TonyM
ArboristSite Guru
I've been away for awhile. I've had so much firewood cut ahead that I haven't had to use a chainsaw for much other than a little trimming or storm cleanup here and there. Wood pile is getting low and I have a lot of dead ash to cut (emerald ash bore damage).
The stable was paired down to a Dolmar 7900 and Dolmar 5100S, plus picked up and EFCO 152 to see how it stacked up. Also grabbed one of the Hitachi top handles at Menards when they were selling for $99 with rebate. It's handy for the small stuff (and easy on my back), but not going to win any races.
Cutting wood again and I have the itch (besides the poison ivy variety). I picked up a lightly used EFCO 156 and promptly swapped out the P&C for a new OEM 162 version. Always wanted to try a 162 (or Deere CS62), and I really like the saw. Strong runner (after I took the plug out of the fuel tank vent anyway - not sure what the previous owner was thinking - probably why it was lightly used). Reminds me of a Husqvarna 262XP, and every bit as strong.
Was kicking myself for not hanging onto a Dolmar PS-401 back when I was a dealer. Found an almost new one on eBay recently and luckily was able to get it. Put a 14" bar and Stihl 63PS chisel chain on it and wow! Light and fast. The little Hitachi top handle may never get started again. The PS-401 is advertised at 8.8 lbs on the powerhead. All the new 40cc saws weigh too much, might as well grab a 50 cc saw. I blame the EPA.
Been trying to make some running saws out of left overs. Put together an older style Solo 651. Needed a new piston and rings mainly. The cylinder was the first one I ever tried porting and is not ideal, but I was able to get it to run pretty strong and it has some nostalgia to it.
Also had most of a Dolmar 115 that I thought could make a saw out of. Ended up getting a Makita DCS520 on eBay thinking I'd convert it to the 115 cylinder. Come to find out they have the same closed port cylinder (exact same PN). Only difference was the Makita had a single ring piston and the Dolmar a 2 ring piston. The Makita P & C still looked like new, so I decided I'd practice some porting on the Dolmar cylinder and and leave the Makita parts alone. Pulled the base gasket, widened the intake and exhaust ports 2mm, raised the exhaust 1mm, lowered the intake 1mm, and polished the transfers. Squish ended up at ~.020" and timing ended up at 103 on the exhaust, 124 on the transfers, and 71 on the intake. I put the older 115 muffler on it without any MM. She turned out great. Sounds like a KX500 dirt bike at idle, and pulls a 8pin .325 pitch on a 16" bar with authority. And the best part, it starts with about 2-3 inches of pull on the stater, hot and cold.
In terms of cutting speed of the 50cc saws, the new Makita is in the lead, the Dolmar 5100S and the Solo 651 are 2nd, and 3rd but not far behind. The Efco 152 is a little more distant 4th.
Now the problem is with all these saws to play with I'm almost stocked back up on wood. Once the barn is full I'll probably start having withdrawal.
The stable was paired down to a Dolmar 7900 and Dolmar 5100S, plus picked up and EFCO 152 to see how it stacked up. Also grabbed one of the Hitachi top handles at Menards when they were selling for $99 with rebate. It's handy for the small stuff (and easy on my back), but not going to win any races.
Cutting wood again and I have the itch (besides the poison ivy variety). I picked up a lightly used EFCO 156 and promptly swapped out the P&C for a new OEM 162 version. Always wanted to try a 162 (or Deere CS62), and I really like the saw. Strong runner (after I took the plug out of the fuel tank vent anyway - not sure what the previous owner was thinking - probably why it was lightly used). Reminds me of a Husqvarna 262XP, and every bit as strong.
Was kicking myself for not hanging onto a Dolmar PS-401 back when I was a dealer. Found an almost new one on eBay recently and luckily was able to get it. Put a 14" bar and Stihl 63PS chisel chain on it and wow! Light and fast. The little Hitachi top handle may never get started again. The PS-401 is advertised at 8.8 lbs on the powerhead. All the new 40cc saws weigh too much, might as well grab a 50 cc saw. I blame the EPA.
Been trying to make some running saws out of left overs. Put together an older style Solo 651. Needed a new piston and rings mainly. The cylinder was the first one I ever tried porting and is not ideal, but I was able to get it to run pretty strong and it has some nostalgia to it.
Also had most of a Dolmar 115 that I thought could make a saw out of. Ended up getting a Makita DCS520 on eBay thinking I'd convert it to the 115 cylinder. Come to find out they have the same closed port cylinder (exact same PN). Only difference was the Makita had a single ring piston and the Dolmar a 2 ring piston. The Makita P & C still looked like new, so I decided I'd practice some porting on the Dolmar cylinder and and leave the Makita parts alone. Pulled the base gasket, widened the intake and exhaust ports 2mm, raised the exhaust 1mm, lowered the intake 1mm, and polished the transfers. Squish ended up at ~.020" and timing ended up at 103 on the exhaust, 124 on the transfers, and 71 on the intake. I put the older 115 muffler on it without any MM. She turned out great. Sounds like a KX500 dirt bike at idle, and pulls a 8pin .325 pitch on a 16" bar with authority. And the best part, it starts with about 2-3 inches of pull on the stater, hot and cold.
In terms of cutting speed of the 50cc saws, the new Makita is in the lead, the Dolmar 5100S and the Solo 651 are 2nd, and 3rd but not far behind. The Efco 152 is a little more distant 4th.
Now the problem is with all these saws to play with I'm almost stocked back up on wood. Once the barn is full I'll probably start having withdrawal.
.
