Specialized tools for chainsaws: do I need this?

[Jon1270]

I'll soon be starting in on my first project saw (an 034AV). I haven't even picked up that saw yet, and meanwhile I found an ad for a collection of chainsaw-specific tools on CL.

So, uh.... am I going to need this? I have typical collection of basic automotive tools, but I've never broken down a saw so I don't know what to expect.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

You probably have most everything you'll need. However, you might get it at a really good price and sometimes that is difficult to pass up.

 

[MasterMech]

You could sell that seal puller set on AS for good $$. I see some items that would be helpful for pressure testing the crank case to make sure the saw doesn't toast another top end. Easily $500 worth of stuff there new.

 

[Jon1270]

Easily $500 worth of stuff there new.

Wow, I wouldn't have guessed that. The seller has it priced at $150 OBO I wonder whether there are enough tools I wouldn't need to pay for the ones I might need?

Same ad says he has "bulk" parts for Homelite and Stihl, plus a chain breaker and "rivet spinner" (whatever that is), so I guess it might be the leftovers of a little shop being closed.

 

[mikefrommaine]

The seal puller costs 150+ new.

 

[Jon1270]

I take it that the seal puller isn't needed very often, then? What tools here would be most useful to have around? Ad copy says, "Includes: ring compressors, crankcase pressure and vacuum tester, seal pullers, flywheel pullers, test manifolds, tachometer and more."

 

[mikefrommaine]

The pressure / vacuum tester is pretty mandatory if you are rebuilding saws. The tach is handy too. If you get the lot I'd be interested in the seal puller and flywheel puller.

 

[Jon1270]

Well, the lot is about 45min from me, but I can spare the time. I'll give him a call later.

 

[MasterMech]

The seller has it priced at $150 OBO​

The seal puller costs 150+ new.

That's if you get a deal.

Sounds like a cheap way to get into some excellent tools for saw work.

The seal puller will save LOTS of time on seal replacements and it's crankshaft/case friendly too.

 

[MasterMech]

The pressure / vacuum tester is pretty mandatory if you are rebuilding saws. The tach is handy too. If you get the lot I'd be interested in the seal puller and flywheel puller.

The flywheel puller is cheap to buy new Mike. Should be $12-15 IIRC.

 

[Jon1270]

That's if you get a deal.

I checked eBay, and new seal pullers go for $220. Wow.

The seal puller will save LOTS of time on seal reaplcements and it's crankshaft/case friendly too.

So how often does that need come up? I assume you can do without it, since Mike apparently doesn't have one and we know he goes through bunches of saws....

 

[MasterMech]

I checked eBay, and new seal pullers go for $220. Wow.



So how often does that need come up? I assume you can do without it, since Mike apparently doesn't have one and we know he goes through bunches of saws....

Most air leak issues are impulse line or carburetor gasket related. Crank seal failures are more common on saws that have a lot of time in them. The puller is worth it's weight in gold for flywheel side seals that don't leave a lot of room for shade tree methods.

For $150 I wouldn't even be questioning this purchase. Look up a crankcase pressure/vac testing kit. Convinced yet?

 

[mikefrommaine]

I checked eBay, and new seal pullers go for $220. Wow.

They also want $40 for a $15 flywheel puller

So how often does that need come up? I assume you can do without it,

There are couple cheaper ways to do it -- drywall screw, small screwdiver with tip bent over etc. But the puller would make it more straight forward. If you get the tools see if he has all 4 sets of tips for the seal puller. I don't see them in the pic.

 

[Jon1270]

If you get the tools see if he has all 4 sets of tips for the seal puller. I don't see them in the pic.

Thanks, will do. I noticed the same thing, after looking at the eBay listings.

 

[smokinj]

I like the T handle hand tools for breaking down and putting back together. Heres a good place to find any tool you might need:http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=KW125&catID=233

 

[Jon1270]

Called and made an appointment to drive out there tomorrow. Nice older guy, former small Stihl dealer who got out of that business when they switched from the 0xx to MS product lines and has since been doing repairs and sharpening. He apparently has a bunch of NOS stuff that Stihl wouldn't buy back from him when he terminated his relationship with them. Shop is next to the house, and they're apparently planning to sell the properties and move away soon so it's time to liquidate.

 

[charly]

I like the T handle hand tools for breaking down and putting back together. Heres a good place to find any tool you might need:http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=KW125&catID=233

Not to change the subject, back in my tree climbing days,, there was a Baileys store about 5 minutes from my house... Oh how nice that was! They use to offer buy 2 loops of chain and get the third loop free... One day kidding I said I need two loops for a 16 inch bar and can the third free loop be for my 36 inch bar? They said no problem! They treated me good... That's back when they sold the early style Sach Dolmar saws... I use to eye them up all the time...They were mostly mail order but they also allowed you to come in and buy off the street... Was nice for bar oil too... Sure miss having them local...that was my candy store They wound up closing the store up after about 5 years...

 

[charly]

Wow, I wouldn't have guessed that. The seller has it priced at $150 OBO I wonder whether there are enough tools I wouldn't need to pay for the ones I might need?

Same ad says he has "bulk" parts for Homelite and Stihl, plus a chain breaker and "rivet spinner" (whatever that is), so I guess it might be the leftovers of a little shop being closed.

Rivet spinner rolls the rivet pins over to put the chain together, makes that nice rounded end on the rivet, on the side of the chain.

 

[Jon1270]

Well, he dropped the price a bit and I came home with a box full of tools. Seller is a super-nice guy, a former high school shop teacher who's had this small engine shop going, apparently part-time, for something like 30 years. We talked for a couple of hours. He explained the uses of several of the tools, answered my newbie questions and gave me some tips about common problems with Stihl saws. The information may turn out to be more valuable than the tools.

There weren't a whole lot of NOS parts. He seems to have been pretty disciplined about keeping minimal inventory, ordering most stuff as he needed it. I did see several spools of saw chain near the breaker and spinner, but I didn't try to buy those. Was probably foolish of me to leave those there, but I wouldn't need it myself and I don't know enough to be comfortable making an offer for purposes of reselling it.

I didn't see it, but he also said he has a barely-used 036 he'll be selling sometime soon. He got it new when he was a Stihl dealer, and has only used it occasionally "for stumps." His primary saw is an 025.