Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 22:46
Sprint - GTO
Back in 1988 I bought a little Stihl 010AV just to cut a up a few trees that had to be cut down to build my house and because I thought one would be a handy thing to have.
Two years later my employer transferred me to the Snowy
Mountains for five years and I cut 15 tons of wood each year with the poor little thing. Some logs were so big that its 14 inch bar would not reach into the centre. I used to think any second it was going to clap out and I would have to buy a larger one like the
Farm Boss.
It has not had a lot of use since then but has accounted for a few dead trees around the neighbourhood and a huge Stringy Bark a couple of weeks ago that was blown over in the big storm that hit
Sydney in the middle of last year.
Despite all of this it is still running perfectly and is now going out on some 4b trips.
In the last couple of years I have been stripping many worn out chain saws, lawnmowers and line trimmers that have been donated to a local church by a large mower/chainsaw
shop. The church sells the aluminium to raise money for its missions. I have been given all the lower price brands that are sold by Bunnings, Kmart etc plus plenty of Briggs and Stratton engines and even a few Hondas but never anything from Stihl or Husky.
If my little one ever gives up, it will be replaced by another Stihl.
Just a few tips if you buy one: apart from the obvious safety precautions you must take, make sure you know how to sharpen a chain by hand in the bush. I have lost count of the number of 4b drivers I have seen trying to cut through a fallen tree with a chain so blunt it would not cut any better if it had a V8 hooked up to it. All you need is a bit of knowledge and a small round file. Any chainsaw
shop will sell you the correct size one for your chain. I used to touch
mine up after every second tank full and it made the world of difference.
If each tooth on the chain is not finished like a little razor sharp wood chisel, you are going to find it tough going for yourself you will and shorten the life of your engine considerably.
Another thing is don't cut through charcoal on a burnt tree because it will take the edge off your chain. Also clean any dirt off wood that has been lying on the ground. I used to cut dirty bark away with an axe before putting the saw through it or rub a log with no bark with a wire brush.
Brian
AnswerID:
304605