chainsaw recommendations

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

When something has been known for years to cause 2 stroke engine failures, and when the manufactures recommend against it, it is beyond me why someone would consider doing it. And for what - to save 0.10 per litre on fuel for a few litres of fuel???

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Most manufacturers of small engines have no problems with 10% ethanol. The problems start when people leave fuel sitting in the machines for too long. Just one example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX6CFlQbUXI

I bought a Poulan Pro at Princess Auto almost 15 years ago and it still runs like a champ.
Although I usually go for my Stilhs first, if your on a budget a Poulan Pro is a fine chainsaw.

Well....My age old Poulan "Wild Thing" gave up the ghost about 3 weeks ago.

I just bought a brand new Stihl MS241 with 18" bar.

I don't think I'll be requiring a replacement until I retire in about 17 years.

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

Oh - and ask the service guy at your dealer too.

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Yup..the Stihl service guy was quite emphatic; Super gas and no ethanol..

I've always abided by his recommendations and haven't had a fuel issue in over 16 yrs with 5 different Stihl saws.

Mind you I also got in the habit of adding a shot glass worth of stabilizer to the 5 gallon tank of gas as soon as I get it home. Saves having to worry about it going 'stale'.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Yup..the Stihl service guy was quite emphatic; Super gas and no ethanol..

I've always abided by his recommendations and haven't had a fuel issue in over 16 yrs with 5 different Stihl saws.

Mind you I also got in the habit of adding a shot glass worth of stabilizer to the 5 gallon tank of gas as soon as I get it home. Saves having to worry about it going 'stale'.

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I usually just add a shot of sea foam, which acts as a stabilizer as well.

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Originally Posted by Wahoo

Most manufacturers of small engines have no problems with 10% ethanol. The problems start when people leave fuel sitting in the machines for too long. Just one example.

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a) old gas is problem no.1
b) dull chains is problem no. 2
c) Ethanol is definitely a problem, but most hobbits will not run the saw long enough to experience the issue of the higher temperatures (I don't think that material compatibility is as much of an issue nowadays as it used to be)
Anyway, they have 3/4 of the tank sitting for an entire year (plus the 5 litre can the mixed it up in and refuel the following year with)

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Originally Posted by Waftrudnir

a) old gas is problem no.1
b) dull chains is problem no. 2
c) Ethanol is definitely a problem, but most hobbits will not run the saw long enough to experience the issue of the higher temperatures (I don't think that material compatibility is as much of an issue nowadays as it used to be)
Anyway, they have 3/4 of the tank sitting for an entire year (plus the 5 litre can the mixed it up in and refuel the following year with)

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Yeah, it amazes me how many people use saws with dull chain. I see it all the time and it makes my teeth itch.
I don't do as much cutting as I used to - but when I was running a saw every day, I'd buy 3 loops of chain with each new bar, that way I'd always have 2 sharp chains to swap out to as soon as it got dull, and by the time you used up 3 loops of chain - the bar was usually done too.

Agree that most "hobbits" (heh) wont run a saw that hard - but you might as well instill best practices...

I wouldn't consider ethanol an issue. I run any reg gas in my machines some going on 20 years and the outboard is over 40 years.

My oldest s aw is a Poulan and still runs well for a Poulan I think I purchased it during the ice storm of 1996. The next Poulan I have is 10 years old still going and my used stilh is approx 15 years old. Lawn mowers , wipper snippers you name it I just run reg gas from any gas station 2 stroke or 4 stroke.

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Originally Posted by Waftrudnir

a) old gas is problem no.1
b) dull chains is problem no. 2
c) Ethanol is definitely a problem, but most hobbits will not run the saw long enough to experience the issue of the higher temperatures (I don't think that material compatibility is as much of an issue nowadays as it used to be)
Anyway, they have 3/4 of the tank sitting for an entire year (plus the 5 litre can the mixed it up in and refuel the following year with)

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I see so many people running there saw with the chain not tensioned properly. Some almost hanging off.

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Originally Posted by df0010

Yeah, it amazes me how many people use saws with dull chain. I see it all the time and it makes my teeth itch.
I don't do as much cutting as I used to - but when I was running a saw every day, I'd buy 3 loops of chain with each new bar, that way I'd always have 2 sharp chains to swap out to as soon as it got dull, and by the time you used up 3 loops of chain - the bar was usually done too.

Agree that most "hobbits" (heh) wont run a saw that hard - but you might as well instill best practices...

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So, what's the good way to get rid of your stale pre-mixed gas? I never did get back out to cut up all my trees and I've got about 5L that's been sitting there since June.