Do you have the dealer clean your chainsaw?

[WranglerX]

I have a Stihl that I do the maintenance on, its on about its second bar and maybe 4th chain.... When I have chain off to sharpen I brush out and use a little solvent to remove the saw dust and oil accumulation in clutch area, check the bar for "square" along surface chain rides on, usually pull air cleaner cover and blow out air filter.... Always fill with fuel and oil after each use always ready to go if need be.... Usually do the work in "quiet time" around the property so its ready to go and I don't have to fool with it when I need to use it.....

Only time mine has been shop in about the 6 or so years I have owned it is when a tree did not go where it was supposed to and pushed me out of its way and I was off balance and I tossed the saw away from me and it cost me $147 for new case parts and labor to repair damage to case/handle and such....

Been thinking lately though I need to get spare spark plug for it, and for weed wacker, and for water pump and generator and lawn mowers.... Gees that is 6 spare plugs.... And I will bet all are not the same....

Dale

 

[atsah]

"doesn't cost a whole lot for a shop to do it"
Really ????
Small engine shop rate was $95 last time I checked, and that was 2 years ago.

Guy right down the road that will tune the saw and clean her up for $40.. I'm not talking about a Stihl dealer, you could buy a new saw for what they charge.

 

[bullbreaker]

Guy right down the road that will tune the saw and clean her up for $40.. I'm not talking about a Stihl dealer, you could buy a new saw for what they charge.

Just about something like what they charge nowadays to do the maintenace/cleaning on a Rolex watch .

Even if I hit a big lotto I still would do my own saws . I just enjoy it .

 

[dragoneggs]

I try to do all my small engine maintenance myself. But I have taken a stubborn tool into a shop a couple of times for a 'professional' tune up. Been happy both times and it wasn't a dealer shop. Price very reasonable and I wasn't monkeying around for a half day that I could have been productive doing other things.

Find a good no name shop and use them if you aren't inclined to spend the time yourself. The more of these guys around, the better. Says the guy that is moving to battery powered tools. :ashamed:

 

[hslogger]

The other day my buddy came over and asked me to sharpen his chain on a small Stihl. I looked at it and noticed a few teeth on one side knurled over. I took the bar off and the chain off, ditto the filter cover. The saw was chock full of debris. I said" man you don't love your chainsaw". He wanted me to inspect the bar. It was worn out, BADLY worn out. I said "It's a POS dude, go down to the saw shop and buy a new bar, maybe a free floating sprocket while you are at it"

He did. But while I had it, I cleaned that sucker out good with a blow gun and electrical cleaner to loosen the hard core solid crap in ever spot you can think of. His fins were clogged. He figured out that with the new parts and a clean machine, and oh yeah I changed out his starter rope BTW, that it sure ran great with the servicing. As a guy who earned a living with a chainsaw, I never could figure out why people don't clean the things out once in a while.

 

[dasranger]

Neighbor to the north, brand new chainsaw, first time sawing, broke one of the two bar bolts. He thought if you cranked hard enough on them, the chain would tighten. Didn’t hear a siren the rest of the weekend so I’m assuming he survived.

 

[Oldoak]

"doesn't cost a whole lot for a shop to do it"
Really ????
Small engine shop rate was $95 last time I checked, and that was 2 years ago.

Really. As I commented previously, tuneup, including new spark plug and air filter and thorough cleaning, $40.

 

[Bird]

I never could figure out why people don't clean the things out once in a while.

I never could figure out why some people actually do not have an air compressor. To me, that's the most important tool, and most used tool, that I own. Even when we were full time RVers, I had a little 2 gallon air compressor along.

 

[fried1765]

Really. As I commented previously, tuneup, including new spark plug and air filter and thorough cleaning, $40.

$95 per hour... plus parts...... from every place within 50 miles of me.
Labor in Rural Maine is a LOT less than Eastern Mass.
Of course, I do cleaning/sharpening/plug/filter myself.

 

[CobyRupert]

Nope. I take care of my saws, there isn't a whole lot to it.. Some people don't have time and or don't like to mess with 2 cycle engines and it doesn't cost a whole lot for a shop to it so I understand they just need the thing to run and if it doesn't they can make a phone call and blame some one else if it doesn't..:laughing:

How does one have time to operate a chainsaw, and time to run it to a shop to it drop off, and time to pick it up at the shop, and time to work x-hours to pay shop’s $90/hr fee, but not any time to clean it out once in a while?

 

[atsah]

How does one have time to operate a chainsaw, and time to run it to a shop to it drop off, and time to pick it up at the shop, and time to work x-hours to pay shop’s $90/hr fee, but not any time to clean it out once in a while?

How would I know someone else's schedule? I already said I take care of my own saws. When I stop by the shop down the road to have a cup of coffee with the guy, there are many saws there ready for basic service and he charges very little to do it.

I wish people would read what members write. I said I wasn't talking about a $90 an hour shop.

The local Ford dealer gets $72.00 an hour, some area's in the states cost more than others, depends on the income level.

 

[atsah]

Eastern Mass.

Well that explains that..

 

[TractorGuy]

I can't say I give my saw a lot of love but I don't put it back in the case dirty. I keep several chains and sharpen them by hand with a dremel. I always cut the rakers down when sharpening, maybe a little too much. They sure cut aggressively when I'm done. I don't have the time OR money to take it to a shop for service. If I can't fix it I replace it but my saw is pretty old and only the second I've bought new in 40 years. Both were/are Craftsman branded, probably Pouland and cut through logs as well as any pro saw I've seen. I also have a Echo bow saw I bought used but it has so much compression I hate to pull it so it sits in the shed.

 

[Thomas]

Only take it to dealer can't figure out why its running rough.

 

[Oldoak]

I also have a Echo bow saw I bought used but it has so much compression I hate to pull it so it sits in the shed.

My bow saw doesn't have the power it used to have. My muscles aren't are strong as they were when I was younger.

 

[xyz123]

If they want to pay for the cleaning and chain. Thats on them. Sure as heck aint a free service. My time cost $.

If I got to clean the saw to work on it. Time cost you not me.

 

[Jchonline]

Our place is an hour away from service shops. I quickly learned that up there I am on my own if I want to get a full days work in. Before I go out, the saws are fully serviced by me (chain sharpen, cleaning)

 

[yomax4]

If they want to pay for the cleaning and chain. Thats on them. Sure as heck aint a free service. My time cost $.

If I got to clean the saw to work on it. Time cost you not me.

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I just did 3 of these messes on my own saws. Pulled clutches, recoils, mufflers and flywheels. Terrible job. Question is what do you use to get this crap cleaned off? is this an oven cleaner situation or is there a better way?

 

[WranglerX]

For oily goo, I use paint thinner (mineral spirits) as stiff brush and even cheap carb cleaner from FLAPS... For baked on stuff, assorted scrapers.... Its like everything else on property whatever it takes to get results you are happy with.... A arsenal of brushes: old tooth brushes, fingernail brushes, parts washer brushes, paint brushes.. Safety goggles... Work area you are not afraid of goo/oil spatters on adjoining surface.........

Wish I could really justify a parts washer, but most of my projects are smaller than what justifies a washer....

Dale

 

[/pine]

Well that explains that..

Coming from north of the M.D. line explains a lot of things...