How Do You Hold Your Saw When Starting?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

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

woodyman

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Mar 30, 2008
Messages
3,032
Location
Santiago township,Minnesnowda
I have modded all my saws to start with a high speed cordless drill.I have a custom holster that the drill fits in with a pouch on it for an extra battery.I have started a saw before and dropped it.
 
Last edited:
roncoinc

roncoinc

Official Stihl Disser
Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
16,088
Location
N.H.
I have modded all my saws to start with a high speed cordless drill.I have a custom holster that the drill fits in with a pouch on it for an extra battery.I have started a saw before and dropped it.

Couple days ago i posted a vidio of a VI944 i started on the kitchen table with a cordless drill..
all the starter stuff was broken.
 
Gologit

Gologit

Completely retired...life is good.
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
May 19, 2005
Messages
16,408
Location
In the Redwoods.
I just keep them idling all the time

I never shut my saws off, I've only had to start them once. It's rather expensive to keep filling them but that way they're ready whenever you need them. Not to mention there's no cold starting required.

It's a good idea and I recommend it to all.

We had a guy that did that and it worked great. Until he had to change chains. We call him Paddle Hands now.
 
roncoinc

roncoinc

Official Stihl Disser
Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
16,088
Location
N.H.
Check out the drill in the background,that how i started the saw :)

object>
 
CGC4200

CGC4200

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
2,174
Location
mid-south
except for Poulan S25 & Husqvarna 435

The top handle Poulan, I have never figured out where to put my foot.
The Husqvarna 435 loses contact between starter & flywheel unless
I firmly drop start it.
The rest, I place foot in rear handle and start on ground; it depends
on the saw.
 
pioneerguy600

pioneerguy600

Lost in Space
Staff member
Moderator
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
Dec 23, 2007
Messages
43,869
Location
N.S. Canada
When your booted foot is too large to fit inside of the rear handle then you can kneel on the top cover and pull, or do as I do and drop start all my saws, even the Stihl 090`s. Been starting saws that way since 1962, no other way for me but I can`t recommend it to everyone unless someone with lots of experience shows the correct method. It has been touted as being very dangerous.
Pioneerguy600
 
chuckwood

chuckwood

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Messages
8,681
Location
near the Great Smoky Mtns. Tennessee
won't work with size thirteen boots....

Cold with all my saws I go with it on the ground, foot in the handle, left hand on the handlebar, right hand pull. Hot with the big Husky, I'll put the handle under my right leg, hold the handle bar and give it a yank

The only way I can get my big size 13 in the handle, and that's with a big saw, is to wear tennis shoes. I don't like the handle under right leg routine, as that puts me in an awkward position, I'm having to pull a bit sideways on the starter rope. I'm thinking if it's possible to place a short, small board in the handle and step on that instead to hold the back of the saw down. If you're starting a big saw with a long, heavy bar, it's easy to get the front of the bar tipping into the ground while you're wrestling around with it getting it started.
 
cjnspecial

cjnspecial

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Dec 1, 2007
Messages
900
Location
Louisiana
No matter how you start your saw, it helps to pull the rope until the piston is at TDC then yank the he77 out of it.
I drop start all my saws BTW.
 
smilin possum

smilin possum

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Messages
1,711
Location
gold hill,nc
Drop start, or one hand sling. Some sit on the ground and I sit on them and make LP yank the hello out of um.
I got an old Falls Silver King I'd like to see those guys that put the rear handle behind there knee. No decomp, and 130cc with a 2 1/2 bore. If it bites back they will sing higher notes than Mikey Jackson ever thought about or it'll yank there knee off.
 

Evan

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
6,456
Location
idaho
drop start most the time, this is my 066
<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid661.photobucket.com/albums/uu339/Evan03_photo/saw%20vids/GEDC1891.flv">

my 084 i would always put my foot in the handle cause that thing would sometimes try and rip my arm off or if my foot wasnt in the handle the saw would follow my hand, it had 175lbs of compression
 
Last edited:
Dan_IN_MN

Dan_IN_MN

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 15, 2008
Messages
4,272
Location
FORMERLY Manyhobies
Drop start every time. I don't always have someone to help me hold down the Homelite XL400. No decomp... and tons of comp.

I've never experienced a dangerous situation drop starting.
 
Walt41

Walt41

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Messages
6,161
Location
NY
I never start mine, it uses too much gas and makes noise! I just hold the saw against the wood and run it back and forth, while making motor noises. It takes forever to cut but is good exercise.
 
slowp
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
16,179
Location
Warshington
I tow Twinkle behind the pickup. The Used Dog pops the clutch cover off and Twinkle starts. On a hill, I can let Twinkle coast and pop the clutch myself. That gives The Used Dog some rest.

If you have the chain on backwards, you have to push your saw to start it.
 

Latest posts

Top