(EDIT: I am trying to replace some of the lost photographs in this thread - some may not be exactly the same as the originals, or in the same sequence. There are also some minor edits).
Background
Some of you know that I volunteer with groups that help clean up storm damage. This work is hard on the saws, due to all of the debris mixed in, and because lots of different people use the same saws.
We also train new volunteers, who get to learn, and sometimes make mistakes on our saws, in exchange for their time and effort cleaning up tree debris. I try to help keep those saws running, in addition to my own, and have learned a lot from reading A.S. posts.
This saw was recently presented to me from the ‘disabled’ list. I thought it might be fun to do a thread on its diagnosis and repair to solicit some input and advice from more experienced members, and to encourage some less experienced members to learn how to work on their saws or projects.
My Goals
1) Figure out what led to this repair, without assigning blame.
2) Return this saw to service with a stock level of performance (no mods or porting, other than minor clean up on any replacement parts).
Vital Signs
model: STIHL MS 046
purchased new: August, 2001
spark: Yes!
compression: 117 psi
crank: rotates normally when starter rope is pulled - strong resistance still felt at parts of the cycle, even with the low compression noted.
Photos Attached
- The very clean spark plug must have been installed by someone trying to get the saw to run. I don’t have the old one to look at the tip color.
- The top of the piston looks very clean - no noticeable carbon buildup there or in the muffler.
- The intake side of the cylinder looks very smooth and clean, as viewed from the exhaust port.
What do ‘we’ do next?
Philbert
Background
Some of you know that I volunteer with groups that help clean up storm damage. This work is hard on the saws, due to all of the debris mixed in, and because lots of different people use the same saws.
We also train new volunteers, who get to learn, and sometimes make mistakes on our saws, in exchange for their time and effort cleaning up tree debris. I try to help keep those saws running, in addition to my own, and have learned a lot from reading A.S. posts.
This saw was recently presented to me from the ‘disabled’ list. I thought it might be fun to do a thread on its diagnosis and repair to solicit some input and advice from more experienced members, and to encourage some less experienced members to learn how to work on their saws or projects.
My Goals
1) Figure out what led to this repair, without assigning blame.
2) Return this saw to service with a stock level of performance (no mods or porting, other than minor clean up on any replacement parts).
Vital Signs
model: STIHL MS 046
purchased new: August, 2001
spark: Yes!
compression: 117 psi
crank: rotates normally when starter rope is pulled - strong resistance still felt at parts of the cycle, even with the low compression noted.
Photos Attached
- The very clean spark plug must have been installed by someone trying to get the saw to run. I don’t have the old one to look at the tip color.
- The top of the piston looks very clean - no noticeable carbon buildup there or in the muffler.
- The intake side of the cylinder looks very smooth and clean, as viewed from the exhaust port.
What do ‘we’ do next?
Philbert
