I certainly have no dog is this fight, but this type post has no business being played out in public on AS. It's becoming all too common. Is it SBW instead of AS, SBW standing for saw builder's wars. Is there not room for more than one builder?
Brad you are your own worst enemy, when are you going too learn? I watched Weimiedog get hammered for "calling out another member" member recently. What in the hell was the purpose of this post? It looks like purposely dogging another member. You have made many valuable contributions to the sight, you have more knowledge about saws than I'll ever care to have, but these type self-serving post makes many member's forget that. I will say it publicly rather than in public rather than in pm's that as of late the post seem more like veiled self promotion of the saw building business than post of a contributory nature. I guess thats fine since your a sponsor, just call it what it is. I'll say I have more respect personally for TW's approach about his business. I've seen some sharp cats like Tommy Hall give you some sage advice but you just ignore it.
I would guess as that more than likely there would be a general consensus among most member's that lately there has been a degradation of the amount of respect they have for you. You talk of going to church and behave the way you do on here at times, it's not a way to witness to others. Day in day out I'm prolly not the best example either, as my swearing gets out of hand at times.
The pm that was posted hits it pretty close in my book. Although the 372XT thread was close to full disclosure it stopped short, I'd have posted pics of the inside of the cylinder, as through as you photograph and document post like the 261, I know you prolly took a photo of the inside of that cylinder. I've took apart enough car engines, failed B&S type engines and a yes a couple of failed saw engines to know with the looks of that piston there had to be damage to that jug.
Personally, I'd bought the guy a new saw ported it, since it did pay the tuition for you to learn how to do that model of saw, and took the blew up one documented a new jug piston, whatever else was replaced and sold it on the trading post, even if I lost a few bucks on the deal the replacement would have enhanced you position as a fair builder more then it cost you.
As many have told you when the piper comes calling don't whine when you have to pay up as your post and vids will hang your hiney, your way past the little guy like me or the average member with minor mods, even a ported saw or two, I'm sure your way over a 100 ported saws now, prolly closer to 200 that's some serious cash and way more than a "hobby".
I can tell you that no matter what you do in life there will always be someone better. Telling a guy his saw is not stock is no better than someone saying that your saw after porting was slower. What's the difference?
I will say in some vids it does appear that the saw is being lightly pushed, the 440 /460 top end saw vid comes to my mind, I may be way off on how that saw hold rpms but there isn't much of a change when it's in the wood and when you lift it.
Anyone who has run a saw at all knows there are tricks to making a saw look faster and stronger than it is to the unknowing onlooker, in fact did it myself last Sat to a couple of fairly new Echo lovers. They left thinking Stihl's were the first and last name in chainsaws.lol Hell, if I were in your position what do you have to lose doing a build off, you would prolly gain more respect even if you lost. What do you have to lose, I would either do it or quit talking up how fast my saw's were. So it's not race saw against race saw do sustained cutting for a full tank of fuel after a pre-determined number of timed cuts, just do your timed cuts and then go to the wood pile and run them until they run out of gas.
After the build off and saw off, both guys should then document their builds including photo's so average guys can learn a little. It could actually benefit the site. I've never has a fight with a guy that afterward I didn't have more respect for and usually become pretty good friends with them.
Again, maybe I have missed some post, but this one and several others lately have reeked of conceit, pride, self promotion and not a great reflection of a guy who goes and sits in a pew frequently, how you act is between you and the creator and I'm wrong for being judgemental. I really think your a better man than the guy on AS, prolly a really decent guy to be around. I know I think about my legacy more than most having a terminal illness, man life is short, today before I speak out, act on things I definetly try to think how those words or actions will be perceived down the road, really after I'm gone. How will they affect my kids, used too I'd be the first to tell someone to kiss my azz, go to hell, etc. I was knocking down close to 300k a year, had the world by the tail, had the title, the house, the vehicles, etc. thought I was pretty important, didn't give a **** what anyone else thought, I was it, a self made guy, knew it all. You know the Lord really blessed me when I got this little health problem, it took it too open my eyes on what was really important, God, Family, Friends and Health, the rest is all bullchit.
Your young, full of pizz and vinegar and are just a tad self centered imho, just make sure your the guy you want to be remember as when you look in the mirror every morning. Enough preaching. Go back to building and more importantly share as much knowledge to these newbs and old guys alike, theres no Lakeside any more. Ole Tommy needs to help these guys out on the technical side too, although I image he's tired of saws by the time he puts in eight hours, there's a ton of saw shop guys on here that could enhance this sight, I'm calling all of you out to make this site better by contributing your knowledge. It's been kind of dry as of late. Brad, this is not to offend, but had to get it off the chest, rather put it out there than other means.