Bobby Kirbos
Scrounger of Cellulose Based BTUs
I found the fix for the Stihl over-engineered solution in search of a problem....
I bought an Echo.
I bought an Echo.
I found the fix for the Stihl over-engineered solution in search of a problem....
I bought an Echo.
I found the fix for the Stihl over-engineered solution in search of a problem....
I bought an Echo.
Instructions for flippy caps = read 2,357 pages on the internet and hope for the best.
With the MS290 all you need is an 029 case, no floppies.I agree. Lots and lots of complaints about the flippy caps. In 8 years of having my ms290, only once has it posed a problem. I soaked it in a solvent for the night and it has been perfect since (3+ years, and still going).
But there are folks here with money to burn and cost is not a factor in modifying a saw. $100s is spent to shave a second or two off cutting time, so why not spend far less and save minutes in refueling.
Sometimes the Chinese parts are too soft/squishy.Anecdotal report, take it for what it's worth. I was finishing up an MS250 today that I built on a Stihl foundation, but with lots of Chinese parts. Fueled it up for its first start, put on the Chinese flippy cap and tightened it up. Turned it right side up and there was a steady dribble of fuel out the bottom of the cap. Tried again, this time making sure the alignment, pressure on the cap and final click were right. Steady dribble again. Pried off the O-ring and put on one I had bought in bulk on Ebay. No drip. No drip at all through the first heat cycle. Here's the interesting part: got out the calipers and measured thickness and inner diameter just as I had with the Ebay rings - right on (if anything the thickness was a hair more than the Ebay rings). No visual imperfections, nothing wrong by feel. I have no explanation for the problem.
STIHL owners have big hands, it's just the way it is.The only defenders of flippy caps are Stihl guys. Everyone else sees the folly.
In 2023 I had 4 small "geysers" with saws made in 2023 (though not bad ones, and that was over all of 2023). What happens is the internal curve on the tank required by the flip-cap means the tank most always holds some fuel. At least some of it tends to be on the cap o-ring and threads, and the positive pressure in the tank forces that fuel past the o-ring when opening the cap, which is a very quick-release 1/4 turn. Even on tanks without flip-caps the "internal" (inset) cap configuration causes the geyser problem (eg. KM-130 powerhead). Regardless of the tank being "empty," the unit in a position so the cap is completely "up" and away from the fuel, and opening the cap slowly, I still got sprayed.Operator error , and that is the cause of most chainsaw problems.
STIHL owners have big hands, it's just the way it is.
The flippy caps are positive-locking, so they don't come loose and spill fuel, and in theory are easy and fast to remove/install.
The caps are still commonly discussed so I brought back a previously dead thread (because it's on topic).
In 2023 I had 4 geysers with saws made in 2023. What happens is the internal curve on the tank required by the flip-cap means the tank most always holds some fuel. At least some of it tends to be on the o-ring, and the positive pressure in the tank forces that fuel past the o-ring when opening the cap, which is a very quick-release 1/4 turn. Even on tanks without flip-caps the internal cap configuration causes the geyser problem (KM-130 powerhead). Regardless of the tank being "empty," the unit in a position so the cap is completely "up" and away from the fuel, and opening the cap slowly, I still got sprayed.
STIHL's solution is to let the saw cool 15 minutes before opening the fuel tank, which is fine if taking the time to eat, drink, sharpen the chain, and get a five-minute nap.
I happen to like the caps (mostly), though not the geyser issue; I put a rag over the fuel cap before opening (oil isn't an issue), so yeah, there's still an issue, though I remember that being the case with the 015 from 1970 and the similar insert-the-cap design.
Here's the one-way STIHL tank vent:
View attachment 1161189
From the top down, disassembled:
View attachment 1161188
From the bottom up, disassembled:
View attachment 1161190
STIHL 015:
View attachment 1161192
Agreed, they work just fine, not sure what all the grief is about.Never had a problem with Stihl flippy caps.
Kinda my opinion too.If you can't figure out and work flippy caps, you shouldn't be running a saw.
Like we say about most German mechanicals: Over-engineered to the point of failure, and priced accordingly.Yup
Just have to be smarter than the cap.
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