Homelite Super XL ???

[jbsaws]

Brought this home today. All the numbers have been scratched off and there's no serial number sticker.

Pretty sure it's a Super XL 925, can anyone confirm that for me? Any guesses at the year?

Here's what I know so far:

Starts and runs good, compression = 140 warm, no decompression button, 36" homelite bar #SP36403F2, sprocket nose #A69831 .404 P, oregon #52 .404 .063 skip chain.

According to the compression chart in the "Tips" section, normal compression for SXL925 is 155-185, so this one's a bit low. It'll be fine for the little bit of use I'll give.

Got PB Blaster working on the muffler & cover screws so I can get them off and take closer look. If the piston and cylinder look okay, I'll be looking for some rings.

Joyce? Dewayne? What have you got? ;D

I read that the clutch bolts on these saws tend to back out and do bad things to the inside of the clutch cover, so I'll be checking that as soon as I can.

[tribulation138]

definitely looks like one. not sure on the year though. early seventies 1972

[MCS]

Yup, XL-925 - no compression release.
Although Acres says it was out in '72, I think that may be a little early because the XL-923 was current till '74 and I really doubt that Homelite had the 923 and 925 out at the same time.

[powerking]

Yup, I would say that is an early SXL-925. If you get the muffler off, and the piston has the "skinny" rings, that would confirm it. The air filter cover (if original though) would say "No breaker points/ solid state ignition" on it; the previous owner most likely replaced the cover from an earlier generation saw. I've got some extra rings for the piston in my reserves if needed.

Tom (PK)

[jbsaws]

Thanks for the replies!

Here's what else I've learned about the saw this morning.

I've read that the original fuel line from the tank was steel. This one has a rubber line with a grommet at the fuel tank, so I'm guessing it's been replaced.

The exhaust port is clean, no carbon build up.

Piston and cylinder look good, not perfect, but serviceable.

Yes, skinny rings.

There's some scoring on the inside of the clutch cover, but it must have been caught early. Someone has put some kind of "goo" over the tops of the clutch bolt heads. Hopefully some loctite too.

Flywheel cover screws not ready to come out yet. Not going to rush them.

My overall impression is that this saw was well used, but also got pretty good service.

Tom, thanks for the offer on the rings, pm on the way shortly.

[MCS]

Dec 18, 2011 11:46:40 GMT -5 jbsaws said:

Flywheel cover screws not ready to come out yet. Not going to rush them.

What do you mean "flywheel cover screws?" Are you referring to the rewind assembly? If they are so tight that you can't free them with a 5/16 socket, my guess it they have loctite on the threads.
I know some don't agree but 140# on the compression gauge is just fine.

[jbsaws]

[/quote]
What do you mean "flywheel cover screws?" Are you referring to the rewind assembly? If they are so tight that you can't free them with a 5/16 socket, my guess it they have loctite on the threads.
I know some don't agree but 140# on the compression gauge is just fine.[/quote]

Yes, rewind assembly. I'll let the blaster work a bit longer.

140 compression okay? Good, thanks!

I'm noticing as I look over part numbers that it shares a number of parts with xl12/sxlao. That's good.

Also, can anyone comment on this: do xl12/sxlao clutches and drums and bars fit?. If so, then I could use those parts and save the original bar and chain.

My wife took a look at the saw and said, "it's big and ugly, you should call it Sasquatch!" So, Sasquatch it is.

[powerking]

Homelite went back and forth with the fuel line interfaces on the 700, 800, 900 series of saws; everything from a molded line into the tank (and current) with an aluminum hard line to yet another molded line into the carb box. Then there was a type to using the 68046 PN grommet and a full length STD fuel line to the carb box. Early saws used a a 90 deg fitting at the tank. What you describe is in a Tech Bulletin update to use the 68046 grommet and remove the aluminum 90 degree intermediate tube. To me, that service update proceedure is the way to go, and not deal with the custom formed/molded tank fuel line(s).

Tom (PK)

[powerking]

I would agree with Craig (MCS) that 140 PSI of compression is good. If it was higher, then I'd say you have excessive carbon buildup in the combustion chamber (say from running the saw with poor quality 2-cycle oil or even 4-cycle oil). I don't see a reason at this time to go after replacing the rings (not to mention, the cyl gasket being NLA and probably the airbox gsasket, too.

Tom (PK)

[tribulation138]

Dec 18, 2011 17:39:40 GMT -5 powerking said:

I would agree with Craig (MCS) that 140 PSI of compression is good. If it was higher, then I'd say you have excessive carbon buildup in the combustion chamber (say from running the saw with poor quality 2-cycle oil or even 4-cycle oil). I don't see a reason at this time to go after replacing the rings (not to mention, the cyl gasket being NLA and probably the airbox gsasket, too.

Tom (PK)

those gaskets can be made easily.

[jbsaws]

Thanks again for the good replies.

It won't get a lot of use, so it sounds like the rings that are in there will be fine. I'll probably pick up a set eventually just to have them. And, as trib said, the gaskets can be made when needed.

The ring part list I looked at called for part #69452 (thickness 0.0240). That's pretty thin, so I'm guessing that's the right part number.

Correct?

[powerking]

Yes, that is the correct PN for the rings.

Tom (PK)

[jbsaws]

Dec 18, 2011 23:59:07 GMT -5 powerking said:

Yes, that is the correct PN for the rings.

Tom (PK)

Thanks!