1949 McCulloch 549

ktowne030311 · September 18, 2014, 12:27:23 AM

hey guys new here! I have a McCulloch 549. it is 100% complete and has good compression. i have started to take it apart to clean it up and get it going. does anyone have any info on these? proper air/fuel mixture setting? parts diagrams? ANYTHING would help.

thecfarm · September 18, 2014, 05:23:37 AM

ktowne030311,welcome to the forum. That's a beauty!

clww · September 18, 2014, 07:58:48 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum.

NICE old saw! 8) 8) 8)

ktowne030311 · September 20, 2014, 02:31:54 PM

Is ANYBODY out there!? ???

beenthere · September 20, 2014, 02:48:10 PM

Whoa.. getting a little excited? ;D

Maybe try to touch base with sponsor (see left column) Chainsawr to see if there are any info available.

But don't give up on some help from members here. They may be looking and searching for something that will help you. We're all about helping out when we can.

Pull up a chair and sit for awhile, and join in on some conversations. We can learn some from you, and a bit more about your "new" saw. Let's talk some.
As is, you rushed by too fast to get much from you. We really are a friendly bunch.

sawguy21 · September 20, 2014, 02:50:56 PM

Gimme a break, that thing is 65 years old fer cryin out loud even older than our resident Mac guru. ;D McCulloch has changed hands a number of times over the years, now owned by Husqvarna who won't know anything about this beast. As long as it has decent compression and spark set the needles 1 1/4 turns out +- , give it a spritz of gas, NOT starting fluid and let er rip. If you get lucky and it starts and keeps running, set the lo speed to just where it picks up cleanly off idle. Lean out the high speed to where it starts to hunt out of the cut. Oh, and wear ear muffs.

JohnG28 · September 20, 2014, 04:58:34 PM

I'm not sure you will find much in the way of part diagrams, or even parts for that matter. If taking it apart u suggest taking a lot of pictures as you go and being really careful not to break anything. Good luck!

ktowne030311 · September 21, 2014, 12:36:39 AM

i have scoured the internet and have found no information on these saws, with no luck. best i've found is a couple pictures and the history of McCulloch. i have been taking pictures as i go along. shes all apart, getting ready for some cleaning and polishing. ill post pics when finished. 8)

ktowne030311 · October 09, 2014, 11:06:23 PM

HAS ANYONE FOUND ANYTHING!?! :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

beenthere · October 10, 2014, 12:01:18 AM

I think we are waiting for you to start posting what you are finding. No need to wait until finished. We'd enjoy seeing you progress with your venture.
Maybe your pics will create a few helpful hints, suggestions, questions, etc. that will help you along.

Al_Smith · October 10, 2014, 05:04:10 AM

Getting a tad bit antsy there ? :D

I've got the IPL on micro fitche but I have no way to transfer the info to a file that can be sent via the internet .The name 5-49 was because the unit produced 5 HP and weighed 49 lbs .As I recall it came about during an experiment R P McCulloch was doing for research of super chargers which was his primary business prior to chainsaws .That's about the extent of my knowledge on that old saw except the fact it was painted sunburst yellow .Which BTW is the same color as OSHA safety yellow .

Somebody might come along and add some usefull info .In the mean take a chill pill ,Rome wasn't built in a day and that old saw has been around about as long as I have .It isn't going to wander off . ;)

ktowne030311 · October 11, 2014, 10:40:11 PM

thanks for the reply, in your manual does it say anything about tuning the intake? this variable valve intake set-up on this is pretty confusing ??? theres 2 screws, id assume lo and hi. any guidance as to what they are supposed to be set at?

Al_Smith · October 12, 2014, 07:59:15 PM

I looked at the IPL covering the model 5-49,7-55,12-25 and ,model 99 .

All are rotary valve engines,the mod 5-49 is 130 cc.Low compression 6.9 to one .

I can't figure out how in the world that carb works by looking at the IPL .It must though because I'm certain it ran at one time .I have no idea how you tune it .

Just as a word of advice if you disassemble that relic take lots of pictures because that thing has more parts than Carters' have little pills .

Now I just happened across another poster with a different name on another site fishing for the value on this same saw .It's worth what anyone is willing to give for it .Myself not much ,someone else maybe more .It's a relic and a historical artifact .Not something anybody it their right mind would use .A collectors item for some .--good luck---

ktowne030311 · October 17, 2014, 01:05:11 PM

thank you, if at all possible, would you be interested in selling a photo copy of the manual you have?

Al_Smith · October 17, 2014, 08:27:02 PM

Quote from: Al_Smith on October 10, 2014, 05:04:10 AM

I've got the IPL on micro fitche but I have no way to transfer the info to a file that can be sent via the internet .

I should have explain it better .IPL is an acronym for illustrated parts list .It's not a manual of any sorts explaing how things work or how to make things work .I don't own a manual of any sorts for any saw I own but I have the IPLs for many .

Now again with micro fiche which is an old outdated method for copying documents it takes a special reader to even read them plus special printer to copy them to paper copies or a computor file .I do not own said item nor do I know anybody that does .

I looked into a local print shop once but it was 2 dollars per page .I'm a nice guy just not that nice .

There is hope for the weary though .If a person were to look on a very popular internet auction site help is available for a slight nominal fee if so interested .They have both paper plus info on CD .

ktowne030311 · October 21, 2014, 11:03:18 AM

found an original printed manual, picked it up for 10 bucks. ill post some pictures of my build as it goes along.

ktowne030311 · October 31, 2014, 01:39:06 PM

update, i finally found, bought, and received an original shop manual for my 5-49. Ill post pics soon

msjdgman · October 31, 2014, 05:21:19 PM

Quote from: ktowne030311 on October 31, 2014, 01:39:06 PM
update, i finally found, bought, and received an original shop manual for my 5-49. Ill post pics soon

Great find!! I don't suppose there's any chance that the manuals you have found also cover the 1225 ? I've been watching for nearly a year and have not found one. I"ll be honest and admit I've only searched periodically, but I've come up empty handed none the less.

ktowne030311 · November 01, 2014, 10:44:34 AM

i tried looking and found nothing. i actually came across the 5-49 one i have in a "lot"
of manuals. ill keep my eyes peeled. is that saw something you may be interested in selling?

ktowne030311 · November 01, 2014, 11:47:46 AM

msjdgman - http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/mcculloch/mc-culloch-service-manuals-list/ this is a link explaining the manuals. most are the same. i found one for a 7-55 which would be the same as yours. here is a link for the manual (ebay link removed by Admin. Please refer to forum rules about ebay and craigs list adds)

msjdgman · November 01, 2014, 12:10:07 PM

Thank you very much for the information. Tonight I'll dig a little deeper into that (cutting wood all day today !!). I don't believe that I am interested in selling the old girl....it's been in the family for well over 55 years and it is my desire to see it run again someday when I have the time to dig into it a little deeper. It rolls over and has compression, so the 1st hurdle is already met.

Thanks again, Mike

snuffbandit · November 04, 2014, 02:58:51 PM

when tuning that beast tune it as you would any other mcculloch so it almost sounds like its skipping at full throtle with no load but sounds like a bee with a load on her.