Free firewood ?

[rabler]

I have run 10% ethanol gas in my Stihl MS290 for more than ten years with no problems with either starting or running. I run the saw for two days each Summer, cutting the year's supply of firewood and then only a couple of times during the year for yard work or windfall cleanup. I don't bother about running the saw dry or adding stabilizer.

Either you're lucky or I'm not. And we're both using the same make saws, although I burned up my MS290 a few years ago after 15 years, cleaning up after a hurricane in coastal Georgia. Actually never had gas-related problems with the saws but I've had to replace the carbs on Stihl leaf blowers and trimmers though from gummed up carbs. A thorough disassembly and cleaning of the carb may have done the trick but that was pre-retirement.

Next you'll tell me you've never had problems with algae in diesel fuel either!

 

[RJSakowski]

Either you're lucky or I'm not. And we're both using the same make saws, although I burned up my MS290 a few years ago after 15 years, cleaning up after a hurricane in coastal Georgia. Actually never had gas-related problems with the saws but I've had to replace the carbs on Stihl leaf blowers and trimmers though from gummed up carbs. A thorough disassembly and cleaning of the carb may have done the trick but that was pre-retirement.

Next you'll tell me you've never had problems with algae in diesel fuel either!

Diesel doesn't stay around long enough for algae to grow. I do have a problem with algae in my minnow tank though.

 

[rabler]

Diesel doesn't stay around long enough for algae to grow. I do have a problem with algae in my minnow tank though.

I use a transfer tank so I can get 100 gallons at a time. Filling 30 gallon tanks on the equipment with 5 gallon tanks is tedious and irritates the wife with the ensuing odor in the laundry. Haven't had a problem since retiring and moving, but in the high humidity of coastal Ga a transfer tank will accumulate a bit of water from condensation in the bottom pretty easily, which contributes significantly to algae growth rate. I've kept a bit of diesel biocide around ever since. As I'm sure you know, diesels are notoriously intolerant of fuel system issues.

 

[RJSakowski]

We only have a 35 hp diesel tractor and it is used only to rototill the garden in the Spring and for moving snow in the winter. Four 5 gallon tanks will pretty much get us through the year. All other implements have gas engines.

 

[tq60]

The sthil branded oil mix has some very good stabilizer in it.

Our first 2 gallon batch lasted 3 years before we used it all up.

Never any issues.

This is on Calofornia gas.

We now use their synthetic as it doubles the warranty time.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[cathead]

My choice for chain saws are the older Stihl saws. I have an assortment of them and use an 028 for lighter work
and an 038 or 046 for bigger stuff. I run non ethanol fuel only in a 50 to 1 mix of outboard motor oil. Occasionally I
will have to disassemble the carb and fuel system as well as grease the roller bearings on the clutch and bar tip.
Chain saw maintenance is a routine thing for me since I do a lot of sawing. I keep extra carb kits in my shop.

This is what I use to sharpen chains:

This is the chain saw sharpener I keep in the back of my truck in case I need it. I also have one made by McCullough that I got at a
junk sale for a dollar that is my favorite go to tool though. I set the file at 10 degrees down and 30 across and sharpen all the left hand
teeth at one time and reset the tool for the right side. It takes maybe 4 minutes to complete the job. Routine touch up removes only
a small amount of metal using only maybe two to three strokes of the file for each tooth. A badly dulled chain may require at least
a half dozen strokes per tooth. I try not to go there with my own set of rules. Very important is that if there is any dirt on a log to have
the dirt on the exit side of the chain so the abrasives are not dragged though the cut. The same goes for sawmilling. Also,
sawing mostly through a log on the ground and rotating it 180 degrees to sever is important to keep the saw sharp.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Around here it is getting hard to find a home insurance agency that will insure a house if there is anything woodburning on the property. That's more of an issue for us than the EPA.

Mine never asked, I never told.