Anybody running a Holtsforma/Farmtec/Hutzl saw?

This thread needs some cleaning.

 

Truthfully, I haven"t really used it much. I like my Huskys. And I didn't cut much wood this season so far because of the hip surgery. I put it in the truck last time out, but still get to use it. Awhile back, I started it (or tried) but I couldn't get it to fire. The deal is that it will flood real easy, so you have to watch it. It's weird, but when I first got it, I didn't have that problem. It still has only a tank or two through it. A buddy wanted to buy if, but I haven't seen any money yet. If not, I'll keep it. It pullas as stron og a bit stronger than my Husky 288, and is lighter and smoother.

 

Do you use the decomp? Mine starts surprisingly easy when using the decomp valve...not so much without. It likes to break the starter rope, and because you can't get a full pull on it most of the time, it seems to flood easily. But it may be the best starting saw I have when using the decomp valve!

 

Yes, use the decomp always. When I said hard start, I didn't mean compression wise, I mean it floods easily and doesn't want to start. It used to start on 2 or 3 pulls.

 

Right, I follow you...same here, don't use the decomp it pulls hard and often floods...use the decomp and it pulls much easier and usually fires in 2-5 pulls.
Weird that yours changed...still using the chinese plug in it? I'd maybe try a NGK plug, see what happens...

 

I think I changed the plug, but will have to look. Thanks for the reminder!

 

I’m kind of new here , but I think I can add to this discussion. I have , for a couple of months owned a g366 and a g660 with the wrap handle to compliment the Stihl ms462cm so I have a wide spectrum. The Chinese saws run ok, absolutely far and away Bette than my popular pro 5020. The start is a little smoky because of the 25:1 mix. You need to use the decompression valve and they are sensitive to flooding, the g660 flooded once after running out of gas and the g366 flooded a couple of times so I made a block of wood that I wedge under the throttle to unflood them safely if I mess up the start. I broke the rope on the g366 and re tied it with no problem.

They came with Bosch start 171 plugs and the carb as set well enough for the recommended double dose mix. I don’t use pump gas and I mix in 2 cycle at the recommended 25:1. They recommend 30wt oil so maybe don’t use really thick bar and chain oil. I use the stickiest stuff that flows well.

I have. 20” oregon bar on the g366 and the 660 has a Stihl rollomatic es 36” on it now. I ran 33 RSF (3/8 .050 full chisel full skip) yesterday on a downed 3 foot diameter red maple, probably 2 years down. It was pretty fast and left nice long curls of wood, but it is definitely not as nimble a saw as either of the other two. I also have the hollzfforma 25” bar as a backup because it came with the g366. The ms462 has a stihl 25” rollimatic es.

Unfortunately the hollzfforma 25” bar is a different gauge than my stihl 25” bar. Between that and the different mix, I don’t like to bring all three anywhere At once.
I was keeping the 366 in my wood getting trailer’s tool box and it leaked my expensive ethanol free fuel from the heat pressurizing the tank, I replaced the tank vent and it seems to have fixed it. Live and learn.

 

Welcome to FHC Jo!
Just FYI you can use the same gas/oil mix in all your two strokes...I personally like to run dino oil at 32:1 and full synthetic at 40:1. I run the same bar oil in everything too...whatever is on sale usually...which tends to be Cam2 for $4.99/gallon at Menards

 

From a fellow Nutmegger, welcome to the FHC Joseph Valenti Great to have you join us!

 

I have considered these saws as a cheaper way to get into chainsaw milling, but can't pull the trigger due to them being finicky to start. That would drive me nuts and I kinda like my rotator cuffs. Guess I just need to bite the bullet and pick up a 395XP.

 

Mine is not hard to start (as long as the comp release is used) probably my best starting saw...and none of mine are really difficult.

 

You assembled yours yourself? Maybe you took more care in assembly than they do over yonder.

 

Thank you for the warm welcome, all!

Brenndatomu, does changing my mix affect an auto carburetor? I would rather not mess that up since I can’t adjust it myself. I already turned up the Oiler on the 462, I had to push in a pin to get the full range. I am not saying it is, but I would not be surprised if that saw was somehow programmed to throttle itself for emissions purposes if the mix was richer. It sure is convenient to have a saw that light with that much power that doesn’t need adjustment at all. If the price of admission is carrying an extra tank of fuel, it may be worth it. Right now I have a 1 gallon can with the 25:1 labeled “25:1 Blue Saws” and a Husqvarna dual chamber fuel and oil carrier with 50:1 and bar & chain oil. So if I thought the holzfforma could handle 50:1, I might do that, but they both run perfectly with the recommended mix, so I just carry the extra can.


buZZsaw BRAD, It seems there are a few CT residents on here I think the nearest to me is in Waterford, maybe someone in Cheshire, I don’t recall names though, you may be one of those.

