Quick Chain Adjuster----POS!!

Bermy · 24th February 2008, 10:26 AM

Ok, I've heard about them, seen 'em on a few saws...decided to reserve judgement.

Well last week I got a phone call from some pals who were out culling invasives, they had to take apart a 210 with a QCA when the palm fibres plugged it all up...now they are not pro's, just enthusiastic amateurs.
I spent about 20 mins helping talk through how to put it back together...even I didn't have much of an idea over the phone!

Then at the end of the week I was doing a refresher course for the Regiment and one of the saws they had was an MS270C.
That was the first time I got to see all the bits and pieces that go into the QCA, cogs, rachets, springs, some plastic, some metal...I was not impressed.
Sure enough when we got out on site and started cutting, the QCA wouldn't hold tension and the chain was sagging, upon taking it apart, the top plastic cog was worn out, no way it was going to hold.

For a homeowner one person saw, maybe it's ok...but for hard field use, multiple users and not all with a delicate touch, I'd say its a waste of time.
Too many parts, metal mixed with plastic, too fiddley. Too many small bits to clog up with palm fibre.
The regular posts and side nuts are the way to go, KEEP IT SIMPLE!

So is there a retrofit for the MS270? It looks like you can put in two posts and a side tensioner to get it back to the 'old style' Anyone care to send me some part numbers so we can get this saw back in action?

Ekka · 24th February 2008, 01:49 PM

Maybe and maybe not possible. It means bar studs would have to be inserted into chasis. Maybe email Stihl themselves and ask.

MS 270 Chain Saw - Stihl Incorporated United States - Products - Manufacturing and Selling The World's Number One Chain Saw

Also, that idea makes flipping the bar etc a PITA too so most dont flip it or deburr it or even clean the groove. For pro's it's a bad idea IMHO.

SawTroll · 26th February 2008, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

.....
Also, that idea makes flipping the bar etc a PITA too so most dont flip it or deburr it or even clean the groove. For pro's it's a bad idea IMHO.

That fits the little experience I have with it, on a few MS250s -

+1 to what Bermie said, as well (even though we don't have palms here

)!!

Ekka · 26th February 2008, 12:48 AM

I didn't know the ms250 came out with that, there you go.

SawTroll · 26th February 2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

I didn't know the ms250 came out with that, there you go.

MS250C.

Btw, I have read that it is possible to convert those to the std. version, but I don't know about the 270 - but most likely it is......

stihl #1 · 26th February 2008, 08:24 AM

It can be done:

just have to swap out some parts.

quercus · 26th February 2008, 11:18 AM

None of the pro saws from stihl have the QCA. I've worked with that once and I noticed that when you unscrew it and tension the chain, it tensions even more by itself just by tightening the screw again. Not a good system. Maybe for an HO who merely can distinguish the difference between the bar-side and handle-side, but for us pro's it's not.

newguy18 · 29th February 2008, 06:53 AM

Also the bars with a built in tensioner are a pos.

24th February 2008, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bermy Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bermuda Posts: 67	Quick Chain Adjuster----POS!! Ok, I've heard about them, seen 'em on a few saws...decided to reserve judgement. Well last week I got a phone call from some pals who were out culling invasives, they had to take apart a 210 with a QCA when the palm fibres plugged it all up...now they are not pro's, just enthusiastic amateurs. I spent about 20 mins helping talk through how to put it back together...even I didn't have much of an idea over the phone! Then at the end of the week I was doing a refresher course for the Regiment and one of the saws they had was an MS270C. That was the first time I got to see all the bits and pieces that go into the QCA, cogs, rachets, springs, some plastic, some metal...I was not impressed. Sure enough when we got out on site and started cutting, the QCA wouldn't hold tension and the chain was sagging, upon taking it apart, the top plastic cog was worn out, no way it was going to hold. For a homeowner one person saw, maybe it's ok...but for hard field use, multiple users and not all with a delicate touch, I'd say its a waste of time. Too many parts, metal mixed with plastic, too fiddley. Too many small bits to clog up with palm fibre. The regular posts and side nuts are the way to go, KEEP IT SIMPLE! So is there a retrofit for the MS270? It looks like you can put in two posts and a side tensioner to get it back to the 'old style' Anyone care to send me some part numbers so we can get this saw back in action? __________________ Keep smiling, people will wonder what you are up to! (especially if you're gunning a chainsaw!)

24th February 2008, 01:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	Re: Quick Chain Adjuster----POS!! Maybe and maybe not possible. It means bar studs would have to be inserted into chasis. Maybe email Stihl themselves and ask. MS 270 Chain Saw - Stihl Incorporated United States - Products - Manufacturing and Selling The World's Number One Chain Saw Also, that idea makes flipping the bar etc a PITA too so most dont flip it or deburr it or even clean the groove. For pro's it's a bad idea IMHO. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

26th February 2008, 12:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	Re: Quick Chain Adjuster----POS!! I didn't know the ms250 came out with that, there you go. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

26th February 2008, 11:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
quercus Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 428	Re: Quick Chain Adjuster----POS!! None of the pro saws from stihl have the QCA. I've worked with that once and I noticed that when you unscrew it and tension the chain, it tensions even more by itself just by tightening the screw again. Not a good system. Maybe for an HO who merely can distinguish the difference between the bar-side and handle-side, but for us pro's it's not.

29th February 2008, 06:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,683	Re: Quick Chain Adjuster----POS!! Also the bars with a built in tensioner are a pos. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

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