Manuals for little red saws?

[albionwood]

Recently picked up a Homelite LX-30 Bandit for $30, along with an XL (no bar) for parts. After replacing the bar and chain it's now up to $65... Runs OK, though it doesn't idle as well as it should, especially after the guy who put the bar on helpfully adjusted the carb... tends to die at idle, and it's slow to pick up when the trigger is squeezed.

Can anybody point me to a source for service manuals, or even owner's manuals, for these saws? All I can find are the IPLs.

My immediate questions are: How do you get at the air filter to clean it; and how to adjust the carb - there are three screws, one large up high and two smaller ones close together down lower.

[rowdy235]

don't know about documentation, but the screws, IIRC are:

.........................o <---- Idle Speed
High Speed-->o o<--Low Speed

[hawtsawz]

Albionwood,
You remove that slotted plastic piece that the choke lever shows thru to get at your air filter. If the saw bogs at throttle try slightly turning the lo screw counterclockwise, and try the throttle as you go so as you get immediate throttle. If that doesn't work, I find the carbs on these to foul easily. If thats the case you will want to first remove the bar, remove the handle recoil housing and spark plug. Then remove the 2 screws in the top center that go thru the case as well as the bottom 2. You should then be able to slide the engine unit out of the case. You will have to disconnect the fuel and oil lines during this part to remove the 2 tanks. Then you should be ready for a fun CARB REBUILD ;D

[albionwood]

Great, thanks guys. That confirms what I suspected about the carb screws; I fiddle with them a little and discovered that very small adjustments make very big differences! I suspected already that a carb cleaning might be needed; just ordered a gasket kit.

Getting that little plastic piece out was a PITA but lo, there is the air filter. Not too clogged actually, but looks worn, so I'm replacing it tomorrow.

Should I clean the air filter with gas and then give it a little oil, or just wash with soapy water and dry thoroughly?

[albionwood]

I called Homelite and they don't provide service manuals for these saws any more (allegedly out of concern for liability). So if anyone has one, please make it available!

On the LX-30, I got a new sponge air filter, oiled it lightly, and the saw now runs better. Still a little hesitation when I squeeze the trigger, and sometimes dies at idle, so I'm still looking forward to that fun carb rebuild. But it runs well enough to make firewood... except the chain oiler isn't working. The lines are all clear, but it just doesn't pump oil when running, with or without the bar.

... hm, just got the owner's manual by e-mail, and it says NEVER RUN SAW WITHOUT BAR AND CHAIN ATTACHED. Ooops.

[bjarvi]

I need a service manual for a 150 automatic. woodburner44 said he had one and could scan it in to his computer and email it to people who needed them, then dropped off the face of the earth. He hasn't answered my request. Anybody know how to reach him? Could the administrator drop him a line and let him know that people are requesting the manual? Thanks much - the winter firewood chore is awaiting recondition of my inherited 150! My email address is [e-mail]

[albionwood]

Took it apart, cleaned out the gunk, disassembled the oil valve, reassembled everything (getting those oil lines reconnected to the oil valve is a PITA). Used a turkey baster to push oil through from the filter on the end of the pick-up tube. Now seems to be working, although the oil valve seems temperamental - sometimes oil does not flow even with it at the "high" setting. In fact it seems to work best halfway between Hi and Lo. I think that oil valve was a Bad Idea... just one more complicated thing to go wrong.

Adjusted carb and it is now running very well at speed and at idle, and revs right up from idle. Only real problem now is starting; it takes a lot of pulls to get fuel flowing. I think I'll open up the carb after the woodshed is full.