McCulloch Chain Saws

[hseII]

FYI
McCulloch chainsaw vintage metal sign 47" x 49"
https://southjersey.craigslist.org/clt/d/mcculloch-chainsaw-vintage/6532836528.html

 

[fossil]

I will never, ever, ever, ever doubt Mr. Tim Fossil again. I always assumed the 10 Series flywheels were like the large frame saws, the RH start are the same except without the pawls but I've been wrong about that all the time.

RH start flywheel is smaller in diameter and has opposite magnet polarity from the others, the magnets are actually stuck together in the photo below.

View attachment 644973

The RH and LH start saws (except for the 82 cc models) are 12 fin. The PM850 were 24 fin, and the PM800, 805, DE80, and PM8200 were all the 18 fin version with the taller fins.

Mark

I'm afraid I might disappoint you if you're thinking I'm that good.

The flywheels did get me interested in looking at some IPL's to see what's up.

I was looking at one IPL (the only one I have 93715-R6) for the PM850 and found three different flywheels listed, One named 92886 Flywheel Asy (black).
It's even colored solid black in the IPL. I've never heard of one of those. EDIT "The module looks like the trigger module on an XL-900 series Homelite", changed to,

It is a trigger module and the coil is located somewhere. I can't tell where from the IPL



I've found little differences in models, like three different style muffler diffusers in the Poulan 3400 series but nothing like the variances in the MACS.

It does make the MACS a lot easier to fix up with all the parts that do interchange which is a good thing (sometimes).

 

[heimannm]

That was the original two piece electronic ignition McCulloch used on the SP81E models. McCulloch had enough foresight to design the trigger mount is such a way that they could later on design and all in one electronic ignition coil module (trigger and coil in one) that would interchange 1:1.









McBob reported that while he worked in the McCulloch factor in Australia that they brought all of the SP81E saws back in and replaced the two piece ignition with the newer one piece electronic ignition units.

I've never seen or heard of a PM850 with the two piece ignition system, but now that I've heard it from Tim it must be true. I also have a copy of that IPL and what he so cleverly cut off in the lower left hand corner is the illustration of the one piece electronic ignition unit.

And for what it's worth, the one piece and two piece ignitions are completely interchangeable with the same flywheel. The one piece seems to have a bit more advance built in.

Mark

 

[heimannm]

Yesterday I took some saws down to our local brush dump, for a few years now they have also been dropping off unwanted logs around the edges for folks to cut up if they want. The weather was so nice (26º, calm and sunny) I decided to make some firewood from the ash tree remains they dropped of recently.

The PM850 belongs to hsell, he sent it up to me for a little McLove, quite the ripper with only a 20" bar. The PM800 was one of the "rescue" saws with a failed flywheel insert. This is the one with the replaced piston and it was a real treat to run even with the 32" modified Husky mount bar.

The Poulan 4900 was also very strong but it was not a real test with only a 24" bar. I will put the 32 on next time to see how it handle it.

The Dolmar needs some additional tuning, hopefully it will come around.





Mark

 

[fossil]

Still looking for a 77cc version. Nice bunch of saws you have there Mark. I have the starter on my $10 10-10 fixed up and a friend near Buffalo is going to order me a couple of pawl springs from Bob Johnson.

The saw must be early as there's no provision for a throttle lock.

It could use a new plug wire. The coil has some kind of brown sealer holding the plug wire in place.

Any ideas on how to break that stuff loose?

 

[rwoods]

... .

The PM800 was one of the "rescue" saws with a failed flywheel insert. This is the one with the replaced piston and it was a real treat to run even with the 32" modified Husky mount bar.

... .

Mark

Be careful, I hear that PM800s are under appreciated and can become habit forming.

Ron

 

[Beetlejuice]

Still looking for a 77cc version. Nice bunch of saws you have there Mark. I have the starter on my $10 10-10 fixed up and a friend near Buffalo is going to order me a couple of pawl springs from Bob Johnson.

The saw must be early as there's no provision for a throttle lock.

It could use a new plug wire. The coil has some kind of brown sealer holding the plug wire in place.

Any ideas on how to break that stuff loose?

Tim, B.F.H. to break the sealer (goop) away. Then walk away.. Kidding!! Cheers, K

 

[Brian Thacker]

Done a little bucking at the wood lot today. Got a call this morning that they needed help with some bigger stuff so I went down to help. Had plenty logs to buck that were from 25 to around 35 inches. Ron had put a .404 bar on his PM800 a while back and I loved how it cut with it so I purchased a .404 bar for my PM800. I have been having oiler troubles and thought I had them resolved but found out I did not. I have got to break the saw back down and get it oiling some how or other. But the manual oiler somewhat worked, enough to keep it oiled, not good but enough. Now that saw really cuts wood. I really like the .404 chain with the PM800. It cuts really nice. Throws some nice shavings.



