[TheForge] OT: Chain Saws

[Bob Ehrenberger]

I had a strange thing happen to me when cutting fire wood Friday.  I was 
cutting up a tree that I had just dropped, when my saw just stopped cold.  I 
thought that it was just a stick getting caught between the chain and the 
case, but the chain was free, and there was white smoke comming out from 
under the covers.   I tried to start it but it wouldn't turn over.  I didn't 
have the tools to take the covers off with me, so I just let it smoke. 
Aparientlly the saw dust had accumulated around the cylinder and the exhaust 
ignited it. By the time it burned itself out the pull cord was burnt off, 
the end of the spark plug wire was melted, and the insulation was burnt off 
the ignition wire.

I picked up the wood that was cut and headed back to the shop.  After taking 
the covers off and pulling the spark plug, I was able to get it to turn 
again.  So I fixed pull cord, now 2 inches shorter, put the end back on the 
spark plug wire, and taped up the ignition wire. Surprise, surprise it 
actually started.  I'll go out today to see if it has any guts left.

I've been cutting wood for 40 years and this is a first for me.  I guess 
from now on I'll keep the saw dust cleaned out from around the cylinder, a 
couple times a season should do it.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net