i finished up the ms440 rebuild last Saturday and have had time to run a couple tanks of fuel--
and it is a very good saw! real crisp throttle raspy with the dual port muffler , and with the new bar and chain i got from bailes it is real sweet in the hardwoods--
i could not rebuild the saw with 100% china parts , i did have some issues --
my 52mm jug i got from hudzl was a bit of a lemon --rough ports and poor finish so i ended up going with a 50mm jug and cylinder off ebay. don't know who made it but it is really nice and very close to OEM.
and i had some problems with the china made clutch drum -- it kept locking up the saw and binding up the chain break.
i ended up using a stihl OEM drum -- that cured the binding problems and works perfectly now.
the crankcase i got from hudzel is well 'perfect" it came in a box marked polaris italy and has italian stampings on it-- but it came from china??-- LOL
the crankshaft although looks a big rougher than the OEM parts seems to run fine along with the berings and seals it came with.
the carb i got for peanuts off flea-bay runs like a champ --and i could even get a kit for what it costs--
the coil is as hot as a firecracker .
the bar studs they sent seem a little too long--LOL--
overall i can't complain. it runs real hard and really pulls through the wood , cranks and starts well -- i don't see how you could come up with more saw for the little $$ this china doll overhaul.
i like it so well i think i am going to build another--LOL
and it is a very good saw! real crisp throttle raspy with the dual port muffler , and with the new bar and chain i got from bailes it is real sweet in the hardwoods--
i could not rebuild the saw with 100% china parts , i did have some issues --
my 52mm jug i got from hudzl was a bit of a lemon --rough ports and poor finish so i ended up going with a 50mm jug and cylinder off ebay. don't know who made it but it is really nice and very close to OEM.
and i had some problems with the china made clutch drum -- it kept locking up the saw and binding up the chain break.
i ended up using a stihl OEM drum -- that cured the binding problems and works perfectly now.
the crankcase i got from hudzel is well 'perfect" it came in a box marked polaris italy and has italian stampings on it-- but it came from china??-- LOL
the crankshaft although looks a big rougher than the OEM parts seems to run fine along with the berings and seals it came with.
the carb i got for peanuts off flea-bay runs like a champ --and i could even get a kit for what it costs--
the coil is as hot as a firecracker .
the bar studs they sent seem a little too long--LOL--
overall i can't complain. it runs real hard and really pulls through the wood , cranks and starts well -- i don't see how you could come up with more saw for the little $$ this china doll overhaul.
i like it so well i think i am going to build another--LOL