Old Aspen, old saw, old gas, old man, broken chain

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LLigetfa

LLigetfa

Minister of Fire
Nov 9, 2008
7,360
NW Ontario
Recently fired up my old saw for the first time this year and it ran like crap with the 2 year old gas. Took down a big old Aspen and bucked it up despite the saw rough idling. Had to resort to pull starting it at full throttle a couple of times. Decided it was time to pick up a can of Seafoam and a little shot of it got the saw purring again. Back to starting on three pulls cold, one pull hot.

This weekend I had to take down even a bigger Aspen so decided to touch-up the chain and noticed one of the links was broken. Wonder how long it's been like that. Good thing the other side didn't let go. I had to resort to putting an old chain on the bar. Will see about replacing that broken link when I go to get a new loop of RS made up.

There's a third old Aspen still waiting to come down.
 
Not bad for a saw setting two years.... :cheese:
 
I have been amazed with the seafoam too. My 390 was bogging down and I gave it a shot of seafoam and it was as good as new.
 
Why not dump old mix first? Rather than possibly gumming up carb/case/chamber with that poo? If you haven't already.

Fresh mix, and away you go, and quality 2-stroke oils include fuel stabilizer so no need for any mouse-milk.
 
smokinjay said:
Not bad for a saw setting two years.... :cheese:
Click to expand...
Not the saw, just the gas. Used the saw last Fall with the same gas. In the past, I would just unscrew the H and L jets and squirt in some WD40 using the red straw. That would clean up the carb. Seafoam in the tank is much easier.

Came back from the saw shop with two new loops of Stihl RS chain. They laughed at me when I asked them to fix my old chain and said for $10 more I can have a new chain.

I used to have a chain breaker and a spinner back when I worked as a saw hand. Don't know what ever happened to them. Probably lent them out and never got them back. Lost a lot of tools that way.

Damn... I forgot to buy a new scrench and new bar nuts while I was there. Rounded off a nut with the old scrench.
 
CTYank said:
Why not dump old mix first?
Click to expand...
I've never thrown away gas in my life. Straight gas I used to put in the car sometimes to use up but mixed gas stays around until it's all used up.
 
I LIKE THE OLD GAS FOR STARTING A CAMPFIRE!!!
 
Gasoline can be dangerous to use as fire starter because of the fumes. I use diesel fuel and waste oil or my Tiger torch.
 
LLigetfa said:
smokinjay said:
Not bad for a saw setting two years.... :cheese:
Click to expand...
Not the saw, just the gas. Used the saw last Fall with the same gas. In the past, I would just unscrew the H and L jets and squirt in some WD40 using the red straw. That would clean up the carb. Seafoam in the tank is much easier.

Came back from the saw shop with two new loops of Stihl RS chain. They laughed at me when I asked them to fix my old chain and said for $10 more I can have a new chain.

I used to have a chain breaker and a spinner back when I worked as a saw hand. Don't know what ever happened to them. Probably lent them out and never got them back. Lost a lot of tools that way.

Damn... I forgot to buy a new scrench and new bar nuts while I was there. Rounded off a nut with the old scrench.
Click to expand...
I am sooo picturing"'Nick Nolte" going "Awwhhhhrrrrr..." and doing that funky head/neck roll thing he does when he's frustrated. Was I wrong? :vampire:
 
You know, there was a time when the saw shop would apologize for the chain they sold breaking and spin a new link on for a couple of bucks.
 
LLigetfa said:
Gasoline can be dangerous to use as fire starter because of the fumes. I use diesel fuel and waste oil or my Tiger torch.
Click to expand...
This is true i believe its called singed eyebrow syndrome...
 
LLigetfa said:
smokinjay said:
Not bad for a saw setting two years.... :cheese:
Click to expand...
Not the saw, just the gas. Used the saw last Fall with the same gas. In the past, I would just unscrew the H and L jets and squirt in some WD40 using the red straw. That would clean up the carb. Seafoam in the tank is much easier.

Came back from the saw shop with two new loops of Stihl RS chain. They laughed at me when I asked them to fix my old chain and said for $10 more I can have a new chain.

I used to have a chain breaker and a spinner back when I worked as a saw hand. Don't know what ever happened to them. Probably lent them out and never got them back. Lost a lot of tools that way.

Damn... I forgot to buy a new scrench and new bar nuts while I was there. Rounded off a nut with the old scrench.
Click to expand...

I dont know where or how but I now have over a dozen of those screnchs.....(I am to cheap to buy one that I know)

Anyone from Indiana Missing Scrench's? :cheese: There kinda like lighters at my place!
 
LLigetfa said:
Recently fired up my old saw for the first time this year and it ran like crap with the 2 year old gas. Took down a big old Aspen and bucked it up despite the saw rough idling. Had to resort to pull starting it at full throttle a couple of times. Decided it was time to pick up a can of Seafoam and a little shot of it got the saw purring again. Back to starting on three pulls cold, one pull hot.

This weekend I had to take down even a bigger Aspen so decided to touch-up the chain and noticed one of the links was broken. Wonder how long it's been like that. Good thing the other side didn't let go. I had to resort to putting an old chain on the bar. Will see about replacing that broken link when I go to get a new loop of RS made up.

There's a third old Aspen still waiting to come down.
Click to expand...

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a bad (very bad?) thing to run a saw on old gas?
 
LLigetfa said:
CTYank said:
Why not dump old mix first?
Click to expand...
I've never thrown away gas in my life. Straight gas I used to put in the car sometimes to use up but mixed gas stays around until it's all used up.
Click to expand...

Me too. Old gas still can be used.

I had forgotten the generator but had to use it a couple weeks ago. The gas in there was 3 years old but it started and run just fine. I had put Stabil in the gas when I had originally put the gas in the generator. Never used the Sea Foam but may have to try it sometime.
 
LLigetfa said:
Gasoline can be dangerous to use as fire starter because of the fumes. I use diesel fuel and waste oil or my Tiger torch.
Click to expand...

Agree . . . every year some kid or guy gets severely burned here in Maine from someone using gasoline on the brush pile . . . not realizing that the gas vapors can and will ignite. Is it done? Yes. Does everyone that uses gas to start a fire get hurt? No. Still not a smart thing to do.

Me . . . I use cardboard . . . safer, works well and no tell tale black smoke. ;)
 
I fired up all the old stuff this weekend. Old chainsaw, power washer, 2 lawn mower, Ran Seafoam through everything.
they did get fresh gas last year with a good batch of Stabil in it.

I have been better at doing this in my older age...LOL

btw everything fired up and ran smooth..

I did use all the old gas to start a big brush fire..
 
Jags said:
- that stuff appears to be bad luck. %-P
Click to expand...
Ja, must be. Damn.. just spilled my beer.

I go to put on my new RS chain and it's 2 links too long. Check the other one... same thing. On the box it says 61 links, count them... 61... I need 59 and told the guy as much.

I kept the old box from my old chain which also said 61 links but I had them take out 2 links and I told the guy that when I brought it in. The guy even counted the links and confirmed it. I tell the guy I'll just leave it with him and drop back in on my way home to pick it up. I mean, if I was going to take a stock 61 link chain in the box, I wouldn't need to wait or come back later, would I??

That third big Aspen is still standing. Too hot and humid to tackle it. Cleaned up a bunch of small stuff instead. Saw still starting on 3 pulls cold, 1 pull warm. Guess I won't be buying a new saw this year.
 
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