Killed my Dolmar 5100S??

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Lakeside, this is not just the odd person saying this, these are high volume Logger supply chainsaw shops, and these are the heavy duty pro saws, not the consumer models. The EPA has caused alot of problems, since they started closing up the muffler holes and adding limiter caps. It would also be hell with ported mufflers. But ported mufflers is not the only problem, its the new carbs. These shop have been selling 2 or 3 hundred 660's a year. Walkers is well known, and the loggers I talk to say this themselves, its not that Stihl is making bad saws, just that conforming to the EPA is wrecking EVERYONES saws. I love Stihl and Husky bytheway, and Dolmar and other too. All have neg and positives. Most fallers saws here are all modified, and basically just to reverse what the epa has screwed up. Simonizer does 2 to 3 hundred in a normal year. The carbs all need to have the limiters cut.

Dave.
 
"Dolmar 5100's are the cat's pajamas!! You should all get one!!"

Only problem around here (and a LOT of other places in the US according to PMs I have gotten) is that they simply do not exist!!!!! I called all 8 dealers listed on the Dolmar site and only 2 had any Dolmar saws, and none had a 5100s in stock. Zero. Or any 350/420s, or 7900s. All were back-ordered at the distributor. As they also cannot be sold on the internet, so that leaves exactly what channels to get them from? FleaBay????
:monkey:
 
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must be a west coast thing cause saws used professionally here on the east coast NEVER make 20 years of hard use........... (snipped)

Scott

Man, I have seen many old 044s, 046, 066s on the market out here lately (lots of loggers out of work, and I have been buying them up on CL). Most of them actually do stihl run too... 2 to 20 years old, still turning. Many are rebuilt; I suspect many more will be as well after the EPA kills all the better saws out there today. Hell, even my 290 has about 7 years of hard use on it. It is running strong. Taken care of though.

Now Dolmar... where have I seen any Dolmars used by pro loggers out here... :monkey: Lots and lots of Huskies, but Dolmars??? :monkey: Wow, a :censored: load of Stihls... but where are the Dolmars??? :monkey: Zero. Nada. None. I have yet to see one used professionally, actually.

Oh yah, and I just sold my 40+ year old 020AV Stihl that was still running perfectly. Lightly used though. But still running strong. $175.00.
 
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Dolmar... :monkey:

Boy Windy ya sure are blowing a lot smoke Dolmars way......You're awfully opinionated for a fellow who has never seen one run in person, let alone actually touch or for that matter, lay one into some wood. :angrysoapbox:


Should I go on?.....:poke:


BTW......My 5100 has done everything I've asked of it, for 3 years now, with style & class.....Haven't burnt nothing up here and don't suspect you'll be hearing much about these problems when the saw is tuned properly......For the record I've always mixed my fuel around 40/1.......It just makes sense for the little hot rod 5100!
 
Should I go on?.....:poke:

Oh, please do! :poke:

I am an not saying anything about the quality of the saws here... nor am I saying that a 5100 is a crap saw after seeing one being used by someone else. Actually I have never seen a 5100s being used. I have never seen one on the shelf for sale either. Which is an issue I have with Dolmar...

Dolmar can use some smoke their way. Lots and lots of smoke. :fart:
 
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Windy ....Watch all of the rbtrees videos


.
 
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Dang!! You'd think as big as that muffler is it would be quieter........

It's PAINFULL to listen to when it's "idling", if you can call it that... Kind of cool when it howling though.:)


One of my neigbors asked about Rodgers 372 - "what he got up there? A trail bike?"
 
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Yep, you're full of that!....Guess that's where your nickname Windy comes from. :laugh:

So original.

Of course, using the Fastcast, Master of Observation skills, "I knew a guy that knew a guy that knew another guy that had a cousin that had a brother-in-law that said that he saw a guy using a Dolmar 5100s once and that it really really cut slow, did not start well, and blew chunks." So of course I must draw the conclusion that it is a crappy saw, and post a new thread on AS accordingly...
 
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I would like too clear the air a bit. I'm a Dolmar supporter, and I'm not trying to pick on, or bash Dolmar in anyway. I think the 7900 is the best stock 70cc to 80cc made today. No it's not perfect, the air filter could be better, but then again so could the 361's filter.

