Resurrected Stihl 011

[martyinmi]

My uncle, who's now 88, bought an 011 sometime in the mid to late 70's(he thinks anyway?). He ran it enough to cut about 4 or 5 cords every year for about 10 years or so. One day, it started losing power and was making a rattling noise. He said it would run wide open, but it wouldn't idle. It finally quit on him, and he thought he'd blown the thing up, so he put it in his shed where it sat for 20+ years.
A few years back, he gave it to my cousin's husband, who only took it because he thought his 026 might fit in the case. It wouldn't fit, so he returned the 011 to it's case, and it sat at his place for several years until he gave it to me a few days ago. He figured it would mean more to me than it did to him since it once belonged to my oldest living uncle.
And he is right!
I tore into it, and found out that the 2 machine screws that hold the cylinder to the crankcase had came loose and had backed out almost a quarter inch. I pulled them out the rest of the way, cleaned the screws and holes out with brake clean and compressed air, added a thin layer of high temp silicone to the base, and put it back together with red thread locker. I had to remove the muffler to get to one of the screws, so I was able to look at the piston and cylinder with a flashlight. They are both flawless!
I proceeded to drain the old fuel and bar oil out of it. That was some stinky stuff! My uncle is VERY old school, and he always mixed his oil/fuel between 25 and 32:1. The fuel had the consistency of sewing machine oil. (NOTE: 'Ol Al Smith is VERY proud of my uncle at this point!)
I refueled it and filled the oiler, gave it a sniff of either, and it fired right up for a few seconds. Another sniff and it fired up for about 10 seconds. One more sniff and it was up and running like a new one!
I think it is an older 011, as it doesn't have a brake on it. I ordered a parts saw from flea bay that has a working brake to put on this saw. I think it'll make a great first saw for my 12 year old!
Four of the 2 dozen or so saws that I own (3 Mac's from my dad, and this Stihl from my uncle) I'd really have a hard time parting with.
There will come a time when my dad and his big brother will go to meet their maker. I will surely miss them, but I'll have some old, priceless junk in my possession to remember them with.

[lledwod]

Good job and good story! I've seen the loose cylinder on a chainsaw twice. As for resurrecting old saws, my dads 08S is on my list. He 'homesteaded' with it in the early 70's, clearing 3 acres of land and building the log home I grew up in and of course cutting many, many cords of firewood. The rings finally wore through the cylinder lining.

[Magicman]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful story. 8)

[ihookem]

I had an old 011 I bought in 1989 for 210 bucks with tax. I ran it for 4 yrs , my only saw at the time. I cut 20 ? cords with it,,,,, then I got me my 034 and it sat till I gave it t my dad. He cut lotsa wood with it, maybe another 10 cords. Tough saw for how little it was. I beat that thing cause it was so little.

[WmFritz]

Great story Marty.

Your dig at your other 'Old School Uncle' didn't go unnoticed.   ;D

[dougand3]

Good story. I sure like my 011 AVT. It's my go to saw for 12" or under rounds. And, of course, limbing. Mine had the coil wire pinched and insulation worn - worth checking if misses any.

[martyinmi]

Great story Marty.

Your dig at your other 'Old School Uncle' didn't go unnoticed.   ;D

Yeah, I'm thinking that 'Ol Unkie Al has other things on his mind these days....things that are much more important to him than commenting on a silly 'ol oil ratio chainsaw post! :D

You know what I'm talking about, don't 'cha Al! ;)

Can't say as I blame 'em either!!! ;D

 

[Al_Smith]

Ya done good nephew.I as a matter of fact also have an 011 residing in the shed.
It runs okay but is more or less a shelf queen .
Now as you have just found out there is some merit to using a heavier oil mix as it acts like a preservative.

Had that thing been fed a steady diet of 100 to 1 magic elixor I have no doubt rather than running it would merely be a large paper weight or door stop .
It's too small to be an effective boat anchor .

[joe_indi]

Al, this running with engine oil instead of two stroke oil, I just wanted to know if the saw is run once in a while with regular engine oil, would the oil help clean up the piston top and cylinder crown?
Why I ask is that I sometimes a customer tells me he used engine oil as a substitute for two stroke oil, when I examine the saw I found the piston and cylinder top to be totally free of carbon, but more oily. We run fuel:oil at 25:1 here (oil rich).
Joe