460 Too Much Exhaust?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
docbar85

docbar85

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
54
Location
N.C.
If the muffler is opened up too much during a mod. how would the saw run?
When considering the 80% - 85% rule (exhaust port to muffler) should you factor in the the area the screen takes?
I just finished up a 460 with about 95% ratio, got it taching around 13,300, seems to idle good. During the cut it seems like I can hear it, what sounds like skipping sometimes. Did not get to cut much so it could be my imagination.
 
rbtree

rbtree

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
May 5, 2001
Messages
5,209
Location
Seattle
That's not open too much. Better rule of thumb is to have the exhaust ports at the muffler be 1.25 to 1.5 times the area of the exh. port at the cylinder bore, which is always less than at the cylinder/muffler interface.
 
Lakeside53

Lakeside53

Stihl Wrenching
Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Messages
24,802
Location
Woodinville, WA
rbtree said:
That's not open too much. Better rule of thumb is to have the exhaust ports at the muffler be 1.25 to 1.5 times the area of the exh. port at the cylinder bore, which is always less than at the cylinder/muffler interface.


I think by rule of thumb that's the same as 85% of the exhaust to muffer opening!
 
Freakingstang

Freakingstang

Doctor Freakinstein
Joined
Dec 23, 2005
Messages
5,648
Location
NE Ohio
what does a stock 046 or 460 turn? Mine is older and runs about 13,800 and it still four strokes. 13K seems a little low, maybe what your hearing is the four stroking? Just an idea. My muffler is opened up about 85-90% of the flange where the muffler bolts on. It runs pretty good imo.


-Steve
 
Lawn Masters

Lawn Masters

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Mar 9, 2004
Messages
4,019
Location
Florida
If you can hear it missing a bit once and awhile at full throttle, it is four stroking, which is good, you're not too lean possibly a tad rich, but thats still better than too lean.
 
docbar85

docbar85

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
54
Location
N.C.
Uh Oh!
I was using the area of the cylinder head where the muffler mounts. My mistake, I have always thought this was the area everyone was making reference to. This will definately put me over the limit. Can anyone tell me what the area of the cylinder exhaust is on a 460 and maybe also a 044.?

I plan to work on the carb. adjustment some more after I get this ratio correct. Will try to lean it out some more and see if it smooths out.

Thanks for the help.
 
Lakeside53

Lakeside53

Stihl Wrenching
Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Messages
24,802
Location
Woodinville, WA
docbar85 said:
Uh Oh!
I was using the area of the cylinder head where the muffler mounts. My mistake, I have always thought this was the area everyone was making reference to. This will definately put me over the limit. Can anyone tell me what the area of the cylinder exhaust is on a 460 and maybe also a 044.?

I plan to work on the carb. adjustment some more after I get this ratio correct. Will try to lean it out some more and see if it smooths out.

Thanks for the help.


no... that will put you right on where the so called "limit" is... If you're 80-85% of the muffler<> cylinder opening, just leave it at that. The screen is blocking up to 40% of this. Try it with and without the screen, and do timed cuts. You'll be surprised how little real world (cutting wood) difference it makes.
 
docbar85

docbar85

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
54
Location
N.C.
Lakeside
I plan to do some more testing this weekend.
Are you saying if you have too much exhaust area the saw will just not perform as good as it could? It won't cause the saw to skip or idle rough etc.
By the way, I removed the factory screen and installed my own, the original appeared too restrictive.
 

Mr.

being watched
Joined
Dec 9, 2005
Messages
1,833
Location
Arkansas
He's saying try with and without a factory style screen, throw yours into the mix as well. See which way it cuts the best.

Then you have your answer.

Don't tune your saw to RPM tune it to where it barely four strokes at WOT.

Fred
 
Lakeside53

Lakeside53

Stihl Wrenching
Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Messages
24,802
Location
Woodinville, WA
Mr. said:
He's saying try with and without a factory style screen, throw yours into the mix as well. See which way it cuts the best.

Then you have your answer.

Don't tune your saw to RPM tune it to where it barely four strokes at WOT.

Fred


I'll add the following:
...but as you have opened up the muffler, make sure you don't exceed the max allowable RPM [at that 4-stroking point] of 13,500 +/- 150rpm, with bar and chain. If you do, you'll need to restrict the muffler to bring it down.
 

046

God of ArboristSite
Joined
Apr 8, 2004
Messages
77,369
Location
Oklahoma
basic two stroke principle says you need back-pressure for max performance. otherwise fresh charged air would go out with exhaust.

that's why hotsaws and high performance two stroke bikes use expansion chambers.

so opening too far in not a good thing. you're better off going conservative. much easier to open up further, than to close up opening.

I've posted the EZ spagetti method of precision measuring odd size ports several times.
 
docbar85

docbar85

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
54
Location
N.C.
Lakeside you posted 13,500 +/-150 rpm with bar and chain. Did you mean without bar and chain? If not, I definately missed the boat on this one.
 
Lakeside53

Lakeside53

Stihl Wrenching
Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Messages
24,802
Location
Woodinville, WA
It's with bar and chain - as per the Stihl spec. And set it for the bar and chain you use the most... The engine needs some small loading to be tuned effectively. You will see a drop of 500->1000 if you you tune without the bar/chain then fit one.

Also, I should have said - "correctly tensioned chain".


All stihl specs are with the bar and chain. Madsen's says differently on their site, but follow the Stihl spec for a Stihl saw.
 

Mr.

being watched
Joined
Dec 9, 2005
Messages
1,833
Location
Arkansas
Lakeside53 said:
I'll add the following:
...but as you have opened up the muffler, make sure you don't exceed the max allowable RPM [at that 4-stroking point] of 13,500 +/- 150rpm, with bar and chain. If you do, you'll need to restrict the muffler to bring it down.

I've never muffler modded without porting, so defer to Lakeside.

BTW I do not have 1 saw that I have modded that turns below the max RPM and I have 2 worksaws.

Fred
 
docbar85

docbar85

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
54
Location
N.C.
Thought stihl spec. indicated no load rpm, which, I thought meant without bar and chain. Thanks for getting me on the right track. Plan to check it asap with the bar and see what it is turning.. Thanks again, I may keep the neighbors up tonight.
 
rbtree

rbtree

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
May 5, 2001
Messages
5,209
Location
Seattle
046 said:
basic two stroke principle says you need back-pressure for max performance. otherwise fresh charged air would go out with exhaust.

that's why hotsaws and high performance two stroke bikes use expansion chambers.

so opening too far in not a good thing. you're better off going conservative. much easier to open up further, than to close up opening.

I've posted the EZ spagetti method of precision measuring odd size ports several times.

True, but on my 346 and 5100 which I got from Ed a few months ago, he opened both saws's mufflers too much, imo....there's a total of three ports, two are unscreened....But the saws are incredibly fast.....Though I have to reduce the ports to lessen the noise, as it is too loud for sure.
 
Monkeyhanger

Monkeyhanger

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
555
Location
Germany
Lakeside53 said:
...but as you have opened up the muffler, make sure you don't exceed the max allowable RPM [at that 4-stroking point] of 13,500 +/- 150rpm, with bar and chain...

Hi,

just out of curiosity, do the USA 460's really have different max RPM's than the German ones? My 460 has a max RPM of 14000 according to the handbook (original German). However I often read 13500 here for the American 460's (Strangely enough my 346XPG has a lower max RPM than the 14700, often stated in the USA, according to the handbook.).

Is there a reason for the USA 460's having a lower max RPM?

Anway I'm only asking out of curiosity.

Thanks.
 
Top