Dolmar 7900w

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The problem I had (and I think Tim also) wasn't with the filter cover. It was simply that the filter just rapidly became impacted with fines. A new filter system with a larger housing, cover, and effective pre-filter would be a real good thing on these saws. They have a great engine design.
 
If I could find away to cut the filter and still use the latch wire, I would mount a 2" pvc pipe and put a foam filter (green weanie) with a hose clamp. Then I would have to modify the top cover. If I was going to keep one, I might, but if I sell them, which I plan to I will leave them as is, with the exception of the mod. Milled the piston and cylinder today.
 
The problem I had (and I think Tim also) wasn't with the filter cover. It was simply that the filter just rapidly became impacted with fines. A new filter system with a larger housing, cover, and effective pre-filter would be a real good thing on these saws. They have a great engine design.

Exactly. I've discussed it in detail with a logger customer/friend and he has the newer cover. Just like you said, the filter rapidly clogs, especially underneath in the "pleats". This guy has to clean the filter daily, and he knows when it's cleanout time when the saw starts losing top end power. So I'm excited to see what Dolmar has to show, but from what I heard it should be a big improvement.
 
The problem I had (and I think Tim also) wasn't with the filter cover. It was simply that the filter just rapidly became impacted with fines. A new filter system with a larger housing, cover, and effective pre-filter would be a real good thing on these saws. They have a great engine design.

Yeah, I "modded" a chunk of sweatshirt material over the holes in the filter cover, changed it out each day, and still had fines clogging the filter in no time. I'd be stoked if there was a large foam element that could be run on these. Or even just a much, much larger fleece element. Agreed, great engine design, but if after 5 minutes they can be out performed by an 026, may as well use it as a chock block.
 
Strange, although I was very skeptical about the filter when I fist saw it, I have not had a single issue with mine yet. I actually have the old style cover w/o the screen and I've added extra holes to it to help it breath. I wonder if it's the type of wood or the chains? I've done almost all of my cutting in green oak using sharp square ground chisel chain.

Regardless, I will update the filter/cover when the redesign is released.
 
Strange, although I was very skeptical about the filter when I fist saw it, I have not had a single issue with mine yet. I actually have the old style cover w/o the screen and I've added extra holes to it to help it breath. I wonder if it's the type of wood or the chains? I've done almost all of my cutting in green oak using sharp square ground chisel chain.

Regardless, I will update the filter/cover when the redesign is released.

I find the newer cap keeps out some big chips that used to find their way to the bottom pleats of the air filter.

I too was really skeptical of the wimpy filter on the 7900 but find it keeps clean very well for non air injection - and so does my brother who runs one on his aborist crew. I typically swap in a clean filter after a day of cutting while the old one dries from cleaning.

I also generally am cutting green wood with square chisel. And will keep an eye out for any new filter design they come up with. I think a 7900 with some sort of air injection filtration would be a really fantastic saw.
 
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Interestingly I've also had no issues with clogging of the air filter on my 7900 either. I cut fresh oak, beech and maple all day with out a problem. At the end of the day its not as clean as an "air injection" saw but I'm not having any drop off in performance. I still have the red old style cover.

I'm just a firewood cutter so maybe I'm not cutting the volume of wood you pros are?

JD in PA
 
The filter has been a non issue with me since I put on the new style cover. I used to get some bigger chips in there before, but none since. I can run a half dozen tanks thru it a day with no problems and I just blow it out every night back at the shop. I could probably go two days before cleaning tho. I cut mostly dead oak that is still standing.
 
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