Tim Girvin
New member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2025
- Messages
- 1
5 saws, all clones! I know, blasphemy, but it is what I can afford, and I enjoy fixing them. Auto mechanic for 40 years. Only started into saws 4 years ago, and have been learning a lot. Would love to have a genuine Stihl, Husky or Echo to compare, but maybe sometime.
Built the first MS660 clone from a kit, using a Hyway BB popup cylinder. In retrospect, it made good power, but not a real beast. Blew the base gasket after about 8 months, replaced with metal. Blown it up twice since then due to failed big end rod bearing. Didn't notice it the first time (stoooopid), promptly zorched another cylinder. Replaced all with a cross mmws, new crank and bearings. The cylinder had a wierd ridge at the top, so I chucked up and cut it out. Ended up with .038 squish, but still have to use decomp for starting. All good so far. Nice power, easy starting.
2nd a zenoah clone and haven't touched it. Dead reliable, but pretty wimpy! Really likes to be warmed up.
3rd an MS380 return saw from 2 strokin. He'd gone through it, runs very well and been extremely reliable, except it blew the paper base gasket after about a year. Measured the squish and made a new one out of .015" shim stock for about .025" squish. Wow! HUGE difference. Pulls a 24 bar no problem. Definitely behind the 660's, but great for long cutting sessions because of the lighter weight.
4th a returned 660. Clutch had popped a piece off and jammed the pull start. Went through and loctited everything, new clutch, no other issues. Haven't had to make any repairs since.
5th another return 660. A bit more involved. Fuel leak from the tank vent. Had a piece of crap in it. Broken clutch spring, replaced. Vacuum leak! Found porosity in the cylinder where the carb intake neck meets the cylinder. Cleaned it up really well and mixed up - JB WELD!!!!. Applied and vacuumed the cylinder to pull it into the porosity. Let it set for a couple of days. Retested, leak gone. Reassembled and put a 24" bar on it. My fave saw now. Lighter, and reliable. Rechecked vacuum after a couple of cords and still holding. Tune has held really well, too.
Wife said I must stop buying them, the ole battleaxe!!!
We average about 12 to 15 cords a year. Real 4' x 4' x 8' cords, running a boiler to heat water, 1600ft house and 1600ft shop.
Built the first MS660 clone from a kit, using a Hyway BB popup cylinder. In retrospect, it made good power, but not a real beast. Blew the base gasket after about 8 months, replaced with metal. Blown it up twice since then due to failed big end rod bearing. Didn't notice it the first time (stoooopid), promptly zorched another cylinder. Replaced all with a cross mmws, new crank and bearings. The cylinder had a wierd ridge at the top, so I chucked up and cut it out. Ended up with .038 squish, but still have to use decomp for starting. All good so far. Nice power, easy starting.
2nd a zenoah clone and haven't touched it. Dead reliable, but pretty wimpy! Really likes to be warmed up.
3rd an MS380 return saw from 2 strokin. He'd gone through it, runs very well and been extremely reliable, except it blew the paper base gasket after about a year. Measured the squish and made a new one out of .015" shim stock for about .025" squish. Wow! HUGE difference. Pulls a 24 bar no problem. Definitely behind the 660's, but great for long cutting sessions because of the lighter weight.
4th a returned 660. Clutch had popped a piece off and jammed the pull start. Went through and loctited everything, new clutch, no other issues. Haven't had to make any repairs since.
5th another return 660. A bit more involved. Fuel leak from the tank vent. Had a piece of crap in it. Broken clutch spring, replaced. Vacuum leak! Found porosity in the cylinder where the carb intake neck meets the cylinder. Cleaned it up really well and mixed up - JB WELD!!!!. Applied and vacuumed the cylinder to pull it into the porosity. Let it set for a couple of days. Retested, leak gone. Reassembled and put a 24" bar on it. My fave saw now. Lighter, and reliable. Rechecked vacuum after a couple of cords and still holding. Tune has held really well, too.
Wife said I must stop buying them, the ole battleaxe!!!
We average about 12 to 15 cords a year. Real 4' x 4' x 8' cords, running a boiler to heat water, 1600ft house and 1600ft shop.
