People who shouldn’t own gas powered equipment

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mudfly

ArboristSite Operative
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What do you do when someone brings you saw that they say don’t run. You notice that the saw are relatively new, but dirty, with a bar and chain the need serious attention?

my SIL just brought me 2 husky 450 saws saying they don’t run. Picked the first up, confirmed it had gas, put the choke on and pulled it over 8-10 times. It fired right up. Idled fine.

the second had a primer, primed the carb, pulled the choke, saw started in 2 pulls. Idled fine.
I doubt either saw has more than 10 tanks thru them. Quite obvious to me that either she doesn’t know what she is doing or doesnt have the strength to pull them over.

I’m thinking I will trade her a brand new battery powered saw and sell the 2 450s to pay for it.
Thoughts?
I usually try to get over to do all the serious cutting at their farm, but it’s 4 hours 1 way. So the occasional downed tree or branch would be all she needs to account for on her own.
 
Maybe you could give her some training. She might not know how to start the saws- body position, choke/no choke, etc. Watch her and see if she's struggling to pull it over. Show her how to safely ground start, its easier for folks lacking upper body strength.

Even with a battery saw you'll need to show her how to sharpen and maintain it and how to safely cut downed trees.
 
Maybe you could give her some training. She might not know how to start the saws- body position, choke/no choke, etc. Watch her and see if she's struggling to pull it over. Show her how to safely ground start, its easier for folks lacking upper body strength.

Even with a battery saw you'll need to show her how to sharpen and maintain it and how to safely cut downed trees.
She has run saws in the past. So I’m not sure what has changed with the starting. Maybe just not as strong as she once was. She knows her limits and is pretty safe with a saw.
She won’t sharpen a chain. I can keep 2 or 3 chains there and sharpen as needed.
 
"Please show me how you attempt to start the saw"
"Please explain to me how you use the saw"
"Please show me how you mix the oil and fuel"
"Please describe, in detail, how the saw is troubling you"

That line of questioning usually leads to: A) additional training; or B) "please put the saw down before you hurt yourself and hire your yard work done by a professional"
 
"Please show me how you attempt to start the saw"
"Please explain to me how you use the saw"
"Please show me how you mix the oil and fuel"
"Please describe, in detail, how the saw is troubling you"

That line of questioning usually leads to: A) additional training; or B) "please put the saw down before you hurt yourself and hire your yard work done by a professional"
Point taken. When you live out in The sticks there are no professionals. I am the closest to it. That doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t be able to remove a tree off the driveway after a wind storm without waiting for several days for someone to show up.
 
I am seeing the, strength thing so much more in the last couple of years, aging population accounts for most of it. Battery saws would cover most of the clients that I know of for their limited cutting chores.
My sil isn’t that old. 43 maybe? She has some condition that took a lot of her strength a few years ago. She has recovered, but I think that upward motion may be the issue.
 
Anyone..... that leaves standard pump gas in them... for long length of time ....
They saws were my FILs and yes they have been sitting for awhile. Old gas likely does t help the starting, but they did pop off for me. I’m having her buy and keep some premix around since she likely won’t burn a gallon in a year.
 
I'd recommend from your report to get her going cordless. My brother's neighbour, a retired KLM pilot, bought one of the heavier duty 16" saws with two battery changes. He reports that by the time the batteries are run down, so is he--but it keeps him in firewood.

If he runs into something big--he walks over the field to get my brother with his 262 or 395; the 'you don't have to own a 395, just know someone who owns one' principle. Makes for friendly neighbours too.

Surely she's friendly with someone closer than 4 hours away. Get her to use mascara and flutter eyelashes; seems to work for my wife, you'd be amazed what she can get me to do.
 
My sil isn’t that old. 43 maybe? She has some condition that took a lot of her strength a few years ago. She has recovered, but I think that upward motion may be the issue.
Stihl’s start assist on MS170/180’s is great for older people. A good friend is 79 and insists on doing the majority of his firewood cutting AND splitting. Both of his rotator cuffs have been shot for years.This year, he gave me his 266xp because it was “old and worn out.” Nothing wrong with that saw at all-except 266’s are a ***** to pull anyway. I “loaned” him a Stihl MS180c and he’s a wood-cutting fiend again👍🏻 I bring him a lot of wood from my removals and am careful with giving him manageable pieces.
 
What do you do when someone brings you saw that they say don’t run. You notice that the saw are relatively new, but dirty, with a bar and chain the need serious attention?

my SIL just brought me 2 husky 450 saws saying they don’t run. Picked the first up, confirmed it had gas, put the choke on and pulled it over 8-10 times. It fired right up. Idled fine.

the second had a primer, primed the carb, pulled the choke, saw started in 2 pulls. Idled fine.
I doubt either saw has more than 10 tanks thru them. Quite obvious to me that either she doesn’t know what she is doing or doesnt have the strength to pull them over.

I’m thinking I will trade her a brand new battery powered saw and sell the 2 450s to pay for it.
Thoughts?
I usually try to get over to do all the serious cutting at their farm, but it’s 4 hours 1 way. So the occasional downed tree or branch would be all she needs to account for on her own.
I'm confused. Are you asking the planet advice? Are you looking for validation to buy your relative a battery saw? and profit from her 2 Husqvarnas? This forum has had some doosy's, but really? How bored can 1 man get.....keyboard alert = nobody gives a crap.
 