Now some have suggested that I'm basing my opinion of the 5100 on one singular failure. I'm not, that would be moronic. The 5100 does in fact have a high failure rate. Most of the failures are caused by air leaks from multiple points on the saw. I also know for a fact the 5100's have an extremely high failure rate in OH, KY, and IN. Most dealers in my area have stopped selling 5100's and or Dolmar products altogether. It's a shame because I truly feel that Dolmar has potential in the chainsaw market.

I would also like too note, that the guys at the Cutting Edge have been very helpful in trying to resolve the problems I've had with my 5100.
 
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I rarely tune my saws other than to change to milling and back on the larger saws. They are set a tad to the rich side - that way I don't have to worry at all.
...


:agree2: ;) ;)

I understand the 5100 is a screamer and a high rpm flyer. That fact does indicate to me that the risk for an engine failure is greater than with a lower rpm saw, regardless of brand. I've seen many 242XP burned up for the same reason. RPM goes up, risk goes up ! (fuel issues, carb settings, operator...)
Does that make the 5100 a bad saw ? of course not !

My advice : if you have a high performance saw and don't use if for racing,, tune it a tad rich, like Lake, and learn how to keep your chain sharp. The best mod to any saw, by far.
 
I would like too clear the air a bit. I'm a Dolmar supporter, and I'm not trying to pick on, or bash Dolmar in anyway. I think the 7900 is the best stock 70cc to 80cc made today. No it's not perfect, the air filter could be better, but then again so could the 361's filter.

Now some have suggested that I'm basing my opinion of the 5100 on one singular failure. I'm not, that would be moronic. The 5100 does in fact have a high failure rate. Most of the failures are caused by air leaks from multiple points on the saw. I also know for a fact the 5100's have an extremely high failure rate in OH, KY, and IN. Most dealers in my area have stopped selling 5100's and or Dolmar products altogether. It's a shame because I truly feel that Dolmar has potential in the chainsaw market.

I would also like too note, that the guys at the Cutting Edge have been very helpful in trying to resolve the problems I've had with my 5100.

After reading a lot about the 5100 here a few months ago I thought I'd try one.

The Dolmar dealer told me they were no longer available here because of too many problems.
 
I would like too clear the air a bit. I'm a Dolmar supporter, and I'm not trying to pick on, or bash Dolmar in anyway. I think the 7900 is the best stock 70cc to 80cc made today. No it's not perfect, the air filter could be better, but then again so could the 361's filter.

Now some have suggested that I'm basing my opinion of the 5100 on one singular failure. I'm not, that would be moronic. The 5100 does in fact have a high failure rate. Most of the failures are caused by air leaks from multiple points on the saw. I also know for a fact the 5100's have an extremely high failure rate in OH, KY, and IN. Most dealers in my area have stopped selling 5100's and or Dolmar products altogether. It's a shame because I truly feel that Dolmar has potential in the chainsaw market.

I would also like too note, that the guys at the Cutting Edge have been very helpful in trying to resolve the problems I've had with my 5100.

Good post Andy. I also agree that the 7900 from what I heard is a great saw and also have to agree about the 5100 failure and yes the cutting edge does seem like a good dealer reminds me of my husky dealer. But, he will be the frist one to tell you that the 460 that they are trying to replace the 359 with is a pos. Dolmar tried in my opinion to crack the 50 cc market with a saw that I think turns to many rpm's and has about the worst filtration setup I have ever seen which together is leading to all the issues. I think the 5100 is on the verge of being a great saw but for cryin out loud get it right before you compare to the legendary saws by the other two makers, yes it's sad we had a husky efco dealer take on dolmar and because of failed units and pissed off tree services will now only special order them. The most popular saw on any tree co after the top handle is a 50cc saw, and i'm sorry until dolmar gets it right you wont see em in Nw ohio.
 
Maybe we should have a poll........

Who owned a 5100 they laid to rest and who owns a 5100 that's still throwing chips and putting a smile on your face? :popcorn:

I'm not sure how to set up the polls....any one else want to bother?
 
I have just read part of this thread. Don't want to get into a brand war, because I think every major manuf. makes good saws and some that are just fair saws. But I have to put in a good word for the 5100s. I have had one for 2 1/2 years and will say only good things about it. Some firewood and a lot of smaller dia. pine saw logs. Like a lot of other saws If you have a Sharp chain on it the chips will fly.
Every saw I have bought in the last 8 or 9 years has been too lean right from the dealer( Stihl included ) I won't run them blubbery but they would not last the way they were set up. There should be a warning in the owners manual that the saw needs to be operated on (muffler and limiter caps) to work properly.lol
 

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