Bassmantweed
ArboristSite Member
thats the first time I’ve ever heard the 261 called a limbing saw??
Do new saws really get better after a few tanks?
- Thread starter Bassmantweed
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thats the first time I’ve ever heard the 261 called a limbing saw??
Yes they get better as the break in, some are real dogs when new and gain a lot. Others cut good new and gain just a little. Steve
It's a limbing saw
.Many guys here run at least a 2 saw plan, 50/70 is very common, so guess what the primary job of the 50cc saw is.
Backstage
ArboristSite Operative
I’ve been told it’s the piston rings “seating” Which means…what exactly? Are we talking the piston ring wear to match the cylinder? Because whatever it is, people talk like there’s a moment in use that it “seats”, so that doesn’t make sense.
With the saws you already have, my guess is you will want to sell it, the 400 is not really a torquey saw, even when its fully broke in. Look forward to hearing what you think once it is though. You've got a nice collection of saws there.my new 400 seems quite gutless compared to the 462 and theres only a few cc;s in it. but just have to run more tanks thru the 400 to break it in and get the torque out of it.
Yes, the rings seating.
You are correct it takes a bit of time. As another person commented, you may or may not notice it when running the saw that's breaking in, but when you run another saw and then go back to it it's more noticeable.
Regardless if you run saws on a normal basis, it is noticeable, especially since the saw is now operating as it was designed to do.
O yeah,
blackman614
New Member
It may be something about the lower end Stihl saws. I bought a MS-271 and am extremely disappointed. I'm on tank 5 and am ready to give it away. It doesn't cut and it's hard to start. I assume its their "emissions" issues. It literally could not cut a down Ash tree using it for the first time without cutting crooked. Pulled on my light 09 and it cut through the tree like butter. So frustrated with Stihl.
You may find it needs to be tuned to get it to where it should be.
Backstage
ArboristSite Operative
Yes, but what does it mean, mechanically, that the piston rings “seat”?
Sounds like the chain may be at fault? Badly sharpened at the factory? Or safety chain that is too safe to make a cut?
Ryan'smilling
Addicted to ArboristSite
Stock it's great for limbing, thinning and bucking wood under 12" (16" softwood). Ported it was my go to for firewood up to about 18" running a 60dl loop of 3/8 chain.
There is the seal at the ring to cylinder.
When the explosion or flame front spreads most to all the way some of the pressure goes on top of the top ring and then behind it pushing out on the ring with more force than just the spring effect of the cast iron ring. So perhaps a bit of wear in for the groove in the top ring.
Perhaps the seal of the ring to the bottom of the groove so there is not any blow by there.
Perhaps it is that pistons are not a true cylinder at uniform temperature more designed to be a true cylinder at operating temperature, cooling from vaporizing fuel on one side and heat from combustion on the top. So perhaps deviation from ideal gets kind of worn in.
Can you think of anything else?
Automender
ArboristSite Operative
Usually the cylinders on engines have a honing process done which leaves a cross hatched pattern on the surface. This is done on purpose to let the piston ring wear against the hardened surface and get the exact shape of the cylinder. The cross hatch pattern also wears to form a perfect mating surface. If you install new rings in an old worn cylinder without the pattern it will take a long time to wear the rings into the cylinder. Pistons rings are soft material, some are cast iron, and cylinders are chrome plated or use nickel carbide coatings which are extremely hard.
Crosshatching is done to hold oil in the cylinder wall surface. Rings expand away from the piston into the cylinder wall during the combustion cycle. The ring also rocks back and fourth on its leading edges against the cylinder wall every time it changes direction. as it is drug across the surface it wears in to match both the cylinder surface and the piston ring land. Over continued use with a heavy load this wear better meshes creating a higher seal capacity for both the vacuum and the compression stroke. Meaning it sucks in more air charge and holds more combustion gasses from passing creating more power.
Automender
ArboristSite Operative
You are right about the cross hatch pattern holding oil but if you think about it the harden hard cross hatch pattern acts like 800/1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper even thought the grooves are filled with oil. I know the piston skirts also have machining grooves also to hold oil. I know if you install rings in a smooth cylinder the rings take a lot longer to seat.
I bought a MS400 to hold me over till my stolen 261 and 462 got returned. I to thought what a turd, till yesterday. Tank #7 noodling and bucking some big oak logs and it was screaming.
Canyon Angler
Addicted to ArboristSite
I like how some mfgrs (MOPAR, cough) want to make their trucks look as FUGLY as possible, I guess on the rickety marketing theory that the uglier it is, the more powerful it must be, otherwise no one would buy it.
"Hey let's make this Dodge RAM look like some kind of ridiculous Picasso Guernical jackass on a Hunter Thompson acid trip, that'll really bring them in to buy it!"
"Well, if we can't make the transmissions last more than 30k miles, maybe your marketing plan is the way to go..."
Funny Chrysler addressed the 2nd/reverse issues making a much better automatic but then switched to the 3.7-4.7 platforms that take a complete sht once it runs a hair low on antifreeze and the average joe has no idea it requires a special plug being removed to get a huge air bubble out of the passenger side head that if its not burped properly causes a slew of cylinder head issues that can and will destroy the block. All of their cylinder heads suffer from dropping a seat if ever slightly overheated with symptoms of a random misfire, if they only staked them in from the factory there would be many many more on the road still.I like how some mfgrs (MOPAR, cough) want to make their trucks look as FUGLY as possible, I guess on the rickety marketing theory that the uglier it is, the more powerful it must be, otherwise no one would buy it.
"Hey let's make this Dodge RAM look like some kind of ridiculous Picasso Guernical jackass on a Hunter Thompson acid trip, that'll really bring them in to buy it!"
"Well, if we can't make the transmissions last more than 30k miles, maybe your marketing plan is the way to go..."
All my Husky's have got better once run in, feel nicer too.
