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Post by w30bob on Mar 22, 2022 19:07:25 GMT -5
Hi Guys, The nice Postal gal dropped off a well used 663 today, and I put it on the bench to take a look. First thing I noticed is instead of having a bucking spike it had a flat plate in its place. I found this a bit odd, as all the other old girls that I have didn't have that didn't have a spike never came with a plate fitted where the spike goes. So I looked it up in Leon's IPL for the 663, and sure enough it shows this plate. It's called a Bumper Plate. Makes sense, as you don't want to damage the front of the crankcase housing, but why then didn't the other saws in the 663 family have the same plate? Cost cutting maybe? Although it couldn't have cost much less to make than a spike. So wondering if anyone knows anything about this strange bumper plate? Pics are below. Also, when I looked up the part number (55623) I checked Leon and then eBay to see if there were any out there.......and there wasn't. But that part number was used again for the guide bar stud for the 7-19, 7-19c and 9-23. That strikes me as odd that Homelite would use the same part number on two very different parts. Now to be totally truthful, the PN for the Bumper is 55623-AT and the bar stud is 55623.......so not sure what the "-AT" means. But it's still odd the two parts have the same main part number. Anybody see any other Homelites with this bumper....or know what the "-AT" means? thanks, bob   |
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Post by stillsawing on Mar 22, 2022 19:38:49 GMT -5
Look up the IPL for a Zip or a Zip-B, I believe bucking spike will fit. It appears that series of saws used the same drive plate/case. The AT is a puzzle. Is the saw a Terry built? If I recall, that model was built for a overseas market.
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Post by w30bob on Mar 23, 2022 0:04:25 GMT -5
Hi still,
Yes, it is a Terry saw! Wow, I didn't know they made saws for overseas markets......were there any other models that were for export only??
thanks,
bob
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Post by stillsawing on Mar 23, 2022 16:44:51 GMT -5
Not long ago, this model was mentioned in a previous thread. At that time, info showed up about the model, and many members spoke of not knowing of its existence, myself included.
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Post by w30bob on Mar 23, 2022 18:10:25 GMT -5
Hi still,
I searched the "Really Old Saws...." section, as well as the rest of this forum and didn't see anything on the 663, but maybe the search just doesn't like me. I'll keep looking. I remember looking at one of the chainsaw decal guy's sites a while back and seeing the "663" decals, which made me think it was just another saw, popular enough to warrant making decals for. But it's really just what I call a Taco Bell saw. Made from the same 3 or 4 ingredients, just mixed up another way as the other saws in that family. New decal, paint it all red......instant new model!! Good stuff though. Going to dig a bit and see what other saws Homey made specifically for export.
regards,
bob
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Post by stillsawing on Mar 24, 2022 17:00:08 GMT -5
I went back into my research and found what had confused me then and still now. On the Chainsaw Collectors Assoc. site, they list the 6-63 twice, the first listing shows a picture and mentions it being for the European market. The next listing is further down the list and it appears to be the same saw, a 6-63. And the third listing is for the 663, no hyphen in the model number. All of this is listed under "Homelite-Textron". Funny that the 663 Terry saw is not mentioned in the "Homelite-Terry" list. Everything about your saw looks correct, your picture, and the IPL. Now are you as confused as I am?
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Post by w30bob on Mar 24, 2022 18:38:22 GMT -5
Hi still,
Yup.........I'm as confused as you are now. Actually there are NO large frame saws listed under Terry on the Acres site. Which makes me wonder which other of the older large frame saws were manufactured by Terry. Other than the C-51 (which I consider a medium frame), all the saws listed under Terry are small frame XL series. Yet one of my 26LCS's has a Terry nameplate on it.....so yeah, I'm confused. Under Textron the 6-63 looks to be a different animal, and very real. That saw looks to be a Zip derivative of sorts, only a touch bigger in displacement, and red/green. Maybe the Acres site is a real good listing, but not complete. I'll have to check the European eBay site and see what Homelites are over there. I'm confused, but in 'learning mode', so I find this stuff interesting.
;O)
bob
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Post by xl130 on Mar 24, 2022 18:38:54 GMT -5
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Post by w30bob on Mar 24, 2022 22:15:30 GMT -5
Hi XL130,
Thanks. Yup....I've been watching that one too. He's got a nice selection of old Homelites for sale, but his prices are a bit 'sporty'. Combined with the cost of shipping to the states and that makes them a tough sell. I think there's only bids on one or two of his saws, but they are clean and he appears to provide an honest description.....which is worth a lot. You're right about the Zip.....I think I have 5 of them and have to turn them away at times. The old EZ and EZ-6 are the same way.....seems everyone has one or two. To be honest I'm a bit amazed at how many of the old Homelite workhorses have survived this long. Maybe I'm just getting used to today's 'throw away' world.
regards,
bob
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Post by xl130 on Mar 25, 2022 9:37:36 GMT -5
I have bought my share of EBay saws and I now prefer to buy “collector” owned saws on EBay. The junk that others are selling usually cost less but you never know what your getting. The international shipping definitely hurts. No question !
Husqvarna used that weird bumper thingy on some of their saws. I have a 272XP that came with it and had a 181 with it. I guess the idea is to protect the front of the saw while bucking.
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Post by w30bob on Mar 25, 2022 19:15:24 GMT -5
Hi XL,
Yeah, I think you're right. I've run across more than a few saws for sale without a bucking spike that has the lower front corner of the crankcase busted off under the bar. So it must be to protect the somewhat delicate cast aluminum. Was just looking at an old Reed-Prentice Craftsman that was in good shape, but had that front section cracked, but still attached. Too bad....it was a nice saw otherwise.
;O)
bob
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