... First what is the best way to break in a saw (this one especially) for milling and how long does that take? Second is there a better gas/oil mix ratio after its broken in to ensure it won't overheat or be damaged since milling is more taxing on a powerhead...
To say there are lots of differing opinions on these two questions would be a gross understatement. If you read through the threads over on the chainsaw section of this forum, you will find that there is at least a general consensus that chainsaw milling does work a saw hard, and thus it would not be a good idea to take a brand new one and run it full bore down a log for 10+ minutes a pop all day long. You can find dealers and mechanics that will tell you to turn it on and run it from day one as if it was 10 years old, but I just don't buy that. At least one of the guys over there that repairs chainsaws for a living (forget screen name) says to run many tankfuls of gas through it just cutting firewood or "normal" chainsaw work first before using it as a milling saw only. I stuck a shorter bar on my 395 when I first got it and ran it for a month or so just bucking etc before I put it in the mill. Many also will tell you to turn the HI screw out a quarter turn or so to richen up the mixture for milling. I'm not a chainsaw mechanic, so can't vouch for that, but I did it to mine and left it that way ever since. But then I have always run all my saws a little rich anyway. The "experts" will tell you that once you mix up a batch, the oil won't separate from the gas, and there is no need to shake it up any further once it's been mixed. I can't bring myself to do that... I still shake the container EVERY time before I pour it into my saws, just force of habit. If all it really does is make me feel good about doing it, that's enough of a reason for me to keep that habit.
Fuel mixture ratio.....
opcorn:
opcorn:
opcorn:
opcorn: ...some of the more "colorful" and in depth threads over on that chainsaw forum deal with this issue. Check them out some day, some interesting reading. Bottom line is many of the guys run richer mixtures in their saws, especially when milling, myself included. Personally I use only Stihl or Husky mix, and I run 42:1 in all my saws but the 395 (milling), in which I run 32:1. Been doing that for years, gonna keep doing that. 'Nuf said. You do want to use midgrade or hi grade gas though... even the manual that comes with the saw will tell you that. You also want to avoid gas that has been sitting around a while, as it tends to take on water even from moist air. Personally, any mix I have that happens to get more than a month old gets dumped into my car or van. That little bit of mix oil doesn't make any difference at all in your vehicle when mixed in with the gas already in your cars tank.
How long will your saw last????? Thats like asking how long will your car last... depends on how much you use it and whether you take care of it. Keep it clean (debris out of the cooling fins) and keep filter clean (including fuel filter in the tank)... keep chains sharp so it doesn't have to work it's heart out cutting through the wood, and feed it only quality mix, and it will last tens of years under normal (non professional) use. When I worked as a logger for a pulpwood company, we rarely got 4 seasons out of a saw, but those saws were in use all day, every day. My Dad has a Stihl 036 that has been in use semi-weekly if not weekly for over 20 years. Miles of chain, many a spark plug/filters, many a bar and couple changes of rope pull, but it still has tons of compression and works like a charm. I'm sure you can find others in the forum with similar experiences.
