Looking for a replacement for my Dolmar

[crazyal]

I've had a 7900 now for around 20 years. Mostly never had an issue with it but a few months ago it became difficult to start. After all the usual attempts to fix it I found the issue was the coil. The coil has what looks like a screw that the plug wire threads onto. It looks like water (or something similar) got between the plug wire and the plastic coil housing. I cleaned it up and it seems to have cured the problem. But when looking for a replacement coil I found that finding parts for Dolmars is getting hard. Most dealers around me will not touch it (in fact they will only touch the brands they sell which is just Stihl and Husky). Since it's my go to saw for cutting and I'd like to find a replacement that in 20 years I can still buy parts to repair. By then I'll be at the age of not cutting large trees. I do have a 357xp that sits most of the time but I can see it being replaced with a cordless saw.

I'm leaning towards a Husky since I have bars in good shape in several lengths for the Dolmar that I believe will work. I'm kind of leaning towards the 572xp. It looks like most of the issues with the autotune are now just people not doing routine maintenance. I don't mind tuning a saw but I'd rather be cutting so a self adjusting saw is a plus for me. I would like to stay as close as possible to the same HP as the 7900 but not add too much weight.

 

[RandyT]

If you have the red coil than you are looking for part number 038-143-043 which is not cheap for an OEM one, and even harder to install. Basically required total disassembly of the saw. And If attempted would be a good idea to also get a new kill switch, they like to come apart when you pull off the kill wire from the back of the switch.

And the truth is finding repair parts for any saw no matter what brand will be a challenge since things get discontinued on a very early basis anymore.

 

[Jstpssng]

I was just thinking back to how many saws I've replaced in the same time period.
It seems like with Echo at least, once the carb goes kerput they aren't worth fixing.
Rather frustrating when the rest of the saw had 3 years left on the warranty.

 

[xyz123]

I'd keep that 7900 going as long as I could.

New replacements to cut like a 7900 would be stihl 500i. But that comes with a hefty price tag.

7900 500i same cc and in cutting. Weight savings big time to 500.

Then lesser price and cc, 572xp like you mentioned. Will do too.
Also same weight of the 7900 your used to.

Plus side of that they use same 3/8 bar chains as you already have for the dolmar makita.

 

[crazyal]

If you have the red coil than you are looking for part number 038-143-043 which is not cheap for an OEM one, and even harder to install. Basically required total disassembly of the saw. And If attempted would be a good idea to also get a new kill switch, they like to come apart when you pull off the kill wire from the back of the switch.

And the truth is finding repair parts for any saw no matter what brand will be a challenge since things get discontinued on a very early basis anymore.

It has the black coil. To remove it all that's needed is to remove the flywheel and a few other minor parts. You hit the nail on the head though. Parts are so expensive and if you need a part in a hurry and can't shop around you'll pay even more. The closest person I have found who will work on the saw (says he's is (or was) an authorized dealer is well over an hour away. That's close to 5 hours of driving (drop it off then pick it up) plus the cost to have any work done. I'm more than capable of doing anything needed to repair it but I'll spend time researching.

I really don't want to get rid of the saw. The power to weight is great and I like how it's balanced. But at what point does it just make more sense to get a new saw vs buying expensive parts. It's too bad that Makita is getting out of the gas power equipment business. It appears that they are just going to slowly wind down Dolmar before ending them.

 

[xyz123]

Makita aka dolmar quit making gas ope Mar 2022.

So it's only going to get worse for parts.

It was bad on that part even when dealers were still around selling new.

I had a 7900 back in somewhere around 05-07 and was like pulling teeth local. I would have to get hold of a shop out of state and have them ship me new updated parts sometimes.

 

[RandyT]

It has the black coil. To remove it all that's needed is to remove the flywheel and a few other minor parts. You hit the nail on the head though. Parts are so expensive and if you need a part in a hurry and can't shop around you'll pay even more. The closest person I have found who will work on the saw (says he's is (or was) an authorized dealer is well over an hour away. That's close to 5 hours of driving (drop it off then pick it up) plus the cost to have any work done. I'm more than capable of doing anything needed to repair it but I'll spend time researching.

I really don't want to get rid of the saw. The power to weight is great and I like how it's balanced. But at what point does it just make more sense to get a new saw vs buying expensive parts. It's too bad that Makita is getting out of the gas power equipment business. It appears that they are just going to slowly wind down Dolmar before ending them.

Black coil is 038-143-210. And all the ones I have replaced over the years on the 6400-7300-7900 series saws all have the kill wire integrated into the wiring for the spark plug wire with one end with a L connector for the kill on the coil and the other end going to the kill switch on the handle. Flat rate time is 1.5 hours. Looks like OEM list price is $176 for the coil.

 

[fustsgt]

I was just thinking back to how many saws I've replaced in the same time period.
It seems like with Echo at least, once the carb goes kerput they aren't worth fixing.
Rather frustrating when the rest of the saw had 3 years left on the warranty.

My Echo 310 is 10 years old, and is used constantly for limbing and anyuthing under about 10"; then I go to the 15 year old Stihl.

 

[DutchInNZ]

All my garden tools are around 20 years or more old, so I just went overhauling them. I know you guys don't like China, but some three years ago I thought I would try them and bought a cylinder, piston+con rod+crank shaft, coil and carburettor package from aliexpress for my small 33cc Poulan for total NZ$67=abtUS$45 delivered incl tax. Surprise: that one has now a really very high compression and I changed the original 14" bar for a 16" with no performance problem. It pulls now as well as my 45 Stihl. For that one I got a new carburettor and clutch for around NZ$26, for my Honda pushmower a carburettor plus air filter for just over NZ$20 and for a long time out-of-production Bolens weed-eater a coil for NZ$18. I am really happy with those Chinese parts. You have to know exactly what you are looking for, search a lot and compare prices and shipping because those can be all over the place dependent on the different maker's financial dreams. Prices have increased since.

You talk about a screw-on cable; maybe this? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004560514557.html

There are a few more with screw-on cable, but they are specified for Dolmar brush cutters. There are many more Dolmar/Makita coils on offer, but they all have a fixed cable. Still, maybe one would fit.

 

[DutchInNZ]

...an authorized dealer is well over an hour away. That's close to 5 hours of driving (drop it off then pick it up) plus the cost to have any work done. I'm more than capable of doing anything needed to repair it but I'll spend time researching.

If you can hold a wrench in the right position, you are more than able to take a chain saw apart. They are simple 2-stroke engines, no adjustments or things like that necessary. A clean bench, some care when working and and good lubricating the moving parts and the inner side of the bearings upon assembly is all you need. Don't forget the upper and lower connecting rod eyes and a film of oil on the cylinder wall. My Poulan took just two hours from beginning to start-up.