STIHL The Official Stihl Chainsaws Thread

[legdelimber]

Am I the only one old enough to get a chuckle at that bar name?
or just still juvenile enough to say anything

 

[Sloughfoot]

Am I the only one old enough to get a chuckle at that bar name?
or just still juvenile enough to say anything

Huh?

 

[Woodslasher]

Am I the only one old enough to get a chuckle at that bar name?
or just still juvenile enough to say anything

I've chuckled at it a time or two. @Sloughfoot "Bush-Champ", not "Carlton".

 

[legdelimber]

oh crap, sorry guys! I forgot to post the answer to sloughfoot question.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

So, got the AM 661 tank the other day.
It was certainly no plug n play, lol ...duh...
I found a youtube vid on these that was quite helpful. It was a couple years old and the guy used one from Dukes that was well over $100 and not any better than this one. I do believe all of the several dozen offerings on ebay are coming from the same Chinese supplier and despite the huge difference in prices, they are most likely all the same.
these tanks are NOT for the average Joe hoping to just swap tanks...ain't gonna happen

but, I got it to work.
first off...pressure test. other than a bit of leakage from the vent, it was all good. I managed to bugger up the OE vent during removal so couldn't reuse it, sigh...
Remove absolutely everything from the OE tank. These tanks are made for the regular carb version, NOT the Mtronic like I have. But, that's not a problem...just swap all the parts...all of them except the studs. The black handle cover was actually not bad after cleaning up the molding buggers so I used it instead of a new one. the old one was broken.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

the fuel lines are a joke.
AV spring fit the new tank just fine and the supplied flippy cap sealed fine.
the lever is NOT compatible with Mtronic.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

this is the worst problem. the opening for the boot is off by a good 3mm at the narrowest point...really bad mold. I let the seller know and he replied they would fix that in the future. A few minutes with a burr and I was able to duplicate the OE opening and everything fit fine.


OE skid fit fine


big differences in the underside.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

throw away...the trigger is NOT compatible with Mtronic








had to open the wire channel a bit

 

[singinwoodwackr]

all buttoned up and the saw actually still runs
The top handle on this one had been tweeked pretty badly and repaired as best as I could. It "fit" but not as easily as a new one would probably have. I don't have a spare 661 handle to play with so just used this one.

$54, shipped. beats the $225+ for OE in this case. This is a wood yard saw and the guys there beat the crap out of their saws. This particular one had been run over, slightly, and I tried patching it up. That lasted a few months.

 

[hacskaroly]

$54, shipped. beats the $225+ for OE in this case.

That is for sure, I got an AM fuel tank for my 046 and luckily since it wasn't mTronic, the swap was relatively easy. I did have to swap the new studs for the old ones as the new ones were too short, but since they are press fit, it was easy to swap. I think I may have swapped the vent over too as I have the one with the fuel line and the grub screws.

Very cool that you were able to get that one to work, albeit with some persuasion and I am sure a few choice words too!

 

[FergusonTO35]

Dad bought a house in town and doesn't need a chainsaw more than once or twice a year (and I'll gladly do it for him), so he gave me his MS-170. 2018 model with conventional front tensioner and non-adjustable carburetor. It starts right up and runs, albeit not too well right now probably from not being used much recently. Oils just fine too, no broken parts or overdue maintenance items noticed.

So, what can you tell me about it? Is the non-adjustable carb even an issue given the sort of tasks this saw would do? Any known problem areas with the MS-170 aside from just being a small and mostly plastic homeowner saw?

 

[Sloughfoot]

Carb is good enough if it's 4 stroking a little at WOT and cleaning up in the cut. Make sure the spark screen and air filter is good. 180, 170 same same but different. 180 does take a 1mm larger piston. My 180 liked more gas when I opened up the muffler a little so I switched to an adjustable.

 

[hacskaroly]

So, what can you tell me about it? Is the non-adjustable carb even an issue given the sort of tasks this saw would do? Any known problem areas with the MS-170 aside from just being a small and mostly plastic homeowner saw?

Given the choice, I would not buy a MS 170, I would have purchased the MS 171 (adjustable carb, side tensioner, larger liquid capacity). However, if I was given a MS 170, there would be a few things I would change/upgrade, except for maybe the 12" bar unless I threw a custom made full skip chain on it!

This video should walk you through different options that may help:

 

[hacskaroly]

It starts right up and runs, albeit not too well right now probably from not being used much recently

I just reread this, might just be stiff diaphragms if he was using ethanol fuel and the fuel was sitting in it for a bit.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Yeh and kitting one of these little carbs is a crapshoot, as are AM replacements.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks guys. I dumped the old fuel and ran it for awhile with my good fuel. She starts and revs easily, will lean out and die if left to idle for very long. Probably has crusty diaphragms and junk from sitting with old fuel. No, I would not buy this saw but it was free and belonged to Dad so I'll keep it. My daughter will be ready to learn to cut wood soon so it will be a good one for her. Is the MS-171 carb a drop in fit?

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Thanks guys. I dumped the old fuel and ran it for awhile with my good fuel. She starts and revs easily, will lean out and die if left to idle for very long. Probably has crusty diaphragms and junk from sitting with old fuel. No, I would not buy this saw but it was free and belonged to Dad so I'll keep it. My daughter will be ready to learn to cut wood soon so it will be a good one for her. Is the MS-171 carb a drop in fit?

View attachment 488460

Ms 210,230,250 fully adjustable carb is what you want to upgrade the 170/180. 171 is a stratto saw and carb is different. Far as rebuilding the stock carb they rebuild like any of the other ones are no harder or easier. The zama ones will be a c1q body if I remember and internally the same as weed trimmer carb or 271/311 ect. Otherwise if older could be a walbro with fixed jets in a wt series which are all similar inside. But i definitely would go with an ms 250 carb so you can adjust it. Also the 170/180 are actually tough little saws it may be boggy also from a plugged exhaust screen so check that also. May run just great after the screen is cleaned or taken out, if you just remove the screen it won’t change the flow enough to make it lean out.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Ms 210,230,250 fully adjustable carb is what you want to upgrade the 170/180. 171 is a stratto saw and carb is different. Far as rebuilding the stock carb they rebuild like any of the other ones are no harder or easier. The zama ones will be a c1q body if I remember and internally the same as weed trimmer carb or 271/311 ect. Otherwise if older could be a walbro with fixed jets in a wt series which are all similar inside. But i definitely would go with an ms 250 carb so you can adjust it. Also the 170/180 are actually tough little saws it may be boggy also from a plugged exhaust screen so check that also. May run just great after the screen is cleaned or taken out, if you just remove the screen it won’t change the flow enough to make it lean out.

modified, the 170/180 can run with a stock 250

 

[Partner]

I tried to enlarge the fuel hole H in the MS180 carburetor

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I tried to enlarge the fuel hole H in the MS180 carburetor

...and?