Bobby Kirbos
Scrounger of Cellulose Based BTUs
Ok, maiden voyage for me....
Well, it cranks. I had the 16" bar all but buried in the beech that I scrounged up last weekend and it performed as well as can be expected for a 33cc saw. It did perform better on the smaller stuff where only about 2/3 of the bar was actually cutting. This is wood that is already seasoned 2+ years. I don't see this as a main line saw, so I may leave the 16" bar on it and only cut small stuff with it (10" dia. or smaller). If/when I need a new bar for it, I may put on a 14", 0.325/0.050, but the 16" is what I already have.
The biggest problem that I had with it was forgetting that it's a small 33cc saw. If I let the bar do the cutting, it's fine. As soon as I "get into it", the clutch starts slipping out.
Overall, I am happy with it. Like anything in life, if I operate within its design limitations, it will perform as it should.
- Bought it on eBay (just over $200 including the ride).
- Replaced the plug. Not that it needed to be replaced, but for $3 - I'll know how many miles are on it.
- Replaced the 6 point spur drum with an Oregon PowerMate drum and 3/8-7 rim.
- Removed the EPA mandated performance killer from the muffler and tuned accordingly (yes, I put the little rubber screw cap back).
- Cut down an Oregon S62 (3/8LowPro/0.050) chain to 57 drive links. (It's a 16", 56 link bar, but the 7 point rim needs the extra length.)
- Filed the rakers to 0.025". (I took at least 0.010" off of them. It is a brand new chain. I wonder if the shallow rakers are part of what makes it a "safety chain".)
Well, it cranks. I had the 16" bar all but buried in the beech that I scrounged up last weekend and it performed as well as can be expected for a 33cc saw. It did perform better on the smaller stuff where only about 2/3 of the bar was actually cutting. This is wood that is already seasoned 2+ years. I don't see this as a main line saw, so I may leave the 16" bar on it and only cut small stuff with it (10" dia. or smaller). If/when I need a new bar for it, I may put on a 14", 0.325/0.050, but the 16" is what I already have.
The biggest problem that I had with it was forgetting that it's a small 33cc saw. If I let the bar do the cutting, it's fine. As soon as I "get into it", the clutch starts slipping out.
Overall, I am happy with it. Like anything in life, if I operate within its design limitations, it will perform as it should.
