A question for Saw Mod guys

[flyboy553]

I was reading in another post about modded saws and it got me to thinking. I know most of you on this site feel that modding saws does not harm them in any way and is actually good for the saw!

So here is my question, and it is a dead serious one, not an attempt to fire anyone up!

IF modding a saw is not hard on it and/or is good for it, why do they not come from the factory already modded? Warranty reasons? I thought it wasn't hard on them. Maybe just mod the pro models and not the homeowner ones.


The competition between brands is fierce and they will do most anything to have the stronger saw.

In my mind, they are leaving a lot on the table when there is room for improvement and they don't use it. In our race bikes and snowmobiles, we left nothing on the table. Nothing.

In pre EPA days, factories didn't mod saws, where today I could see they would be a problem

This could be interesting. Or not.

Ted

Ted

 

[Hinerman]

In pre EPA days, factories didn't mod saws, where today I could see they would be a problem

I believe you just answered your own question.

 

[madmarksolomon]

opcorn: good thread

 

[ndlawrence]

IMO Modded saws require a more knowledgeable user, IE; There is less play room for mistakes. The average joe buys his saw, runs it with a dirty air filter, 6 month old gas and doesn't even know where the carb adj. screws are. This is where leaving some on the table is desirable. This is just my .02 and it may not even be worth that!:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[ramzilla]

Same reason your vehicle doesn't come with headers,intake, etc.... Manufacturers make a product they can warranty and is the most efficient. No company of any kind that I know of makes their product to make the most power out of the box so to speak. They want something that Joe Smoe can buy and use without any mechanical knowledge. Hell how many people actually read an owners manual for anything?A modded saw, vehicle or anything for that matter at least requires an understanding of how the object is intended to be operated.

 

[flyboy553]

I didn't word that quite right. I should have said Even in Pre EPA days, factories didn't mod there saws. Why not. Just doesnt make sense to me if indeed modding saws doesnt hurt the saw.

Ted

 

[showrguy]

your girlfreind has nice hair.....

 

[john_bud]

I didn't word that quite right. I should have said Even in Pre EPA days, factories didn't mod there saws. Why not. Just doesnt make sense to me if indeed modding saws doesnt hurt the saw.

Ted

"when in good tune" it doesn't hurt it. But a saw running 20-30% more power can probably get hurt pretty quick (I would guess), if the operator fails to keep it in good tune. I know that's what happens with car engines that have been modded for lots more power.

 

[madmarksolomon]

I didn't word that quite right. I should have said Even in Pre EPA days, factories didn't mod there saws. Why not. Just doesnt make sense to me if indeed modding saws doesnt hurt the saw.

Ted

It is harder on the crank bearings when you start bumping up compression, much greater chance for catastrophic failure of the crank

 

[flyboy553]

your girlfreind has nice hair.....

She does, doesn't she! Had not noticed that!

Ted

 

[promac850]

I didn't word that quite right. I should have said Even in Pre EPA days, factories didn't mod there saws. Why not. Just doesnt make sense to me if indeed modding saws doesnt hurt the saw.

Ted

I wouldn't say they never did mod the saws... for example, take the Mac 250 vs. the Mac Super 250. Or the Stihl 041 vs. the Stihl 041 Super. There are some factory hot rods out there.

Sometimes all they did was tweak port timing, and maybe ignition timing... other times, they went balls to the wall and increased the bore and sometimes the stroke as well, of the engine they were installing.

Mac had regular 44's, Super 44's, and Super 44A's. 797's, and Super 797's.

Homelite had some factory hot rods as well.

In fact, few major label saw companies didn't have a "Super" saw. Jonsered, Stihl, McCulloch, Homelite, Poulan, and many more had them.

 

[cutforfun]

Saws did run better from the factory before the epa got in the mix, look at the original Stihl 044, 046, and 066 most that have run them say they run like a ported saw.

 

[ozflea]

Just like sticking the words Farm Boss on something you know instant 100% in power

McBob.

 

[ramzilla]

your girlfreind has nice hair.....

What hair? Reminds me of a joke where there is a naked chick in a pic and someone robbing a place in the foreground. Police asks what the perp looked like and nobody could even say if the robber was purple or blue!

 

[Andyshine77]

Variances in manufacturing tolerances, noise reduction, spark arrestors, EPA, possibility of bad fuel, durability, the list goes on. With most pro saws a good mm, will more times than not give you an excellent running saw, and If you can set the squish, and do a little ignition work you're most of the way there. I love ported saws!! and have ported a few good runners myself. Ported saws are a little overhyped at times, other times it's almost a necessity. opcorn:

 

[Mac 6-10]

IF modding a saw is not hard on it and/or is good for it, why do they not come from the factory already modded?

Simple, cost.

Would you pay 1000 dollars for a 550xp new out of the box? Porting is an art and it takes skill, understanding, and TIME! Do you think stihl or husky would let a hand made saw go for nothing!

Oh and epa says they pollute to much for the chassis size

 

[nmurph]

Mostly OSHA (noise--a non-MM ported saw leaves lots of power untapped and sort of renders the whole exercise moot) and the EPA (well, understand this one).

I don't think the cost arguement holds much water. Once the R&D is done, the cost of making the cylinder wouldn't be any more or less if it's ported. Look at the 7900--a modern factory hotrod.

 

[ramzilla]

Mostly OSHA (noise--a non-MM ported saw leaves lots of power untapped and sort of renders the whole exercise moot) and the EPA (well, understand this one).

I don't think the cost arguement holds much water. Once the R&D is done, the cost of making the cylinder wouldn't be any more or less if it's ported. Look at the 7900--a modern factory hotrod.

I agree.

 

[Mastermind]

I wouldn't recommend ported saws......it's all just unproven hype.

 

[stihl sawing]

I wouldn't recommend ported saws......it's all just unproven hype.

:msp_scared: