Trigger locks. (chainsaws) How far back do they go?

[Dragfluid]

Hi folks. Having a "discussion" elsewhere and the subject of chainsaws and trigger locks (for starting) came up, with someone insisting that they weren't in use before the 90's. I know that can't be true. I've been trying in earnest to look up parts manuals but very tedious.
Can a few of you tell me what you've experienced on this?
Thanks!

 

[Cantdog]

Do you mean the saftey device that does not allow you operate the trigger without depressing it? Or the high idle trigger lock?

 

[Seachaser]

I’m pretty sure I had a Husky with a trigger lock for cranking back in the late 70’s.
But it’s could be selective memory.

 

[nedsim]

Do you mean the saftey device that does not allow you operate the trigger without depressing it? Or the high idle trigger lock?

I had the same question, but assume the "(for starting)" means the high idle detent.

I have a Stihl 024, purchased new in '85-'86, with both the idle detent and safety interlock. And an 011AVT, pretty sure it's at least a few years older, that also has both features. On the 011 the high idle, choke, and stop controls are 3 separate buttons -- not all-in-one like on later models.

 

[Wood Doctor]

My 1977 Mac 610 Timber bear has one.:

Not sure where you could buy a new saw today with this much grunt for the $165 I paid for it in 1977. It still runs OK.

 

[Jethro 2t sniffer]

Mac's did on the 10 series in the late 60s not sure on the large frame stuff but yeah definitely most saws had a high idle by the early 70s for sure

 

[Jethro 2t sniffer]

Mac's also had a operator safety by 75 or so. Not sure about other brands. My 162se from late 70s has an op lever

 

[Dragfluid]

Do you mean the saftey device that does not allow you operate the trigger without depressing it? Or the high idle trigger lock?

Sorry. The high idle.

 

[OM617YOTA]

My 1977 Mac 610 Timber bear has one.:
View attachment 1148281
Not sure where you could buy a new saw today with this much grunt for the $165 I paid for it in 1977. It still runs OK.

Man I'd go the other way, I wish our dollar still had the grunt it did in 1977. $165 then was equivalent to $865 in December of 2023.

https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=165.00&year1=197701&year2=202312

 

[Cantdog]

Sorry. The high idle.

Well....can't say how far back they go but I have a 1968 751 and a 1969 601 Jonsereds and they both have a high idle trigger switch and a second presence trigger...so at least that far.

 

[Dragfluid]

OK, thanks for the info, guys. I appreciate it!

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

At least 1960's but would not surprise me if it was earlier like 1950's.
Many a saw was near impossible to start without some kind of advance on the throttle plate- trigger lock was the easiest way to make that happen.

 

[Pioneer]

This version of the xl-12 had one, If the acres site is accurate then production started in 64.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Our 1965 and onward Pioneer saws had throttle locks, Dad`s 1110 and my 1450 bought in 1967 ,both had them but the 600 series we were running up to that time did not.

 

[Pioneer]

Yes, the 620 that my father owned did not have the lock, but the 1420 I owned did have it.
Had to replace the plunger style primer, could not find parts to fix it on the 1420.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Yes, the 620 that my father owned did not have the lock, but the 1420 I owned did have it.
Had to replace the plunger style primer, could not find parts to fix it on the 1420.

View attachment 1148650View attachment 1148651

I have rebuilt many of those OMC primers, parts like the diaphragm have been as scarce as hens teeth for many years but the rest of the parts are easily made. Some fellows have told me they got some results from using a flat diaphragm from a section of carb diaphragm material, buna n I believe , my own stock of primer diaphragms is getting very low.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Still thinking about trigger locks I am quite certain my 1956 David Bradly 360 has a throttle lock on it, Havn`t had it in my hands for like 34 years but very certain it does have one.

 

[Wood Doctor]

One thing I ran into was that the Stihl 066 throttle lock often would fail, and that carburetor really needed a fast idle for the engine to start. Very frustrating for operators. A shim was needed between the switch rod and the tank housing:

Even a short section of tubing would have worked to solve it. Stihl changed the design for the MS 660.

 

[Cantdog]

Still thinking about trigger locks I am quite certain my 1956 David Bradly 360 has a throttle lock on it, Havn`t had it in my hands for like 34 years but very certain it does have one.

Yep My 1956 DB 360 has a trigger lock....I just touched it!!.......very interesting saw however loud and slow it was/is....on the other hand my big ol' 1961 Mac 1-52 (87cc) does not have a trigger lock.....

 

[pioneerguy600]

Yep My 1956 DB 360 has a trigger lock....I just touched it!!.......very interesting saw however loud and slow it was/is....on the other hand my big ol' 1961 Mac 1-52 (87cc) does not have a trigger lock.....

I havn`t had the oldies off the shelves in quite some time and there is a lot of them, that I really did not run a whole bunch. The Pioneers I did run for many years and can remember doing a lot of duties with them, the throttle locks on them were a blessing in the summer, made them easier starting when hot.