bcsman

Glad you found us, this is the "new" site...😉

My uncle was a dairy farmer and I helped out in summers when out of school. I was able to take over and let he and my aunt take a couple vacations before he finally sold the cows, so know all about dairy farming... I was in the Air Force reserve for 35 years and traveled all over the world on our planes, C-130 and KC-135's. Also worked civilian down to the base to work on them during the week also. So my idea of vacation like a few others is hanging around the house, wandering my 10 acres of woods and cutting, mowing my 5 acres of lawn, and enjoying nature.

Glad you chose to head over here, welcome....

Welcome schrade, you will be glad you came over here...

Where in Michigan? Surprised they allowed wood burning in LA with all the smog....

Welcome PawPaw, also got a 1998 450ES so hopefully can share some info back and forth. Haven't had too many problems with mine except rebuilding the engine....

Well then take the advise of shade and toodeep when you get the halves together to test the shifting.....

Bearings good in both halves especially in the trans areas??

Hey David glad you chose to take a look here, you won't be sorry....

Are you turning the shift drum completely both ways, don't just twist to make sure it moves? It should move thru the gears both ways without binding, it does a little when the forks have to move sharply up in the drum grooves, but still not bind.....

I was able to use the SM page showing a breakout of the main and countershafts. Just take extra care to get the oil holes in the bushings lined up correctly for lubing.

I also had one of the gears installed upside down which wasn't letting the fork move it as it should....it was affecting the middle fork..

When you put it together you should be able to turn the shift drum fully both ways and watch the forks rotate around the slots. It should move smoothly also watching the gears go up and down with the fork movement... If binding then something ain't right...

Nothing is ever that easy.....

+Yep agree with toodeep...

Hey Mac man, know you helped out when I was having problems on the old site, glad you are here....

Stop the presses.....😲

On mine I was able to stick the middle fork either above or below where it was supposed to slide into the countershaft. Everything worked when turning the drum but would hold up and move only with some extra help. Once I figured it out the shift drum would manually turn thru all the gears smoothly up and down. If I had put it together like it was I'm certain there would have been shift problems, maybe not exactly what Chad has but issues...Had some great advise to help set me on the right path...

That's why they make crosscut and rip saws, each designed for which way they cut. Yes the chain will cut with the grain but my experience is it takes much more time and will dull the chain more quickly especially going thru knots....

Welcome, glad you brought your list of toys over here, lots of good people here to help...

You need to wear sunglasses in the shop with that engine???

At least the prostrate check is done with a blood test now

Welcome and yes more than turn your head and cough....lol

Hey Patrick glad you found us, welcome...

Yep fish chainsaws are meant to cut across the grain not with it. Guys with big chunks "noodle" them down to size but use bigger more powerful saws. I'm not sure if a chain is made for cutting with the grain, but it takes much longer than across.....