STIHL The Official Stihl Chainsaws Thread

[PogoInTheWoods]

A wonderful company who took a serious plunge into the old Stihl saws aftermarket arena. Unfortunately they are still prohibited from international shipping due to lingering Covid restrictions. Croatia would likely be on their 'allowed' list.

I've been checking with them every few weeks for any change in policy as I could use several hard to find old Stihl parts.

 

[tspeedle]

A wonderful company who took a serious plunge into the old Stihl saws aftermarket arena. Unfortunately they are still prohibited from international shipping due to lingering Covid restrictions. Croatia would likely be on their 'allowed' list.

I've been checking with them every few weeks for any change in policy as I could use several hard to find old Stihl parts.

I can get stuff from them and have it shipped to you if you want. I know a guy over there ;-)

 

[PogoInTheWoods]

'Preciate the offer. I have a contact over there as well. Just don't currently need quite enough stuff to bother him about it.

 

[popopboat]

Alright, Contra has finally arrived.


Except rough paint, not too shabby overall from outside, except few things.

Homemade muffler,


Cracked spike mount,

 

[popopboat]

Recoil cover is busted, and you would be suprised what is a reason why are most recoils busted like this.



And finnaly the ultimate dissapointment,


However, crankshaft is in suprisingly good condition, no excessive bearing play.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

Recoil cover is busted, and you would be suprised what is a reason why are most recoils busted like this.
View attachment 316475


And finnaly the ultimate dissapointment,
View attachment 316477 View attachment 316478View attachment 316476

However, crankshaft is in suprisingly good condition, no excessive bearing play.
View attachment 316479

Why are most of the recoils busted there?
Ill bite.

 

[popopboat]

Why are most of the recoils busted there?
Ill bite.

So the recoil could be wound by hand/finger if the spring breaks. -thats the folktale atleast

How would you rate this cylinder? Runnable or instant trash?

 

[Nutball]

Looks like a lot of run time by the plug gap. Polish up the cylinder and use a new ring with the sharp edges rounded with sandpaper, and run good oil and I imagine it would run. Might not run for long.


I had this 660 aftermarket cylinder still running strong when I found it missing plating like this:
Probably wouldn't have lasted too much longer.

I wonder if you could get it replated?

 

[Maintenance Chief]

So the recoil could be wound by hand/finger if the spring breaks. -thats the folktale atleast

How would you rate this cylinder? Runnable or instant trash?

It would depend on how it cleans up , sometimes if the chrome starts flaking as your cleaning it its a no brainer. If the chips don't get any bigger and you can smooth it up it could last a while. Being that you have damage to both the intake and exhaust side it doesn't look good.

 

[PogoInTheWoods]

Runnable or instant trash?

Ditto on the above for the most part. I would at least clean it up to the point of determining what is missing plating, what is aluminum transfer, and what may be gouging. All can be tolerated to a certain extent once the actual conditions are established. It also obviously depends on the ultimate purpose of the saw and how much and under what conditions it will be expected to operate.

But whatever you do, do NOT use acid to try cleaning it as some suggest for removing aluminum x-fer. It will eat any exposed areas not protected by the plating and completely ruin what may otherwise be a salvageable cylinder. A 120 grit abrasive and a Scotch-Brite pad should tell the tale in fairly short order.

 

[Al Smith]

3M "greenies "commonly known as Scotch-Brite and with kerosene won't normally sand away hard plating and is a good choice for cleaning up a cylinder . It could run with damage to the plating but would be advisable to use a richer gasoline oil mixture ratio .Magic no wear oil or not I would not go any leaner than 32 to one myself .< which is what I've used for decades, old or newish .

 

[Al Smith]

A word of caution here because I had a senior moment not so long ago .Stihl 034 that had been abused ,lots of transfer but could be saved .Until I lost my patience and used a coarse flap wheel .It ground through that plating faster than it took to type this out .My suggestion is to avoid that method but if you must use the "Randy " method of using Scotch Brite not sand paper .I did however save the saw by using an 036 cylinder and the saw has been sold several times since and from what I've heard is still running perfectly so it wasn't a total lose . Just a lesson of what not to do .

 

[066 redeye]

Same
Used a very worn flap wheel on a FT 066 cylinder.
Not a good look lol.

 

[PogoInTheWoods]

Make a flap with a piece of brake line as a mandrel (slotted) and the grit of your choice chucked up in a 3/8's variable speed drill and be sensible about it. Finish off with some Scotch-Brite threaded through an eye bolt and another wad stuffed into the cylinder.
Works great for even delicate situations.

 

[Al Smith]

After I killed the cylinder for the 034 Stihl I just use Greenies with kerosene and elbow grease .It's seldom I get one all knotted up like that and to screw it up really makes me mad at myself .I don't do this stuff for a living and if it takes hours longer it's not that big of a deal--except my fingers get tired .

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Had drf256 put the MOFO on my 261CM and have been using it about a year no so I thought I'd report in with the results . It's AWESOME . Best money I ever spent on a saw . Cuts like a demon and never misses a lick . I use the .325 RS with an 18" Sugihara bar and an 8 pin and it will keep up with my 461 in anything I would normally cut . I don't cut a lot of big wood but have cut some with it and it ain't backed up yet . It has saved my old back a lot of wear and tear being a lot lighter than my other saws but still getting the job done . The work he did really shows in this saw . My stock 261CM from the same year model is a great saw but is a dog compared to the MOFO saw .

 

[RI Chevy]

My MOFO 261cm runs like that as well. Very nice saw!

 

[species8472]

Nearly got the time line filled in.

 

[FergusonTO35]

My BIL just bought a portable sawmill and was planning to get a 461 to feed it. His brother had a NIB 391 and sold it to him for a very good price. BIL put a 25" bar on it and figured he would just use it until he came across a really good deal on a 461. After using the 391 for a few days on some pretty big walnut and locust, he says he is really impressed with it and doesn't have any plans to buy a 461 as long as the 391 keeps working.

 

[RockiesRider]

My BIL just bought a portable sawmill and was planning to get a 461 to feed it. His brother had a NIB 391 and sold it to him for a very good price. BIL put a 25" bar on it and figured he would just use it until he came across a really good deal on a 461. After using the 391 for a few days on some pretty big walnut and locust, he says he is really impressed with it and doesn't have any plans to buy a 461 as long as the 391 keeps working.

Wont be getting many more good deals on 461s anyway. They are discontinued what's left is all there are. I scooped up a 461 R from my dealer this last summer worked him down to 900 OTD. It's still sitting my shelf in the garage. Never been fueled, From the factory. I'm going to let her sit for a while. My 046 arctic is stihl going strong.