Search results

Do I need to replace the bar? In just about every case where one of my saws started cutting at an angle, or cutting a curve, it's been a case of the bar rails being of unequal height. As others have suggested, that can be checked using a combination square. If they are off by a bit, they can...

Ethanol again I guess I'm lucky or something. I've been using whatever comes out of the pump in outboards, chain saws, push mowers, riders, and a '52 Case VA since they started with the 10% ethanol. I always use Stabil, except in the things that run a lot (car and pickup). The gas in one...

You mentioned fast growing. No one seems to have mentioned honey locust. They are very sturdy, and grow a lot faster than the maples and oaks. I planted several along with sugar maples in my front yard about 40 years ago. The honey locusts are about three times the size of the maples. They...

I'm using a heatilator fireplace to heat my family room. I have a fireplace insert (acquired at the right price) that is in good shape. I'd like to install it in the fireplace and stop using the heatilator. The problem is that the outlet on the insert is 8" diameter, and the damper is only a...

Sugar maples are pretty slow growing. I favor honey locusts. The shade is light enough for grass to grow under them, the leaves are so small that they don't have to be raked - just mow over them in the spring, and they grow quite fast. Downsides to the honey locust - if your's is a female...

I've dropped leaners in every way I can think of but one. The ones I've tried have been: Hook a chain from the base of the trunk to the tractor and pull straight away; Wrap the chain around the base and pull at right angles to roll it off; Pull straight away with a come-along; Use a cable with...

The propane tank gets cold to the touch because evaporation of the liquid propane inside the tank to turn it into gas as it depressurizes, absorbs heat. (Evaporation is what they call an "endothermic process", that is, it absorbs heat.) You feel the same effect when you step out of the shower...

From my experience as a sporadic user of chainsaws, I've kept gas for a lot longer than two months (like a year or more) with no problem, but I always add Stabil when I buy it. A word of caution about using it in a vehicle, however. While using it in the old 8N will probably be ok...

About 20 years ago, standing on a stump, reaching up and out to cut a branch free (yeah, I know stupid), it snapped back and smashed me in the mouth. It felt like Tyson had tagged me. I could sense my peripheral vision closing in as I was beginning to lose consciousness, but I had enough left...

I'm in a similar situation in upstate NY as you are in WI and was doing about as you are, taking downed, standing dead (carefully), and obviously diseased trees for firewood. On 60 acres (about the same as my wooded land), there's more than enough of that kind of stuff, unless you're burning a...

Any decent chainsaw repair shop can replace links, including the cutters, but I've been using a chain with a cutter missing (and ground off smooth) on my limbing saw for a couple of years now. I guess it vibrates a little more, but it's not significant.

I bought a used 041 Farmboss used about 10 years ago and used it until three years ago cutting about five full cords of hardwood a year plus cutting a couple of roads through my woodlots, etc. Three years ago, I gave it to my son and he's been cutting about 12 cords a year with it since then...

I now buy Stihl winter grade bar oil and it works fine. Before that, I'd either leave the black jug that the Tractor Supply stuff comes in in the sun on sunny days, or under the hood of my pickup between uses, or when I was in the woods, on the head of the tractor.

It's certainly not maple. From the color of the wood, I'd lean toward cherry. If its green, black birch will smell strongly like birch beer when cut. I guess that's what they used to make it before "better things for life through chemistry".

Never bought a new one. Got my first, a Mongomery Ward WD65, at one of their dock sales in 1963 ($65), later made two XL12s out of a free box of parts, got a Homie Super EZ Auto for free and also aMini-Mac (and that was too much). The Super-EZ, a H/L 330, an 041 Farm Boss and two MS 290s are...

The 290 is a fine general purpose saw. As others have said, the weight is a little more than more expensive saws of the same power, but it is apparently very durable. On price, it's probably a fair price, but not a steal. I bought one only a year old for $225 with extra chains about two years...

Congratulations on the 290. It'll serve you well for a long time if you take care of it. You got a lot more saw for the dollar than any of the guys who turn their noses up at it. I bought one about two years ago, and when I saw another used one for a good price, bought it too. My son and I...

I don't try to drop standing dead ash anymore since I had one break in half about 30 feet up and the top half folded back toward me. I was able to pick 'em up and put 'em down enough to avoid about a face-cord of firewood coming at me in a single chunk. Would've squashed me flat. I have one...

Ditto on the timber jack. I had one that I used as a cant hook when necessary, and to lift logs to keep the chain above the dirt/rocks when bucking. My son has adopted the timber jack, so I get along with a cant hook for now, but some time when he isn't looking, I may get the timber jack back...

Brad, The pawls are engaging (they're new) and the engine is really turning over, but much more easily than it should. Does the MS290 have automatic compression release?