Formulas for Good Runners Without Porting

Everyone has a few tried and true formulas for good running dependable saws. I thought I would share a couple of mine.

Husqvarna 51/55
OEM or AM 46mm CP jug with Stihl 028S domed piston need to relieve inner surfaces of piston pin boss for clearance and proper oiling, very high compression

Husqvarna 365/71/72
AM 52mm BBK with Stihl 064 piston (relieve the inner surfaces of the piston pin boss 0.006 each side) and RWJ-4 intake, no base gasket, you end up with a spare 52mm piston from the BBK.

so what are some of yours?

 

A sharp chain and proper tune.

You've got me beat!

 

Fresh, properly mixed fuel, clean air filter
Other than that,
"don't fix what ain't broke "

 

I ran 2 rings on my 066 stihl piston in my Poulan.

Cant remember on the 064 piston in my Husky. Thinking 1. Could be wrong though.

 

I have run both single and double rings. It depends on what the guy I'm building the saw for wants. In a work saw I don't believe it really makes a big difference, (maybe a few hundred Rs) perhaps a stopwatch would notice. I use either Stihl OEM pistons or Meteor, just depends on budget.

 

I have a 55 with Meteor CP jug done up with a Meteor 028S ready to go. If your interested.

 

Uuugh..441c + sharp chain = happiness

 

I put it together did an initial tune and put it away. It has less than an hour on it after a complete rebuild. The plastic is great not roached out. I have built many of these and they do run well.

 

This is interesting, see signature

 

HDRock, you can do one of these with your 55, I will help you along, or send it to me and I will do it for you. $100 plus parts and return ship.

 

Hot rods and Frankensaws are fine (frankly, I have both types), but the truth behind the formula for a "good running, dependable saw" is to start out with something solid, maintain it correctly, and feed it quality fuel.

I haven't owned any single saw long enough to brag about it's longevity, but my father has a great running, dependable Stihl 031AV. He bought it new in 1979 and has used it regularly ever since.

 

Agreed, if you can afford the new saw and can get along with one saw for a long period. Maint and proper care are key to long term satisfaction.

 

All the above being said, most of my customers are professional cutters and do maintain their saws. Most however are very cost minded when it comes to long term value and therefore want the most performance and reliability they can get in a repair. 'Can you repair it and give it a little more power' is a statement I hear every day. That is what brought these types of simple modifications into being. Do I use them on my personal saws? The answer is, yes!

 

There's lots of piston swaps to do if you will do a little machine work. Any of the old mahle cylinders for the 066 without a decomp run way better than the newer stuff. The old D shaped 046 jugs are another one. A 371 single ring piston leaves all kinds of room for transfer work in a 372.