stihl serial numbers

stihl kickin

i bought a stihl 075 project saw a couple months ago from ebay. i already replaced the piston and ring. started working on it again and noticed there is no serial number. so i guess i have a stolen saw? cant send it back. guess i'm going to have to keep it? i was thinking about keeping it anyhow but now i have no choice in the matter. i suppose i could find a crankcase and swap every thing out. just makes me mad. any body else have had this problem?

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stihl's 011 036 064 066 ms660 075 084partners 500 5000 plus x2

Cut4fun

You never know how long ago that could have happened with the serial numbers. The last owner could have been legit as the owner before him.

So are they ground off the case?

I had bought a 4 wheeler that was setting out on a busy road at a sales place and re-sold it to my bro. This was before they had titles for ATV's).
When bro went to get the info to register it for a sticker before riding in the national forest he noticed the serial numbers were ground off the case etc.
The guy before me didnt know and I didnt know. So who knows how long ago it had happened, just like in your case.


Yes Feebay and Craigslist is a fencing area for stolen items.

stihl kickin

yes. they are ground off the case. agreed, the saw is 35 to 40 years old. hard to tell when it happened. i think it reduces the value of the saw. oh well. thanks for your input.

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stihl's 011 036 064 066 ms660 075 084partners 500 5000 plus x2

Mr. Bow Saw

Yeah it happen to me too. I bought a Stihl off ebay. Had it for a
few months befor I saw the serial numbers were filed off.
When buying used saws on Ebay even with serial numbers.
Its hard to know if it was stolen or not.

stihl kickin

what did you end up doing with the saw?

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stihl's 011 036 064 066 ms660 075 084partners 500 5000 plus x2

superfire

Darn brain failing me. You can use ________ chemical to reveal the serial number?

Cut4fun

They do the same for recovered guns, but I cant recall what was used either.

superfire

I think some sort of acid is used.

Cut4fun

The stihl serial numbers are sort of etched in and not stamped, if I remember right?

So they may not be recoverable even if someone tried, if not stamped in hard to case.

(Serial numbers are usually stamped on a metal frame or plate, with hard steel dies. These dies are applied with enough force to sink each digit into the metal. Restoration of obliterated serial numbers can many times be accomplished because the metal crystals under the stamped numbers are placed under a permanent strain. When a suitable etching agent is applied, the strained crystals will dissolve at a faster rate as compared to the unaltered metal, thus permitting the etched pattern to appear in the form of the original numbers. If the number is ground to a depth that removes the strained crystals, or if the area has been impressed with a different strain pattern, it is usually not possible to restore.)

stihl kickin

well, looks like i got a keeper then.

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stihl's 011 036 064 066 ms660 075 084partners 500 5000 plus x2

Mr. Bow Saw

I still have it and my guys are still sawing with it. Now when I buy
newer used saws off Ebay. As soon as I get it I look to see if the
sreial numbers are there.