just ordered a 038 super..

joe_indi · November 19, 2014, 01:11:00 PM

Woodcutter_Mo, I think this is what you need. It is a rim sprocket kit for the 038/380/381

HolmenTree · November 19, 2014, 01:19:15 PM

Joe, those teeth on the drum that the rim sprocket is laying on is the teeth to drive the oil pump gear right?
It's been so long since I worked on a 038 I can't remember.

Thanks for showing the photos of the MS381, beautiful looking saw. I really want one

Made in Brazil too!!

I'll see what I can find in Mexico next month.............

joe_indi · November 19, 2014, 01:42:28 PM

Willard,
Yes. The spur gear that drives the worm of the oil pump sits on those teeth.I will post a picture tomorrow (just past midnight now)
Joe

HolmenTree · November 19, 2014, 04:06:04 PM

Thanks Joe,
Yes that well built oil pump drive system that the 038/380/381 has, is one of the many reasons why I like that saw series so much for.
Super well built setup with the nylon gears and all.
These saws are built to last.

CR888 · November 19, 2014, 07:18:39 PM

Willard....l am down under. I have seen a few very low hr 381's for sale here. They are still on the Stihl website and are a popular choice for farmers here. The are 70-72cc and when compared to a 441/461they can be had for a lot less. $1150 compared to $1699. I know you really want one of these and l too will end up with one. If l snag a good deal and freight ain't too bad l 'may' be able to help. I am looking for a next to new one just to stash away for a rainy day.

HolmenTree · November 19, 2014, 07:41:00 PM

Thanks CR888, I'm not sure how my Canadian $ is equal to yours. But a MS441 is about $900 to $1000 here in Canada. I think the reverse applies buyers in Australia/N.Z are looking to buy North American saws for the $ savings. I'll have to shop around, I haven't converted the Mexican Peso yet but I think I saw on one Mexican dealer site the 381 was about $800 US.

Yes the MS381 would be great addition to my tree service company which is kind of like farming. Don't cut steady all day, and need a saw that won't fall over when I set it down, which I do alot through out the day. The saw would take abuse as a tree service does do.
For 8 hour a day logging a 441 or 461 would be a better choice.

Woodcutter_Mo · November 19, 2014, 08:58:46 PM

Quote from: joe_indi on November 19, 2014, 01:11:00 PM
Woodcutter_Mo, I think this is what you need. It is a rim sprocket kit for the 038/380/381

Yea that's what I'll need, thanks for the pics 8)

joe_indi · November 20, 2014, 12:58:45 PM

Spur to Rim

Woodcutter_Mo · December 19, 2014, 06:47:58 PM

Well, ordered a clutch kit about a month ago through the local stihl store. They still haven't gotten it in yet, guess its back order. I would've just ordered one off the net if I knew it'd take this long.

Anyway, the saw is still running good. We replaced the fuel tank vent since it was rotted and broke. Just needs the clutch and some work on the kill switch to get it to kill every time and should be good to go.

Al_Smith · December 19, 2014, 09:20:24 PM

What you will find is that all dealers are not the same when it comes to parts.

The guy I deal with sends a parts order in twice a week .I seldom have to wait much over 4-5 days and I've ordered parts for saws that haven't been made in 35 years .I certainly would not think a rim drive for an 038 should be a big deal .

proteus · December 20, 2014, 08:52:55 AM

I am in agreement with your dad. I have had the same 038 AV SUPER for the last 30 years. All I have had to do is keep it tuned up and replace a muffler gasket and bar. I bought a 011 when I first started burning wood and it was terrible. I had to constantly retighten nuts and screws on it. I should have bought a 038 then, but I didn't know any better. :-\

Woodcutter_Mo · December 21, 2014, 09:17:44 AM

The clutch finally came in and we got it installed. This dealer is usually pretty quick about getting parts, I might have just caught them at a bad time.

