Old McCulloch Chainsaw Parts Needed

[timb]

So - rummaging around for some odds and ends I needed for a project I finally got tired tripping over a little yellow chainsaw that's been sitting in the dirt and junk on the floor in the back of the barn discarded by the previous owner for at least 15-20 years. I meant to toss it myself by never got around to it. So I look at it again.

The bar and chain are complete rust. The body is covered by 1/8" of grease and dirt, only a little yellow showing through. I wipe if down with a rag - it's a McCulloch Power Mac 6. (Later checking shows it's from the 1969-1974 era.)

I wonder what would happen if I put a little fuel mix in? I douse the chain with oil and work it around a little - add about 1/3 tank of 50:1 I had nearby - and on about the third pull it starts to sputter. A few pulls later it's running. And loud - whoops - no muffler at all. But it runs well, idles well. Never touched the plug or anything else.

It clearly needs a chain and a bar, but otherwise seems to be in good shape. Not a bad little trim saw. (Word was when it was introduced it was the worlds lightest chain saw).

Like I said, I know it hasn't seen the light of day for at least 15 years. Can't help but like a tool that wants to wake up and go back to work. Bars and chains are easy, I've tracked down air filters, but anyone have any idea where a muffler can be had? And what's the right mix for this era of McCulloch? (I assuming the 50:1 I had for my Stihl is too lean - probably 40:1 or 32:1?)

 

[timb]

So - rummaging around for some odds and ends I needed for a project I finally got tired tripping over a little yellow chainsaw that's been sitting in the dirt and junk on the floor in the back of the barn discarded by the previous owner for at least 15-20 years. I meant to toss it myself by never got around to it. So I look at it again.

The bar and chain are complete rust. The body is covered by 1/8" of grease and dirt, only a little yellow showing through. I wipe if down with a rag - it's a McCulloch Power Mac 6. (Later checking shows it's from the 1969-1974 era.)

I wonder what would happen if I put a little fuel mix in? I douse the chain with oil and work it around a little - add about 1/3 tank of 50:1 I had nearby - and on about the third pull it starts to sputter. A few pulls later it's running. And loud - whoops - no muffler at all. But it runs well, idles well. Never touched the plug or anything else.

It clearly needs a chain and a bar, but otherwise seems to be in good shape. Not a bad little trim saw. (Word was when it was introduced it was the worlds lightest chain saw).

Like I said, I know it hasn't seen the light of day for at least 15 years. Can't help but like a tool that wants to wake up and go back to work. Bars and chains are easy, I've tracked down air filters, but anyone have any idea where a muffler can be had? And what's the right mix for this era of McCulloch? (I assuming the 50:1 I had for my Stihl is too lean - probably 40:1 or 32:1?)

 

[Mith]

32-1 should be fine.

One thing just to note, Stihl's only run 50-1 if you use Stihl 2 stroke oil, otherwise they run on 32-1. Putting cheap 2 stroke oil on 50-1 through your Stihl is going to kill it.

 

[Mith]

32-1 should be fine.

One thing just to note, Stihl's only run 50-1 if you use Stihl 2 stroke oil, otherwise they run on 32-1. Putting cheap 2 stroke oil on 50-1 through your Stihl is going to kill it.

 

[timb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Stihl's only run 50-1 if you use Stihl 2 stroke oil )</font>

Didn't realize that, although I've only ever used Stihl oil.

From some more info I've come across I've gotten the impression that getting these little McCullocs to run well is voodoo and aren't worth wasting too much time on if they don't cooperate easily. Amazed me this little bugger fired at all but it actually seems to run well. Also after thinking more about it I'm going to revise my dead storage estimate - it has to be at least 20 years since this thing saw the light of day.

There's a parts saw on evil-Bay, but it's missing the muffler as well!

 

[timb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Stihl's only run 50-1 if you use Stihl 2 stroke oil )</font>

Didn't realize that, although I've only ever used Stihl oil.

From some more info I've come across I've gotten the impression that getting these little McCullocs to run well is voodoo and aren't worth wasting too much time on if they don't cooperate easily. Amazed me this little bugger fired at all but it actually seems to run well. Also after thinking more about it I'm going to revise my dead storage estimate - it has to be at least 20 years since this thing saw the light of day.

There's a parts saw on evil-Bay, but it's missing the muffler as well!

 

[wushaw]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 32-1 should be fine.

One thing just to note, Stihl's only run 50-1 if you use Stihl 2 stroke oil, otherwise they run on 32-1. Putting cheap 2 stroke oil on 50-1 through your Stihl is going to kill it. )</font>

How long will it take to see this happen??
I have two stihl chainsaws 025 and MS260/026 and a HT75 pole saw, the 025 is five years old, pole saw 4.5yrs and MS260 3yrs...all have been run 50:1 with Echo oil.
The 025 has the most hrs on it and I can't even begin to guess.
I used it this morning and it ran as good as the day it broke in.

It must be another brand of oil than Echo that it is not good on a Stihl.

 

[wushaw]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 32-1 should be fine.

One thing just to note, Stihl's only run 50-1 if you use Stihl 2 stroke oil, otherwise they run on 32-1. Putting cheap 2 stroke oil on 50-1 through your Stihl is going to kill it. )</font>

How long will it take to see this happen??
I have two stihl chainsaws 025 and MS260/026 and a HT75 pole saw, the 025 is five years old, pole saw 4.5yrs and MS260 3yrs...all have been run 50:1 with Echo oil.
The 025 has the most hrs on it and I can't even begin to guess.
I used it this morning and it ran as good as the day it broke in.

