Thread: pioneerguy600

Hi; I am new to your forum but I have viewed and read a lot of the contents for a year or so by now. I have worked and repaired chainsaws for 40 odd years and have recently started to collect and rebuild vintage Pioneer saws. I have recently become the owner of a 1948 IEL Model AB. my question for anyone out there with knowledge on old IEL`S is about the mix oil available today. It states on the break instructions to mix the gas at a ratio of 8 to 1 using SAE 60 or 70 grade oil. Todays mixing oils are nowhere near that thick. This saw has a nos piston, rings,bearings and seals with the light honeing that removed only the stains where the piston had set for 50 odd years, it has great compression and bright spark . Should I start it using todays mixing oils at the recommended ratio ?

Welcome to the forum. This topic has been covered numerous times before and everybody has their own opinion but I wouldn't worry at all put 40:1 or 50:1 in it. Oils have made leaps and bounds over the last 50 years. Give the search button a try and you will come up with more information on the topic.

Old pioneer saws are some cool saws to collect.

I'd run 40:1 in it with a high quality modern mix oil and mid-grade gas, 89 octane or so. Tune it a bit rich initially to break the saw back in. About three years ago I put an old Mac 795 back together with a fresh fuel system. It didn't like 50:1 but it did like 40:1.

Thanks Epicklein 22 , I have checked out the search arena on oil topics and have gained much insight on the uses of two stroke oils.

Thanks Jacob J. If I try to start it I will mix the oil to fuel on the heavy side and run the carb slightly rich. I have rebuilt many 1955 to 1965 Pioneer 600 series saws with new pistons rings etc. and they run well on 16 to 20 ratio`s although they smoke a little but they always did. I don`t run them to cut any amount of wood, mostly exhibition .

I used to restore old snowmobiles and I ran 20:1 just to keep in the spirit of things. The smell of oil burning in an old two stroke brings back a lot of memories to some people but you could run 50:1 with no problems if you choose a good oil. The carb settings will change if you do change you mixture the carbon builup can be a problem if you run a lot of oil.

Thanks Husky Dave ; From the feed back from the forum and a little research on the web ,also a forum recommendation, I have concluded that the newer oils will protect my older saws adequately , carbon build up should not be a problem as these saws are only run for short periods to demonstrate their different operating qualities. You would be surprised at how many guy`s gasp when I unlock the rear handle,gas tank and carb and rotate it 90 deg. on a running saw and cut a standing block off the stump.

I would run it 32:1, I run all of my saws with out spark arrestors on that mix and they do fine. Even 25:1, its not like you are looking for oil efficiency in this saw.

Thanks Romeo ; I have received many assurances that today`s modern high quality oils will work well with vintage engines and I will mix fuel to oil ratio on the heavy side and run carb slightly rich as I don`t mind a little two stroke smoke wafting around my head in blackfly season.

welcome Pioneer guy. I see all your questions were answered, but I like your name, check out my sig below....a Pioneer fan myself!

Thanks for the welcome message Stoneykill, you have a great handle as well. I started out with Pioneer saws in 1957, carrying them for my Dad, and got to run one in 1962 through necessity. By the time I was 13 I was running our Pioneer 600 to cut up firewood and have always maintained an interest in them over the years. I have rebuilt a lot of the 600 series saws and currently have 40 odd runners.

Originally Posted by pioneerguy600

Thanks for the welcome message Stoneykill, you have a great handle as well. I started out with Pioneer saws in 1957, carrying them for my Dad, and got to run one in 1962 through necessity. By the time I was 13 I was running our Pioneer 600 to cut up firewood and have always maintained an interest in them over the years. I have rebuilt a lot of the 600 series saws and currently have 40 odd runners.

Just think this is your 6th post.. Stay around here a year or so and see how many more saws you will own..

Thanks for the warning Ericjeeper, it seems more saws keep arriving every month than I can fix in a year, will have to build a bigger garage to fill.

Originally Posted by pioneerguy600

Thanks for the welcome message Stoneykill, you have a great handle as well. I started out with Pioneer saws in 1957, carrying them for my Dad, and got to run one in 1962 through necessity. By the time I was 13 I was running our Pioneer 600 to cut up firewood and have always maintained an interest in them over the years. I have rebuilt a lot of the 600 series saws and currently have 40 odd runners.

thanks, the Stonykill creek divides my property in 2, thats where the name came from. 40 saws...nice. I end up selling the less favorites and only keeping the favorites. My dad ran an old pioneer, not sure of the model # but it was all the yellowish color and looked like a 600. Unfortunately when he died, it got tossed before I could get at it. My stepdad always ran macs. I used to have a nice collection of them, but once I got a few Pioneers, I was hooked. Pioneer 600 at 13. That thing weighed as much as you.lol. Welcome..you'll have 80 saws soon

Hi stonykill; Yea those 600`s are heavy but when you lived in the backwoods around here in those days you got to work at an early age. At 13 years I stood 5ft 10 and weighed 167 at my birthday party my Gran. weighed me and recorded my height and weight, I still have the card. Today I finished assembly on a 620 super and a 14 yr. old who helps out around here wanted me to fuel er up and start it , I did and he took that saw and nearly cut a cord of hardwood into firewood with it running a 20 in nos. Pioneer hard nose bar and a404 063 Pioneer chain. It did my heart good to hear and see a young fella run a dinosaur.