Homelite 550 - 84cc

[TuscanPhil]

Risking life and limb, I've bought an aged Homelite 550 chainsaw but am still waiting for the parcel man to bring it to me.  Product sheet here:  https://www.leonschainsawpartsandrepair.com/uploads/3/9/7/9/39792537/homelite_550_chainsaw_product_specifcation_sheet.pdf  In preparation for trying to start it, the product sheet says 32:1 or 16:1 for fuel:oil mix, so should I just throw some 25:1 into it or what would you recommend (apart from throwing the saw in the nearest skip)?  It also seems I can get carb overhaul kits (Walbro SDC carb, kit D10/K10 - SDC) so that's one less thing to worry about.  Wish me luck - I might need it!!

 

[Stubby]

3 hours ago, TuscanPhil said:

Risking life and limb, I've bought an aged Homelite 550 chainsaw but am still waiting for the parcel man to bring it to me.  Product sheet here:  https://www.leonschainsawpartsandrepair.com/uploads/3/9/7/9/39792537/homelite_550_chainsaw_product_specifcation_sheet.pdf  In preparation for trying to start it, the product sheet says 32:1 or 16:1 for fuel:oil mix, so should I just throw some 25:1 into it or what would you recommend (apart from throwing the saw in the nearest skip)?  It also seems I can get carb overhaul kits (Walbro SDC carb, kit D10/K10 - SDC) so that's one less thing to worry about.  Wish me luck - I might need it!!

 

I think those ratios are for old spec oil . With new synth you could mix at 50:1

[topchippyles]

25-1 is fine but why the hell you bought a 30+ year old saw beats me

[Kevm]

8 hours ago, TuscanPhil said:

Risking life and limb, I've bought an aged Homelite 550 chainsaw but am still waiting for the parcel man to bring it to me.  Product sheet here:  https://www.leonschainsawpartsandrepair.com/uploads/3/9/7/9/39792537/homelite_550_chainsaw_product_specifcation_sheet.pdf  In preparation for trying to start it, the product sheet says 32:1 or 16:1 for fuel:oil mix, so should I just throw some 25:1 into it or what would you recommend (apart from throwing the saw in the nearest skip)?  It also seems I can get carb overhaul kits (Walbro SDC carb, kit D10/K10 - SDC) so that's one less thing to worry about.  Wish me luck - I might need it!!

 

Thing is, have you got the "tache" to go with the saw. 

[topchippyles]

1 hour ago, Kevm said:

Thing is, have you got the "tache" to go with the saw. 

Fecking brilliant 

[topchippyles]

Eggs in his prime also known as eggs (john) holmes sex movie star

 

Edited August 11, 2020 by topchippyles

[spudulike]

50:1 is fine, make sure it is sparking OK, these old saws are a bit temperamental and have a habit of killing you trying to start them. Vintage saws need to be owned by people that understand them!

My McCullochs have a screw you take out of the carb so you can tell when the fuel has been pumped in to the carb. They ain't like modern saws.....but are fun once going!

[Stere]

Thats a great picture   reminds me watching axemen TV series thoose alu helmets ?

 

 

 

[peatff]

If you look really closely there'a a chainsaw in that picture ?

[TuscanPhil]

On 11/08/2020 at 18:56, spudulike said:

50:1 is fine, make sure it is sparking OK, these old saws are a bit temperamental and have a habit of killing you trying to start them. Vintage saws need to be owned by people that understand them!

My McCullochs have a screw you take out of the carb so you can tell when the fuel has been pumped in to the carb. They ain't like modern saws.....but are fun once going!

Cheers Spud.  Saw arrived yesterday and I've had the briefest of brief looks at it.  Thrown in some 50:1 and managed to get it to start, but it doesn't like to idle at a reasonable speed (yet)!  I've had a quick play with the low jet and idle screw but haven't much time today to play with it.  New spark plug on order, carb kit inbound at some point, but I'm sure I'll be able to get it running well enough in the mean time (hopefully!).  The 18" bar has a 'rotating nose' on it and the chain isn't that old so will take a sharpen ok.  The 30" bar is solid (no rotating nose) and that chain is ....... on its last legs, so I'll get a new semi chisel (for cutting my larger trees/logs) and a ripping chain (for when my chillaskan arrives) on order shortly.

 

Yes, it's an old saw but (hopefully) I didn't pay too much / over the odds for it, and if I can mill some of my own timber for hobby projects, it's not a lost cause!

Edited August 13, 2020 by TuscanPhil