Hello all! This is my first post for the forum, although I have been referencing it for years for some of my repairs and modifications. Thanks to all of you for your wisdom and willingness to share it.
I am trying to get some opinions on what to do with my latest purchase. I picked up a 021 a week or so ago at a decent price that a gentleman had just gotten out of the shop for a new carb and tune. They had it for months and he had already bought another saw so he was just trying to unload it. It needed a few things: new sprocket, clutch cover, but overall in good shape. I put it all back together with a 16in bar 3/8 lo pro chisel chain and tested it out. Runs well as is but could use more power for cutting larger logs. That being said this saw will only be used for limbing and cutting small firewood rounds. I have a 038 Mag2 for larger stuff, an old craftsman top handle and a 011AVT for small work as well.
I would like to do a port job/ mild performance build and I am contemplating using this saw as a test platform and I have come up with the following options.
1. Do the cyl work on the existing engine (worried about durability of the stamped rod and lower peak RPM)
2. Get a big bore cyl with stock bottom end (same worry as above)
3. Get an aftermarket MS 250 short block, port that, and install in the 021 chassis
4. Find a used MS250 parts saw with good compression and rob the short block out of it and part the rest
5. Accept the fact that I don't have to modify everything I own and be happy with what I have.
I like the idea of swapping a complete short block better than the other options so I will have the factory engine to put back in the saw if I end up blowing up the upgraded one.
Any and all opinions/ advice welcome including don't mess with a good running saw wait till one of them breaks.
I am trying to get some opinions on what to do with my latest purchase. I picked up a 021 a week or so ago at a decent price that a gentleman had just gotten out of the shop for a new carb and tune. They had it for months and he had already bought another saw so he was just trying to unload it. It needed a few things: new sprocket, clutch cover, but overall in good shape. I put it all back together with a 16in bar 3/8 lo pro chisel chain and tested it out. Runs well as is but could use more power for cutting larger logs. That being said this saw will only be used for limbing and cutting small firewood rounds. I have a 038 Mag2 for larger stuff, an old craftsman top handle and a 011AVT for small work as well.
I would like to do a port job/ mild performance build and I am contemplating using this saw as a test platform and I have come up with the following options.
1. Do the cyl work on the existing engine (worried about durability of the stamped rod and lower peak RPM)
2. Get a big bore cyl with stock bottom end (same worry as above)
3. Get an aftermarket MS 250 short block, port that, and install in the 021 chassis
4. Find a used MS250 parts saw with good compression and rob the short block out of it and part the rest
5. Accept the fact that I don't have to modify everything I own and be happy with what I have.
I like the idea of swapping a complete short block better than the other options so I will have the factory engine to put back in the saw if I end up blowing up the upgraded one.
Any and all opinions/ advice welcome including don't mess with a good running saw wait till one of them breaks.
I think ultimately what I will do is do a mild port job on the 021 just for practice and probably the same on the 026 if the 021 turns out well. If it doesn't I can stick an aftermarket 025 engine in it and sell it or just keep it as a backup backup backup saw lol. Thanks for all the advice!
