Chainsaw: three issues

Hi all

My chainsaw is about 30 years old (Alko job), but it's in good nick and works (under-used over its life).

(1) On the fuel tank it says "20:1 mix: for the 2-stroke. However the oil I buy these days is "50:1 mix" -- which could imply that if you mix it 50-1, it'll be fine for any old 2-stroke. Should I go by what it says on the chainsaw filler cap, or by what it says on the oil bottle? (Sorry if this looks like a stupid question).

(2) This is the same saw about which I asked a question a month ago "The oil has stopped coming through to the sawchain... " There were various useful suggestions, but today I've finally decided I'm not going to get anywhere, and I'll take up Bill's suggestion:

Forget the oiler. Get an oil can. Fill it with engine oil. Squirt some > on every few minutes. That's what I do. Chains last forever.

I decided to call it a day because I've tried sluicing the oil reservoir out with paraffin, tried running the saw with paraffin in it (briefly), tried leaving it to soak, and finally today tried taking it apart (I got it back together!!!!!! It still works!!). As far as I could see, the oil feed pipe has perished in the reservoir, leaving a gungy mass at the feed-pipe opening which cannot be removed.

Further, the guy at my local Power Tool Centre said the parts can't be got -- and if he were me he'd run it and do what Bill said above.

(3) I'll probably replace the saw eventually: any makes to be recommended for my level, which is intermittent tree cutting and trimming (i.e. not 5-days a week work -- I know that for that I should be spending 00s on a Husqvarna or similar).

TIA John

Reply to
Another John
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Doesn't matter what brand you buy so long as it's a STIHL.

oh - did I mention STIHL - they're good

AWEM

Reply to
Andrew Mawson

Hi all

My chainsaw is about 30 years old (Alko job), but it's in good nick and works (under-used over its life).

(1) On the fuel tank it says "20:1 mix: for the 2-stroke. However the oil I buy these days is "50:1 mix" -- which could imply that if you mix it 50-1, it'll be fine for any old 2-stroke. Should I go by what it says on the chainsaw filler cap, or by what it says on the oil bottle? (Sorry if this looks like a stupid question).

(2) This is the same saw about which I asked a question a month ago "The oil has stopped coming through to the sawchain... " There were various useful suggestions, but today I've finally decided I'm not going to get anywhere, and I'll take up Bill's suggestion:

I decided to call it a day because I've tried sluicing the oil reservoir out with paraffin, tried running the saw with paraffin in it (briefly), tried leaving it to soak, and finally today tried taking it apart (I got it back together!!!!!! It still works!!). As far as I could see, the oil feed pipe has perished in the reservoir, leaving a gungy mass at the feed-pipe opening which cannot be removed.

Further, the guy at my local Power Tool Centre said the parts can't be got -- and if he were me he'd run it and do what Bill said above.

(3) I'll probably replace the saw eventually: any makes to be recommended for my level, which is intermittent tree cutting and trimming (i.e. not 5-days a week work -- I know that for that I should be spending 00s on a Husqvarna or similar).

Pah!

This is a DIY group init.... fabricate an oil feeder If the pipe disintigrated then it's solvent clearable. You need summat more oomphy. Try this lot...see if they can assist

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Reply to
Nthkentman

Not in my experience. Partly because they recommend 50:1 mix which meant the engine failed after about twelve years. Replaced it with a very good Oleo Mac, which is till running really well about fifteen years later. Don't use it all day every day but I do cut enough wood every winter to feed a wood burner used daily and occasional open fire.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

The oil mix question is an interesting one. The modern oils are "better" but the mix ratio was what it was on old machines for a good reason: the quality of materials and especially the machining of bores was not so good. My *guess* is that a well run-in old motor would probably be OK on the low mix new oil. If I'm wrong, it brings forward your replacement issue.

I have a Ryobi saw and IME with this and a number of other Ryobi tools the quality is fine for "keen amateur" use. It had an oil feed pump failure after not a great deal of use but the spare was easily available and reasonably priced.

Reply to
newshound

correct.

20:1 is advice for standard 2-stroke oil

Oil bottle

well I am sure it can be, just not easily.

small stihl. Unless you have massive trunks to get through.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

I think you will find it?s 20:1 Mineral oil, 50:1 fully-synthetic oil and the bottle says UPTO a 50:1 mix

FWIW i use 25:1 semi-synthetic in most all of my old 2T engines

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Reply to
Mark

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