......found this baby on ebay the other day and I pulled the trigger.....it's a circa-1960 Stihl Contra. 106cc. In very nice condition! Now, decisions decisions.....should I hop it up with the 66mm P/C and turn it into a full-blown 090, do I restore it to its original glory or do I just plug some simple mods to it and keep it as-is? It's reported to be a good running saw and as you can see from the pics, she ain't beat up at all. I'm kinda excited..... Now I gotta find a nice, long, vintage roller tip bar for her.....
I feel your pain Scotty Overkill a big part of me would want to go off the deep end with more power. But on the other had it'd be a shame to not keep such a cherry saw all original.
Keep it original my friend......Its all about respecting the old timers before us who used those big beasts every day. Use a newer model for hot rodding IMO.
Yep I agree. You would probably have a hard time around here finding a tree that really show you the 30cc difference. Nice saw Scott.
Nice Score! I think I'd keep it original if it's just for you to enjoy and bring to G2Gs. But no harm in throwing an 090 top end on it if you wanted to do it. Kinda like cars, do what you like, keep the original parts, and as long as all changes are reversible, it doesn't really detract from the value of the car.
She's a beaut Clark! I love that old school stihl logo. Just like my grandpa's 015 L , just a tad bigger. Lol
I'll wait til it gets here so I can evaluate it before I make a decision. It's gonna be a while, it's in Germany......
But I gotta tell you, after seeing some of Glock37's work at the GTG, I'm gonna be hard pressed to leave it alone......
Sure is a good looking saw for 56 years of age!!! Hope ya put up an action vid when you get 'er situated Scotty Overkill
I won't change the look too much, maybe a custom pipe....but the internals may get "massaged" iffin ya know what I'm sayin'......
Scotty, if It was mine I'd leave it as is and not abuse it. Saw like that are more valuable original and not always more powerful with more cc. Your more modern saws will be faster and more comfortable. Use it and don't abuse it . Should be a good investment. Stihl claims its the first saw you could turn the engine in on its side. I've seen pioneer claim one year previous. Either way you have a conversational piece.
Scotty, I just found this post, that's a nice looking Contra. A couple things to think about, if you put an 090 top end on it, your red top cover will no longer work. An 090 spark plug screws directly down through the top of the cylinder, so you'd have to put 090 shrouds on it. Then you have the issue with the buckles that hold the top on, you'd have to take them off or let them flop around. Now, if you want to put a 137cc Contra S top end on it, chances are the P&C will cost as much as you paid for the whole saw, then you have to find the Contra S metal cylinder shroud that goes between the cylinder and the red top cover, and all I have to say about that is, good luck. The Contra S specific parts don't come around often, and when they do, they are pricey. If you want a 137cc Contra, I'd leave yours alone and buy a Contra S when one shows up. I think your saw is newer than a 1959, or at least has a newer recoil. What does the air cleaner look like?
