Vintage Small Chainsaws - the Good, the Bad and the No Good

In this video I share some of my vintage small chainsaws and talk about the good ones, the bad ones and the no good ones. I share the positives and negatives about each saw.

[@jeffstacy748]

I agree with you. Love my old McCulloch. Thanks for sharing your collection. Very interesting.

[@garysheren9353]

Excellent video so much information, I could watch this all day thank you.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

Thanks for the kind comment.

[@j.chrisbeck7492]

From my father's collection of old model engines, there were 3-4 of this O and R engine you had in your hand, and all still ran.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

The fact that they ran means they werent used much, as these little saws and engines had poor carburetors , poor ignition systems and weak starters. They are quite interesting, and a part of history, so dont use them, and have them for display only. I have two engines that are new old stock, and the carbs and magnetos have gone bad just from setting. Still, I like having them around for conversation pieces.

[@j.chrisbeck7492]

@@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156 True they weren't used much, my dad was only like 12-13 years old and learning to fly model planes, think he crashed them shortly after building them. For him, I think he enjoyed the building more than the flying at that point. He solo-ed in a Piper Cub at the age of 16.

[@alanreynolds2125]

thank you for your time!

[@mikedaugharty5544]

great history lesson!! mac did really set the mark in chainsaws in the era, noisy but great power and longevity. love the pm-6 best for limbing and 6" down bucking.just got an 850 cant wait to try on some bucking. thanks sir!!

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

Thanks for the comment. I have never had an 800 or 850, most were used in the forestry industry around here, and were used up. Would like to get one someday.

[@johnclarke6647]

I use my ms 460 or 440 for most big bucking. They will blow through 25 inch oak or hickory. What I have to watch out for is getting the tip into the dirt cutting through 25 inch trees. They both have 24 inch bars and Oregon LGX chain ( full comp, full chisel). If you do, just cut the saw off and grab another one until you resharpen the chain.

[@naturundhund]

😎 Cool Chainsaw.

[@frankserra6709]

Very interesting seeing the evolution of the chainsaw and these vintage ones that you have there.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

Chain saws were made starting in the mid 30,s, but didnt really come in their own till right after WW 2. The Tillotson HL carburetor, that could pump and meter fuel at the same time, and make the saws so they could run in any position, and the start of the light one man saw, was what made saws useful for pro, farmer and homeowner markets.

[@bonzaibarty]

Good video, thank you!

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

Glad you liked it!

[@williamlalo3759]

Cool old chainsaws. I have a mini mac 6. Runs good but needs a bar and chain

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

The bars and chain are easy to find on EBAY. Early mini macs had 1/4 inch pitch chain and the later ones use 3/8 in. low profile chain. Thanks for watching

[@JourneyNorthAK]

1010 is awesome. My only small vintage saw is a homelite super 2 double trigger. 👍👍

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

I had two of the super 2s, and gave them to my boys. Been in use for years. Very good little saws.

[@kevinc.8869]

Just picked up my first Mini Mac today. Perfect condition still in the case with all the manuals.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

great find !

[@kevinc.8869]

@@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156 Its apparently a mini mac35 with an autosharp feature. The serial number is 11-37544. Does this mean it was the 44th saw made on the 3rd of November of 1975?

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

Probably not !

[@kevinc.8869]

@@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156 I will see if I can find a better way to decode the numbers if that's even possible.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

II have never found anyone who had McCulloch production data. I have a copy of the spread sheet that lists all the models and IPL numbers, but there is no reference as to dates. @@kevinc.8869

[@jeffreyrubish347]

I subbed recently. Ironhorse has mentioned you a few times so here I am. I have just my first one and only saw, a 1998 Husqvarna 261, but thinking about getting an old Mac for back up.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

welcome. If you get the right Mac, the Husky will most likely become your back up saw!

[@jeffreyrubish347]

@@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156 Could be! I was thinking a 10-10 but Ebay prices are up there. Maybe a nice Mini Mac 6 for under $100 shipped would do it.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

I would recommend a Pro Mac 610, as they are more common and usually fairly inexpensive. Might try Craigslist.@@jeffreyrubish347

[@musselmansgarage8849]

I love my old poulans always start for my my problem is getting parts

[@johnclarke6647]

I have a 32-16 that is like new. I call it One Pull Charlie, for the obvious reasons. It is a cased saw. All I have done to it was lube the sprocket bearing and run it. I run premium non- ethanol in every saw I own. It is used with Echo Red Armor at 50:1. My saws do not run 13-14,000. I limit my saws to 12,600-12,800.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

I have never used the echo oil, but a lot of Stihl and Husky owners prefer it to the OE oils.

[@johnclarke6647]

@@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156 I like it because it has excellent lubricity and is very clean burning. It is JASO FD certified. Stihl Ultra is the dirtiest oil I have ever used but it is a good oil, just dirty. I would use Citgo Snow and Sea but can’t find a supplier for it. It is FD certified, too. I ran StaMix for years at 40:1 but now run everything at 50:1. I get Echo Red Armor from Home Depot because I get my 10% discount. I like Echo Bar Oil, too, because it is cheaper than Stihl bar oil and flows better in cold weather than Stihl bar oil. I get it at Home Depot, too.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

Since I dont own any modern saws anymore, I use partial synthetic in my old saws. Runs clean, no carbon or ash build up,s. Stihl and Husky bar oil,s are the worst.@@johnclarke6647

[@bobbynash282]

Thats really cool. I like what you done there. An you've got a nice collection. Bet id bet you got a bunch not shown. Another video another day.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

I will continue to do vdeos of different vintage chainsaws in action over time. Good to hear from you again.

[@aldredske6197]

Is that a pro mac 125 at the end. How many saws do you actually have?? Who is going to end up with your collection when you can't use them anymore? Love your videos!! Keep them coming!! Logger Al

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

The big Mac is a model 795 of 103cc made in 1969. It is the same saw as a SP 125 with less displacement. I am lucky to have family members that like the old equipment and will eventually put the machinery in their collections.

[@aldredske6197]

@@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156 :) Thanks for the info on the Mac. Really glad to hear that there is someone to take over the collection and not just throw them away. Take care my friend!!😀😀 Logger Al

[@alanreynolds2125]

love those cox engines i have many as a modeller of some 50+years, and still at it!! p.s do you run them???

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

When I was growing up I had some uncles that were into model airplanes, and we flew with them a lot. In the early 1980s I started collecting old model airplane motors and flew with a bunch of oldtimers that flew free flight with vintage motors. They disbanded when they lost the flight area, but I kept my old motors. I have a nice small collection of Cox motors, as they were the ones I flew the most. I do run them once in awhile, and just finishing up a 1/2a control line plane to fly.

[@alanreynolds2125]

@@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156 I can see we have a lot in common! did a lot of lining in my early years combat was my thing, still have a few but the thought of going round & round at 60 years is just too much! so will stick with my 20+ rc aeroplanes. and tending my 200+ engines. just finishing off a 80s Flair Magnitlla. I also have collected a number of old McCulloch strimmers and blowers when for my garden one would be more than enough! drives my wife mad! as my old saying goes he who dies with the most toys wins!! take care Alan.

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

We used to fly combat too, but we spent so much time crashing and fixing them we eventually just bought planes that had solid wings, fuselage etc. With a cox .049 they were slow and easy to fly, if you crashed,they were held together with rubber bands, and in a few minutes and new rubber bands, they were ready to fly. They were slow, and if the wind came up, they would stop in mid-air, the lines go slack and would hit the ground. We would put cox tee dee .049 on them to hop them up. Great Fun!