HolmenTree · December 21, 2014, 09:40:48 PM

I'm down in Bucerias, Mexico on vacation right now. Just started looking to buy a new MS381.The language barrier is brutal but I still have about 11 days left to find one.

Al_Smith · December 22, 2014, 06:00:45 AM

I have no doubt you'll find one .

You know they've made mountains out of mole hills with this pollution stuff especially on small gasoline engine powered tools such as chainsaws .They liken it akin with dumping gasoline in a 514 Ford stroker engine .Nonsense !

HolmenTree · December 22, 2014, 03:21:23 PM

I found a Stihl dealer this morning and the owner actually spoke pretty good English. He had no MS381 in stock though but said he could order one in for a nominal down payment in U.S. bills. No commitment from him when the saw would arrive

$700 U.S. power head only

. I'll shop around and look for another dealer in the next day or so in Puerto Vallarta.

JohnG28 · December 22, 2014, 09:01:08 PM

Sounds a little shady. Good luck on the 381 quest HT!

HolmenTree · December 22, 2014, 10:28:48 PM

John, yes shady is an understatement doing business down here :D

Woodcutter_Mo · January 02, 2015, 09:57:06 AM

Holman Tree- Did you find any stihl dealers and/or have any luck finding an ms381

HolmenTree · January 02, 2015, 10:57:22 AM

Just got back to Canada last night.
Yes I found a MS381at a Stihl dealer in Puerto Vallarta a few days ago. But no deal made though. All their new saws are run in and tanks fueled up, not a good combination to try and bring onto a aircraft. Fuel drained still take days to air the fumes out.
Our luggage over the years always got checked at customs at the PV airport so not going to risk leaving a new saw behind.

We get to customs yesterday and no check :

Maybe next time. Just hard to shop when I have a wife and 3 young kids in tow.

joe_indi · January 02, 2015, 11:43:16 AM

Willard,
People used to say that there was more Johnny Walker Red Label available than what ever came out of their distilleries. The same, in my opinion goes also for the 381, more of them than what Stihl has produced. How would it be if you were to get/buy the saw in bits and pieces from abroad, probably in a used condition? Not at one go, maybe in several consignments. Would you still have any problem at the customs? Or would you be able to get it through as spares for one of your existing saws. Just being curious.
Joe

HolmenTree · January 02, 2015, 01:15:36 PM

Joe. I want a MS381 brand new, never fueled up and assembled at the Stilhl factory, owners manual included.
Most important thing to clear airport security and customs is no flammable fumes in the saws fuel tank. Factory run in saws are not fueled from the fuel tank but from a assembly line fuel line directly to the carb.

joe_indi · January 02, 2015, 01:33:20 PM

That is fine. I thought (wrongly) that any MS381 would not be allowed through customs. So, what you need was an out of the box saw. But, why did the Puerto Vallarta dealer keep his stock run in? We never do that here. Customers prefer to see a sealed box opened and the saw inside started up with the first tankful in their presence.
Different countries, different practices.

HolmenTree · January 03, 2015, 10:09:26 PM

Joe, in the unfamiliar ways to me on how things are done in Mexico. It looked like these dealers were more into rental service even though they had a genuine Stihl sign on the front door.
He had one MS381 that looked brand new but the bar had little paint left on it from cutting palm trees. That used saw was priced at $450 US.

joe_indi · January 04, 2015, 12:54:57 AM

Maybe you could have bought only the brand new powerhead for a further discount. You could have purchased a guidebar after you had returned. Just a thought.

HolmenTree · January 04, 2015, 09:52:58 AM

Yes powerhead only was my original intentions.
I sure like the look and feel of the 381, would make a real nice ground saw for my tree service operation.
Nice wide flat underside making it stable sitting upright when idling on the ground.
A lot of those times when I set my narrow Husqvarnas on the ground after cutting, when they fall over those few last revolutions of the chain when going back to idle will catch enough dirt or gravel to take some of the edge off the chain.