A very unimportant xl-76 handle question

[kevinm1980]

So have a dozen xl-76 now and several sxl-130 vi130 etc.. Out of all of them only 2 xl-76 have the squared off front handle like on the left in picture, this particular saw is from 83, the one on the right is a 81, my other one with squared off handle has no tag but has a prestolite coil so its at least a 79, was this a late production thing? Or just randomness coming from the Terry plant?

[onlyhomelites]

That's interesting...I had never noticed the different handles before! My 1980 XL-76 is the more rounded handle...in fact the only variant of those saws that I have with a squared handle is my 1985 VI-130SL:
Homelite VI-130SL (e) by Leon Crouch, on Flickr

[kevinm1980]

Dec 8, 2021 8:22:08 GMT -5 onlyhomelites said:

That's interesting...I had never noticed the different handles before! My 1980 XL-76 is the more rounded handle...in fact the only variant of those saws that I have with a squared handle is my 1985 VI-130SL:
Homelite VI-130SL (e) by Leon Crouch, on Flickr

And my vi130sl has the round style.. Not sure on year. Will check after work when the sun is out

[fossil]

At some point most manufacturers placed the curve in the handle to give the recommended angle for cutting the felling notch if you held your hand on the curve.
Maybe the squared up handle made the hand placement more natural and accurate.

Food for thought anyway.

[fossil]

Of the seven 76's I have two have the squared handle. Both are 50150 saws. Prefix TG and the other a TH.

My Super VI200 has a rounded handlebar

[kevinm1980]

Dec 16, 2021 10:06:56 GMT -5 fossil said:

Of the seven 76's I have two have the squared handle. Both are 50150 saws. Prefix TG and the other a TH.

My Super VI200 has a rounded handlebar

Is the only difference between the vi200 and the super vi200 the red electronic ignition chip?

[fossil]

No idea Kevin. I just have the Super model with the red chip, six shoe clutch and HS-125 carb. Other than those items I'm not sure what they may have changed