Let's Cut Wood With A Giant Of Old - Homelite Super XL Automatic Chainsaw

Come into the woods with a real blast from the past, the Homelite Super XL Auto. I'm playing with a piece of Hickory that was an off cut of a larger log after bucking it up. The Homelite was a beast in it's day and used by many pro loggers. The automatic stands for auto oiling and it is a true giant of it's day that helped shape the modern saws of today.

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

I bought 25 chainsaws at a estate auction last Sunday. One is a XL automatic. Fresh gas and it started and ran great. Already used it to cut firewood.

[@tonymayhew191]

I don't mean to sound like a know it all, but I do own 135 chainsaws and I am pretty good at dialing them in! So, if you don't mind me saying? You're chain is way too tight brother! With as high of idle as you're saw is turned up that chain should have been spinning at a pretty good clip! You're clutch is already engaged at that fast of idle so you're cooking the clutch! You need to have it droop in the middle but not enough to where you can see the point on the drive links. The chain is going to tighten up about 10 seconds after dipping it into the wood, so start out with it a little bit loose and cut for about 20 seconds and stop and then check the slack in the chain, your slack you started out with will be gone! I promise you it will. Your saw was laboring in the cut and creating unwanted heat doing that. 😉

[@jtjones4727]

Wow. Awesome. I have that exact saw in my shop, my dad left it to me. I remember him telling me the story of how he bought it new 50 something almost 60 years ago, brand new for $500 bucks. That must have been a lot of money back in the 60s or 70s.

[@primarchxi6639]

Old Homelite for ever!!

[@thecollectoronthecorner7061]

Last Monday I scored several saws and two boat motors. One Saw I really wanted. Its a 64 Super XL 12. A 58 CC saw no auto oiling. Originally had a wick fuel system that been converted. It has the early wierd spark plug.

[@b01tact10n]

Great video, I love these old saws, I think they are still competitive with today's market as old as they are. This guy I respect for how well he treats his equipment.😁👍 I usually run an 18" MS250 STIHL saw. I got a handed down Super XL 20"saw, it's been drained, cleaned and sharpened. I use it every now and then. Also when I go logging up the Yukon on snowmobile and hasn't let me down. Bulletproof legendary reliability when taken care of😁

[@gregwooldridge8864]

My father just passed away leaving me 4 never used homelite chainsaws. They are old . 1 eletric. 1 xl. 1 sxl. 4050 20 inch bar. Can't wait to cut the winter fire wood.

[@ValiManeanu-sp7ex]

Homelite made great saws, some model like xl76 and xl925 are legendary. Honestly I don't rank them at the same level with old mcculloch saws (models before 1978) which for me were by far the best chainsaws ever made but homelites were in 2nd place no doubt.

[@coffeeandlifting]

Awesome. I just picked up one of these for $30. Fired right up and runs perfectly. Came with a smoked 24" bar, but I'm gonna put a 20" on it. I don't see any major deficiency with these old saws except for maybe power/weight ratio and fuel economy.

[@EightWheelsRollin]

Cool vid! Gotta love the Super XL, solid firewood chainsaw. I have a few myself..

[@Super94BIGFOOT]

I just picked one up today for $80 with a gallon of chain/bar oil and some mix. Thing runs like a top and almost completely original paint intact, cant wait to put it through some logs!

[@higherthanthepoliceallow]

What is the mixing ratio of oil and petrol? Because I got exactly the same one from my grandfather and I don‘t know exactly what kind of mixture it needs.

[@bubbaray575]

​@@higherthanthepoliceallow 50:1 is fine provided you use a quality 2 cycle oil. Most manufacturers have the small premeasured bottles you just pour in a gallon of gasoline. Been using Amsoil Sabre for years and it's very good quality. Recommend you use only ethanol free gas for all two cycle engines. Good luck and safety first.

[@bravesirrobbin6865]

​@@higherthanthepoliceallowI wouldn't run less than 40:1 in these old saws. Their main bearings are needle bearings which require more lubrication . Unlike modern saws that have ball bearings. Also parts are getting harder to find and more expensive, so you wan't to give your saw the maximum protection you can. I run 32:1 just to give me peace of mind .

[@napalmjack]

Your saw will cut better and run smoother if the chain is loosened just slightly, i always set mine up so thst two teeth barely rest below the guide so that theres some slack and after some use when it finally stretches out i retighten it.

[@oldbowsaw9001]

Hard to beat a xl-12 classic well made--I have a few!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jonnysnipes3123]

I had a few of those that got passed onto me from my grandfather. I decided to take it with me one summer in my early 20s to cut a whole days worth of firewood up and man did I regret that. Reason being the saw is so damn heavy after an hour of use lol other than that it’s the most indestructible chainsaw I’ve ever used in my life. I only use it for camp fire type stuff now. I’ve learned my lesson using it as a primary number one saw to go and not bringing a backup

[@lukereynolds9907]

How weak are you thinking there heavy you spaghetti arms 🤔

[@oldbowsaw9001]

20 ???--I am 60 and run them hard-no problem!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jonnysnipes3123]

@@lukereynolds9907 you ever cut all day with with one lol, especially with the stack on them they are Loud and heavy after 2 hours

[@paulmaxwell8851]

@@jonnysnipes3123 Yeah, they ARE both loud and heavy (I'm only 140 lbs) but I love my 1973 Homelite XL-12. It has become my main firewood saw, backed up by my 1981 Stihl 028AV. Almost exactly the same weight, at seventeen pounds, but quieter. I just love these old saws. Even my wife thinks the Homelite sounds cool!

