low power on new chainsaw, suggestions

[Czlowiek Drzewo]

Little it worrying though.

 

Good starting out with small saw..but has someone through all the safe practices of using a chainsaw?

 

Just if you struggle with basic maintainance then chances are someone has not shown you everything you need to know.

 

get yourself on small safety and maintainance course sounds like go idea.

 

be safe.

[MattyF]

saws need atleast 4 tanks of fuel before they bed them selfs in and reach full power.....no offence but thats not a powerfull saw any how and if its blunt it will be worse!

[fandrover]

Thanks guys

No offence taken at any suggestions as Im ugly enough to have become thick skinned! ;-)

 

To answer a few questions/suggestions....

 

A £200 course would be great but if I could afford that I would have bought a better saw.

I have followed the manual and understand it.

I use the same two stroke mix as Ive always used, 1x100ml stihl oil to 1x5l can.

Oil level is going down when in use and have checked as the manual says that there is a spray pattern.

Checked the chain tension, its similar to how I have it on the husky and as in manual.

 

Must admit that I neglected to make sure that the oil is reaching the end of the blade so will double check the blade,groove and roller today.

I had considered that the blade may need sharpening but I would have expected it to gradually decrease in abillity rather than being great, put away for 2 weeks then pretty useless?

Revs when not cutting are still pretty high but it does seem to have less grunt, even the Mrs (who is as technical as I am dainty!) says "it sounds different to last time". Obviuosly this could be in our minds due to knowing something isnt right.

 

Thanks again guys, anymore suggestions really welcome as its irritating that I cant get the time to return it yet

 

Mark

[Steve Bullman]

a tiny bit of grit on the very last piece you cut the time before is enough to dull the saw enough mate

[fandrover]

Fair point, I guess it may be worth investing in the specific stihl sharpening file rather than what I have already.

Cheers Mark

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Smoke from the bar tip sounds like the classic symptoms of a solid nose bar but I'm assuming such a saw only comes with a sprocket nose. Are you sure the chain matches the bar and sprocket? I was once sold a brand new saw and they put the wrong chain i.e. a 1.5 into a 1.4 bar and it obviously ran like you're describing. I was cranking the oiler up, you name it before it dawned on me - didn't expect it so didn't check...

[Steve Bullman]

any file is fine, so long as its the right guage

[geoff]

Shot in the dark, is bar groove pinched, rev saw to turn chain for a minute, turn off saw,feel round bar for hot spot/pinch,check bar groove gauge all round, also is any shaving trapped under chain brake coil

[Josephine Hedger]

It doesnt have to be a stihl file, but it must be correct file size, eg 5/32. Correct filing angles and lengths need to be maintained for correct working corner on each cutter.

 

As said before a tiny bit of dirt when last used will be enough to effect the performance, esspecially if its a chisel chain.

 

Also are you using bio degradable chain oil? If so, if your saw is left for a long time, and you didnt clean it out last time before you put it away, then the oil gets very sticky and gloopy and effects the drive mechanisim/bar and chain. Try cleaning it all out if you use bio.

[porky]

Could it be the spark arrestor filter, if fitted, on the exhaust clogged? Had that on a few Stihl machines over the years.