Brian

 

[hseII]

Done a little bucking at the wood lot today. Got a call this morning that they needed help with some bigger stuff so I went down to help. Had plenty logs to buck that were from 25 to around 35 inches. Ron had put a .404 bar on his PM800 a while back and I loved how it cut with it so I purchased a .404 bar for my PM800. I have been having oiler troubles and thought I had them resolved but found out I did not. I have got to break the saw back down and get it oiling some how or other. But the manual oiler somewhat worked, enough to keep it oiled, not good but enough. Now that saw really cuts wood. I really like the .404 chain with the PM800. It cuts really nice. Throws some nice shavings.

View attachment 645988

Brian

28”/ 92 dl?

 

[Brian Thacker]

Yep, 28" Bar.
Brian

 

[heimannm]

The PM 800 above has a 32" large mount Husqvarna with .404 chain and I agree, it cut the ash forks with the bar buried pretty nicely. I had to lengthen the slots for the bar adjusters and drill some new holes for the oilers but I like the slightly wider bar in the longer lengths, they seem to be a bit stiffer.

Mark

 

[hseII]

Yep, 28" Bar.
Brian

92dl is 3/8”, obviously. ‍

 

[hseII]

The PM 800 above has a 32" large mount Husqvarna with .404 chain and I agree, it cut the ash forks with the bar buried pretty nicely. I had to lengthen the slots for the bar adjusters and drill some new holes for the oilers but I like the slightly wider bar in the longer lengths, they seem to be a bit stiffer.

Mark

I swapped my .404” tips to 3/8” because I thought(?) the 850s weren’t enough for .404” 32”?

Bad Call?

 

[Brian Thacker]

That is one of the things I noticed also Mark. At one point I had a 28" 3/8 bar on the PM800 and it seamed like if you had it on it's side to do a side cut the tip of the bar sagged and your cut was not straight. Also I have had the tip of the bar go from one side to the other and not buck straight. Now with that being said I don't seam to have that trouble with my MS660 that has a 28" Oregon bar. Not sure what that is all about. Ron stopped by the wood lot while I was there and had both saws setting there side by side. The McCulloch bar looked longer and the tip was fatter. We both agreed that we liked the fatter tip on the McCulloch bar.

Brian

 

[Brian Thacker]

This is also the cylinder I had nicomed at US Chrome. I had not cut much with it sense I put that cylinder on it. It seamed like it just kept gaining power today as I was cutting. I had to also adjust the carb several times as the day went on but by the end of the day it stabilized out and was idling good.

Brian

 

[rwoods]

Okay, you guys knock off the .404 talk before you drive bar prices up. I went to it on my 125s because bars were cheaper and all the comments that .404 stays sharper longer in bad conditions. I found other traits that I liked such as the wider kerf and speed so I converted one of my 800s. Settled on a 25” bar for the 800. Haven’t tried the longer MAC bars on it yet.

Ron

 

[hseII]

Okay, you guys knock off the .404 talk before you drive bar prices up. I went to it on my 125s because bars were cheaper and all the comments that .404 stays sharper longer in bad conditions. I found other traits that I liked such as the wider kerf and speed so I converted one of my 800s. Settled on a 25” bar for the 800. Haven’t tried the longer MAC bars on it yet.

Ron

Well I won’t admit to running 36” .404” on my souped Up 066/660s due to the same reasons then.

I was just curious what the McC Attach fellows were doing.

 

[Beetlejuice]

Well I won’t admit to running 36” .404” on my souped Up 066/660s due to the same reasons then.

I was just curious what the McC Attach fellows were doing.

I run the 404 on my Jonny and big Mac, and like them well enough, but almost have to call a week ahead to get a loop.

 

[Brian Thacker]

I have a 660 with a 56mm kit on it and was thinking today that I might change it over to .404. Brian

 

[Brian Thacker]

I run the 404 on my Jonny and big Mac, and like them well enough, but almost have to call a week ahead to get a loop.

I make my own chain. I just keep a reel of what ever chains my saws run and just make them when I need them. It is not very hard to do and is much cheaper. I keep 1/4, 3/8 LP, 3/8, .404 .063 and .404 .058.

Brian