Older saws.....why gear drive???

I did a search....can you imagion what posts come up with gear drive in the search!?

Why were the older saws geared down to the point that you almost could count the links? I understand (well maybe) the two man saws being geared down. What about my David Bradly? Didn't the engine have enough power to pull the chain?
Thanks

Dan

In the begining, right after light was invented, two strokes were not as powerful as they became later, gear reduction really was required. Later oneman geardrive designs were dreadnaught class Old Growth killers, using 60" to 84" bars. Such Chainsaws persisted into the 1970s, when the need for them vanished, so did they, now they are collector's trophys.

RandyMac said:

In the begining, right after light was invented, two strokes were not as powerful as they became later, gear reduction really was required. Later oneman geardrive designs were dreadnaught class Old Growth killers, using 60" to 84" bars. Such Chainsaws persisted into the 1970s, when the need for them vanished, so did they, now they are collector's trophys.

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I couldn't aggree more.
Well said Randy.


Lee

RandyMac

Thanks for the reply! So, what you're telling me is my DB doesn't have the power to pull the chain on it, I think around 25", w/o the gear reduction?

Thanks

Dan

manyhobies said:

RandyMac

Thanks for the reply! So, what you're telling me is my DB doesn't have the power to pull the chain on it, I think around 25", w/o the gear reduction?

Thanks

Dan

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If your DB has the AH47 motor,
They didn't have much in the way of power.
Gear reduction was needed to pull the chain.
Some of the other DB saws with the AH58 And AH81
motors they were made with geardrive and direct drive.


Lee

Depends... My Super Wiz 80 has full comp 1/2 on a 30" bar and my 1-82 has full comp 9/16 on a 36" bar. Neither could run those chains buried. Replace them with .404 skip and the gearbox wouldn't be needed.

All I know is I'm glad they made um. I love to get mine out and cut with um. They are cool to run after being used to running the new fast torque saws.

I agree with what Randy said too. He hit the nail on the head.
They are a blast to run.
Joe

manyhobies said:

RandyMac

Thanks for the reply! So, what you're telling me is my DB doesn't have the power to pull the chain on it, I think around 25", w/o the gear reduction?

Thanks

Dan

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bottom line is lenght of bar your using.. just like driving your truck up the hill .

homelite built at least 3 models that you could change the gearing on from direct to reduction.

hoffco also built a gear changer in the 50's.

Hey Ric, $150.00 back then was an arm and a leg to the knee.
I'll bet that most of the West Coast old growth was harvested by geardrives, direct drives with enough power were late to the game.

I agree with all that have responded to this post. I have a 1955 Clinton 525, 94.7 cc, 3 to 1 reduction. The maximum RPM for this engine is 4500 rpm. I just got it running after 30 years as a relic. Can't decide to repaint and restore, or just leave it as is for a conversation saw. It has a bark not heard in a long time.



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Wow! Some really cool replys! The brochures are great!

Anyone else have some cool stuff about the old gear drives?

I didn't know about the convertables and the ones with tranies!

Leave it be, it looks just fine, too many vintage chainsaws have lost their historic patina.

Keep in mind that the chain available in those days was much different than what is available today.

The 1/2" and 9/16" pitch chains took quite a kerf and so were much harder to pull than a .404 or 3/8" chain on big saws today.

I have several gear drive saws including a Strunk Shur Kut with the Power Products AH47 and an 18" bar, gear drive, 1/2" pitch chain. I can't stall that saw with the bar burried in a nice maple log. Could be the chain was not all that sharp...

I also have a McCulloch 840 (99 cc) with 36" bar, again gear reduction (3:1 I believe) and 1/2" pitch chain. I have run that saw in an sound ash log that was 30"+ in diameter, again you can pull as hard as you like and it will not stop.

The old gear drives are not fast, but they do keep lugging.

Mark

Yea leave it alone I restored one and painted it, it was the worst mistake I've made lately. I'll never repaint one again. It takes away all the character of the old beast within.
Joe

Even the torqued out 041, was made with a gear drive(041G)!
Talk about bringing a gun to a knife fight!

Either way, gear drives are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RandyMac said:

Hey Ric, $150.00 back then was an arm and a leg to the knee.
I'll bet that most of the West Coast old growth was harvested by geardrives, direct drives with enough power were late to the game.

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Hey Randy, did ya see my super 250 bow over in cliffs world ?


here is the hoffco gear changer from 1958

Yeah after reading you guys reply, I think I'll leave this old beast as it is. Thanks to the chainsawlady, she sent me an operators manual with parts catalog. I'll get it scanned so you can see the photos and instructions from 1955.

cpr said:

Depends... My Super Wiz 80 has full comp 1/2 on a 30" bar and my 1-82 has full comp 9/16 on a 36" bar. Neither could run those chains buried. Replace them with .404 skip and the gearbox wouldn't be needed.

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I have a super wiz 66 gear drive w/ a 1/2" chain on a bow bar, which is a joy to run. I don't think it could pull that chain. It throws chunks as big as my finger nail and the chain could use a sharpening. I had it throwing chips as long as my finger.

Teddy.Scout said:

Even the torqued out 041, was made with a gear drive(041G)!
Talk about bringing a gun to a knife fight!

Either way, gear drives are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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A buddy of mine has an 041G. His father bought it new probably between 1968-72. they have a large pecan grove, 250 acres, and 750 more acres to maintain. My first saw was an 041. I showed it to my friend and he said he had one like that. He pulled it out and I was like dang, thats a beast. We had it running in 20-30 min. It had the full wrap handle. The top bracket was busted so I picked one up off flebay.His father has passed away, He would not sell that saw for anything. pretty cool to see one though.

Ric, I'll wander over and check it out, Supers rock.