Makita DCS-520 Is it worth holding onto?

[Davidnewham]

That's helpful thanks. I need a new piston so is it specific as some have holes through an some don't?

 

[Davidnewham]

Also is it a good saw it cost me £50

 

[Sepia]

If you are sure your cylinder is the open port design, your new piston should be the full skirt or closed design. I have read here that you can use an open/window type piston on open port cylinders, but I don't know that to be fact. Maybe someone else here can confirm that.

If you in fact have a closed port cylinder, you can only use the open/window type piston.

 

[Sepia]

Also, when you get your saw running, you may want to upgrade the clutch. Your 4300i may have the 2-shoe design clutch, which is inferior to the upgraded 3 shoe design. The 3 shoe clutches are readily available.

 

[Davidnewham]

3 shoe is here luckily

 

[Davidnewham]

Deffo open port. But is it worth £56 repair thanks

 

[Sepia]

Yep open port. I would repair it,but I like these sawsIf all it needs is a piston, then you will have a very good quality saw once it is repaired, and less than 120 into it! Seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[Giles]

You might want to research what porting actually is. Countless threads on this site related to porting various saws. The 5200i/115i is not "tuned" - it has a different piston and cylinder than the 520i/111i. 5200i is closed port, 520i is open port. You can search that here as well if you don't know the difference between the two designs.

I have Dolmar 115 --Dolmar 111 -Makita DCS540--Makita DCS520.
You are correct in your description. My favorite is the 115, Fantastic Professional grade chainsaw. One reason I like the Makita/Dolmar is that they start with ONE or TWO pulls!

 

[Davidnewham]

All good news then. So I deffo need a closed piston? Thank for the info guys

 

[Sepia]

All good news then. So I deffo need a closed piston? Thank for the info guys

Well, like I said, I have read that the open/window type piston will work. If you can find a full skirt piston for the same price, I would use that and be safe.

 

[Davidnewham]

OK will do thanks

 

[Sepia]

Come back and post some pics once you get her back together!

 

[Giles]

Well, like I said, I have read that the open/window type piston will work. If you can find a full skirt piston for the same price, I would use that and be safe.

I would definitely use a full skirt piston in an open port engine. Sure, ported piston will work, but you need full skirt so the piston to cylinder contact is greater--when piston is down.

 

[Davidnewham]

OK will put pics on when done. May need a smaller bar and chain for my needs it came with an archer 20" which are apparently crap so any recommendations I'm thinking 16 or 18

 

[Sepia]

Bar/chain combos are a whole other discussion lol. From a personal use perspective, I find the 16" bar on my Stihl feels very nimble when compared to the 18" bars on my Makitas.

 

[mgr]

Search for a dolmar 111/ ps 52 piston and you find the full circle piston. Most aftermarket pistons are window design.

 

[Davidnewham]

If I go 16" would it be OK on a 50cc as less chain drag may overrev??

 

[Giles]

Search for a dolmar 111/ ps 52 piston and you find the full circle piston. Most aftermarket pistons are window design.

In a pinch--I have cut windows in solid pistons--but I have the tools to accomplish this.

 

[Davidnewham]

Are meteor piston any good?

 

[Sepia]

If I go 16" would it be OK on a 50cc as less chain drag may overrev??

The coil on your saw should be limited so it can't over-rev. Going with a 16" bar will have little affect on WOT RPMs, carb adjustment is the deciding factor mostly. Lot's of tuning info on here.