Chain saw unused for 22 years.

[jspriddy]

A friend of mine gave me a Stihl chainsaw that has not been cranked (started) for approximately 22 years. It's in excellent condition, even has the original chain, about half worn-out.

All I've done is clean it up, remove the spark plug and soak the cylinder with penetrating oil. It did turn fairly easy after that.

My question is-should I go ahead and try to start it, or would anything be gained by taking it to a dealer and letting them look it over. I know a good independent shop, and a Stihl dealer with a good reputation.

I know this is primarily a boating forum, but surely someone has had experience with boat motors in similar condition.

 

[ratracer]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

A friend of mine gave me a Stihl chainsaw that has not been cranked (started) for approximately 22 years. It's in excellent condition, even has the original chain, about half worn-out.

All I've done is clean it up, remove the spark plug and soak the cylinder with penetrating oil. It did turn fairly easy after that.

My question is-should I go ahead and try to start it, or would anything be gained by taking it to a dealer and letting them look it over. I know a good independent shop, and a Stihl dealer with a good reputation.

I know this is primarily a boating forum, but surely someone has had experience with boat motors in similar condition.

You want to go to arboristsite.com and pose your question in the chainsaw forum along with the exact model and the bar length of your saw. Several regulars there are experts when it comes to older Stihl saws, they'll give you some good advice.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

Fuel it up,choke it and pull the cord. If it starts great! If it don't you probably need to rebuild the carburetor.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

X2. Try starting her up. Check for fuel leaks before starting though....

You might need to replace the pull cord, fuel line from bowl to carb and return, and maybe rebuild the carb. Good opportunity to learn about 2 stroke engines though....

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

You want to go to arboristsite.com and pose your question in the chainsaw forum along with the exact model and the bar length of your saw. Several regulars there are experts when it comes to older Stihl saws, they'll give you some good advice.

Knowing old timers and their stihl saws they'll probably try to buy it from you.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

Well if it's 20 plus years old, I would think the carb and maybe fuel tank could stand a good look, maybe this thing has never seen Ethanol fuel. I say fire it up!!

 

[bigdee]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

What model is it? I have a model 028 farmboss that was my father-in-laws in the seventies! When I got it I gassed it up and it cranked on the 3rd pull. I can't use it though because the rubber motor mounts are dry rotted and obsolete....wish I could find the parts to fix it.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

Depending on bar say 18 inches .....move it that far then pull back repeat as needed to cut tree or wood.....just kidding lol's.....after 22 years carb is varnished up and fuel lines are probably cracked or rotted......you have nothing to loose choke prime and give her a pull.....ypu may be lucky and she starts with no fuel leaking ......ifin it does GO BUY A LOTO TICKET RIGHT AWAY

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

I plan on giving it a shot in the morning. I've got some fresh gas. The carb looked clean from what I could see without taking it apart. It's a 031 with an 20" bar. I don't use a saw much, but the one I have is 40 years old this year and it has seen its better days.

Thanks for all the answers. You've reaffirmed what I pretty much thought. If there was some problem internally, trying to start it would not probably cause any further damage.

Thanks to all,

John

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

What model is it? I have a model 028 farmboss that was my father-in-laws in the seventies! When I got it I gassed it up and it cranked on the 3rd pull. I can't use it though because the rubber motor mounts are dry rotted and obsolete....wish I could find the parts to fix it.

Call a local machine shop and ask them to make some poly ones (assuming the original ones are in decent enough?)...probably not too cheap, but would last a long time!

 

[canoemang]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

My neighbor gave me a 30 (or so) year old John Deere saw.. It hadn't ran for just as long.. I didn't do anything to it except add fresh gas/oil. 4th pull it sputtered and the next one it fired right up. I ran the gas out of it and now it sits in my garage next to my other saws for the last 3 or 4 years..

It is a cool,heavy saw.. thing weighs as much as both of my stihls combined id bet..

 

[bigdee]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

Call a local machine shop and ask them to make some poly ones (assuming the original ones are in decent enough?)...probably not too cheap, but would last a long time!

Appreciate the tip. If I was not retired and still working at the plant I could fabricate something. I have found some used ones on ebay but that may be a crapshoot.

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

My neighbor gave me a 30 (or so) year old John Deere saw...4th pull it sputtered and the next one it fired right up...

It is a cool,heavy saw.. thing weighs as much as both of my stihls combined id bet..

Well, I didn't have such luck. Put fresh gas and oil in it this morning and tried it. It seemed to have good compression, but never hit a lick. May have been an ignition issue, but I took it in to the Stihl dealer. They said it needed a new carburetor and fuel line. I told them to go ahead with it.

As I said, it's old, but still has the original chain and is in good shape. I only use one now for the occasional dead tree or what not, so maybe it'll answer.

Thanks to all,

John

 

[dingbat]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

What model is it? I have a model 028 farmboss I can't use it though because the rubber motor mounts are dry rotted and obsolete....wish I could find the parts to fix it.

Discountonlineparts.com has them in stock

 

[bigdee]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

Discountonlineparts.com has them in stock

GREAT!!!!, I have looked everywhere for these. Local Stihl dealer said they were obsolete,thank you so much!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

031's have know issue with the ignition, it will fail and parts are NLA. It can be replaced with a different setup, but it was several years ago when mine failed and I don't remember the details. Sometimes new carbs can be cheap on these motors, so it may be cheaper than having them rebuild it.

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

031's have know issue with the ignition, it will fail and parts are NLA. It can be replaced with a different setup, but it was several years ago when mine failed and I don't remember the details. Sometimes new carbs can be cheap on these motors, so it may be cheaper than having them rebuild it.

I've read other places that the coil is NLA, but they seldom go out. I understood that things like points and condensers were still available. Maybe I won't have an ignition issue.

The new carburetor was not cheap-about $110. Maybe I made a mistake in where I took it, but they have a good reputation. I don't know much else to go on. The saw was so clean and unused that I felt that it was worth fixing. Maybe no more than I use one, it'll serve.

John

 

[jspriddy]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

New carb!???? Needs rebuilt probably but dont let go of the old one, value left in it.

The guy said that old carburetors of this one's age would not stand up to the ethanol in today's gasoline. I took his word on it. I buy non-ethanol gas for my small engines, but understand that you don't always get what you pay for.

I will call and tell him to save the old one for me.

John

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

I've read other places that the coil is NLA, but they seldom go out. I understood that things like points and condensers were still available. Maybe I won't have an ignition issue.

The new carburetor was not cheap-about $110. Maybe I made a mistake in where I took it, but they have a good reputation. I don't know much else to go on. The saw was so clean and unused that I felt that it was worth fixing. Maybe no more than I use one, it'll serve.

John

Yes, your comments are bringing some old brain cells back to life. The coil was NLA and the solution was to find one that would fit in the same location, or convert to an electronic ignition, which may require some fiddling.

The E-10 thing is sort of accurate, but mine ran E-10 for a very long time with no issues. A rebuild kit will supply all the ethanol resistant parts needed, and as old as these saws are it's time for a rebuild kit and new fuel lines anyhow.

This was my father's saw, right now it just sits on the shelf.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Chain saw unused for 22 years.

I'll bet the entire carb wasn't the issue, maybe just plastic parts in the rebuild kit. and fuel line. Maybe a diaphragm, those would tear with new obama mandated fuel.