[@jimknowlton342]

Big log for a 60cc class saw to get through quick. Kind of a lot to ask of it.

[@motordiverse1276]

I have the same...though it has little different colors. Great saw amd I also have the 660 XL that is bigger, but looks very similar. Both runs good and will for the next hundreds of years he he. Enviromental friends as we are ! :-) Nice made clip ! .-)

[@sirtango1]

The xl 12 no load runs around 9,000 rpm. Under load 6,000 rpm. Slow and Very loud! But also very dependable!

[@BrucesShop]

I just rebuilt a Homelite XP 1020 100cc baby.

[@hankwells8723]

Need to adjust the high idle mine screams compared to yours

[@gatafish]

How much is this chainsaw worth now a days? I used one from the 7th grade until a junior in college heating our house in the 80s. And I just cut some wood with it today. Mine has the bow blade on it.

[@oldbowsaw9001]

I love a bow on it--the only way to cut wood on the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@allenbowick4716]

@@oldbowsaw9001 No pinchy & back saver. Just be on your game & respect that bar more than any other.

[@pallmall5495]

Heavy,loud,and slow.But still beats a misery whip.

[@jamesbradley2468]

What was the serial for the bar you used? I have one that runs like a top and i cant find a bar to save my life

[@alexhickey5633]

Was running mine today. Nothing comes close to the homelite sound

[@higherthanthepoliceallow]

What us the mixing ratio of oil and petrol? Because I got exactly the same one from my grandfather and I don‘t know exactly what kind of mixture it needs.

[@RubberDuc]

I've always run 50:1, works for me.

[@paulmaxwell8851]

Homelite recommended 32:1 back in the day, but two-stroke oils are far, far better today. All my chainsaw collector friends say 50:1 is OK.

[@mick5740]

Iv got a blue homelite xl I want to get running and a bigger bar on it

[@francescoseverin9962]

Hi, it really is a beautiful chainsaw. Can you tell me the code / model of the Oregon bar?

[@RubberDuc]

Hi, it was an Oregon 240RNDD

[@francescoseverin9962]

@@RubberDuc Thanks

[@lucaslounsbury8515]

D176mount code

[@timothybehnke1067]

@@RubberDuc Hi guys, just got one of these myself. Wonderin what the whole number is, my distributor needs the last numbers for the bar and bolt size? When I look this up I get Part# 240RNDD025 but my guys says that won't fit??? Thx

[@professor9595]

How much oil needs?

[@stihlms400cm3]

❤Beautiful Homelite Chainsaw, l have my Dad’s Homelite C52 , would that Oregon Bar mount fit the C52, thanks and I just subscribed !!!

[@RubberDuc]

Not sure about that, I actually called Oregon and talked to them and they recommended the bar for me I think. Nice people just give them a call, good luck.

[@stihlms400cm3]

Thanks for reply, l sure will ❤

[@rickygarrett6508]

This might be late but if memory serves me correctly a c51 and c52 take a 404 chain instead of 3/8

[@stihlms400cm3]

@@rickygarrett6508 Thanks Ricky, not too late et all, that’s super helpful , love your no nonsense content, blessings to you and yours always !!!

[@Indeewoods]

I couldn’t see the video at first but could here the audio and can tell you your idle is to high or you have an air leak or something. 😂

[@FerociousSniper]

I bought one a couple days ago. Runs great. Haven't put it in the wood yet. It's got gobs of compression. What really surprised me is how sensitive and responsive the throttles are on these old saws. I'm used to my husky 50 special which doesn't have any response until you pull the trigger about halfway in.

[@tjlqk3]

Sorry but you need to feel a saw with "gobs" of compression of you think this has that.

[@FerociousSniper]

@@tjlqk3 bro. Chill the fuck out.

[@TheCrittercam001]

♥

[@tadghmaw7013]

Hi did you have to adapt that power cut bar or did it go straight on? Thanks

[@RubberDuc]

No customizing, Oregon 240RNDD just fits.

[@joew9392]

Sounds like an air leak..

[@hankwells8723]

Looks like youre cutting a really hard chunck too

[@hankwells8723]

You could get more top end out of if ya play with it

[@RubberDuc]

Yes I purposely have it tuned down rich b/c it is just an old fun saw for me and didn't want to risk blowing it up. I have a Stihl MS462 for real work 😀

[@hankwells8723]

Under load

[@hankwells8723]

Mine runs better 😂