THALL10326
The Champ
The 346 and 5100 both do just fine with a .325 chain. I see no reason to put a 3/8 chain on either one of them unless its just a personal preferance.
Killed my Dolmar 5100S??
- Thread starter fsfcks
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The 346 and 5100 both do just fine with a .325 chain. I see no reason to put a 3/8 chain on either one of them unless its just a personal preferance.
Magellan
ArboristSite Member
Hear, hear.Oh yeah, and I'll keep using my 5100 thank you very much. I know, it's an inferior product, and will shatter like an old cookie next time I use it, but I'm just not worthy of being on Stihl's payroll yet.haha
My 5100 came out of the box running lean, so I set the mix richer. This is SOP on any two-cycle.
The first two gallons of gas were Opti2 mixed as the pillow pack recommended and she ran fine. I didn't like how lean the Opti2 was so when I ran out, I switched over to Bailey's full synthetic (mixed at 45:1) with 93 octane and she's running even better. When I run out of Bailey's I'll probably try some Stihl Ultra, at which point she may run even better still.
Trigger-Time
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hear, hear.
My 5100 came out of the box running lean, so I set the mix richer. This is SOP on any two-cycle.
The first two gallons of gas were Opti2 mixed as the pillow pack recommended and she ran fine. I didn't like how lean the Opti2 was so when I ran out, I switched over to Bailey's full synthetic (mixed at 45:1) with 93 octane and she's running even better. When I run out of Bailey's I'll probably try some Stihl Ultra, at which point she may run even better still.
I think the Optic pillow pack is like a 71:1 mix.....if it's the 1.8 oz pack for 1 gallon of gas.
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Javelin
Addicted to ArboristSite
The failure's I had were with the fuel and opti! like I said richen up the fuel and carb no problems!
forestryworks
Addicted to ArboristSite
I called my dealer about a new MS440 2 weeks ago. (we all know they are all but gone) He said "Sure I got 2 in stock!" I said 440 or 441? he said "441 is the same thing, just 1 digit difference and flippy caps"
that sounds like my dealer :monkey: , are you sure you didn't call him? haha
Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
You guys expect too much.. At least he can count
Magellan
ArboristSite Member
Yeah, that's why I switched. Synthetic blend or not, my gut was telling me that's just too thin.
Javelin
Addicted to ArboristSite
I have one guy here running amzoil at the100:1 but I set it rich on the carb and it has been fine for over a year now! I in my personal saws use Petron Plus synthetic at 50:1 with no issues!
SwampBuck
ArboristSite Member
68 replies, a lot of them belly achin' about an entire brand because one guy had one pop. What happened to the law of averages? Somebody has to get the reject, no matter what flavor! While I don't earn a living in the woods, I grew up on a farm with plenty of time on the trigger of most the major saw brands. I wouldn't hesitate to own (and have owned most of) any of the major brands. That being said my 5 saw stable includes 1 Stihl and 4 Dolmars, 2 of which are PS5100's. Most damn impressive 50cc saw I've ever ran, and that includes the MS260 and 346XP. The 5100 is very much deserving of the praise it has received. It's just as solid as anything else on the market !!!
As the OP with the busted 5100 I'd agree with SwampBuck. My problem was probably using the wrong tool for the job. I'm still going to fix the 5100 for other uses, but my new MS441 should do much better with Osage Orange
Bowtie
Gearhead
As the OP with the busted 5100 I'd agree with SwampBuck. My problem was probably using the wrong tool for the job. I'm still going to fix the 5100 for other uses, but my new MS441 should do much better with Osage Orange
I think you will be impressed with the 441, especially how clean the air filter stays, and how little fuel it uses. Then theres the power. It will be a fine saw for cutting hedge!
Tuning the saw or a lack of.
The Stihl dealers near me charge $15 to tune the saws. I was told that they should NOT be run out of the box, they will blow up. Set too lean at the factory to pass emissions. Instant $5,000 fine if they don't pass. I am thinking that the saws are just set too lean and the dealers have not richened them up. The new saws can only be richened to the rich side of lean anyhow. Without taking off the limiters. Donny Walker from Walkers Saw shop said that for a while the 660 were all blowing up. Its not that they are bad saws, but that the limiters were set at a CRAZY lean setting. So the old carbs HAD to go in to tune them to a healthy setting.
Dave.
The Stihl dealers near me charge $15 to tune the saws. I was told that they should NOT be run out of the box, they will blow up. Set too lean at the factory to pass emissions. Instant $5,000 fine if they don't pass. I am thinking that the saws are just set too lean and the dealers have not richened them up. The new saws can only be richened to the rich side of lean anyhow. Without taking off the limiters. Donny Walker from Walkers Saw shop said that for a while the 660 were all blowing up. Its not that they are bad saws, but that the limiters were set at a CRAZY lean setting. So the old carbs HAD to go in to tune them to a healthy setting.
Dave.
cuttinscott
Addicted to ArboristSite
Cuttin - That's scary - some dealers shouldn't be allowed to touch a carb, any brand
How can they get EPA approval to do that? Are they shipped to the dealers with limiter caps not set? Pulling the cap and setting them richer busts any EPA approvals (don't get me started on how stupid this is).
The Stihl factory in also Germany uses the specific EPA approved E10 (it's shipped from the USA) to tune saws (200, 441, 460, 660, 880 etc) sent to USA.
I suspect the Dolmars are factory set really lean to meet EPA... and dealers don't adjust them, or don't know how. Every one I've seen (yep, just a handful) are all set way too lean... (as are some small Stihls..)
:monkey:
cuttinscott
Addicted to ArboristSite
I suspect that when you open the gas cap on a Stihl with 90-100 day old E10 gas it smells like ROSES too...............
Scott
Javelin
Addicted to ArboristSite
Well this has turned out to be a bash dolmar thread! truth is the piston used by dolmar or stihl echo husky poulan etc does not know what brand of saw it is in and a lean condition is not merciful to any brand! I will stack Dolmar up against anyone size for size it is quality as good as anyone out there! However they are not for everyone just like Stihl Echo or Husky etc. is not for everyone! The truth is EPA is hurting saws with the lean conditions being forced on them and the e fuel is making things worse!
SawTroll
Information Collector
Just another reason to run the Aspen alky fuel that is common over here.....
Sure it cost more than pump gas + oil - but it sure is worth it.
Sure it cost more than pump gas + oil - but it sure is worth it.
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cuttinscott
Addicted to ArboristSite
must be a west coast thing cause saws used professionally here on the east coast NEVER make 20 years of hard use........... Now homeowner saws SURE I see planty of mid eighty Dolmars still going strong today Just got done tuning a couple of Sachs Dolmar 123's and some 119's etc. Even a Jonnie 70e with a gummed up carb. I don't see many 20 year old Stihls here on the east side of the USA most I suspect have shaken apart......... Like gas tanks and mufflers on say 041's for example :monkey:
Scott
Trigger-Time
Addicted to ArboristSite
:monkey:
041.......now your talking 30 and 40 year old saws........and they still
bring $200 to $400 easy