It must be another brand of oil than Echo that it is not good on a Stihl.

 

[Mith]

Tim, I dumped a working McCulloch a while ago, not worth the effort. It ran erratically, it was loud and it was a pain to start. I picked up a Stihl 013 (really small and light) for free and overhauled the engine for £30 (incidentally, scored up piston, possibly from insufficient oil), much better.

Wushaw, I would assume that Echo oil is as good quality as Stihl oil, so not a problem. If you went out and used the cheapest oil then it might be a problem at 50:1.

 

[Mith]

Tim, I dumped a working McCulloch a while ago, not worth the effort. It ran erratically, it was loud and it was a pain to start. I picked up a Stihl 013 (really small and light) for free and overhauled the engine for £30 (incidentally, scored up piston, possibly from insufficient oil), much better.

Wushaw, I would assume that Echo oil is as good quality as Stihl oil, so not a problem. If you went out and used the cheapest oil then it might be a problem at 50:1.

 

[timb]

Yeah, from everything I've been able to find out, it's not worth fussing with too much. It did seem to run pretty well as is, so I think I'll spring for a new bar and chain - either a 12" or 14" - (not sure about a sprocket I'll have to look at it) and run it until it dies.

I always thought it would be nice to have a very light handy saw around for some trimming chores. If it works out that I do get good use out of a small one, I'll probably pick up a small Stihl ("arborist" model) for long term use.

Now my FIL has a decades-old big McCulloch and it just doesn't know when to quit. He's cut all the wood needed to heat his place for 30 years with that saw, but he's pretty fussy about maintenance and keeping the blade and bar in condition.

 

[timb]

Yeah, from everything I've been able to find out, it's not worth fussing with too much. It did seem to run pretty well as is, so I think I'll spring for a new bar and chain - either a 12" or 14" - (not sure about a sprocket I'll have to look at it) and run it until it dies.

I always thought it would be nice to have a very light handy saw around for some trimming chores. If it works out that I do get good use out of a small one, I'll probably pick up a small Stihl ("arborist" model) for long term use.

Now my FIL has a decades-old big McCulloch and it just doesn't know when to quit. He's cut all the wood needed to heat his place for 30 years with that saw, but he's pretty fussy about maintenance and keeping the blade and bar in condition.

 

[Captinjack]

Beware running your saw without a muffler. Besides noise, the most important thing is that a 2-strke needs back pressure or will blow the engine.

My McCollough ran great, but the muffler fell apart and I couldn't get another. I was told that the motor would blow and they were right!

Don't invest in a bar and chain because without a muffler, all you have is a temporary noise maker.

 

[Captinjack]

Beware running your saw without a muffler. Besides noise, the most important thing is that a 2-strke needs back pressure or will blow the engine.

My McCollough ran great, but the muffler fell apart and I couldn't get another. I was told that the motor would blow and they were right!

Don't invest in a bar and chain because without a muffler, all you have is a temporary noise maker.

 

[timb]

Well all the good things about how well it started up after 20 years I take back. Told my wife about it when we were out in the barn. Wanted to show her how well the old guy ran. 20 minutes and every trick I knew later I gave up trying to start it after the old frayed recoil rope finally gave out. It's back in the 'pile' in the back of the barn. Maybe I'll try it in another 20 years! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just call it RIP v. Winkle.

On the other hand, I also came across my Stihl catalog buried in a stack. The arborist models, particularly the T200 (200T?) sounded very interesting for a light weight trim saw.

And I haven't unearthed a muffler yet for the McCulloch anyway.

 

[timb]

Well all the good things about how well it started up after 20 years I take back. Told my wife about it when we were out in the barn. Wanted to show her how well the old guy ran. 20 minutes and every trick I knew later I gave up trying to start it after the old frayed recoil rope finally gave out. It's back in the 'pile' in the back of the barn. Maybe I'll try it in another 20 years! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just call it RIP v. Winkle.

On the other hand, I also came across my Stihl catalog buried in a stack. The arborist models, particularly the T200 (200T?) sounded very interesting for a light weight trim saw.

And I haven't unearthed a muffler yet for the McCulloch anyway.

 

[ThePrimitiveFarmer]

So - rummaging around for some odds and ends I needed for a project I finally got tired tripping over a little yellow chainsaw that's been sitting in the dirt and junk on the floor in the back of the barn discarded by the previous owner for at least 15-20 years. I meant to toss it myself by never got around to it. So I look at it again.

The bar and chain are complete rust. The body is covered by 1/8" of grease and dirt, only a little yellow showing through. I wipe if down with a rag - it's a McCulloch Power Mac 6. (Later checking shows it's from the 1969-1974 era.)

I wonder what would happen if I put a little fuel mix in? I douse the chain with oil and work it around a little - add about 1/3 tank of 50:1 I had nearby - and on about the third pull it starts to sputter. A few pulls later it's running. And loud - whoops - no muffler at all. But it runs well, idles well. Never touched the plug or anything else.

It clearly needs a chain and a bar, but otherwise seems to be in good shape. Not a bad little trim saw. (Word was when it was introduced it was the worlds lightest chain saw).

Like I said, I know it hasn't seen the light of day for at least 15 years. Can't help but like a tool that wants to wake up and go back to work. Bars and chains are easy, I've tracked down air filters, but anyone have any idea where a muffler can be had? And what's the right mix for this era of McCulloch? (I assuming the 50:1 I had for my Stihl is too lean - probably 40:1 or 32:1?)

I have many old chainsaws. Please visit my website ThePrimitiveFarmer.com and give me a call. I have many more makes and models than currently listed on the website.

Have a good day,
Scott