help to id this stihl

[iroczu]

hey everyone I bought this stihl for $6 and from what i can id by the air filter and filter housing design knob it appears to be a 038 family line but any insight would be great as i need to rebuild the motor thanks everyone

[ZeroJunk]

I think you are on the right track. Measure the bore and wrist pin diameter.

[thecfarm]

iroczu,welcome to the forum. Serial #,model # on a silver tag somewheres?

[sablatnic]

Looks like a 038 to me.

About serial number.
Look at the horizontal flat to the right of the muffler.

[SawTroll]

Look for part numbers on major parts (not the clutch cover), the first four digits will give us a good clue. At least to me it isn't 100% clear if it is an 038 or a 028.

To find out exactly which variant, measure the bore diameter.

[sablatnic]

Saw Troll is right, the parts are coded. If the first four digits in the air filter number are 1118, it is a 028, if they are 1119, it is a 038.

Or you can weigh it. If the power head is like 12 lbs, it is a 028, if it is 15 lbs, it is a 038.

Anyway, a good catch!

[iroczu]

I'm not near the saw but I think the number stamped near muffler was 1146 if that helps ?

[JohnG28]

I believe you are right about the air filter screw being an 038. I can't seem to recall at the moment but I believe the 028 screw is a little different.

[iroczu]

Was the 038 a good family line? I've been slowly getting into collecting but all McCulloch's and my every day saw is a ms270

[SawTroll]

I believe you are right about the air filter screw being an 038. I can't seem to recall at the moment but I believe the 028 screw is a little different.

I agree that it most likely is an 038, but those filter cover screws varied a little, by version, or time, or maybe both - based on the pictures I have. The one on that saw still is a strong indicator that it is an 038 though.

[SawTroll]

Was the 038 a good family line? I've been slowly getting into collecting but all McCulloch's and my every day saw is a ms270

This likely is an early 61cc 038Av (61cc) or Super (67cc), and those were heavy for the power output even by early 1980s standard. They mainly are collectors items.

[HolmenTree]

Definitely a 038. Appears to have a poly fuel tank so is not a early alloy tank model. Also not a a newer magnum because doesn't have the wider fuel tank at the fuel cap area. Also this saw doesn't have the wide style sprocket cover.
It does have the early style fuel/oil caps.
I figure it's either the 61cc standard or 67cc Super. Pull the muffler and caliper piston to determine c.c.displacement. 61cc-48mm. 67cc-50mm bore.
Magnum is 72cc-52mm bore.

[iroczu]

Definitely a 038. Appears to have a poly fuel tank so is not a early alloy tank model. Also not a a newer magnum because doesn't have the wider fuel tank at the fuel cap area. Also this saw doesn't have the wide style sprocket cover.
It does have the early style fuel/oil caps.
I figure it's either the 61cc standard or 67cc Super. Pull the muffler and caliper piston to determine c.c.displacement. 61cc-48mm. 67cc-50mm bore.
Magnum is 72cc-52mm bore.

I'm assuming youvare referring to measuring the exhaust port? And good news! I emailed stihl last week and it is confirmed from the serial number it is a 038  now I emailed them back if they have on file at all as to what model of a 038 it is, and its from 1985 they said too

[iroczu]

Anyway, a good catch!

Thanks I come across a few saws a summer where I work actually this one came in with a 041 but it looked rough so I tossed it threw gas in this one and she came to life but only turned 100psi on the compression test I would like to find a 100+cc stihl or McCulloch labelled.

Biggest to date I have a 80 or 82 cc with 36 inch bar pm8200 McCulloch but I need a jug piston and ring so to say the least its been parked since last summer

[HolmenTree]

Iroc, you measure the cylinder bore through the exhaust port,  I didnt say measure the exhaust port :D

[iroczu]

Lol I know that's why I was double checking :p

[ZeroJunk]

If you are going to rebuild it anyway you might as well pop the top. If it is a Standard or Super you can't put a Magnum top end on it, not without a lot of work anyway.

[Paul_H]

This likely is an early 61cc 038Av (61cc) or Super (67cc), and those were heavy for the power output even by early 1980s standard. They mainly are collectors items.

There are still many of these saws used by people cutting firewood and clearing their property in our area.They hold up quite nicely and the ones we see coming through the shop are generally in for a check over.
Heavy seems to be a relative term,what might be heavy for a office jockey isn't for a logger.

[HolmenTree]

Well said Paul. The 038 series is today still a very poplar model. So poplar that outside North America its modernized as the MS380 with side chain tensioner and other up grades.

[SawTroll]

Well said Paul. The 038 series is today still a very poplar model. So poplar that outside North America its modernized as the MS380 with side chain tensioner and other up grades.

MS381 by now.

[HolmenTree]

Well said Paul. The 038 series is today still a very poplar model. So poplar that outside North America its modernized as the MS380 with side chain tensioner and other up grades.

MS381 by now.

Long live the 038 8)

[SawTroll]

Well, the 380 and 381 are developments of the 038 Magnum IIs (72cc), and not the AV or Super.

[Paul_H]

You got up at 3;30 am in Norway to post that? Go back to bed  :D

[sablatnic]

Maybe he was on his way to bed. Like me!

:D

[HolmenTree]

Well, the 380 and 381 are developments of the 038 Magnum IIs (72cc), and not the AV or Super.

