Just rebuilt a ms180

[Khntr85]

Well guys I bought a ms180 a couple of weeks ago that had a badly scored piston and ran very poorly.... It came with 3-14" bars with 4 good chains, for $40.... The guy also gave me a ms180 carcus for parts, and 3 very good RM 20" chains that fit my ms362....seemed like a great deal to me anyway....

Well since this is a "clamshell" design, I decided to get a whole engine assembly.... I found a decent looking aftermarket engine on eBay for $48 shipped to my door.... Well after some cussing tearing this thing apart, I finally get it all back together.....I filled her up with gas, and she started right up..... So far I have ran maybe 2-3 tanks of gas threw her, and to be honest I think I am going to keep this little saw.... I have cut a piece of ash that was 10-12" and with a light hand this little saw cut right threw it...seems to be a good little limbing saw that weighs nothing.... So any way just thought I would report how this rebuild went, since I went with this whole engine assembly....

 

[Khntr85]

Oh and please excuse my messy work bench, I am always working on something, and since I have a little 11 month old baby girl now, I haven't been cleaning up my garage like usual.... Some of your guys work shops are so clean and organized it blows me away!!!!

 

[Chris-PA]

Oh and please excuse my messy work bench, I am always working on something, and since I have a little 11 month old baby girl now, I haven't been cleaning up my garage like usual.... Some of your guys work shops are so clean and organized it blows me away!!!!

I was just thinking about how clean it was - in comparison to mine anyway. I have no babies around and no excuses. I'm a work bench slob, that's the way it is and I don't care.

 

[Khntr85]

LOL, ya I must admit, I did "push" some stuff out of the way, I thought these guys will revoke my membership to this site if they see how cluttered my work bench is....

Oh I meant to say also, i don't know for sure what brand this engine..... However the spark plug does say farm tec, so obviously I am assuming that is what the whole engine is.... Do any of you guys have any ideas on that....

Also I am sure there are a lot of guys on here that have just decided to put in a whole engine in like I did, so I am wondering what you guys think about these aftermarket engines, and how long have they lasted for you guys....

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Farmer Tech makes some decent stuff, I've used some of their products and so far no problems. If your saw has the non-adjustable carburetor that might be your next improvement. I believe Zama makes an adjustable carb for this saw if you plan to keep the saw for a while.

 

[Khntr85]

Farmer Tech makes some decent stuff, I've used some of their products and so far no problems. If your saw has the non-adjustable carburetor that might be your next improvement. I believe Zama makes an adjustable carb for this saw if you plan to keep the saw for a while.

Yes mine is the carb that has only the chain adjustment.... However, unless something goes major wrong, I will probably be keeping this saw stock.....I will only be using her for limbing, and I have 4 other saws, all bigger to use if and when the timber gets bigger!!!!!

 

[blsnelling]

What's up with the scoring on the piston in the last pic?

 

[Khntr85]

What's up with the scoring on the piston in the last pic?

That was the piston that was in the saw when I got it..... Hard to believe it, but the saw did start up and run, but poorly none the less LOL....after seeing how bad this piston was scored, I figured hell with it decided to buy a whole engine assembly.... I mean the bearings and seals were probably bad too...... Now I personally alway use OEM parts if at all possible, but given this situation were this ms180 doesn't have that much value, I thought I would experiment and get a whole engine assembly.....

Now granted I have only ran 3 tanks of gas threw this new motor, so who knows it may blow up next time I start it, or might just last me years, only time will tell....

Oh and Brad, I may be a newer member, but I have been lurking on this site for years, and I remember a thread were you played with a ms180.....what were your overall opions on the ms180, and have you ever tried the aftermarket engine approach on any other saws??????..... Thanks for your reply as I know you have been working on saw for long time and have a a lot of knowledge on many different models!!!!!

 

[Khntr85]

Farmer Tech makes some decent stuff, I've used some of their products and so far no problems. If your saw has the non-adjustable carburetor that might be your next improvement. I believe Zama makes an adjustable carb for this saw if you plan to keep the saw for a while.

To be honest with ya, I think I will look up which model of the Zama fully adjustable carb will fit this saw.... I mean it can't cost that much, and I mean to me it's always better to be able to tune the saw as needed.....

 

[HarleyT]

The rods are a tad weak............

 

[HarleyT]

Reinspect your fuel line closely, look for cracks and signs of gumminess. The new fuel line is green and holds up much better.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

To be honest with ya, I think I will look up which model of the Zama fully adjustable carb will fit this saw.... I mean it can't cost that much, and I mean to me it's always better to be able to tune the saw as needed.....

Actually, there are probably more than one brand that fits the saw. I found one on ebay this week when I was working on a 170 that was fully adjustable and only cost 7.69 and had free shipping..

 

[Khntr85]

Ya I will look around.... I like being able to adjust my carbs, so I probably need to get one...

 

[Khntr85]

Reinspect your fuel line closely, look for cracks and signs of gumminess. The new fuel line is green and holds up much better.

Ok I will double check the lines, never hurts to replace the lines anyway....