STIHL The Official Stihl Chainsaws Thread

[eric4]

Throw a stink, he may claim parts in add no return but you can try. Supposedly the mag isn’t supposed to harm the cylinder or transfer like aluminum. That looks like carbon scoring going on there. Unless someone replaced the mag piston with aftermarket aluminum that they do make

I think it's a mag piston. The exhaust side of the piston looks pretty good, so I'm hoping the seller just didn't look deeper into the cylinder. Sent them the pics, so if they've got a conscience, then maybe they'll work with me a bit. If the magnesium cleans up, and I've only got to replace the piston, it wouldn't be as painful...

 

[maulhead]

I just bought this 'parts' ms400c from the big auction site, and was told the Piston and Cylinder are in good shape, but upon arrival I've got my doubts...

What do y'all think, should I throw a fuss? Looks like some magnesium transfer onto the cylinder, intake side. I can't tell if there is scoring on the cylinder, but this is a disappointing sight... Spent $400 and it's missing top cover, ignition coil, clutch cover, so throwing in a P/C kit would be a huge expense. Think magnesium would clean off as easily as aluminum?

I have some of those MIA parts, if you decide to fix it.

 

[eric4]

I have some of those MIA parts, if you decide to fix it.

Much appreciated! I'll keep ya posted. Since I was expecting this saw to be worthy of reassembly, I put an order in for a top cover at my local STIHL dealer, as well as an aliexpress clutch cover. The last main pieces missing are the coil, and p/c of course.

At this point, it seems like the best route would be to just return the whole mess, unless the seller is willing to partially refund me for ~$175 towards a p/c kit.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Much appreciated! I'll keep ya posted. Since I was expecting this saw to be worthy of reassembly, I put an order in for a top cover at my local STIHL dealer, as well as an aliexpress clutch cover. The last main pieces missing are the coil, and p/c of course.

At this point, it seems like the best route would be to just return the whole mess, unless the seller is willing to partially refund me for ~$175 towards a p/c kit.

All those parts are the same as 362 parts I’m pretty sure

 

[eric4]

All those parts are the same as 362 parts I’m pretty sure

I think the coil has a different part # than the 362, but I'm not sure what makes it different...

The seller responded offering to 'do what it takes to make it right' which is good news. Since that's the case, I'll pull the jug tomorrow, to assess the damages. Perhaps it's just some piston transfer, with no cylinder scoring, but I kinda think there's more damage hidden beneath the exhaust port...

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I think the coil has a different part # than the 362, but I'm not sure what makes it different...

The seller responded offering to 'do what it takes to make it right' which is good news. Since that's the case, I'll pull the jug tomorrow, to assess the damages. Perhaps it's just some piston transfer, with no cylinder scoring, but I kinda think there's more damage hidden beneath the exhaust port...

Didn’t know you needed a coil, yes I think rhe coil is different along with piston and cylinder and modified cases. The rest of the saw is the same as a 362

 

[the 28inch mac man]

I just bought this 'parts' ms400c from the big auction site, and was told the Piston and Cylinder are in good shape, but upon arrival I've got my doubts...

What do y'all think, should I throw a fuss? Looks like some magnesium transfer onto the cylinder, intake side. I can't tell if there is scoring on the cylinder, but this is a disappointing sight... Spent $400 and it's missing top cover, ignition coil, clutch cover, so throwing in a P/C kit would be a huge expense. Think magnesium would clean off as easily as aluminum?

That cylinder looks junk to me. Btw merry Christmas guys!

 

[eric4]

That cylinder looks junk to me. Btw merry Christmas guys!

That's an understatement! Just pulled the jug, and wow, I didn't expect this kind of carnage...

Is it even worth a rebuild, if the seller is willing to refund me ~$200 for a piston/cylinder?

 

[eric4]

The cylinder surprisingly isn't as damaged as I had anticipated...But I'm still not sure if I want to salvage this saw

 

[Woodslasher]

Is that gouged plating or mag transfer in the 1st pic?

 

[eric4]

It doesn't seem to have any deep gouges in the plating from first glance, I might give it 20mins with a burgundy scotchbrite pad, to get a better assessment.

Judging by the ugly looking intake boot, this saw started sucking air until it overheated, breaking a chunk off of the piston and hammering it into the top of the cylinder. If that's the case, then an intake boot would be another $70 expense...

My gut is telling me to walk away from this saw, and get my full refund thru ebay protection. Would any of y'all rebuild a saw with a blued connecting rod?

 

[maulhead]

It doesn't seem to have any deep gouges in the plating from first glance, I might give it 20mins with a burgundy scotchbrite pad, to get a better assessment.