The 72cc 038 Magnum was a development from the original 1980 038AV. I bought my first  72cc Magnum early 1985 My first 67cc Super in 1983 and first 61cc 038AV in 1980.
Their all from the same family.

[SawTroll]

You got up at 3;30 am in Norway to post that? Go back to bed  :D

Was up anyway!

[ZeroJunk]

It's like the 056's are the same family. But there again the Magnum has differences in the crankcase.

[SawTroll]

It's like the 056's are the same family. But there again the Magnum has differences in the crankcase.

yes, but it doesn't take much work to put a Magnum top end on a Super. I don't know how much it takes on the 038.

[ZeroJunk]

 You have to slot the cylinder screw holes, maybe mill out some of the crankcase for piston clearance. Big thing would be getting everything centered. I have never done it and don't know how difficult it would be.

To me it is just something you just have to want to do.

[HolmenTree]

Randy [Mastermind] has done it.


http://youtu.be/LS32WvKP7Jw

[HolmenTree]

The last 038 Mag I bought was in 1985, in 1986 I was looking at buying another for a logging saw. But by then the 064 was introduced.
It didn't take me long to decide which one to buy.
The first 064's on the market in 1986 sported 85cc, 6.5 h.p at 14.1 lb........lighter then todays MS460's.
Versus the 038 Magnum at 72cc, 4.8h.p. and weighing in at 14.6 lbs.

I was logging as a faller on piecework pay rate...... felling, limbing and topping small to medium sized timber for 2 line skidders on level ground..... the 064 with 18"-20" b/c was the superior choice over the 038 Mag.

[ZeroJunk]

Yeah, Randy is pretty sharp. Has the tools too.

It's just not like putting an 036 cylinder kit on an 034 etc., which even a dummy like me can do.

[iroczu]

Well let's bring back the dead! I never ended up buying that last saw as I wanted to, but.... I did pick up a 038 super locally the other weekend. Seen better days cosmetically, meet the seller it ran so purchased it, $150cdn which I thought wasnt bad when a couple days earlier I was bored and was goong to drive 4 hours to pick up a ms390 for $300cdn    but the seller backed out to meeting up last minute. So... this 038 super had a worn out and wrong bar on it, wrong chain for the bar also. Brought it home picked up a 25 inch bar and a stihl rsf chain retuned the carb and runs decent hard starter so going to rebuild the carb and replace impulse and fuel lines. Ran it through some fire wood did great, ran it through a 21 inch cotton wood against dads 2 year old ms291 with same bar and chain combo and did good 5 seconds faster, and did a compression test on a cold cylinder and produced 130 psi so not horrible but not great

009L with the 038avs before changing the bar. My only now 2 goto saws 


 

 

[sawguy21]

I wish they still offered the 009L, great firewood saw.

[iroczu]

I wish they still offered the 009L, great firewood saw.

It's been a great saw so far have had it for the last 3 years, comes hunting and quadding with me also due to how reliable it has been.  But also why picked  up the 038super since my pm610 kicked the bucket the 009L was taking too much time felling and  bucking for the little bit of fire wood I do cut, so the 038 certainly hauls some ass especially with the 25 inch bar and skip tooth

[Al_Smith]

The 038 series is likely one of the better designs Stihl ever made .As far as weight I'm one day short of 72 years old and I don't find them overly  heavy 
These are not the trim the apple tree in the back yard once a year types  .When they were made from the info I've heard they were front line felling saws in the PNW on the second growth timber on the slopes from previous old growth  that required much larger saws . 
They are robust and short of straight gassing them kind of hard to kill but will require a rebuild eventually and when that happens parts are available .I know Stihl made a million of them and they will likely be in service for decades to come .My favorite of course is the 72 cc Stihl 038 Magnum . 

[iroczu]

I may rebuild it when I get bored and something to do, I was looking at magnum  top ends or found reputable after market kit made for the 038 super bolt pattern but a big bore boosting it to 72cc instead of the 71? Magnum top end, in all reality I dont need any bigger and I rarely need anything his size to start with but since my promac died I got accustomed to mid sized saws even for fire wood or helping dad split his logs for chainsaw carving  and I found the 009L works but takes considerably longer lol plus .... I'm horrible for tinkering with things 😂 shes old, shea not pretty  but it defintely hauls some ass. 
For anyone bored and want to see the ms291 vs 038 super both 25 inch bars both equipped with the stihl rsf chains both new heres the link to the video

Stihl Ms291 vs stihl 038av super - YouTube

[Al_Smith]

 ;) Nice vid but I could have predicted the out come before I saw the vid clip . 8)

[iroczu]

Lol ya it defintely wasnt going to be rocket science, thought then 038 would have pulled away a bit quicker though

[Al_Smith]

It doesn't take much to get some more pep out of any of the 038 models .I've got an AV plus a Mag I've added a little soup to .I also have a completely stock 038 Mag I rebuilt having served over 20 years of hard service for a tree company .It does a good job also .

[iroczu]

Ya I mean I'm not tossing great compression numbers but could be alot worst when I get bored I may order that top end kit I was mentioning, but way it sits piston is clean as heck, cylinder appears to have minor scoring but with its age its also expected. I'll clean it up bit by bit probably be the last 2 saws i buy unless find a good deal on a 440 or 660 which i really absolutely do not need but ... bigger  is always better even if you use it only for bragging rights 😂 around my area this 038 is more then enough for someone like myself