Stihl Contra Info Sharing Thread

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
I know it’s probably impossible to know at what serial number did the contra g end and 090g begin. But I would also like to know at what serial number the contra g began. Years ago I contacted Stihl Germany but they could not tell me. They said records were not kept that good back then.
 
Today a saw carcass finally arrived that I have been anxiously awaiting for a very long time. Not a complete saw, but this is the case assembly of the 63rd serialized Contra made. It is serial number 82079 and was assembled on May 3rd, 1959. I'm sure there are earlier examples out there, but this is the lowest serial number I've ever seen or heard of on a Contra. Not shown in the photos, but I also have the (correct) handlebar for it.

There are two very interesting things about this case set. First, the number "130" is stamped into the front of both case halves. You can see on the flywheel side there is paint in the stamped numbers, so it was either done at the factory prior to painting, or it was stamped and repainted at some point later in it's life. Second, it has a wind vane speed governor. Those were not on the sand cast saws. It would seem odd to me that somebody would go through the trouble of adding that later, but I don't know of any other reason it would be there?

IMG_1937.JPG IMG_1938.JPG IMG_1939.JPG IMG_1940.JPG IMG_1941.JPG IMG_1942.JPG IMG_1943.JPG IMG_1944.JPG
 
I got my first day Contra carcass all cleaned up! Funny, now that it's cleaned up I realized the number 14 is stamped into the front of the PTO side case half. My complete sand cast saw doesn't have a single number anywhere on it, and this one has a serial number, 130 stamped into the inner case halves, and 14 stamped into the very front. Go figure...

IMG_2049.JPG IMG_2051.JPG IMG_2052.JPG IMG_2053.JPG IMG_2055.JPG IMG_2057.JPG IMG_2060.JPG
 
nice catch, that handle bar looks awfully tall and narrow
good luck for restoration

It think the lack of a top end and bonnet do make it look tall. You're correct on the narrow thing though. The first Contras (I think it changed with the transition to die cast) had that style of handlebar; no curved standout on the PTO side to make more room for the front hand position.
 
I still have about 20 pages of reading to get caught up, but I thought I'd post these up and ask a few questions. It was a late night impulse buy, so I'm behind the curve:

1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg
 
From the serial number, it looks like it is after the switch to die-casting, but ahead of the manual oiler, so 59-60?

It has the HL-74A carb, and the air cleaner housing has "Mahle" on it.

The repo cover is busted up, but I have a new one on the way. I might rivet the Stihl tag from the broken one onto the starter cover...

Are the filter bags for the air cleaner something that came with the saw?

The compression on the saw is down around 80. I haven't had the jug off yet, but do you think that a new piston and rings would get it high enough to get her running?

I don't plan on using it much, but I definitely want to hear her.
 
From the serial number, it looks like it is after the switch to die-casting, but ahead of the manual oiler, so 59-60?

It has the HL-74A carb, and the air cleaner housing has "Mahle" on it.

The repo cover is busted up, but I have a new one on the way. I might rivet the Stihl tag from the broken one onto the starter cover...

Are the filter bags for the air cleaner something that came with the saw?

The compression on the saw is down around 80. I haven't had the jug off yet, but do you think that a new piston and rings would get it high enough to get her running?

I don't plan on using it much, but I definitely want to hear her.

Nice early Contra!

Hard to tell if a new piston will do the trick. It's easy enough to pull the cylinder off on these saws; I'll pull it and inspect. You can get reproduction pistons from saegenspezi (sp?) .com. they're in Germany but they ship worldwide. You can find OEM stuff out there, too, but tough to find a good used piston at a reasonable price.

Also, if you're on Facebook, you should join the 1106 group that I started - just do a search for Stihl Contra Lightning 070 090 group.