I'm confused. Are you asking the planet advice? Are you looking for validation to buy your relative a battery saw? and profit from her 2 Husqvarnas? This forum has had some doosy's, but really? How bored can 1 man get.....keyboard alert = nobody gives a crap.
My apologies. It’s a forum. Asking other peoples thoughts on how to fix a problem is kind of what forums are for. If you don’t care why did you respond?
 
My apologies. It’s a forum. Asking other peoples thoughts on how to fix a problem is kind of what forums are for. If you don’t care why did you respond?
You don't have a problem that a forum should be expected to solve. You are trying to make a decision? Thats what we do on our own......keep your sister in laws 2 perfectly good saws, sell them and pocket the dough, and tell her she needs to go spend more money........

Than there's is the honesty that no forum can ever provide. You are either a thief in the night, or her knight in shining armour. Nobody cares what your decision is......and forums aren't places to wander and type dumb-ass musings........
 
What do you do when someone brings you saw that they say don’t run. You notice that the saw are relatively new, but dirty, with a bar and chain the need serious attention?

my SIL just brought me 2 husky 450 saws saying they don’t run. Picked the first up, confirmed it had gas, put the choke on and pulled it over 8-10 times. It fired right up. Idled fine.

the second had a primer, primed the carb, pulled the choke, saw started in 2 pulls. Idled fine.
I doubt either saw has more than 10 tanks thru them. Quite obvious to me that either she doesn’t know what she is doing or doesnt have the strength to pull them over.

I’m thinking I will trade her a brand new battery powered saw and sell the 2 450s to pay for it.
Thoughts?
I usually try to get over to do all the serious cutting at their farm, but it’s 4 hours 1 way. So the occasional downed tree or branch would be all she needs to account for on her own.
Procedure? Amazing how many do not know proper procedure and (do not know about/ do not understand) the "Fast Idle"? Reading the thread the other day where guy started and set down and smoked the brake (most likely on Fast Idle?). Or I have put on Hearing Protection first, and missed the burp and flooded... learned to keep one ear clear until running? Sharpening is a trick some overcome by buying a new chain, others file without ever lowering depth? BUT, the "Battery OPTION", I would call and ASK FIRST? IMHO, the Negative on the battery tool is how many 5-10-yo or 20-yo battery saws/tools will you ever see that you can still get (or afford to get?) a battery for? ...but (their call?) maybe BEST Choice for their needs?
 
Procedure? Amazing how many do not know proper procedure and (do not know about/ do not understand) the "Fast Idle"? Reading the thread the other day where guy started and set down and smoked the brake (most likely on Fast Idle?). Or I have put on Hearing Protection first, and missed the burp and flooded... learned to keep one ear clear until running? Sharpening is a trick some overcome by buying a new chain, others file without ever lowering depth? BUT, the "Battery OPTION", I would call and ASK FIRST? IMHO, the Negative on the battery tool is how many 5-10-yo or 20-yo battery saws/tools will you ever see that you can still get (or afford to get?) a battery for? ...but (their call?) maybe BEST Choice for their needs?
Spot-on! We are talking about cutting down and up, trees. Battery operated saws are for scardy-cats and greenies. Imagine you are in the Bush with 5 guys, wagons and tractors, ready to pull out 30 cord of logwood......and this person pulls out a charger for his truck plug, to keep a "fresh battery" in the pink. I'd throw beer cans at his windshield......Homeowners need tools too.......just not toys in the wood lot....

Knowledge is power, and experience earned. Neither are the yield of battery powered toys...................
 
What do you do when someone brings you saw that they say don’t run. You notice that the saw are relatively new, but dirty, with a bar and chain the need serious attention?

my SIL just brought me 2 husky 450 saws saying they don’t run. Picked the first up, confirmed it had gas, put the choke on and pulled it over 8-10 times. It fired right up. Idled fine.

the second had a primer, primed the carb, pulled the choke, saw started in 2 pulls. Idled fine.
I doubt either saw has more than 10 tanks thru them. Quite obvious to me that either she doesn’t know what she is doing or doesnt have the strength to pull them over.

I’m thinking I will trade her a brand new battery powered saw and sell the 2 450s to pay for it.
Thoughts?
I usually try to get over to do all the serious cutting at their farm, but it’s 4 hours 1 way. So the occasional downed tree or branch would be all she needs to account for on her own.
I bought a Stihl MSA200 Li-ion battery saw in March of 2019. I love this saw. I don't throw my shoulder out trying to start it. I don't have to wear earplugs. Less vibration. I have used it quite a bit cleaning up hundreds of branches from the ice storm that hit Oklahoma on October 26-27 of 2020. It is lightweight, yet has plenty of torque. I am pleased with how long it runs on a charge, and at how fast it charges back up. I liked it so much I went out and bought the HTA65 battery-operated pole saw. (Fixed length)
I have an MS261 for the bigger stuff, but I find that I use the MSA200 90% of the time. I don't work for Stihl, I just like the product and have no regrets buying it. Just push the button, pull the trigger and go to town.
 
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