New-ish chainsaw owner. What to keep on hand, and how much of what?

[Jbsheepdog]

Well! I'm 26 and finally got my own saw! Idk why it's taken me this long. I guess I've always just used my dads Stihl 029super when I needed one. But his was in the shop when I needed one and I was like "why the he!! Don't I have one of my own. So I bought an almost brand new Stihl MS290 for $250 good deal I think.

I changed the plug, filters looked good. Got a new skip tooth chain. And there's some pretty good life left on the 20" Oregon bar. Then went to work and tested it out. Cut down a 37" fir this last week and got most of my fire wood for the next year (2.5 cord) worked as expected. I don't think I had to ever pull the cord more than 5 times to get it started.

I picked up 3 new files(with a handle), got a spare chain that came on it. Bought a spare plug, got a cool original Stihl spark plug wrench and chain tightener.

What else do I need for spare parts? Am I missing anything? What would be good to keep on hand? What's the best way to store gas/oil? How much oil and mixed gas should I keep on hand? How much oil to mix with should I keep on hand? Tell me what I'm missing!

Yeah that's my little man who ALWAYS wants to help dad.

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[wombatz]

Safety gear?

Chaps. Helmet with face guard and muffs.

Wedges?

 

[Treeline81]

Ethanol free gas mix. 40:1 to 50:1. Store in a clean container that's vented and/or not subject to excessive heat. Volume depends on frequency of use but good within 6 mos. Some cans of premix- e.g. Flex Fuel- last years. Almost worth price premium if you only cut couple times a year or don't need mix gas for other tools.

Top off bar oil with every gas fill up. Watch for excessive/lean oiling and adjust as needed.

Spare air filter. You can clean dirty ones with a spray can of Carb and choke cleaner- e.g. Berryman B-12. You'll get more life out of them with cleaner rather than blasting with air hose.

Back up bar in same length.

Old credit card to slide down the groove in the bar to get the gunk out.

A flat file to remove burrs on sides of bar. Also to take down risers on your chain.

Extra length of pull cord.

Extra bar nut.

Extra tensioning screw.

Old toothbrush or air hose to clear junk buildup around gas and oil caps.

For your boy, kid sized muffs or ear plugs on a string/neck band.

If you're going to be felling, good practice to have another saw onsite. Sucks if your saw craps out in the middle of a back cut.

 

[P7M13]

If you're going to be felling, good practice to have another saw onsite. Sucks if your saw craps out in the middle of a back cut.

+1
Sucks if your saw craps out, period.
Had an old Super XL 24 die in a cut, still haven't got that sucker started, prolly need to rebuild the carb.
I no longer store more mix than what I'll use in a summer.

 

[Deavis]

Stihl makes a guided file sharpening system that is worth its weight in gold.

Sharpens ASAP with perfect angles.

https://www.amazon.com/Stihl-2in1-Chainsaw-Chain-Sharpener/dp/B010JJNOUE/ref=asc_df_B010JJNOUE/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198060922766&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4245214498814892721&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022859&hvtargid=pla-386239199401&psc=1

 

[Certaindeaf]

Wedges

 

[wombatz]

Note that backup saw doesn't have to be another chainsaw. A good hand saw will work to free a stuck saw or finish a tree if needed.

I also carry my second bar and chain so that I can swap to those if I get a pinched bar.

I don't think I have had a pinch since that first time tho. Once you do it once you start carrying that extra gear. After that you just start to really learn to watch the kerf and cut more carefully.

YouTube University is you friend.

 

[Jbsheepdog]

Ethanol free gas mix. 40:1 to 50:1. Store in a clean container that's vented and/or not subject to excessive heat. Volume depends on frequency of use but good within 6 mos. Some cans of premix- e.g. Flex Fuel- last years. Almost worth price premium if you only cut couple times a year or don't need mix gas for other tools.

Top off bar oil with every gas fill up. Watch for excessive/lean oiling and adjust as needed.

Spare air filter. You can clean dirty ones with a spray can of Carb and choke cleaner- e.g. Berryman B-12. You'll get more life out of them with cleaner rather than blasting with air hose.

Back up bar in same length.

Old credit card to slide down the groove in the bar to get the gunk out.

A flat file to remove burrs on sides of bar. Also to take down risers on your chain.

Extra length of pull cord.

Extra bar nut.

Extra tensioning screw.

Old toothbrush or air hose to clear junk buildup around gas and oil caps.

For your boy, kid sized muffs or ear plugs on a string/neck band.

If you're going to be felling, good practice to have another saw onsite. Sucks if your saw craps out in the middle of a back cut.

What's the tensioning screw for? For the chain tensioner?

 

[bionic knees]

one of these for the file size you are using, cheap, easy to use, and keeps you cutting straight

 

[41mag]

Yes, chain happiness results from proper tension. Just a little +/-- can have an amazing effect on how your woodsie day goes.
As a rarely-use-it saw user these days, I've found a worthy product-otherwise hideously expensive-- is a synthetic high octane gas-oil premix that comes in a quart can and supposedly doesn't deteriorate over the year.
A saw-buck may be a worth while investment. I didn't realize how much sheer labor it could save, even the light weigh alloy folder. I had to cut firewood for decades before getting smart enough to realize it really was an advantage.

And beware loaning a perfectly functioning saw to itinerant saw-buddies who really DON'T know how to treat 'em..........

 

[bionic knees]

I second the NO LOAN policy, that goes for all 2-stroke machines!!!

 

[Treeline81]

What's the tensioning screw for? For the chain tensioner?

Yes, for tensioning chain. These may strip out over time. Or disappear when doing a thorough breakdown or cleaning. Fairly cheap replacement part and your SOL without it.

 

[Tony617]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q67R6QT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Jay Walk]

What else do I need for spare parts? nothing

Am I missing anything? What would be good to keep on hand?

What's the best way to store gas/oil? keep not more than three months worth. Drain saw if not and run carb dry if not going to use for two or more months.

Good price on that 290.

An often over looked item is to pop off the sprocket and grease the needle bearing behind it.

If you want to up your game then try befriending a tree faller and have him square grind you a full comp chain, it's a real game changer.

 

[NobullSKS]

I buck 5-6 cords every summer from delivered logs….. not saying that's a lot but with that minimal use…..

2-3 extra chains (because they were sold in 2 packs)
Extra bar
2- round files
1- flat
Extra Scrench
Nylon and wire brush
Plenty of fuel mix
Even more bar oil
Carburetor rebuild kit
New air filters and sparkys
And I do enjoy the electric harbor freight chain sharpener in off season…… but a file is really all you need.
And EYES , EARS, HAND PPE….. no chaps yet.

This feels like the minimum

 

[Jbsheepdog]

What else do I need for spare parts? nothing

Am I missing anything? What would be good to keep on hand?

What's the best way to store gas/oil? keep not more than three months worth. Drain saw if not and run carb dry if not going to use for two or more months.

Good price on that 290.

An often over looked item is to pop off the sprocket and grease the needle bearing behind it.

If you want to up your game then try befriending a tree faller and have him square grind you a full comp chain, it's a real game changer.

Glad to hear I got a good price. As I thought.
I need to replace the sprocket actually. So I'll make sure to grease it when I replace! Thanks!

 

[bionic knees]

use premium non ethanol fuel and stihl 2 stroke mix, don't cheap out on the mix oil. I have never had a fuel problem.

 

[Nosferatu]

Keep an IFAK on your belt.

 

[techieguy]

Non metallic wedges if falling trees

 

[Martini_Up]

Wedges

And dont forget the axe.