What to do w/ this 038 Super?

[RedShift42]

A neighbor made me a deal on his 038 AV Super EQ this week. When he went to use it he discovered it's seized-- local shop breaks it free and quotes $$ to repair it. Not worth it, he figures and offers it to me. He insists it wasn't straight-gassed (Everyone says that, right?), but the striations visible on the p&c say something unhappy went on in there. The lines aren't galled, nothing you could hook your fingernail on, but shiny.

Anyway, it's a pretty clean saw so I was happy to take if off his hands, if for nothing other than parting out. Then tonight, out of curiosity I check the compression-- 150psi!

Now I'm not sure what to think; could this thing be salvageable w/ the existing p&c, or is good compression misleading and the top-end still fubar?
I don't have the desire to keep the saw (still holding out for a 361), but trying to figure out how to proceed-- part-out, sell as-is, or could there be an economical repair?

-Eric.

 

[gmax]

I would pull the cylinder and have a look, It may just need a new piston and rings, I would repair it and sell it as a runner.

 

[Rookie1]

Like gmax says, Id pull the cylinder and at least put rings in it. I did that with an 034. My Stihl dealer thought I was crazy but its still running today.

 

[lone wolf]

With that compression you could fix it by cleaning the cyl and a new piston.

 

[john_bud]

I'd just clean the cyl, piston and put in new fuel line then see how it runs. But a vac / pressure test to verify good seal would be smart...

 

[lone wolf]

What happened to all the avatars?

 

[XSKIER]

If it stihl has compression, was locked up, and has scoring on the cylinder, one or more of the crank bearings probably let go. I would rebuild it, use it, and cherish the gift from your friend.