Judging by the ugly looking intake boot, this saw started sucking air until it overheated, breaking a chunk off of the piston and hammering it into the top of the cylinder. If that's the case, then an intake boot would be another $70 expense...

My gut is telling me to walk away from this saw, and get my full refund thru ebay protection. Would any of y'all rebuild a saw with a blued connecting rod?

Trust your gut feeling.

 

[Woodwackr]

It doesn't seem to have any deep gouges in the plating from first glance, I might give it 20mins with a burgundy scotchbrite pad, to get a better assessment.

Judging by the ugly looking intake boot, this saw started sucking air until it overheated, breaking a chunk off of the piston and hammering it into the top of the cylinder. If that's the case, then an intake boot would be another $70 expense...

My gut is telling me to walk away from this saw, and get my full refund thru ebay protection. Would any of y'all rebuild a saw with a blued connecting rod?

According to Randy, those rods are factory blued. I had the same question on a couple 362 cranks. You’ll Stihl have to pull that crank and make sure all debris is flushed out of the bearing.

 

[Woodwackr]

It doesn't seem to have any deep gouges in the plating from first glance, I might give it 20mins with a burgundy scotchbrite pad, to get a better assessment.

Judging by the ugly looking intake boot, this saw started sucking air until it overheated, breaking a chunk off of the piston and hammering it into the top of the cylinder. If that's the case, then an intake boot would be another $70 expense...

My gut is telling me to walk away from this saw, and get my full refund thru ebay protection. Would any of y'all rebuild a saw with a blued connecting rod?

Looks like a $100 pts saw to me

 

[eric4]

Looks like a $100 pts saw to me

I gave the cylinder some scotch brite attention, and it looks like it's mostly mag transfer, but the top of the cylinder has tons of 'dings' made, from the piston smashing something against the top.

But yeah, I think i'll offer him to refund me $300 of the $400, otherwise I'll just send it back. Sucks since I was hoping to keep this as a personal saw!

As far as the blued crank, I do see a 'take-off' ms400 crank on ebay, which does not look blued at all. That's what made me assume this saw was overheated

 

[Woodwackr]

I gave the cylinder some scotch brite attention, and it looks like it's mostly mag transfer, but the top of the cylinder has tons of 'dings' made, from the piston smashing something against the top.

But yeah, I think i'll offer him to refund me $300 of the $400, otherwise I'll just send it back. Sucks since I was hoping to keep this as a personal saw!

As far as the blued crank, I do see a 'take-off' ms400 crank on ebay, which does not look blued at all. That's what made me assume this saw was overheated

I questioned the cranks I have as well.
Hard to tell until you get it out, cleaned and then inspect it under magnification.
I’m never successful judging transfer vs scoring until I remove the transfer.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

I gave the cylinder some scotch brite attention, and it looks like it's mostly mag transfer, but the top of the cylinder has tons of 'dings' made, from the piston smashing something against the top.

But yeah, I think i'll offer him to refund me $300 of the $400, otherwise I'll just send it back. Sucks since I was hoping to keep this as a personal saw!

As far as the blued crank, I do see a 'take-off' ms400 crank on ebay, which does not look blued at all. That's what made me assume this saw was overheated

I have a few runners with blued cranks, knock on wood none have come apart in any way.
One of my favorite stihl's ,the MS441 doesn't have much in the way of aftermarket support either. They get costly very quick if you need to fire the parts cannon at it. I've never paid over a 100$ for a burnt or smashed one.

 

[eric4]

I have a few runners with blued cranks, knock on wood none have come apart in any way.
One of my favorite stihl's ,the MS441 doesn't have much in the way of aftermarket support either. They get costly very quick if you need to fire the parts cannon at it. I've never paid over a 100$ for a burnt or smashed one.

Yeah, I'm lucky for buyer protection thru ebay... That gives me 30 days to try to negotiate a scenario we're both satisfied with, until I just send it back for a full refund. This isn't something I'd normally do, but the saw was sold saying the engine was in good shape. Figuring I'd only need another hundred or two in parts to complete a ms400, didn't sound like a bad deal. This mess however...not ideal

 

[the 28inch mac man]

Yeah, I'm lucky for buyer protection thru ebay... That gives me 30 days to try to negotiate a scenario we're both satisfied with, until I just send it back for a full refund. This isn't something I'd normally do, but the saw was sold saying the engine was in good shape. Figuring I'd only need another hundred or two in parts to complete a ms400, didn't sound like a bad deal. This mess however...not ideal

 

[the 28inch mac man]

If you deside to keep the saw I would deffinatly replace the crank bearings.