Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Cowboy254]

Morning fellers, I caught up! You blokes don't make it easy. Anyway, here's the first instalment from last weekend's scrounging adventures.



We took several cubes out of this tree last year and it has remained unmolested since. E. Sieberi AKA Silvertop Ash, which is one of the 700 odd eucalypt species over here. There's a fair bit left.





All Limby action today.



Plenty more to come but I have to go and do other things so it'll have to wait until tonight. Hang in there wheelbarrow fans!

 

[cantoo]

I search pallet forks with thumb/top clamp now and there’s only a few skid steer size, none the size I need. I don’t have the information from before.

I think I’ll also be using mine to pick up brush, and as a root rake. There’s a lot of brush and exploded tree debris on our place, two forks won’t do much good with that.

View attachment 1034888

Just add more forks. I run 3 on mine.

 

[mountainguyed67]

Just add more forks. I run 3 on mine.

That’s not even close.

 

[farmer steve]

Right across the street lol. The add didn't say anything about pay or benefits. I'll check it out, but kinda doubt they are gonna be able to compete with my current pay.

Not sure what I looked at but I did see benefits. No mention of pay.

 

[Sawdust Man]

Moved a few bucket loads of oak today....

 

[sean donato]

Yeah Roger, MS400. Pretty responsive throttle and good power fir a stock "70cc class" saw! A Cutter could actually use it in a production setting cutt'n a strip of smaller wood! I'd run a 20" on it myself, but that's just me.

And you thought us 400c fan boys were full of it lol. They really are a great saw. Don't know how many tanks are through it, but mine really came around between 8 and 10 tanks, the addition of the bark box made a big difference as well, at the cost of a very noisy saw. Still debating on ordering another muffler to mod or leaving it on.

 

[cantoo]

Your big machine should be able to pick up a whole tree full of brush.

 

[Sierra_rider]

Sounds bad a**, but if you build it up to much. You'll rob a lot of hours out of that head and be replacing top ends much more often! You probably already know that. Just thought Id mention it.

If anything, I might add hours to it... it's a much lighter piston (10grams lighter after machining) and IMO a lighter piston is going to exert less force on the crank. That's why the x-torque 372s are so much harder on main bearings than the OE 372.

Also the 660 is a much taller piston...even after cutting it down, I really think this 660 piston will wear the intake side of the skirt less than the stock piston.

I do add compression, but I'm not doing anything that won't run on pump gas...I also raise the exhaust port, so the effective compression ratio is probably pretty similar to stock. It doesn't free-rev any higher than stock, only pulls more rpm when in the cut. As much as I do to fit the 660 piston in it, I'd say the saw is very much on the "work saw" side of things. I could change some port timing with a new piston and bump compression up a bit without any adverse effect on longevity IMO.

 

[Sierra_rider]

Yeah Roger, MS400. Pretty responsive throttle and good power fir a stock "70cc class" saw! A Cutter could actually use it in a production setting cutt'n a strip of smaller wood! I'd run a 20" on it myself, but that's just me.

I did some minor machine and port work on my 400. Along with the wrap handle kit and 461R oiler guts, it pulls a 28" lwb with authority. I could even run a 32" if I had to, but I've got several other saws better suited for that.

 

[Zaedock]

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

My family ended up not cooking and opted for a larger get together down at Wrights Chicken farm in Rhode Island. It was awesome. So much easier for my mom (83 - leg amputee) and we could focus on family instead of cooking.

It's funny you guys were talking about the MS400. My wife went to a painting/wine sip thing in CT with my oldest daughter and she stopped at Runnings to shop and pick up some Pre-mix for me. I've been talking about the MS400 for a while and I "think" Mrs. Clause maybe hiding something for me....

 

[Sierra_rider]

fascinating.
frankinsaw…
you should do a write up on the build

I might one of these days. I'm not the first to do it, but I don't think many have...there definitely isn't any DIY guide on it. It basically involves machine work on the piston crown, skirt, and where the wrist pin goes. Also some grinding on both the piston and cases. Finally machine work has to be done to the squish band.

You absolutely have to have a lathe and possibly a milling machine to do this hybrid build, but it solves some port timing issues that the stock 500i has. The stock piston and ports on the 500 aren't that great IMO... it's a testament to EFI that they run so strong.

Here's some pics that show part of the build...notice the comparison pics of the scale:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I search pallet forks with thumb/top clamp now and there’s only a few skid steer size, none the size I need. I don’t have the information from before.

