Scooter101
ArboristSite Member
Okay, so what is the worst thing that can happen to your saw, by running it to rich, besides loss of performance.
Running a saw to rich.
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Sending your hard earned dollars out the exhaust port in the form of unburned fuel and oil...
Fouled plug, clogged screen in muffler, Excess deposits in exhaust port and top of piston, killing mosquitos around cutting sight LOL
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This. But a little rich or lean is not going to matter much. Tune as best you can, and get to work. Over time you'll get it just right.
cuinrearview
Red saw lover
No no, you guys are mis-understanding. Re-read the original question. It's not "too" rich, it's "to" rich. So running just on the rich side of perfect A/F ratio. That's pretty much where I run all of my saws.
Scooter101
ArboristSite Member
Glad you understood the question.
Running it to rich will increase torque and allow it to run cooler.
Just the way it’s supposed to be.
Braap, braap
Not zing, zing
Just the way it’s supposed to be.
Braap, braap
Not zing, zing
I quit
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I'd rather have a rich saw than a poor saw. 
D
Deleted member 150358
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So where is the best balance. I have tore down saws with huge carbon build ups in the exhaust port, thin coat on piston and combustion chamber.
Last one like that was my Jred 52. I just cleaned the exhaust port out haven't pulled the cylinder but will when I do the bearings. Piston looked like new from the exhaust and blew a solid #160.
But the build up was somewhat alarming. Not just a coating but little pencil eraser sized chunks on the floor.
I envisioned a chunk breaking loose and getting sucked back into the cylinder.
Is this more fuel mix quality related then A/F ratio?
Last one like that was my Jred 52. I just cleaned the exhaust port out haven't pulled the cylinder but will when I do the bearings. Piston looked like new from the exhaust and blew a solid #160.
But the build up was somewhat alarming. Not just a coating but little pencil eraser sized chunks on the floor.
I envisioned a chunk breaking loose and getting sucked back into the cylinder.
Is this more fuel mix quality related then A/F ratio?
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I get anal once every couple of years and like to spray a fresh coat of heat black on the exhaust can. I don't find anything to alarming and it all gets cleaned up before painting. A clean saw is a happy saw.
Carbon scoring of the piston and cylinder. NOT pretty! 
A little rich is O.K. but too rich will cause harm. Can be from A/F ratio OR mix ratio, one effects the other.
Here is some pics from Huskyvarmit and JohnnyRed. Pics are same but from two different manuals
A little rich is O.K. but too rich will cause harm. Can be from A/F ratio OR mix ratio, one effects the other.
Here is some pics from Huskyvarmit and JohnnyRed. Pics are same but from two different manuals
D
Deleted member 150358
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I put a lot of time into the carb this year. Will see what it looks like with the new tune and consistent mix.
I have no history on it. Just an auction saw that came home 12 or 15yrs ago cause it had a new chain. Always starts and runs when needed. TLC was never part of the program.
I have no history on it. Just an auction saw that came home 12 or 15yrs ago cause it had a new chain. Always starts and runs when needed. TLC was never part of the program.
Why would anybody want to run a saw on the rich side? Often one minute with a screw driver and it is perfect every day. When weather changes a little I make a little adjust. I work from 7200 to 1200 feet often so am adjusting often. A rich cylinder will wear much faster than a well tuned motor because of raw fuel without lubrication. A well tuned motor will burn away the fuel leaving a deposit of oil, but a rich one will have the oil washed away by the raw fuel. Thanks
Never had a tach so here goes.....
Make sure carb is functional, get a clean air filter and a sharp chain on what you will be running. Sort out your idle and low setting first. Have a piece of wood you can bury the bar in. Tune Hi at WOT so it just burbles/4 strokes out of the cut. Don't wind it up too long if it is lean! Put it into a cut and it should clean up, if not lean out slowly until it does. Check again that it still burbles out of the cut, if not go back and forth between out of wood and buried in a cut until things are as stated above.
If you change oil, gas, mix ratio, or altitude tune will change and you might have to readjust carb. Try to find what runs best then buy a stock of quality mix oil, use the same gas, and keep the ratio the same. Write it down some place, so if you change one of the variables, you can return close to the carb settings that work with your combination(s).
I won't go into an oil, gas or mix ratio rant. Use the best gas and oil you can find/afford, tune the saw to the mix ratio you decide on. If you change things and have to retune, write down your carb settings.
If you use "corn fed" gas use it up soon or discard it/put it into the old Ford/Deere tractor.
