Strato Only From Now On

[Chris-PA]

So all four of my saws are working well. They're all different in character and capability, but I like them all and they are all effective tools. But I have been reading a lot about strato engines and how they work, reading several threads about how they respond to muffler mods, looked over the IPL of the PP4218, etc. I've also considered getting an older small saw to teach my son on.

I was thinking about all that while cutting today. I ran around 3 tanks through the 42cc Craftsman and ran the Mac a bit just to get it hot and work it. And now I stink. I breathed a lot of exhaust and I reek.

The only strato engine I have now is my new pole saw, and it works fine without so many fumes. So if I get a saw to teach my son it will be something like a PP3516AV. And anything else I buy from now on will be too. I don't need to breathe any more of that than necessary.

 

[the westspartan]

Nothing wrong with a strato saw. I really love the one I got. Anything I by new will be strato as well. But the others aren't too bad in the stink department IMHO. Are you using crappy oil or are they tuned rich?

 

[cheeves]

WHW, How ya doin'? Just read your thread and I'm wondering.....Why don't you use one of these smokeless oils? I've been using Amsoil for awhile and there is barely any smoke. I'm sure there is someone else with far more knowledge than me that knows a better oil for less or ? no fumes at all. Us old timers are hard to change from the days we used 30 weight. You're all right WHW!!

 

[Chris-PA]

No, it's decent oil and I don't tune them stinky rich, just enough to "4-stroke" a little bit unloaded. The muffler I cleaned up this morning stayed clean, but you can still smell it on my coat and on me.

 

[lone wolf]

No, it's decent oil and I don't tune them stinky rich, just enough to "4-stroke" a little bit unloaded. The muffler I cleaned up this morning stayed clean, but you can still smell it on my coat and on me.

Ain't the smell it is your lungs to worry about.

 

[Chris-PA]

WHW, How ya doin'? Just read your thread and I'm wondering.....Why don't you use one of these smokeless oils? I've been using Amsoil for awhile and there is barely any smoke. I'm sure there is someone else with far more knowledge than me that knows a better oil for less or ? no fumes at all. Us old timers are hard to change from the days we used 30 weight. You're all right WHW!!

I used a "smokeless" Poulan oil on this tank as that was what I had. I'll try Husky oil again next time. But from what I can tell if you can hear it 4-stroke (i.e. tuned right) it won't really be smokeless. I've just decided the new technology is better and I'll be looking to move that way.

 

[MtnHermit]

Husqvarna 435R $140

Then you may be interested in a refurb Husqvarna 435 for $140. I assume it is a strato.

I won't post a hot link, it'll go to a moderator, but here's a link you can paste:
"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA02D0668458&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL012712&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL012712-_-EMC-012712-Latest-_-HandSaws-_-9SIA02D0668458-L013A"

 

[Chris-PA]

Then you may be interested in a refurb Husqvarna 435 for $140. I assume it is a strato.

I won't post a hot link, it'll go to a moderator, but here's a link you can paste:
"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA02D0668458&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL012712&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL012712-_-EMC-012712-Latest-_-HandSaws-_-9SIA02D0668458-L013A"

Thanks, but I'm not going to buy any right now, and I'd get the Poulan Pro PP3516AV over that. I was mainly saying that anything I do get from now on will have to be a strato. In the mean time I'll take the advice to look at better oil and see if that helps.

 

[PogoInTheWoods]

Go 'lectric or manual crosscut if ya wanna avoid fumes. Just don't eat beans for dinner the night before a big day of cuttin'.

Poge

 

[Chris-PA]

Ain't the smell it is your lungs to worry about.

Exactly - that's what the issue really is. By the time you can smell it you're breathing plenty of nasty stuff, and with a conventional 2-stroke a good percentage of it has not been burned, it's just atomized fuel/oil mix right into your lungs.

 

[PogoInTheWoods]

Exactly - that's what the issue really is. By the time you can smell it you're breathing plenty of nasty stuff, and with a conventional 2-stroke a good percentage of it has not been burned, it's just atomized fuel/oil mix right into your lungs.

And you heat with wood?

 

[Chris-PA]

And you heat with wood?

Sure. People have been heating with wood for what - a hundred thousand years give or take? Compared to breathing 2-stroke mix the risks of it are pretty well understood. Further, my flue exits on the top of my house, not from a device I'm holding in my hands. I know everyone gets their panties in a twist about wood smoke and charred food and the like and how they might be a cancer risk, but all that is a distraction from the reality that it's exposure to the chemical stew that results from our industrial society that's the real problem.

 

[Alex D]

Just my opinion but i dont really see this overt danger of chainsaw fumes and strato being so much better, only issue i ever had was when stumping and running the saw real close with the ground to fluch cut a stump my eyes started stinging even watering and i found it hard to breathe what happened was carbon monoxide build up i guess seeing as the exhaust port is always on the bar and chain side on all newer stihl saws disaster when trying to stump hence why i personally avoid cutting them to close to the ground anymore. And off course the danger exists again in regards to carbon monxide poisoning if you're running a saw indoor. But in terms of pollution when running outdoors insignificant think of all the #### your lungs get filled with when walking on the sidewalk next to the street or if you live in a city or close to one from all the cars. Even more significant would be pollution from factories and the huge cargo ships.

