Why Why Why

Rob_Wood

Recently I forgot to shake the fuel before filling my Husky 359 and I've cooked it (scored the bore). It'll cost me around $500 for aftermarket parts and around $900 for genuine parts.
At this sort of cost I thought I'd look at replacement saws as well and found the Stihl MS 460 Magnum is $1500 to $2K in Aus. I priced it at $949.95 in the US.
With the dollar being near equal (if not in our favour) why are Aussies accepting everything they're told at face value?
Unless I'm missing something here or someone out there has a better idea??? Why wouldn't I send my money to the US? It's just short-cutting the taxman from what I can see.
Anyone got any better ideas for me?

Eric Frei

1. Who says we're accepting it at face value?
2. We do have better ideas
3. You wouldn't send your money to the US online as Stihl do not sell online, walk in only
4. Yes we have, build relationships with US people who can walk in and buy/ship a saw. Do not post for help or we will delete it, the soliciting of Stihl saws from USA is not supported here, it's a friendship thing kept under wraps.

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Rob_Wood

I apologise Eric, my intention was never to upset you. My brother in law is in the States and I will sort things out that way if I need to. I was looking for alternative options (like cheaper ways to repair the husky). Maybe finding a second hand husky and turn mine into spares? dunno, just looking for alternatives.
Again, sorry I upset you.

Eric Frei

I'm not upset, at all.

Just we've had a lot of "drama" about Stihl saws.

I know of the rip off here however the solution is not in approaching Stihl or their dealers here, forget that.

The solution is having some-one in USA walk into a store, buy and send.

Husky are not like that, buy online no worries and pay for the freight.

Stihl are just supporting their dealers and geographical location, but I know that Stihl retailers in Australia cannot buy their stock (wholesale) cheaper than USA retail, so the issue is political and frankly will never be open to challenge, even in Germany Stihl's cost more than in USA.

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nmurph

OP,
Not shaking you fuel had nothing to do with frying your top-end. I have seen mix stored in clear glass jars for over a year and it doesn't seperate. More likely you saw has the plastic intake runner clamp. It doesn't seal well and your saw had an air leak. This caused a lean condition.
There are lots of P/C kits available for less than $100US. I'm sure someone would ship one to you.

KevinE

I tend to agree about the fuel not separating, I have a beast of a brush cutter that only comes out to play once or twice a year & have never had any issues with the old mix sitting in the tank during storage (yeah, I know, I'm slack!)

Brent Ferris

I agree with Kevin -- I have a large saw I might use one time every 2 or 3 years, and while I usually run it dry, I have left gas in it before. And when spring comes, I just use whatever gas I had left over from the previous fall. Never had a problem with the oil and gas separating, unless I use gas with methanol in it. That kills your engine straightaway -- and once burned, never again.

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Rob_Wood

Thanks guys, now you've said it, probably Ethanol in the fuel. I sent the missus to town for the last jerry full. She will have got the cheapest available and I didn't think to tell her.

I guess from that statement it's still my fault ... "I didn't think" ... to tell her.

Eric Frei

I avoid that ethanol stuff like the plague.

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GavinH

I work in the fuel indusry and i would avoid running any thing on E10, Ethanol, or any fuel alternitive as they all have there severe draw back to gaskets, alloys, fuel lines etc etc cause alot of them if stored for any lengh of time will absorb mosture

newguy99

I run 93 octane in my saws with the red sta bil fuel additive and stihl oil. Would there be anything wrong with this mix im running? Im not sure if it has ethonol or not?

James Sayers

look i know this is off subject but went down to local mower shop to buy commercial lawn mower (honda) at the shop was $1750.00 said it was best they could do even 4 cash got on ebay got it in australia for 915 at my door .sorry that was just about diffrence in prices for the new saws in usa

GavinH

Yeah 93 should be fine, we get here in oz 91, 95 & 98 Octane all it is, the higher the octane the better quality and the cleaner it burns. The 93 octane is that a blend over in the states??

Cheers Gav

newguy99

Yeah we get 87 89 and 93 over here.And some brands seem to run alot better than others.

Brent Ferris

Usually the premium fuel has no ethanol added to it, and that is the one -- I find --the chainsaws work best with

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

KevinE

I'm guessing that the mower shop had the HRU216M1 for $1,750, as the HRU216 SU & HRU216D SU have both been superseded here in Aust & shops have sold out for around a year? If so, you won't find that mower on ebay.

The one's I've seen on ebay are HRU216 SU copies & $915 sounds about right (note: just coz it says "Honda" on the engine doesn't make it a Honda mower). I've chatted to a lawn guy who has one who was a diesel mech in his prior life; he has pulled the thing completely apart & says it's exactly the same as a Honda HRU216 SU, even down to steel parts in the gearbox.

IMO the HRU216M1 is a heavy, plastic boat anchor! I would rather spend the $915 on the Chonda 216 delivered to my door, but I went out & bought a HRU216 SU for $1,350 as soon as I found out they were being dropped in favor of the M1 last year. I got 1 of the last 2 left in SA. I still had an old 216D at home, but I didn't want to miss out on getting another one.

Now, we'd better stop talking mowers in a chainsaw thread lol!

Bluegill

I replaced the plastic clamps on my older Huskys with steel ones, just in case. They have been trouble for some.

Like nmurph said, aftermarket P/C kits for under $100 here and OEM is around $200-$250.

stihlman441

If you get a US 460 if wont have,dual port muff,twin felling spikes,roller chain catcher or 2 year warranty.

Drouin Tree Service

Stihl have deal on at the moment on 66's spare bar sprocket and chain,Brought a 088 and a 066 this week

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