Maintaining a ported saw

[HuskStihl]

Let's see... I cut what I need to cut with it, then I put it back on the floor in the garage. Of course this is a masterminded 394. If I had a Snellerized Stihl, I'd keep it in a mahogany case under a velvet tea cozy

 

[discounthunter]

talk to the person who did the work. after all ,if the saw goes south,they'll be the first one you call.after its posted on AS,lol.

 

[mainewoods]

Randy has been more than generous with his advice. I am only asking in case I am missing something. I have changed the oil mix ratio to 40:1 as suggested, and gone to Belray. Just seems as though there is more I could be doing to insure the longevity of my saw. I am pretty sure other ported saw owners would be interested in any and all suggestions given. If my saw develops any issues , it will be my fault not Randy's, and I definitely don't want that to happen because of my ignorance.

 

[treesmith]

If I get old mix, which is rare, it goes in the mower. I've run a stump grinder on 50-1 for a short while, it's gone in my car, a friends car, as long as it's mixed with a bit of neat fuel it seems fine. My 288xp looks like it was shot down during WWII so it stays in the tipper truck box, my other saws get taken out every time it tips mulch, much to the bosses amusement. Just can't bring myself to leave them there even though two are in bags. Call me pedantic but dirt comes off, scratch don't

 

[Homelite410]

Randy has been more than generous with his advice. I am only asking in case I am missing something. I have changed the oil mix ratio to 40:1 as suggested, and gone to Belray. Just seems as though there is more I could be doing to insure the longevity of my saw. I am pretty sure other ported saw owners would be interested in any and all suggestions given. If my saw develops any issues , it will be my fault not Randy's, and I definitely don't want that to happen because of my ignorance.

I am curious as to what's wrong with factory oil? I don't want to start a pissing match but what is wrong with Jonsered oil or XP oil or ultra or dolmar or echo? Please in all honesty I'm not calling anyone out here, but what's wrong with the oil they recommend for and sell for your saw?

 

[struggle]

Scott ported my 660 and 460 I think now going on two years ago?

I run them like I stole them and occasionally clean them. Put on a sharp chain every once in a while

 

[struggle]

Mike I run Amsoil Sabre only because it is way cheaper than running the Stihl. I have no following to any brand beyond how fast it unloads my wallet. I do run it a little thicker than 50-1 though

 

[HuskStihl]

Call me pedantic

I can't approve of that. It's against God's law, and look at all the trouble Michael Jackson got in being all pedantic with those kids

 

[Moparmyway]

I am curious to know the methods that everyone uses to keep their ported saws maintained, in order to ensure the longest possible service time. Any and all "tricks of the trade", so to speak, would be very informative. Not only to me, but to all the ever increasing number of ported saw owners who have made the step up to PSA ( ported saw addiction). I for one would like to have the peace of mind knowing I am doing everything possible to assure the longevity of my saw.

I will just repeat what has been said ......................

32:1 or better with synthetic 2 cycle oil and a proper tune with a clean air filter and a sharp chain !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mainewoods]

I've been running chainsaws for 50 years and always used Husqvarna oil. Never burned up a saw yet. But those were older saws and the oil was a lot different in those days. These new saws seem to be a whole different animal. When professional builders suggest a better oil, and have been inside a saw, I tend to listen. Personally I have never had an issue with the oil I have used in the past, but times change I guess.

 

[mdavlee]

I am curious as to what's wrong with factory oil? I don't want to start a pissing match but what is wrong with Jonsered oil or XP oil or ultra or dolmar or echo? Please in all honesty I'm not calling anyone out here, but what's wrong with the oil they recommend for and sell for your saw?

Mike there's nothing wrong with it when mixed at 32-40:1. It's cheaper for me to run bike oils than a husky xp oil. Stihl oil gives me a headache.

 

[Homelite410]

Thank you all for you honest and clean input. I hear all this talk about belray, amsoil, etc etc and was wondering what was wrong with OEM. I run Jonsered @ 40:1 and have not had a problem and my dealer has a tree service and that's what he runs. I bet there is 100 empty mix bottles next to the fuel barrell.

 

[komatsuvarna]

Not to turn this into another oil thread, but Like Mike stated, the oi mix ratio is more important than the name on the oil IMO.

 

[ozflea]

Me I just leave em on a shelf gathering dust saves wearing them out

 

[Homelite410]

Me I just leave em on a shelf gathering dust saves wearing them out

Good place for any STIHL

 

[treesmith]

Same here, used 50-1 Stihl mineral in stock saws for all my working life, never had a problem unless someone else used them. Then got a ported saw and went to 40-1, after Randy's oil failure thread I'm on 35-1 full synthetic, just in case really

 

[Stihlman441]

The clutch gets more of a work out on a ported saw more torque, power so a good clean is the go and greese the clutch bearing.

 

[Stihl working hard]

Yup. That's also probably the single most over looked saw maintenance item that there is!

I've been guilty of it myself a time or two also............

As already mentioned spark plug clean air filter all of that is no good if you don't have fresh fuel I run my saws at 40.1 and have never had any engine issues not enough equals engine failure

 

[mdavlee]

Panda. Q

Ok my 8 month old posted that part. Not sure what she meant by it but she was talking up a storm in her language. If you can get e free gas I wouldn't be afraid of mix up to 3 months old.

 

[mainewoods]

Good point on the clutch and bearing. Any particular brand better than the other? I don't want a Chinese copy just to save a few bucks. I also think a 3/8 setup would be a little better suited to handle the high rpms that my 346 puts out. I've heard .325 is supposedly faster in the cut, but sacrificing a little speed is fine with me if it means a sturdier setup. Any thoughts would be appreciated.