Posted: 2/25/2015 10:49:50 PM EDT
| So, just purchased my first chain saw, a Stihl. Is there any true and proper way to break it in? Ive seen some people do this long processes and others just fill it up and go to work. |
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Yes, if you want to foul it up and overheat it. Proper oil/fuel ratio and run it like it was made to run. NO break in is needed. Quoted:
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I usually just go a little heavy on the oil mixture for the first few fillups, no full throttle. Yes, if you want to foul it up and overheat it. Proper oil/fuel ratio and run it like it was made to run. NO break in is needed. Yep, and the whole "no full throttle for a few tanks" is a thing of the past. Run that thing normally, you will have no problems. |
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When I got my Stihl MS310 back in '07 I ran the first tank with a oil/gas ratio of 40:1 to lube it. I cut some small limbs and kept the RPM's high on each limb and idled down between each limb to cool off. Turned off. Restarted and repeated for 1 tank. Just keep that air filter changed out or cleaned good to run at peak performance.
Just got some new chains/bar oil and canned(no ethanol) 50:1 gas today to do some fence line tree cutting. I did change out the spark plug this past year. Went with an E3 plug and it starts and runs even better than when new. |
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I set my Stihl farm boss aside for the last time this past year. Muffler, bar, chain, sprocket and clutch all needed replaceing and it didn't have the power it used to have so I just gave it up , not worth the effort to fix it up.
I bought it close to 40 years ago . My aunt worked at the shop and the owner told me to come in and he would fix me up with a discount and no tax . He tried to talk me into a Homelite but I had used a Stihl where I was working at the time and told him that's what I wanted . The guy got pissed because I didn't want the Homelite so I paid full price with tax . I have heated my house with wood so I have done lots of cutting over the years . Clean gas , correct mixture and you will be fine |
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Gas it and go. What model did you pick up? I bought a MS 441 R-CM with a 25" bar last year for my Christmas/birthday gift to myself. It's a beast. My dad's little MS290 (I think) wasn't big enough for half the stuff we cut, and I wanted a saw that was less cold-blooded.
I'll admit I have a slight desire to begin collecting/modding saws. 
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 Quoted: This will break it in.  http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n45/trip157/56a98b0a9427d7b37ca3548eec155cca_zpsefbfad77.jpg Did this today with a 13y/o stihl. It is 6 rows deep. My back hurts. |
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A month? That's a bit extreme...but I will say this, stick to non-ethanol gas. Quoted:
Make sure you run fresh gas. Nothing older then a month. A month? That's a bit extreme...but I will say this, stick to non-ethanol gas. Best advise so far. If you can find real gas....use it. |
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Quoted: Yes, if you want to foul it up and overheat it. Proper oil/fuel ratio and run it like it was made to run. NO break in is needed. Quoted: Quoted: I usually just go a little heavy on the oil mixture for the first few fillups, no full throttle. Yes, if you want to foul it up and overheat it. Proper oil/fuel ratio and run it like it was made to run. NO break in is needed. |
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You'll also want to make sure your hockey mask is properly fitted. The dealer can help with that.
For the first three tanks of fuel only chase after young kids. Their flesh is softer and won't stress the engine much. Once you're past those tanks you can go after college-aged kids and after 5 or 6 tanks start tackling adults. Congrats and a great saw! |
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So, just purchased my first chain saw, a Stihl. Is there any true and proper way to break it in? Ive seen some people do this long processes and others just fill it up and go to work. You could just follow the manufacturer's instructions, they've been at this a long time and know what they're doing. During the break-in period "A factory new machine should not be run at high revs (full throttle off load) for the first three tank fillings. This avoids unnecessarily high loads during the break-in period. As all moving parts have to bed in during the break-in period, the frictional resistances within the shortblock are greater during this period. The engine develops its maximum power after 5 to 15 tank fillings." |
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Run a little extra oil for the first tank. Good choice on brands. No. Just run 50:1 and heat cycle the thing a few times, letting it cool after 10min of normal use, and going back at it after it cools a bit.. The only thing that needs to "Break in" are the rings seating. All extra oil does is slow the process. The saw is jetted for either Idle or full throttle. Limbing or pruning is the perfect thing for "break in" if you want to call it that. If you just run it and don't give a crap about "break in", no harm will be done. |
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This, run it with the correct oil/gas ratio..... Quoted:
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I've been a Stihl dealer literally my entire life (I'm 37). Start it up and go run it! Absolutely nothing special needs to be done. And, run only Stihl or Husky premium 2 cycle oil. Every time that you fill your saw with gas also top off the bar oil. |
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Things I learned the hard way over several saws:
1. 2 Stroke oil is not all the same...marine oil is not the same as regular oil. Simple answer is to buy factory oil and mix per directions. 2. Gas needs to be ethanol free...not just regular gas from a gas station. puregas.com has lists of stations that have ethanol free gas. ethanol will eat your fuel lines and gaskets. 3. Gas needs to be fresh. Don't buy a lot and use what you buy. Have a fire for limbs and whatnot when done and use left over gas to start it. 4. Buy lots of chains...factory chains. 5. Use the safety gear...chaps, face sheild, and ear pro. I have a scar to prove it and am lucky I have a leg/foot. Don't let the kids "watch" close enough to catch a limb if it breaks loose before the tree falls. |