Stihl Contra Info Sharing Thread

[omega_supreme]

Tom, have a look at this thread by AS member '1Cut'.. 'Made an outter to match my inner......dawg 090'.
All the info you need right there!

Hey Phil,

Thanks for the pointer. It's certainly an interesting idea to make dual H&S spikes. Hopefully pictures of the final result will show up one day.

...but...unfortunately it's a different version of the claw. Aside from the fact that he has the direct drive version (mounts on the other side) the type of claw is also a bit different. I believe they made them in small/medium/large sizes. The one that 1Cut has copied would be medium size while the video shows the large one. Note for example the additional square piece of metal welded to the second spike, only present on the large claw type. I have been wondering what purpose that has. Perhaps mr. sawbones can shed some light?



Recently I saw the Homelite version of this spike, which got me interested in them again. They all look semi-custom made, none of them are exactly the same. The one in the video is the only one I've seen of this kind and I was hoping one of the members here had bought those parts a few years back.

 

[WoodBoss83]

I want to first say that any picture I post on here is a picture of a saw that is in my collection, unless I say otherwise.

 

[omega_supreme]

Beautiful! I had noticed before that you had the H&S spike on your GS. Still, it's different from the video so I take it you weren't the one that grabbed those parts from the sawking?

Also, has that lower tooth been welded? How on earth does one break such a heavy duty claw without wrecking the complete saw!?

 

[WoodBoss83]

Unfortunately, I did not get those parts from sawking. Yes, the bottom spike has been welded back together. It had to be a pretty good thump to break it. I believe this saw was found in a barn in California. The spike was on it when I got it.

 

[ozflea]

What years entailed the grey coloured crankcases of the early 090's

 

[scallywag]

Seen this on ebay, I'd heard Contras referred to as D-24 though this is the first literature I've seen.

 

[omega_supreme]

View attachment 360547
Seen this on ebay, I'd heard Contras referred to as D-24 though this is the first literature I've seen.

I saw it too, very interesting stuff so I bought one (plus some other very cool literature the seller had/has). There are some old post made by sawbones that mention the D-24 designation. He concluded that it probably was a US only naming convention.

http://www. chainsawcollectors.se/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8170

What I find just as interesting here is the pictured Lightning G or GS. Very unique characteristics: green hose, the rear handle and 07S spikes indicate it's a very early model. I have seen it before in old pictures but never in color. I remember someone from Australia showed a Lightning G with the same features, but the spike was not red. Makes me wonder if Stihl painted a handful of saws just for advertising purposes. I've noticed before that in old pictures some details on saws are highlighted with paint (for example lettering on the starter covers) on saws in ads while the actual saws that where sold lack this detailing.It would explain why the red west coast style spikes don't seem to exist.

 

[Steffen]

Have any of you found an version of the Stihl book?? (Stihl von der idee zur weltmarke) Or were to find an data version so we can translate it ourselves?? Wold love to read that book. Especially the part about the Contra and the development/history of it.

And one more, some of the Contras I have in my collection only has the auto oiler, no manual. As I can se on the serial nr, its the early ones. Did the manual oiler come as an option on the first ones?? Or was the first year or to just without the manual??

 

[scallywag]

Ebay...........30 Eur.

 

[Steffen]

Yes... But sorry I dindent make it clear in the last post that it should be in english. I dont really get that german stuff

 

[scallywag]

This came in the post today, it's one of seven prints commemorating seventy years of Stihl (1926-1996). I think they were dealer only issue at the time.

 

[SEAM]

Nice!!　

 

[7oaks]

This came in the post today, it's one of seven prints commemorating seventy years of Stihl (1926-1996). I think they were dealer only issue at the time.

I like it - i'm jealous!

 

[7oaks]

Have any of you found an version of the Stihl book?? (Stihl von der idee zur weltmarke) Or were to find an data version so we can translate it ourselves?? Wold love to read that book. Especially the part about the Contra and the development/history of it.

And one more, some of the Contras I have in my collection only has the auto oiler, no manual. As I can se on the serial nr, its the early ones. Did the manual oiler come as an option on the first ones?? Or was the first year or to just without the manual??

Steffen...I believe the manual oiler was added after a year or so of production.

 

[Steffen]

Steffen...I believe the manual oiler was added after a year or so of production.

That would make sense. I have two Contras with no manual oiler, and the serial nr is low on both of them them.
This is my newest find to my Contra collection, its from 1959 and the owners manual is nr 1003. The Bing carb is in the manuel and the pictures in it is all the Metal top cover model.
Very nice owners manual i think.

 

[pioneer saws]

Found these recently, dealer advertising order book for Contra.
Using my new smart phone, hope this works.....

sent from damn tapatalk

 

[omega_supreme]

Here is some more Lightning (G/GS) stuff. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of that super cool GS brochure mr.sawbones posted on several occasions. "People who must cut jumbo sized trees" Turns out there was also a "Lightning S" and a "Lightning" version of this ad. I had hoped there would be one for the "Lightning G" too, but given it's specifications are also shown on the GS ad, I doubt it.





Here's the D-24 geared super lightning Scallywag pointed out. I wonder if this ad is even from Stihl. They advertise a 72" bar option for the GS but as far as I know Stihl never made bars longer than 60".



Lastly there's this little book that shows some geared lightning stuff. Pretty cool too.

 

[Steffen]

Yes there were some on ebay, very nice!

 

[omega_supreme]

Indeed, these are from ebay. Most of them can still be found if anyone wants them.

I got some more, but they are not directly related to the Contra/Lightning saw. Still, it think this may be of interest here since we have no 070/090 info topic. The following picture shows what must be one of the earliest 090s, perhaps even a prototype. The on/off switch is still of the Contra type and also the rubber on the rear handle does not have the raised part toward the upper end (the more ergonomical grip). Now for the interesting part, note the decompression button and the raised 090 letters (instead of a sticker) on the air filter cover. Never saw it before.

 

[omega_supreme]

The S IPL was a one page supplement to the Lightning Book. I do have pics of the GS saw in a scan I may have already posted in this thread. You can probably find them if you go through all the pages here.

Getting back to this topic, thanks to Phil pointing one out to me (

) , I now also have a Lightning-G Manual/IPL. This one came with the Lightning GS supplement so if anyone was looking for information/part numbers, here's one:

Actually it is an assumption on my behalf that the one piece muffler is the later style. Though on page 40 of the 'G' manual the 2 piece muffler does appear with the early style handle !....... so i'm not real sure !

I also remembered this comment, my book shows the two piece handle on page 40:



I also noticed that a lot of the really old Lightning-Gs (the ones with the 07 spikes and different bar cover) have the two piece muffler but with a heat shield that has a flat surface (no cross). See for example the D-24 ad I posted earlier or these pics found in the manual (it appears to be the same operator and scenery as the "jumbo trees" GS add):





Yet another muffler type. I'm not so sure anymore where to position the one piece muffler you showed. Perhaps they are the later style..