Underwhelmed by my 036

I like it, just a little underwhelmed after owning a (stock at the time) 290 and an MM'ed Echo cs-510 (50cc). All three have 20" bars and sharp full chisels.

I bought it off CL a couple of years back. The guy trades chainsaws as a side job. Said he puts a new Ebay non oem piston kit in all of them before selling them just because.? The piston looked good through the exhaust port, this is when he told me it was new. Compression feels good, as good as the other saws and the 290 was bought off CL but looked near new/mint. Air filters are kept clean. I tune them all, it runs great, but I was just a little underwhelmed.

I did some timed cuts in red oak with them and don't remember the exact numbers, but very near this:
Stock 290 was about 2.5 times faster than my Wild Thang
Stock 290 was about a second faster than MM'ed Echo, in a ~24 second cut.
036 was about 4 seconds faster than 290 in ~24 second cut. 20% faster

290 had Stihl chian full chisel, the other two had Windsor full chisel. Walmart Oregon on the WT.

Does that sound about right? Was I expecting too much due to 036 hype? I sold the 290 to a friend but can still use it for further testing if needed.

 

I know I was not impressed with my ms361 after reading all the hype, enough so that I sold it... Aftermarket kits can be hit or miss as well.
But 20% faster than a 290 doesn't sound too terribly bad.

 

Specs show the 036 has about 20% more power, makes sense. When I can I'll retest to verify the numbers.

 

He said it had a new piston kit, no new cylinder. I asked. I removed the muffler before buying to inspect the piston, it looked new, this is when he told me it was a new piston, ring, wrist pin.

To be honest, before I left with the saw I decided he puts a new piston kit in them because:
1) It was all he knew how to do
2) Its cheap
3) He thought he was doing everyone a favor by "rebuilding" the saws.

The guy seemed honest but not knowledgeable, he said as much. I did a quick carb tune on the saw and he was very impressed and asked me to explain the procedure.

A friend has a compression gage. Comp test done at full throttle on a warm engine as usual, or cold engine?

 

Cold, 150 is good

 

I agree with Dex. It may run but maybe not up to Stihl specs. Id look a little deeper before making a final judgement. Keep us posted.

 

I apologize Dex for what I am about to say........... I found my old OEM 036 to be underwhelming

 

Most stock 60cc saws are Sorry dex

 

which one's going for the treatment?

 

I did the compression test 110 lbs. Cold saw WOT. Then I thought , this saw hasn't been started for 9? months. Maybe its a dry cylinder. Started the saw, revved it a couple of times and rechecked-110 lbs also pulled the muffler and opened it up, piston looks good through the exhaust port.

I guess those 8 y/o Chinese girls where doing the best they could when they made the piston kit... Or the cylinder was scored... Or the guy FUBAR'ed the assembly. Or .......

I really don't think the guy knew what he was doing enough to lie about it. Surely he could have come up with something better than, "I put an Ebay piston kit it then just to make sure they are good". Who knows? It runs like a top I'll probably just keep on until my conscience gets the better of me.

I retract my 036 bashing

 

MM, I honestly appreciate the offer. That is quiet the offer. I'm not a true mechanic but I've rebuilt a two V8's under the shade tree with reliable results, + lots of single cylinders.
I think I'm plenty capable, just need the ambition or need to fix the problem. I'm sure it will get to haunting me.
Truly, thanks again.

 

The muffler had been gutted, a hollow can, no screen, empty. But the exhaust port hadn't been modified. I opened that up to let it breath better. Won't fix the core problem but what the heck.

 

I don't devil into the unknown without lots of research. Obviously you know more about it and would likely spot the problem form a mile off and have the right solution. I don't mind tinkering with it and if you are here for free advice that's a huge asset. Worst case I'll ship it to you and beg for help. Thanks again.