Underwhelmed by my 036

My non-pro 036 does not have a decompression hole. It was an original cylinder. I have seen 1 48mm (034Super/036) AM jug that didn't have a decomp hole, but Dex is right that most new AM 48mm jugs have a hole and come with a plug.
I'm thinking that's an original cylinder, but you'll have to clean up around the base and look for Mahle or Stihl to make sure. Or you could rip it apart and see what exactly the previous owner put into it.

 

Kind of an old post, but it's worth mentioning, the valve core in compression testers are NOT the same as in a tire valve stem. I lost mine and put a valve core from a tire, ended up selling a motor job because of low compression. Nothing looked bad inside, rebuilt, and retested. Same low comp. Ordered correct valve stem, voila! I want to say it went from right around 100 or less, to like 180 with the correct stem. Just a FYI.

 

I was thinking of this thread yesterday while bucking a 29" Red Oak with my 036. Not sure what I was thinking before. I used my 036 against my old 290, my Echo CS-510 and a friends Husq 350 recently. None held a candle to the 036, as it should be.

The comp gauge was all original, but good to know about the schrader valves.

 

The 036 responds well to porting. I done one and gave it some much needed help. I wasn't really impressed with mine either stock. My ported 346xp would kill the stock 036...big time.

 

An old post for sure..but it was brand new to me today Interesting read !

 

How well do you trust your compression gauge?
If it idles good and runs out well, 110 may be suspect...
How many times did you pull the saw over? Keep pulling till the gauge stops climbing.. And it's not necessary to hold the throttle open.

 

Considering the saw starts, idles and runs fine (as do the other three saws tested) I suspect the gauge.

I pulled on each saw many times, until the gauge quit rising.

 

Just got my first 036 and it's a Pro and I must say I'm pretty impressed so far. It's a stocker but will have a Muff mod this weekend.

 

FWIW, that gauge does NOT have a Schrader valve. You want one that has a valve at the tip where it screw's into the head. Most gauges do not have them. Small engines only make 10% of the air volume that automotive engines do. The volume of the hose creates artificially low readings. I suspect that the gauge you used to get 90PSI had an even longer hose. The gauge with Schrader in the tip is required for an accurate reading on a saw engine.

 

Makes sense, did not know that.

 

036 is a 60 cc saw, to be over or underwhelmed by a mid size saw may be asking a bit much.
036 is one of the great Stihl "Icon" saws.
But it is a mid size , which is what made it one of the top selling Stihl saws of it's time.
Works well with a 20" full comp chisel, it's in the mid size class of 60 cc saws like the MS362 & 562xp.

Step into the 70 cc class, big difference, then you learn what it means to hang on :

If you are looking for power & throttle response when in a log;
Step up one size & you gain more than 1 full hp over the 036.
Try a MS41 C-M Magnum, 70 cc, 5.6 bhp, then you'll be impressed by the difference.

You can tinker & do some mods, but when you are done, it's a mid size, 61 cc saw.
A great 61 cc saw though. One of the all time workhorse saws made.
For many , the perfect saw for a serious/pro firewood guy.

Just my 2¢

 

I got a 562 that has some serious wow factor... It's only 59cc..
That being said, the 036 can be made to run real hard too.. I ran one the monkey built, and it was a snotty bugger.. So the potential is there at least..

 

I think you should get one and report back, for the good of the site. Duty calls, Dex. Duty calls.

 

If I wasn't right in the middle of remodeling my kitchen I'd be filing a full report. Need to get a couple more paychecks first. Too bad they only come once a month...