What's the justification for not using 50:1 for milling?

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Bubster

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Well, the harm would be more fouled spark plugs. If there is an advantage which overrides that disadvantage then I'm all for it. I was just wondering if there is any actual evidence that links more oil to better operating temps. The image posted by @82F100SWB is very persuasive in that regard - after all, the Husqvarna engineers know what they're doing. I'm going to give it a try.
Spark plugs,$3. Top end $200+. I switched to 40:1 for all my saws no matter what I'm cutting, and if I was milling I would take the others advice and go 32:1.
 
rupedoggy

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Nobody will remember I said this and I don't give a flying F but oil does more than lubricate and cool, It cushions. Bearings, pistons, rings are slapping, pounding and trying to destroy themselves at something like 25 thousand times a minute. The oil is there to help prevent destruction. Thicker oil (higher ratio) is better protection.
 
StihlPotlicker

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when i first started out CSM I ran 50:1 on my 460 with a 32" mill, I didn't do too much, only milled 500bdf of cherry. But I after I upgraded to a 084 with 60" B/C I run 32:1. I have ran that out of fuel milling a 23Ft log almost maxing out my mill. and it fired back up, and I only let it "rest" after the cuts i would let it idle a bit, but I tuned it pig rich too.
what for b/c are you running on your 395?
 
HansFranz

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Well, the harm would be more fouled spark plugs. If there is an advantage which overrides that disadvantage then I'm all for it.
Let's see:
Too much oil worst-case scenario: New spark plug: Maybe $5
Too little oil worst-case scenario: New rings/piston and/or cylinder: > $5+ (slightly)
Hmmm, decisions, decisions...
 
anynameyouwish

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when i first started out CSM I ran 50:1 on my 460 with a 32" mill, I didn't do too much, only milled 500bdf of cherry. But I after I upgraded to a 084 with 60" B/C I run 32:1. I have ran that out of fuel milling a 23Ft log almost maxing out my mill. and it fired back up, and I only let it "rest" after the cuts i would let it idle a bit, but I tuned it pig rich too.
what for b/c are you running on your 395?
Bar = 3-ft, chain = skip tooth 10-degree chain.

Funny you say that, I burned it when I was 22-ft into a 23-ft log and ran out of fuel. Did you go straight WOT for 23 ft, or were you resting the saw every few feet?
 
StihlPotlicker

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Bar = 3-ft, chain = skip tooth 10-degree chain.

Funny you say that, I burned it when I was 22-ft into a 23-ft log and ran out of fuel. Did you go straight WOT for 23 ft, or were you resting the saw every few feet?
no, I would not let it rest, by idling every few feet. and I ran it out of gas a few times too. I milled up a big red oak too, without "resting in the cut. I would let it idle after the cuts though. If you haven't already, I would do a muffler mod, to help it expel the heat from the exhausts quicker too.
 
NSEric

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I run 32-1 in everything.
It smokes a little on start up but clears up once the saw is warm.
I also dont mill with a chainsaw. I think it's silly, you can get a small bandsaw mill for only a little more than a big chainsaw plus the chainsaw mill which is way faster and better.
There's a hand full of bandsaw mills close to me and not one chainsaw mill.
 
wildwes

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Well, the harm would be more fouled spark plugs. If there is an advantage which overrides that disadvantage then I'm all for it. I was just wondering if there is any actual evidence that links more oil to better operating temps. The image posted by @82F100SWB is very persuasive in that regard - after all, the Husqvarna engineers know what they're doing. I'm going to give it a try.

Spark plugs,$3. Top end $200+. I switched to 40:1 for all my saws no matter what I'm cutting, and if I was milling I would take the others advice and go 32:1.

Let's see:
Too much oil worst-case scenario: New spark plug: Maybe $5
Too little oil worst-case scenario: New rings/piston and/or cylinder: > $5+ (slightly)
Hmmm, decisions, decisions...

Spark plugs are so cheap you could change them every few tanks of fuel and still come out a lot cheaper than a roasted top end, along with likely damage to other components. On top of that, as others have said, if it is properly tuned you shouldn't hurt your plugs. I have saws running 40:1 with good oil, slightly rich at that, that have been running the same plug for years.

At any rate, it's worth trying a heavier ratio, it isn't like you can get results too much worse than what you are getting at 50:1 now.
 
anynameyouwish

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no, I would not let it rest, by idling every few feet. and I ran it out of gas a few times too. I milled up a big red oak too, without "resting in the cut. I would let it idle after the cuts though. If you haven't already, I would do a muffler mod, to help it expel the heat from the exhausts quicker too.
My mind is boggled. Can I ask what kind of muffler mod you've done? Any links to youtube videos etc would be gratefully accepted.
 
Squareground3691

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There's no room for debate here, husqy states right in the manual that saws over 70 or 75cc in heavy duty applications should be ran on 33 to 1. If milling doesn't qualify for heavy duty use, then I'm not sure what does.
Husqvarna chainsaw with an air-cooled two-stroke engine over 75cc is recommended to use a 33:1 fuel to the oil mixing ratio.👍
 
ballisticdoughnut

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Well, the harm would be more fouled spark plugs. If there is an advantage which overrides that disadvantage then I'm all for it. I was just wondering if there is any actual evidence that links more oil to better operating temps. The image posted by @82F100SWB is very persuasive in that regard - after all, the Husqvarna engineers know what they're doing. I'm going to give it a try.
Even if that were the case, a spark plug costs a lot less than a piston and cylinder. I run 40:1 mix in all my two stroke equipment. No fouled plugs, no clogged spark screens. Not blowing them up either.
 
anynameyouwish

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Husqvarna chainsaw with an air-cooled two-stroke engine over 75cc is recommended to use a 33:1 fuel to the oil mixing ratio.👍
I'll give 40:1 a shot, but the reason I've been using 50:1 is that the 395xp manual explicitly says to use that ratio. It's possibly different in other countries (I'm in the US).
 
Squareground3691

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I'll give 40:1 a shot, but the reason I've been using 50:1 is that the 395xp manual explicitly says to use that ratio. It's possibly different in other countries (I'm in the US).
That quote is directly from Husqvarna, milling is probably the hardest work for a saw especially long wide cuts , other than cutting Aussie wood in the blazing heat , I think if you ask most people who do a lot of milling, would suggest a heavier ratio than 50:1 is a recommended for saw longevity and proper tuning is equally important,
 
anynameyouwish

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For example, the link posted above which recommends 33:1 for heavy-use applications is https://www.husqvarna.com/ca-en/learn-and-discover/how-to-mix-2-stroke-fuel/ (Canadian). I found references to the 33:1 mix in materials from Germany and the Netherlands. But the US manual says 50:1. Is this the invisible hand of the EPA? or does this have to do with different fuel quality found in different countries?
 
anynameyouwish

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I run 32-1 in everything.
It smokes a little on start up but clears up once the saw is warm.
I also dont mill with a chainsaw. I think it's silly, you can get a small bandsaw mill for only a little more than a big chainsaw plus the chainsaw mill which is way faster and better.
There's a hand full of bandsaw mills close to me and not one chainsaw mill.
I wish I could get a bandsaw. But the way our land is set up, and given the sorts of projects I'm working on, I do need to take the mill to the log, rather than the other way around. And I need big beams which means large logs and these are hard to move!
 
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