2005 Makita 6401 meets 2014 Dolmar 7900 Piston and Cyl: Very big grin factor :)

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AK13 said:
Is this a difficult project to do? Does it require any specialized tools? Does someone who is mechanically inclined but has never taken apart a small engine have a chance to do this swap successfully?
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No, Maybe, Yes. I did Husq 55 for first time and it was simple and straight forward. I needed a long 5/32" Allen to go thru cyl fins to get to 4 mounting bolts.
 
AK13 said:
Is this a difficult project to do? Does it require any specialized tools? Does someone who is mechanically inclined but has never taken apart a small engine have a chance to do this swap successfully?
Click to expand...

It's pretty straightforward, roughly on par with an automotive brake job. On the Makita, as on newer Stihl saws, the only even slightly unusual tool you absolutely need is a long T27 torx driver because that's the sort of fastener used to hold the cylinder in place (as well as most of the rest of the saw). A short T27 bit in an extension will not work because extension won't fit into some of the holes it has to reach through. If you are methodical and don't take shortcuts like trying to re-use the base gasket, you can get away with that torx driver, needle-nose pliers and not much else. However it's really a good idea to vacuum and/or pressure test (preferably both) the engine after reassembling it, because an air leak resulting from some misstep can ruin your nice new top end.
 
Hi -
Is this a difficult project to do? : I didn't find it difficult. It was my first time cracking open a 2 cycle and expecting to to run again.

Does it require any specialized tools? It was handy having a real T27 screwdriver, a $12 set of plastic piston ring compressing bands (off eBay), and a good awl to flip the piston wist pin retainer out.

Does someone who is mechanically inclined but has never taken apart a small engine have a chance to do this swap successfully? Yes. I did it. There are guys who can do them in less than a half hour. It took me 2 hours.

CLEAN it well first. I spray with engine degreaser, let sit a bit, then rinse with hot water. Repeat until clean. I found good instructions on AS. PM me if you like.
 
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The instructions Treepointer supplied are the one's I used. Worked like a charm.

While cleaning the saw before the swap I found a few partsI wanted to replace. On mine also replaced the plate that is between the saw and the bar, and the clutch drum.

Resistance is futile....
 
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