homelite xl12 assembled and I'm not impressed at all😮‍💨

[@timothybyrom5560]

These saws are tractors,not Ferraris. They go,and go,like the energizer bunny. I enjoy cutting with them, but when I'm using on of these saws, I'm not worried about pure speed. A good sharp chain helps,but I'm there to enjoy the day.

[@victoryfirst2878]

I can tell you the the gullets on the chain should be filed so the chips are not hitting the bottom hook. Hickory wood is super hard, and the chips are a bit dusty more so than stringy and continuous somewhat. Also, this is a light saw, not really a powerhouse. Looks like it was doing its job.

[@motordiverse1276]

Pretty handsome and good saws...I would say ! :-) Get the chain in order. But it was not that bad...this bucking.

[@garymcmullin2292]

The chain does not have enough hook, factory grind or not it needs to be sharpened right. That saw platform is not a hot rod candidate. This idea of modifying saws for more speed seems an epidemic any more, you are far better off to stick with stock and make it as efficient as possible with maintenance and chain management. That old blue saw may seem a turd to you but it will work and work if you treat it right. Screwing with the set ignition timing, especially without any idea of where the degree advance actually is, begs for trouble. Look at it this way, any power saw is better than you pushing a hand saw. If you want more power get a bigger saw.

[@coffeeandlifting]

I would suspect that the single reed is holding back any gains from being made further downstream. The Super XL's are a better starting point. Bigger bore, and quad reeds. But they still suffer from very loose squish stock. I just did the base gasket delete on mine and called it a day after seeing the squish numbers. I'll wait till someone starts making a piston with a bigger dome for these. I would rather mod an EZ-Auto to be honest. With those you can get the squish down to around .030" and they have tons of compression.

[@jeremiahcox3151]

A piston from a pioneer 1200a will fit a super xl auto in every way. The tops on those is domed and just a tad higher

[@coffeeandlifting]

@@jeremiahcox3151 I've heard this, but 1200a pistons seems to be unavailable. Do you know where you can get one?

[@jeremiahcox3151]

@@coffeeandlifting I’m looking for one myself.

[@johnclarke6647]

It is a 54 cc saw, what did you expect? It is not a 60+ cc saw, but it will put firewood on the truck if it has a sharp chain. My first firewood saw was a .Homelite Zip over 40 years ago. It would not even stay with my MS 360 or 440 but it put a lot of wood in the truck with its 16 inch bar. I replaced it with a Poulan3400 with a 20” bow about 40years ago. The 3400was about as strong but it was lighter and more reliable. I have a ‘73 model XL12 in the shop but I also have better saws that are lighter than it, so it does not get a lot of use. However, the XL12 is reliable and will put firewood on the truck.

[@Aaron_A_Lynch]

It's hard to make them old saws go fast..I usually just leave them stock and enjoy them

[@kingsaws]

Ya that was I big waste of time lol doing a pioneer next . Hopeing for a better turnout

[@Aaron_A_Lynch]

@@kingsaws don't hold you breath...open port ..cant get compression up cus the piston will Freeport....p26..yeah..I did a 1074..same saw...not much to gain there

[@kingsaws]

@@Aaron_A_Lynch I got the numbers on it last night , kinda weird numbers in my opinion

[@timberslasher4899]

People around here used to cut timber and make a living with those around here back in the 70s until Stihl showed up on the scene. My dad said they used some Pioneer saws too but that they weren't much better than those Homelite xl saws...lol

[@kingsaws]

It seems to cut better than stock but not by much. I'm thinking about getting into the pioneer p26 I have sitting around . And it's hard to imagine cutting timber with an xl

[@Aaron_A_Lynch]

Hey..be careful what you say about pioneers

[@NothingButChainsaws]

It did improve after the tuning but I think it's the timing as well!

[@kingsaws]

Yall are probly right . But now I have no desire to mess with it lol. The plating in the cylinder is about had. And just wasn't my cup of tea that one

[@christopherwest5840]

8 pin sprocket will bring up the chain speed but the timing could still be wrong and losing power

[@tughillplateau2129]

Revisit the timing on that saw

[@garengtutorial8923]

👍👍

[@kingsaws]

If ya want to see it blow up. I just posted a video of it

[@ryansexton2475]

I need help tuning mine

[@melonboi186]

User error. You aren’t right in the head because those saws are so much better.

[@kingsaws]

I hate those saws It's not turning out how I wanted.It just gave me an excuse to burn it