Just another junk chainsaw

kenmbz · Dec 13, 2025

While picking up Christmas tree yesterday, got in a talk to the farm owner.
He just switched to an Echo battery saw, which he likes so far, does hundreds of cuts each day, with multiple people and skill levels using it.

His small gas saw gave up, so he bought the battery one, even though his last try at a battery saw a few years ago was a dismal failure as it would bog down and stop on most cuts.

The new Echo one looked pretty good and worked great on the softwoods.
He hasn't had a chance to try on any larger hardwoods yet.

mrmikey · Dec 13, 2025

SIL's a Husky guy and he's cut a lot more wood than me both standing and chunking. Me, I'm an Echo fan but I don't make my living at it like he had at one time and just use it for chunking and a bit of clearing years ago when I moved here and before my knees and hip went south.

xyz123 · Dec 15, 2025

mrmikey said:
SIL's a Husky guy and he's cut a lot more wood than me both standing and chunking. Me, I'm an Echo fan but I don't make my living at it like he had at one time and just use it for chunking and a bit of clearing years ago when I moved here and before my knees and hip went south.

They all make good ones and they all make poor ones.

I just try and pick the best of each model I want to use with what I want in a saw.

Right now echo in the small saw stuff 25cc-50cc.

Mid smalls 359's right now. But so many carbed good ones in this range husky stihl poulan

mids in 70cc range can be husky, stihl, poulan.

getting there size 90cc range stihl husky

big boys over 100cc stihl husky

Plus it helps I like regular carbs.
So I grab alot of clones in older stihl and husky saws too.

Just not into these newer strato saws with their MT AT and injection.

Long as I have a choice of using a tool without having to use a puter hook up I will do it.

But just like cars trucks today. They will get it right and dealers that can actually figure it out someday.

Till then long live adjustable carbs.

xyz123 · Dec 16, 2025

Little crazy with the bar length. The open port regular carb stihl 363 sold overseas.

Sort of like the 400.1 closed port Mtronic saw half brother, just for overseas markets.

Guy in my group ships them over to us for 850USD shipped.

Now plus tariff tax. Which isnt bad from where he lives. Like 40 a saw.

xyz123 · Dec 16, 2025

Sure seems to cut fine with the normal length bar.

Thread where we can get them shipped over for 850USD shipped.

mrmikey · Dec 18, 2025

SIL bought a new piston, wristpin, circlip from a dealer, when he showed it to me it looked like Amazon packaging. When I put the ring on and went to put the piston over the con rod, it wouldn't fit....wonder why? Looks like someone forgot to finish machining the bosses. Even the casting is crappy looking, should have just bought it off Scamazon and be done with it.

xyz123 · Dec 18, 2025

Not a clue what you got going on or what a dealer sold you.

Your case I would take the piston back and ask him if oem piston. Does it have makers name inside it somewhere?

But you can redneck widen pin bosses pretty easily. Heck I do it to use 66 piston on a 505 many years back. Just try and keep both sides even and widen to to what oem piston was taken out.

Back in 2012-2013 time frame. 66 piston is not even close to fitting a husky style crank rod end. I widen it to use here.

xyz123 · Dec 18, 2025

Looking sure seems that would fit over. Flashing?

But I would check to see if a oem maker inside the piston. Then if dealer is close ask if not.

I cant recall which saw you working on?

New husky 262 piston made in China

Blue Mule · Dec 18, 2025

I think I've had my Kobalt 24v electric saw for 4 years now. I just cut another pile of wood with it a couple weeks ago. It's the best saw I've ever used for 90% of jobs. Still on the original batteries too. I finally caved in and bought a chain sharpening tool so now I can extend the life of my chains. I use Oregon chains and the Oregon electric sharpening tool.

mrmikey · Dec 18, 2025

Your case I would take the piston back and ask him if oem piston. Does it have makers name inside it somewhere?

I let the SIL pick up the parts. Don't think there's any chance it's OEM, plain white box, very rough casting, minimal flash removed, no make anywhere, i.e. Chinesium. Looking up the name Gripo, it looks as if its a Quebec company.

But you can redneck widen pin bosses pretty easily.

If it was mine and I had knowingly bought a knockoff I would have. He insisted on going to the dealer so it's on him.

Looking sure seems that would fit over. Flashing?

Flashing just not milled to size, like it missed a step.

I cant recall which saw you working on?

Husky 254
Question. I checked the end gap, was 0.005, seem tight? although at 2 thou. per inch diameter 5 thou is right for an 1-3/4 diameter. The old ring was almost 1/8" so that was
definitely too much lol.

xyz123 · Dec 18, 2025

Man that suks. Never heard of gripo.

If they was going to sell him a aftermarket should have sold him a meteor brand as first choice. Then a Hyway or Dukes for our choices. We have down here.

xyz123 · Dec 18, 2025

There is a formula for checking ring gaps as their not all the same depending on size. Just have to google it.

IMHO to tight.

Here is last saw I did checking in 2 different cylinders same ring.

50mm
Old cylinder a loose .010
New cylinder a tight .010

mrmikey · Dec 18, 2025

IMHO to tight.

What I thought too. I'll check the next one he gets and see what it measures. I've got a thin diamond stone so it won't take much to trim it down if it's too tight.