Scott
 
The time frame you stared is about right and I believe the filter socks came with the saw but you don't see to many of them. I worked on one with low compression and after taking it apart the piston and cylinder had no scoring but the chrome was coming off the cylinder(there are some pictures in this thread). Hard to find a used cylinder so I had it recoated by US Chrome. As stated above aftermarket pistons are can be gotten but no cylinders. From your pictures you maybe missing the governor linkage or all of the governor assembly. You can get aftermarket. As for the starter it is an early two part starter with pulley and fairly hard to find. If I wanted a starter with a Stihl tag I would get an aftermarket starter install the tag and save the original one.
 
You can get reproduction pistons from saegenspezi (sp?) .com.

I did get far enough into the thread to see that reference. I placed the order a couple of days ago. Just haven't had time to pull the cylinder yet.

Also, if you're on Facebook, you should join the 1106 group that I started - just do a search for Stihl Contra Lightning 070 090 group.

It came up when I was doing other searches. Almost makes me want to join Facebook...

Hard to find a used cylinder so I had it recoated by US Chrome.

I'll have to look into that. I was wondering if it would be an issue for a one-piece jug, so it's good to know that it can be done.

As for the starter it is an early two part starter with pulley and fairly hard to find. If I wanted a starter with a Stihl tag I would get an aftermarket starter install the tag and save the original one.

Don't worry...I'll be leaving it stock. Just an idea that popped into my head because I am a scavenger at heart. From what I understand, these saws are what made Stihl a big name, so not having the name on it is an important part of the history.

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll likely post up more once the parts make their way across the pond.
 
Yes, I think you are correct! I referred to information on CSCC first. It is listed there with 1959 as the year of introduction.
There is a site in Germany that shows an easier to follow list of the major Stihl models: motorsaegen-portal.de - Das Motorsgen-Portal
Here the years of production are as follows:

- Contra: 1959 - 1968
- Contra S: 1964 - 1967
- Contra G: 1964 - 1969
- Contra GS: 1964 - 1969

And the introduction years of the 070/090:
- 070: 1968
- 090: 1968
- 090G: 1969
- 090 S1: 1968
- 090 S2: 1968

These dates seem to be more to the point.
Interesting is, that the S1 and S2 (stone cutter versions) of the 090 were introduced one year earlier than the "regular" 090G and the Contra G and GS were produced during that year...

Anyone know the difference between the 090 S1 and S2?

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

These are just numbers that I found in an interwebs post, so take them with a grain of salt:

84832 (24 June 1959) last sand-cast
112000 (1960) manual oiler added

And some additional dates I found associated with serial numbers:

188587 Feb 62
208362 Nov 62
275000 Dec 63

As you can see, I'm still working my way through the 2014 posts, so I apologize if I am posting redundant information.
 
These are just numbers that I found in an interwebs post, so take them with a grain of salt:

84832 (24 June 1959) last sand-cast
112000 (1960) manual oiler added

And some additional dates I found associated with serial numbers:

188587 Feb 62
208362 Nov 62
275000 Dec 63

As you can see, I'm still working my way through the 2014 posts, so I apologize if I am posting redundant information.

Thanks for the date info. I'll add that to the Facebook group.

As for the last sand-cast, I'm fairly certain that's not correct. I have a sand cast Contra that's slightly newer than 84832.

Scott
 
As for the last sand-cast, I'm fairly certain that's not correct. I have a sand cast Contra that's slightly newer than 84832.

It certainly isn't a round number...might just be the highest serial number that someone had seen for a sand casting.
 
From your pictures you maybe missing the governor linkage or all of the governor assembly.

I haven't seen any pictures of the governor assembly (except the dissociated parts at Saegenspezi), but I was under the impression that it was driven by the fan on the flywheel, which would require a hole from the flywheel housing to the carb. I know that people with saws with lower and higher serial numbers than mine have the governor, but my saw has no opening from the flywheel housing. Here's the area in question with the shroud off:

a1.jpg

And with the shroud in place:

a2.jpg



Of course, I'm just guessing about the governor assembly...does any one have a picture of it, or the IPL close to hand so that I could take a look?
 

Latest posts

Back
Top