XL - to revive, remain sleeping or pass along

[mach5rider]

I have a question for the folks who know these better than me:

I have an appreciation for old equipment and OPE especially. I have much experience with lawn boys and echo 2 strokes as well as many other gasoline powered devices. So naturally when I ran across an old XL in collector grade condition slumbering in the back of a garage - stickers and all, I thought it would be a worthy project. However the only other Homelite that I’ve worked on was a super 2 that I had years ago and it had a ratio of 5:1, hours on the bench to minutes in service. While in service it was a nice saw. Based on that experience, I am reluctant to embark on the journey of reviving this saw even with its display shelf good looks.
Perhaps it will find a home on the shelf in as found condition unless someone needs it more than me.

Wisdom appreciated.

See if this link works for photos:
flic.kr/p/2nCpHeP
flic.kr/p/2nCin6N

[blythkd]

Are you talking about a small XL? Similar to the Super 2?

I'd put some gas in it and give it a shot. It might not need much if it's in such good condition, especially is it's been properly stored.

[mach5rider]

It is a small top handle saw l with a 10” bar. If I could figure out photo posting I could share.
I can give it a shot and see how it goes. It looks likes it’s been stored fluid free, so I could spray some 2 stroke into the carb and see what happens. The risk is once I’ve started investing time and money, it’s a slippery slope, which comes with increased levels of expectation.

[blythkd]

Yeah we know exactly which saw you have now. There were a few differences but not much. It could be magnesium case or plastic case. The metal case saw will likely have a diaphragm pump type oiler. Every plastic case saw I think I've ever seen had a pressurized tank oiler system. Other than that, they used some different carbs, the later ones had electronic ignition and that's about it.

If it was stored dry, it's likely in good shape and may just fire right up and perform normally.

I'd gas and oil it up and give a shot.

[edju1958]

I worked on the same style saw for my neighbor just a short time ago.Everyone thinkls these little saws are difficult to work on,but after pulling the engine out of it's case they're fairly simple.Probably the biggest thing to remember is the oil line orientation.The saw I worked on had been into by someone else previously & they had the lines crossed improperly.It took me a while to figure it out,but once that  was done the rest was a cake walk.

    I've since purchased 3 of these XLs to work on while recovering from back surgery.I'm fairly sure that I'll have to pull the carbs on these 3 saws for a rebuild.I also have 3 XL2s to go through & a Super2 as well.Don't give up on that little saw,it's worth a little time & a few bucks IMO.

[mach5rider]

Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll see if I can spare some time this week and try it out. I am just a bit discouraged from the super 2 years ago. Although, at the time it was my only saw and I needed it to cleanup some standing dead timber. I had the carb apart a half dozen times on that thing - did everything short of changing crank seals that I could think of. The good news is I now have “several” saws that I use for cutting. This XL will be for looks and bragging primarily, so less need for swearing if it doesn’t start.
It does have a metal case and is awfully cute. I’m not sure about oiling. I’ve been using 40:1 ethanol free fuel for vintage 2 stroke equipment and 50:1 for new stuff.
Any ideas on how to take the rubber-ish scabbard on and off without cutting it on the chain? It looks pretty delicate these days.