 

[flyboy553]

Exactly - that's what the issue really is. By the time you can smell it you're breathing plenty of nasty stuff, and with a conventional 2-stroke a good percentage of it has not been burned, it's just atomized fuel/oil mix right into your lungs.

You must cut one heck of a lot of wood to be worried about some thing like this! I cut every day, haven't given it a nano-second of thought.

Ted

 

[CTYank]

Just my opinion but i dont really see this overt danger of chainsaw fumes and strato being so much better, ... {snippage}

Funny about that, but the first tank I ran through my 455r Husky, it was PATENTLY OBVIOUS to me that the strato engine was an enormous improvement for the local air quality- the air that I breathe. And I was in no way primed to conclude that; it was simply obvious.

When you consider that "typical" 2-stroke engine passes through 30-70% of incoming mix from transfers to exhaust, you've got to be kidding with that comment, or are just in denial. And, mix costs money.

Nasty 2-stroke fumes don't do you much good re brain-power.

Any 2-stroke I purchase in the future will be seriously emission-controlled, preferably stratified-scavenged, or direct-injection, or "equivalent" technology. Technophobes are the new Luddites.

 

[Chris-PA]

You must cut one heck of a lot of wood to be worried about some thing like this! I cut every day, haven't given it a nano-second of thought.

Ted

Well I'm not exactly losing sleep over it, but I try to make some effort to maintain good health because I need to be able to keep doing the physical work I do in order for us to live where we do. I'm not ashamed to take basic precautions - one serious injury or major health problem and I go from asset to burden.

I'm not a big techo-junky either and I usually prefer older stuff, but old 2-stokes have serous issues which is why they're only used in applications like saws where they're all that works. So far. I think strato is a major advance, it's proven and ready to go and will help reduce the crap I breathe in.

 

[THE PLUMMER]

Its more likely whats been put into your local fuel source to meet EPA standards. Oxygenated- winter mix or broke down ethanol fuels are far worse than a rich burning saw with fresh fuel. Even with a strato bad fuel or certain fuel additives will still be a problem. 1st sign of this is stinging eyes, watery nose or abnormally strong odor. Degraded fuel doesn't combust well in any engine. being clean and green is harder than just reading headlines from bias sources

Natural fuel sources and their smoke or fumes break down much quicker and naturally then all these feel good additives they blend in. Mother nature has been taking care of wood smoke for years just fine

 

[Chris-PA]

Its more likely whats been put into your local fuel source to meet EPA standards. Oxygenated- winter mix or broke down ethanol fuels are far worse than a rich burning saw with fresh fuel. Even with a strato bad fuel or certain fuel additives will still be a problem. 1st sign of this is stinging eyes, watery nose or abnormally strong odor. Degraded fuel doesn't combust well in any engine. being clean and green is harder than just reading headlines from bias sources

Natural fuel sources and their smoke or fumes break down much quicker and naturally then all these feel good additives they blend in. Mother nature has been taking care of wood smoke for years just fine

I can't agree the description that older gasoline was somehow more natural. Gasoline has always been a nasty brew of additives, including benzene and at one time lead. It's better if it burns as hydrocarbons break down to simpler molecules (lead doesn't), but no fuel burns completely especially when the mixture is off. Still, pumping a good percentage out unburned only makes it much worse and that's where the strato engines are a big improvement. You still have issues associated with mixture problems.

I'm not sure how the EPA boogeyman always gets thrown into these threads. Corporations are more than happy to subject people to toxic crap if it's profitable (like lead) all on their own. The manufacturers wouldn't have spent a dime on developing strato engines if they were not forced to. And sometime the regulators do stupid stuff like oxygenated fuels. It's a mixed bag.

 

[slipknot]

this is about like the wally world bar oil thread...if your concerned about the stink...why do u cut wood...if your an environmentalist....why cut wood? Are u a tree cuttin hippie or what folks? if u burn wood your whole house will stink..its part of it. Now quit bein sissies!!! Now we're worried about bar oil stinkin too much...and the saw stinkin too much....thats a disgrace to real men everywhere...some of you guys are ate up with it...i tell ya!!

 

[chopperfreak2k1]

this is about like the wally world bar oil thread...if your concerned about the stink...why do u cut wood...if your an environmentalist....why cut wood? Are u a tree cuttin hippie or what folks? if u burn wood your whole house will stink..its part of it. Now quit bein sissies!!! Now we're worried about bar oil stinkin too much...and the saw stinkin too much....thats a disgrace to real men everywhere...some of you guys are ate up with it...i tell ya!!

do you wear PPE?

i can see and understand both sides. on one hand ya got fellas wanting to not have to breathe that crap, and on the other hand (quick randy travis plug), ya got fellas sayin' toughen up. well i love the smell of 2-stroke. it reminds me of goin out to the job site and smellin diesel every mornin'. but why knock a guy for wanting to take better care of himself on his own dime? nobody's callin me schizophrenic because i like the smell, and i'm not callin anyone a sissy for not liking the smell.

what's next? pickin on guys for wearing their PPE? LOLOL