imagine how that is like, knowing what tooling You have just to be set back by the realization the tool You need is at Your other place.

Yeah, 50+ years of accumulated tools

Big Snap On tool boxes full of hand tools, compressor, grinders, bench vises, air tools, etc etc

Thinking about getting pennies on the dollar for all of it and then doing it all over again just makes me ill

But

I’m not a millwright any more so lots of it is simply not needed

It comes down to the math and the $$$

Shipping vs replacing

If I don’t really need 3/4 of it then...

Luckily I have a couple years to sort it out

 

[3browns]

One thing I neglected to mention about the chain on the new Dolly

It stretched wayyyyy more than any chain I have ever tried

I was about half way through my cutting project and realized it was LOOSE

I shut the saw down and couldn't believe the sag

I tensioned it and finished up and it was still good to go but damn it had a lot of initial stretch

 

[Wilhelm]

True indeed!
I am noticing more chain stretch per fuel tank as well compared to Dolmar 099/Oregon LGX/LPX.
Initial stretch was extreme, later the chain needs tightened every tank of fuel.

Still, I like the chain.

 

[3browns]

True indeed!
I am noticing more chain stretch per fuel tank as well compared to Dolmar 099/Oregon LGX/LPX.
Initial stretch was extreme, later the chain needs tightened every tank of fuel.

Still, I like the chain.

Well I am glad to hear you agree because I was feeling like a total chainsaw newbie letting a chain get that loose

It totally snuck up on me

I was close to a derail when I noticed it in a sideways cut

 

[old_sir_henry]

Yes I love the looks of those old saws! It’s an original CC... by the time wilhelm got it shipped up to his place cheap we found out muffler, top end, and clutch cover might all need replaced. Kinda killed the mood if you know what I mean. I’ll probably wait for a CT or a 2 man Dolmar and have wilhelm send both!

Them old Dolmars have a distinct look&feel, can't deny it. Pity this one has lost its original sprocket cover and has been infected with Stihl fare...

A saw in a shape like that can quickly end up burying lots of $$ with no end visible, muffler, clutch cover, top end, ignition line (which looks a bit weird) ... oil lines ... you name it.
Chain sprockets are a chapter on their own, if worn, not an easy replacement to find if this saw is a 109 and not a 116.

Rather than looking for spares it might be easier to find another CC for parts.

And then this one looks quite OK: the hoods, the rubber cover of the rear handle all this looks quite well so I would assume this particular
old lady hasn't done too much work so far...

Since it has the stick-type back-handle I assume it's a CC 109 or 110. My own CC is the later 116 model.
Parts for older 109/110 are even more rare than those for the later 116/117 CCs.

Here is my 116 CC. You'll simply love it when it sits there idling. Great sound....

 

[Wilhelm]

The saws tag says 109


Sprocket looks OK


Is it worth parting the unit out to recoup expenses rather than restoring her?
No, she's technically not my saw, I am just thinking out loud weighing options.
We decided not to tear into the saw so I can only asses the saws exterior condition.

Old school saw next to a modern saw design.

 

[3browns]

The saws tag says 109
View attachment 207091

Sprocket looks OK
View attachment 207092

Is it worth parting the unit out to recoup expenses rather than restoring her?
No, she's technically not my saw, I am just thinking out loud weighing options.
We decided not to tear into the saw so I can only asses the saws exterior condition.

Old school saw next to a modern saw design.
View attachment 207093
View attachment 207094

I cannot imagine spending more than a few minutes trying to use that saw with that bicycle grip handle, much less cut all day in a production environment

But then I probably couldn't cut all day with the newest most AV friendly saw out there either

I guess I am spoiled and pampered...

 

[Black Dog Chainsaw]

Them old Dolmars have a distinct look&feel, can't deny it. Pity this one has lost its original sprocket cover and has been infected with Stihl fare...

A saw in a shape like that can quickly end up burying lots of $$ with no end visible, muffler, clutch cover, top end, ignition line (which looks a bit weird) ... oil lines ... you name it.
Chain sprockets are a chapter on their own, if worn, not an easy replacement to find if this saw is a 109 and not a 116.

Rather than looking for spares it might be easier to find another CC for parts.

And then this one looks quite OK: the hoods, the rubber cover of the rear handle all this looks quite well so I would assume this particular
old lady hasn't done too much work so far...

Since it has the stick-type back-handle I assume it's a CC 109 or 110. My own CC is the later 116 model.
Parts for older 109/110 are even more rare than those for the later 116/117 CCs.

Here is my 116 CC. You'll simply love it when it sits there idling. Great sound....

View attachment 207070

You make me jealous!!! There is 2x nice 116 CC on germany eBay... we simply just don’t have vintage dolmars here in the states. Definitely not the 2 man saws. Some C-series stuff pops up from time to time but is usually NE USA and shipping is $$$$.

 

[old_sir_henry]

I cannot imagine spending more than a few minutes trying to use that saw with that bicycle grip handle, much less cut all day in a production environment

True, I think nobody wants to do that. But way back then, the guys actually DID work whole days with these heaps of iron!
And it WAS an improvement compared with the equipment, they had only years earlier.

You make me jealous!!! There is 2x nice 116 CC on germany eBay

Please post the links to them ads, I usually track whats going on Dolmar-wise on german ebay but I'm currently unaware of any nice CC but something might have slipped my attention.

@Wilhelm: I agree not parting the saw especially if don't feel comfortable with the old style setup.
I for one didn't have had the intention to start collecting Dolmar vintage saws and still don't have but
the first power chain saw my father bought in 1973 was a Dolmar CA (113) and when I already had a few dozen modern Dolmars I thought it might be a cool idea to buy a CA when one in good shape was offered for a good price in classifieds.
Don't need to tell you it watered the eyes of my dad a tiny little when I presented the CA to him...

That was how I started to look for vintage Dolmars and other brands but still I don't consider myself a collector of vintage saws.
Rather I hope the newer ones I do already own some day might become vintage themselves.

Of the pre-Sachs area of Dolmar I currently own CC (116), a CA, a 118 super and these little Poulan devils hobby 100 and 101.
A CT is what everybody is looking for. I would not exclude myself but it has extremely low priority. Same for a KMS 4.
I would much more be interested in a CX Taifun (107). Have seen one on a GTG late this summer and it impressed me with its super sound

 

[Fishnuts2]

I've been fortunate enough to have a friend that seems to find all sorts of rare saws and especially Dolmars. That is how I came to own a nice CT, and a 166. I now have first dibs on a nice CC with the old style handle if he decides to sell it someday. I got my CA from Europe on eBay, and a 118 from Canada on eBay.

By the way, nothing in my opinion sounds like a CT at idle!