SIGforum
Love my chain saw

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/1990008384

July 30, 2021, 05:18 PM
p08
Love my chain saw
About 15 years ago I bought a Stihl saw. It does not get used much anymore as I sold the farm last year. But it sat in it's case in the garage for at least 2 years with the same fuel in it. Well a branch split from one of my trees. So I go get my saw and the damn thing fired up after a bit of coaxing! I was amazed that it still ran after sitting so long. I suppose the oil mix must have stabilized the fuel? Made short work of a 15' long 6" think branch too!


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Always the pall bearer, never the corpse.
July 30, 2021, 05:19 PM
parabellum
What a coincidence
July 30, 2021, 05:38 PM
bigwagon
You are luckier than me. Last time I let my Stihl sit for longer than a year I had to pull and clean the carburetor. Not difficult, but annoying nonetheless.
July 30, 2021, 05:39 PM
mod29
quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
What a coincidence


lol!
July 30, 2021, 05:44 PM
p08
quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
What a coincidence


?


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Always the pall bearer, never the corpse.
July 30, 2021, 05:46 PM
bubbatime
Dump the fuel NOW and get yourself a can of TruFuel 50:1 or the Stihl premix fuel equivalent. That stuff can sit in saws for years and years. Fantastic stuff.


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Often times a very small man can cast a very large shadow
July 30, 2021, 05:50 PM
MikeinNC
You’re lucky the gas lines didn’t disintegrate, unless you use ethanol free gas for small engines.


"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein

“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020

“A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker
July 30, 2021, 05:56 PM
Minnow
quote:
Originally posted by bubbatime:
Dump the fuel NOW and get yourself a can of TruFuel 50:1 or the Stihl premix fuel equivalent. That stuff can sit in saws for years and years. Fantastic stuff.

I can vouch for TruFuel. My Stihl saw does not get the workout it did in my younger days. It starts after a couple of pulls every time I need it now that I run this fuel in it.



"Prepared in mind and resources"
July 30, 2021, 06:09 PM
p08
quote:
Originally posted by bubbatime:
Dump the fuel NOW and get yourself a can of TruFuel 50:1 or the Stihl premix fuel equivalent. That stuff can sit in saws for years and years. Fantastic stuff.


Wow that stuff is expensive! But I guess if it doesn't mess up the engine, I would be money ahead in the long run.


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Always the pall bearer, never the corpse.
July 30, 2021, 06:16 PM
PHPaul
I use OPTI-II synthetic 2 stroke oil mix with E10 gas in my Echo weed whacker, power broom and both saws.

I never drain the tanks, they often sit for months at a time and never fail to start.



Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
July 30, 2021, 06:17 PM
sigcrazy7
quote:
Originally posted by p08:
quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
What a coincidence


?


https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/7650077384


Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well. -Epictetus
July 30, 2021, 06:17 PM
Blue Dog
quote:
Originally posted by p08:
quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
What a coincidence


?


Look down 6 posts from yours. Para taking down a tree
July 30, 2021, 06:29 PM
.38supersig
Guess I have a different way of thinking.

I use the battery powered Stihl. While I have no plans to become a lumberjack, it has been good for everything that I have needed it to do.



July 30, 2021, 06:48 PM
p08
quote:
Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
quote:
Originally posted by p08:
quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
What a coincidence


?


https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/7650077384


I see said the blind man! Thanks!!


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Always the pall bearer, never the corpse.
July 30, 2021, 07:20 PM
wreckdiver
quote:
Originally posted by .38supersig:
Guess I have a different way of thinking.

I use the battery powered Stihl. While I have no plans to become a lumberjack, it has been good for everything that I have needed it to do.



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"Once abolish the God, and the Government becomes the God." --- G.K. Chesterton
July 30, 2021, 07:54 PM
bigdeal
Gentlemen, don't be a knucklehead. Fuel up the saw, cut what you need to, then turn the saw on its side or upside down and drain the tank, then fire it up and let it run until it burns the remaining fuel in it. Don't leave fuel in the saw when its not in use and it will function without issue when you need it.


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Guns are awesome because they shoot solid lead freedom. Every man should have several guns. And several dogs, because a man with a cat is a woman. Kurt Schlichter
July 30, 2021, 08:56 PM
ridewv
Neither my Stihl or Echo saws seem to have problems starting up after sitting (knock on wood). The Stihl generally runs at least once every 3-4 months while the larger Echo maybe only once a year and I use E10 gas. Maybe the oil mix offers some stabilization property?
In all honesty my Stihl battery saw gets used for most of the trimming and small cleanup chores anymore.


No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride.
July 30, 2021, 09:34 PM
trapper189
quote:
Originally posted by bigdeal:
Gentlemen, don't be a knucklehead. Fuel up the saw, cut what you need to, then turn the saw on its side or upside down and drain the tank, then fire it up and let it run until it burns the remaining fuel in it. Don't leave fuel in the saw when its not in use and it will function without issue when you need it.


^^^This is the way. No fancy fuels, no stabilizer, but it works every time. Case in point: we have an FS-450 clearing saw we bought maybe 15 years ago. It was run dry like bigdeal says when it was last used 12 years ago. I needed it again this year, so I put fresh fuel/oil mix in it, pressed the primer bulb, set the choke, pulled the rope twice until it popped, flipped the choke to the run position, pulled the rope again and it started exactly they way it did 12 years ago. Same with our saws.
July 30, 2021, 09:49 PM
hrcjon
quote:
This is the way

NO its not. Once the fuel lines and carburetor have seen ethanol fuel they are headed downhill. Draining is not going to stop it. A 12y saw probably hasn't seen ethanol fuel and its like the good old days.
I have dozens of Stihl's. The only good strategy is no ethanol -ever- . Follow that and all will be fine.


“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
July 30, 2021, 10:17 PM
trapper189
Using Rec gas is not enough. You have to run them dry. I had three other pieces of equipment that have never seen ethanol, had fuel stabilizer when the were put away last year that didn’t start and needed their carbs taken apart and cleaned. Never had an issue with them when they were run dry. Unfortunately, I didn’t do it last year because we had to leave early. I had asked someone else to do it, but it didn’t get done and I spent 6 hours rebuilding carbs this summer. I don’t consider Rec gas a fancy fuel, rather I was referring to the over $30 a gallon Stihl MotoMix mentioned in another post.