Pretty disappointed with this Stihl

[SawTroll]

Not to mention the handle design which between the 250/290 are well, the same just larger on the 290...

the plastic crankcase on the 250/290/310/390...that hold the TRUE clamshell design...

Maybe my idea of a clamshel and everyone elses is completly different though so I am willing to listen...

To me a clam shell is any engine that can be removed from the crankcase with engine pan still attached...or assembled away from the crankcase and then attached to the crankcase (tanks).

So correct me, so I can continue life with knowledge of what a clamshell engine is...

To me the 270/280 surely is a clamshell design, even though a part of the case is integrated with the "shell". The desiding point to me is that the top part of the crankcase is part of the cylinder.

I looks like we at at least partly agree on this, but there may be different opinions out there.

 

[SawTroll]

To Ramrod and other mechanics,
What is so awful about a clamshell engine? Is it more difficult to seal when rebuilding/replacing? It appears as though it would be much easier to change bearings.
After using 250s/290s/310s, I always felt the shortcomings had nothing to do with the clamshell design. The air filtration and the fact the fuel was so short and harder to access than the huskys.

It makes the saws much harder to work on, and it makes it close to impossibe to make proper closed transfers in the cylinder.

 

[Bluefish]

My head hurts!!! One thing I know is the OP has tried to sell 2 different saws in the course of this thread. Also, in my simple mind the 353 is a pro saw, just not an XP. I am going down stairs to make biscuits and spicy sausage gravy, YUM... Russ

 

[redheadwoodshed]

Not the same, but the quality level is about the same, and quite bad - simply appalling saws. :msp_rolleyes:

I would like to see your list of Good Stihls.I think Sawtroll's list of "good Stihl chainsaws" would be a fine sticky.I'll even spot you the credits.Just write the model and why you believe it makes the list.

 

[RAMROD48]

I would like to see your list of Good Stihls.I think Sawtroll's list of "good Stihl chainsaws" would be a fine sticky.I'll even spot you the credits.Just write the model and why you believe it makes the list.

Trolls list...


His MS361 (no others)

Thats it...short sticky....:msp_wink:

 

[Chris-PA]

and it makes it close to impossibe to make proper closed transfers in the cylinder.

This I don't get - from the point of view of casting the upper cylinder, simply bringing down the bottom edge should not prevent casting closed transfers. There are plenty of casting techniques that could do this. I see no reason you could not cast quad closed transfers on a clamshell.

Also, the clamshell is more compact, self-contained and has less sealing area (no case half seam), and if you don't intend to mod the engine any further than maybe widening the ports it's not much of a limitation. You can swap a complete engine without opening it. From the point of view of someone who wants to mod and is looking for max performance I can see where the 3-piece engine is more desirable, but from the point of view of of an engineer designing an engine I would likely prefer the clamshell.

And I don't see any relationship to quality or reliability whatsoever between the two construction types.

 

[Joshua1982]

okay

to each his own, haven't had issues and mine cuts what I want, doesn't always matter what kind of saw you have. Its if you know how to cut and what your trying to do with it, if your a logger, then yeah your going to get a bigger saw with more power, if your a guy that does some wood cutting on the weekend or land clearing, then the 290s and others in this family are great for that. But get what you want, but if your wanting a professional saw and your not using it except once in a blue moon, then in my opinion your wasting your money.

 

[Mastermind]

Are you swapping the 028 super domed piston?

Good luck prying any info from Scott. He is a smart dude though......

I like pie.


Farts should never be lumpy.




My arm pits smell bad after working hard in the sun all day........

 

[hoeyrd2110]

opcorn:

 

[tree monkey]

Good luck prying any info from Scott. He is a smart dude though......

I like pie.


Farts should never be lumpy.




My arm pits smell bad after working hard in the sun all day........

029 piston is a better choice

 

[StihlKiwi]

Not the same, but the quality level is about the same, and quite bad - simply appalling saws. :msp_rolleyes:

What specifically are the quality issues, and how do you justify the label 'appalling'

 

[H 2 H]

..

the plastic crankcase on the 250/290/310/390...that hold the TRUE clamshell design...

...

So far in the last few days I've seen two members here on AS say Stihl has "plastic crankcase"

Show us all a picture of "plastic crankcase" on a MS 250; MS 290; MS 310 and MS 390

I've work on several in the last couple months in both series and haven't found a "plastic crankcase"

Pictures please - you know the AS moto about pictures :msp_biggrin:

 

[HEAVY FUEL]

Good luck prying any info from Scott. He is a smart dude though......

I like pie.


Farts should never be lumpy.




My arm pits smell bad after working hard in the sun all day........

A case of Mountain Dew & a couple packs of smokes, he'll sing like a canary!

 

[SawTroll]

So far in the last few days I've seen two members here on AS say Stihl has "plastic crankcase"

Show us all a picture of "plastic crankcase" on a MS 250; MS 290; MS 310 and MS 390

I've work on several in the last couple months in both series and haven't found a "plastic crankcase"

Pictures please - you know the AS moto about pictures :msp_biggrin:

Well, the case itself definately is plastic, but as with all clamshells there are a metal insert (shell) around the crank. Calling that a metal crankcase is a loooooooooooooooooong stretch, but I am well aware that it often is done in the part lists....:rolleyes2:

 

[H 2 H]

Well, the case itself definately is plastic, but as with all clamshells there are a metal insert (shell) around the crank. Calling that a metal crankcase is a loooooooooooooooooong stretch, but I am well aware that it often is done in the part lists....:rolleyes2:

So if I get your logic right any saw that has plastic on it is a plastic crank case chain saw

 

[mountainlake]

It makes the saws much harder to work on, and it makes it close to impossibe to make proper closed transfers in the cylinder.

Not true about closed tranferrs on a clamshell engine, a Echo CS 510,520, 530 has some of the best tranferrs you'll ever see on a 50cc saw. Just watch masterminds CS520 vid if you think they have bad tranferrs and he did that without upping the compression, one thing you cant do on a clamshell engine. Steve

 

[SawTroll]

So if I get your logic right any saw that has plastic on it is a plastic crank case chain saw

No, but those small inserts/shells doesn't count as a case - the basic case is plastic.

 

[sachsmo]

Not true about closed tranferrs on a clamshell engine, a Echo CS 510,520, 530 has some of the best tranferrs you'll ever see on a 50cc saw. Just watch masterminds CS520 vid if you think they have bad tranferrs and he did that without upping the compression, one thing you cant do on a clamshell engine. Steve

Just one way to raise compression in a clamshell,

others that come to mind are a piston with a different pin height, or a longer rod

 

[sachsmo]

or,

mill the bottom of the jug, and line bore the bearing saddles (off-set)

 

[mountainlake]

Sachsmo Sure it can be done but after watching mastermind's CS520 vid not neccasary, has to be one of the fastest 50cc ported saws I've seen. I think Timberwolf haf a 026 that was faster. Steve