880 and sawdust

[Cracker]

Milled some oak for a couple of hours yesterday with the standard air filter. The chain was getting dull and gave the machine a good clean out after sharpening.

The air filter was as expected, blew it with the air line from inside. However when I looked in the carb mouth I noticed a layer of .... yes, that's right:thumbdown:! There was even dust on the spark plug!

 

What filters are you guys using?

[Rob D]

You always seem to get a layer of very fine dust mixed with oily residue on the inside of the carb. I tried using an inside and outside filter but it def reduced the power of the saw and the outer filter got clogged quickly.

 

Best thing is just to really stay on top of cleaning the air filter and housing... twice a day and it should stay clean.

 

The brown residue on the spark plug is not dust as such but shows the saw is running at correct mixture...

[Cracker]

You always seem to get a layer of very fine dust mixed with oily residue on the inside of the carb. I tried using an inside and outside filter but it def reduced the power of the saw and the outer filter got clogged quickly.

 

Best thing is just to really stay on top of cleaning the air filter and housing... twice a day and it should stay clean.

 

The brown residue on the spark plug is not dust as such but shows the saw is running at correct mixture...

 

That can't be good for it. It was definitely not the normal combustion residue on the plug, I worked as a mechanic for 15 years and saw a bit.

It concerns me because all that fine dust is hitting the bearings and acting like and abrasive paste. When I was working in Oz we had a big diesel engine that had been sucking in unfiltered air through split trunking, trashed the engine in no time.

[Rob D]

I've never seen dust on the spark plug before so that can't be good... have you tried a new air filter to see if problem continues?

[Ben Ballard]

i use a pre filter/outer filter as i was worried about the dust in carb when milling with my 880,but like robd says the power is lost but id rarther that ,than risk of damage to saw:001_smile:

[geoff]

Just a thought,but try smearing a thin film of temp proof grease around the part of the filter cage that mates with the carb,or filter oil used on motocross bikes,once the thinning agent has evaporated this will leave a fine & very tacky dust catcher.

[Cracker]

Has anyone used the Stihl HD filter?

 

If there's dust in the carb then there will be dust in the crank case, mixed with a bit of oil.......

The more I think about it.............hmm...not good.

[Cracker]

Good info on filters and the consequenses of saw dust in the engine.

 

Air Filters on Pro Saws

[Rob D]

Has anyone used the Stihl HD filter?

 

If there's dust in the carb then there will be dust in the crank case, mixed with a bit of oil.......

The more I think about it.............hmm...not good.

 

Not used it - what does the HD stand for and where can you buy?

[elfinwood saws]

HD = heavy duty and they are a stihl part.