I’m from Wallingford originally and my family and in-laws are still there. We live just east of the CT River now.

My wife is awesome about the wood thing. She finds me listings on Facebook for free wood and has even helped load the trailer. Going on 21 years together, coming up on our 10 year wedding anniversary.



Back on topic...
Re: hookedup24/ milling and hard starts, my g660 is easier to start than my g366. Neither is very hard if you use the decompression button, if cold you may have to press it again after the “burp”. If you don’t use the decompression you can damage the rope personal experience) or pawls, it almost feels hydro locked, you would certainly need PT if you already had issues with your shoulder. One time I threw my back out pull starting a snow blower.

When warm the 660 starts in 1-2 pulls, the only time I flooded that one was when it ran out of fuel and then I refueled and it would not start. I may have hit the 4 position switch too far down, the detents are somewhat less positive than the Stihl. That would definitely flood a warm saw if I had it choked.

The g366 sometimes floods if I don’t give it a sharp enough pullwhich can happen at the end of a full day. It feels like it it takes more than 2 pulls it may be flooded or flood it if I continue, then I use my wedge block to hold open the throttle while I start it normally, but with the brake off so it doesn’t over rev. My feet are too big to fit in the handle loop. Once started, I tap the block out with the hand I pulled the starter with and apply the brake. There may be an adjustment that could lessen the flooding in most starts, but again, it runs great otherwise so I’m reluctant to mess with it.

 

I did...I guarantee you I took more care than they do...but, the carb just gets bolted on...and I didn't even need to adjust it at all until after it started to break in...and even then it was adjusted to optimize how it runs...but it was pretty decent the way it came.

Not really...if anything it may take a tank or two to re-optimize itself.
I have said this before, but I won't run 50:1 in anything...that is just too little oil. I know you can, and people do it all the time, but you have no extra cushion there at all if something starts to go wrong...small air leak, saw running hot for some reason, etc etc etc.
I run synthetic oil at 40:1, quality dino oil at 32:1. There is a reason that most high performance saw builders don't tell you to use 50:1. When you tear apart an engine that has run 50:1, there is just almost no oil film on the parts...parts at 32:1 will have a noticeable oil film...these are the parts that are turning at 13,000 (+) RPM at full throttle.
And just so everybody is on the same page, 50:1 ratio has literally half as much oil as 25:1...the first number represents the parts of gasoline, the second the oil.

 

Thanks!
I may do the synthetic 40:1 for everything.
It will probably cost about the same in oil As what I’m doing now, but may save me a bunch in repairs.


I know that was for the benefit of all; but I was aware 25:1 was double 50:1 that’s the simplest ratio swap to make, I put in 2 50:1 doses to make it.

Doing 40:1 the first time I’ll probably figure out the amount for my husqvarna fuel chamber (which is marked in liters) and mark a measuring container. I have a mix mizer I use sometimes for other containers, but it would be faster to Mark a container or find one of the bottles that you fill a top chamber, but that holds the right amount for that tank at 40:1

 

I may mix up 2 gallons at a time and fill the oddball 5 liter 1.3 gallon container from that.

 

UPDATE: I have actually realized that in addition to requiring a slight low side adjustment, the spark plug was not getting consistent contact because the prong had come out of the insulation under the boot. I have repaired that and it starts much easier now.


Also I ditched the block and wrapped a zip tie around the handle left a little loose so I do flood it I can just slide it over the throttle to unflood.

 

I bought a Huzzleforma “kit” in January for a copy of the Husky 372XP. I say “kit” as it was just a big box of parts. No instructions. My previous experience was that I’ve replaced a cylinder & head on a 281XP. Took me about 7 hours to assemble, no special tools. I just watched a few YouTube videos. Put a 24” bar on it. Started on the 8th pull and continues to start fine/easy & run good. So far about a 8-10 tanks of gas Through it, I run 40:1 mix.
For what this cost, and fun factor of a nice winter project I’m happy as a clam.

 

Way to go Idaho. FHC comes through. Today on Instagram I had a link to this Holzfforma saws I've never heard of before. In fact, the name would suggest something from Europe. It took some reading to find these were Chinese knock offs. I did a Google search and found a thread on Permies.com that talked about them. When I came here to start a thread, I decided to do a search first. Well, here we are. I'm surprised to hear somewhat decent reviews of them.