I think I’ll also be using mine to pick up brush, and as a root rake. There’s a lot of brush and exploded tree debris on our place, two forks won’t do much good with that.

My experience says you are wrong on that, mine picks up everything but the tiniest pieces, and I don't pick those up.

Keep in mind, my forks are adjustable, so I can use them wide or in, as needed.

No matter, you already let the deal go by.

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Looks like there will be plenty of venison to go around again this year, as I shot this meat buck this evening,

My "go to gun" is 87 years old, and still putting meat in my freezer!

SR

 

[Sawdust Man]

Looks like there will be plenty of venison to go around again this year, as I shot this meat buck this evening,

My "go to gun" is 87 years old, and still putting meat in my freezer!

SR

Is that a drillings?

 

[chipper1]

That's why the x-torque 372s are so much harder on main bearings than the OE 372.

And why the 372 oe benefits from a 268xp popup, more compression and a lighter taller piston(more stable in the cylinder). You should get a stock oe and just do the muffler and timing advance, then cut a piston for it and then compare. None of the porters want to do it, I think it would make it too easy for someone else to do it themselves. Simon out west used to do it, they make an incredibly powerful saw, that's very easy to start, and because you don't cut the base you could put a stock piston back in it at any time if needed/wanted. I don't think there's any better mod for a 372 dollar for dollar.
I have a stock(muffler modded) 372oe here, I should get a piston cut for it.
Here's the one I installed, had a friend cut it for me.

Wish I would have got a better view of how easy it is to start, I'm talking very easy for a 70. It kind shows it in this one.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Is that a drillings?

Yes, it's been my "go to gun", putting tons of meat in my freezer for the last 47 years...

SR

 

[Sawdust Man]

Yes, it's been my "go to gun", putting tons of meat in my freezer for the last 47 years...

SR

What chamberings is it?
My eldest brother has a double 16ga with the 9.3x74r underneath.
I really like those rifles!

 

[Sierra_rider]

And why the 372 oe benefits from a 268xp popup, more compression and a lighter taller piston(more stable in the cylinder). You should get a stock oe and just do the muffler and timing advance, then cut a piston for it and then compare. None of the porters want to do it, I think it would make it too easy for someone else to do it themselves. Simon out west used to do it, they make an incredibly powerful saw, that's very easy to start, and because you don't cut the base you could put a stock piston back in it at any time if needed/wanted. I don't think there's any better mod for a 372 dollar for dollar.
I have a stock(muffler modded) 372oe here, I should get a piston cut for it.
Here's the one I installed, had a friend cut it for me.

Wish I would have got a better view of how easy it is to start, I'm talking very easy for a 70. It kind shows it in this one.

Yeah, I almost did a 272 piston in my recent 372 build. It started out as my destratoed and ported 372xt...I put a 52mm OE-style top end on it. I'm running the big strato carb on it too...I thought the big carb might be a bit much for it, but it's actually pretty responsive. I did do quite a bit of machining on that cylinder, but I might revisit it with a different top end...or maybe not, it's a strong running saw now.

I'd be running it more, but built the 566i at the same time...the 566 just has more of a wow factor for me.

I don't usually do pop ups. I usually build saws that you can run stock pistons in, although the 566i won't take an off-the-shelf 660 piston and it would probably run like doodoo if you put a stock 500i piston back in it. If I did a 272 piston, I'd probably turn it into a domed piston and cut the squish band to match. Although that necessitates having a custom piston, I've found really good performance on saws I've built with domed pistons. I think you get better flow out the ports with domed pistons, increased compression, and it's argued that there is more force acting upon the top of a domed piston. It's still relatively unused on power saws, but domed pistons are the thing in modern performance 2 strokes.

 

[cantoo]

Split some smaller stuff with my Wallenstein this week. This is the splits that we sell or use on our campfires. Last pic is it folded up and ready to head to the shop for some repairs, cleaning and oil to put away for another year. First couple pictures are trees I cut down last week. Waiting for a freeze so I can start hauling them home to process next year.

 

[JimR]

I finally tore down my scrounged up $30 455 Rancher X-Torque. That saw was not straight gassed. Both bearings blew out the cages and wiped out one seal. The piston was scored to hell. I swapped out the piston, jug and crank assembly from the free runover 455 Rancher. The saw is purring. I need to put a bar and chain on it and set the carb.