|
Post by Banchory & District Men's Shed on Jan 29, 2018 17:41:54 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, I’ve used chainsaws from time to time during the past few decades, but I have to admit that I had never heard of Homelite until a few days ago, when a kindly citizen donated a ton of welding equipment and a Homelite XL-12 to Banchory and District Men’s Shed. My first thought was to try to start it, maybe cut up my stash of logs, then sell the XL-12 to raise funds for our project to convert part of the building where we meet into a Men’s Shed workshop. (At the moment we are a virtual Shed, meeting socially each week to progress the Premises project). Now that I have found this forum, courtesy of Google, I see that there is a potential world of interest in this chainsaw, so maybe we will drop the idea of selling it. The metal label on the saw has the serial number 1667056, and the wording is in English and French, so I’m guessing that this is one of the chainsaws that was made in Canada. Any info on the saw from members of this Forum will be most welcome. Regards, Paul
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2018 17:55:52 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, I’ve used chainsaws from time to time during the past few decades, but I have to admit that I had never heard of Homelite until a few days ago, when a kindly citizen donated a ton of welding equipment and a Homelite XL-12 to Banchory and District Men’s Shed. My first thought was to try to start it, maybe cut up my stash of logs, then sell the XL-12 to raise funds for our project to convert part of the building where we meet into a Men’s Shed workshop. (At the moment we are a virtual Shed, meeting socially each week to progress the Premises project). Now that I have found this forum, courtesy of Google, I see that there is a potential world of interest in this chainsaw, so maybe we will drop the idea of selling it. The metal label on the saw has the serial number 1667056, and the wording is in English and French, so I’m guessing that this is one of the chainsaws that was made in Canada. Any info on the saw from members of this Forum will be most welcome. Regards, Paul I am assuming you are from Scotland and the Men's shed is a blog, for now, for what it appears to be a men's social club involving the sharing of hobbies and interest. I hope you don't mind me posting the link. banchorymensshed.wordpress.com/
|
|
|
Post by tjthechainsawmech on Jan 29, 2018 18:10:13 GMT -5
Welcome aboard! Glad you've decided to keep that Homelite. They are good saws and fun to work with.
|
|
|
Post by lesorubcheek on Jan 29, 2018 18:47:44 GMT -5
Hello and welcome! Chainsaws can be lots of fun and from many different perspectives. Getting your hands dirty, enjoying working with a great classic piece of equipment, bringing a discarded classic back to life, the smell of two stroke, finding a special model to complete a collection, looking for that one little part to complete a rebuild.... the list goes on an on why people are attracted to these things. XL-12s are a great place to start with Homelites. Plenty of spare parts and easy to work on. Enjoy!
Dan
|
|
|
Post by sweepleader on Jan 29, 2018 20:02:39 GMT -5
Yes, welcome. Lucky you to have an XL-12, my personal favorite family of Homelites. Ask any question about your saw, someone here will know the answer or go find it for sure. If you want a parts list, they are called IPL's (Illustrated Parts Lists), go here: www.leonschainsawpartsandrepair.com/uploads/3/9/7/9/39792537/homelite_xl-12_chainsaw_ipl_23817-a_revision_3_.pdfFree on line, courtesy of Leon and Greg and Joyce. There is lots more available too, manuals, literature, name it, it's here.
|
|
|
Post by Banchory & District Men's Shed on Jan 30, 2018 10:48:39 GMT -5
Thank you all for your warm welcome and helpful information, guys. Yes, we are in Scotland, and that the link you mention is our blog, oologaghan. Banchory is about fifteen miles west of Aberdeen and is well forested, so a chainsaw will come in handy for those of us who make use of the local firewood. I used to tinker with 1950s and 1960s motorcycles in my youth so I am comfortable with the idea of taking apart a chainsaw if necessary.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2018 12:32:25 GMT -5
Thank you all for your warm welcome and helpful information, guys. Yes, we are in Scotland, and that the link you mention is our blog, oologaghan. Banchory is about fifteen miles west of Aberdeen and is well forested, so a chainsaw will come in handy for those of us who make use of the local firewood. I used to tinker with 1950s and 1960s motorcycles in my youth so I am comfortable with the idea of taking apart a chainsaw if necessary. Again welcome Paul, you have come to the right place for questions or advice. I do not believe American wives would be so accepting of a Men's Shed as many of us already have those sheds that sometimes overtake our homes.
|
|
|
Post by undee70ss on Jan 30, 2018 16:27:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jerseyhighlander on Jan 30, 2018 18:25:04 GMT -5
Man do you guys know how to waste an opportunity! Coulda told him all technical support services are payable in fine Scottish Ale... Now he knows we do this for fun. Damn!
Another Welcome Paul.
XL-12 is a fine saw from a fine family of saws. They know how to work & easily out last any of the plastic stuff made today. If you guys like tinkering with things these are a joy to work on. Just be aware, if you should happen to come by a second one, they have a strong propensity to reproduce.
Also may want to be aware, that vintage typically didn't have any manner of spark arrestor in the muffler. Something that, around here, is required any time you are working on public lands. Should be easy enough to modify. Some of the more crusty lumber jocks here should be able to help. I'd recommend you check in with the local forester or whoever oversees the wood cutting on public lands there.
|
|
|
Post by onlyhomelites on Jan 31, 2018 9:39:40 GMT -5
Well Paul you've had the full introduction from everyone! Nothing left to say but: Welcome Aboard!
|
|
|
Post by Banchory & District Men's Shed on Jan 31, 2018 19:05:07 GMT -5
Thanks again guys! I think the wives are mollified by the thought that the Sheds are men only, in practice, even though it is moot whether a woman could join if she wanted - the prospect of extended discussion of mechanics and DIY is a sufficient deterrent. As for early XL-12s not having a spark arrestor, I’m guessing this is relevant to the risk of forest fires, which I have to say is a non-issue in the typical Scottish climate. I have’t tried to start the chainsaw yet, but I’ve ordered some two-stroke oil and chainsaw oil from Amazon, so I’ll try in a few days when those arrive.
|
|
|
Post by sweepleader on Jan 31, 2018 19:28:41 GMT -5
The original paperwork and maybe the gas cap on the saw, likely call for 16:1, gas to oil mix. With modern oils you can put in half that or go 40:1 without trouble. That reduces smoke, carbon build up on the sparkplug and muffler and produces a little more power as more of the fuel is gasoline. I have the feeling that it makes a saw easier to start too but who knows?
|
|
|
Post by Banchory & District Men's Shed on Feb 1, 2018 4:02:01 GMT -5
Thanks sweepleader, that’s a useful tip. Scottish ale will be forthcoming if any of you guys pitch up here.
|
|
|
Post by sweepleader on Feb 1, 2018 7:59:09 GMT -5
Great grand parents were from Portree on Skye, maybe there is still some of that ale on board...
|
|
|
Post by Banchory & District Men's Shed on Feb 1, 2018 15:34:42 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by sweepleader on Feb 1, 2018 19:26:33 GMT -5
A good friend of mine, gave me a bottle of Talisker whisky a while back. He thought I should at least try some Skye single malt. I very rapidly developed a taste for it. Did I mention that he was a VERY good friend? :{)
|
|
|
Post by Banchory & District Men's Shed on Feb 10, 2018 9:03:59 GMT -5
Well, the two-stroke oil and chainsaw oil arrived from Amazon. I fuelled the chainsaw in a spirit of optimism, but that didn’t last long - the engine turned over nicely but showed no inclination to fire up. Now I’ll read the guidance on the forum, and approach the issue more methodically.
|
|
|
Post by undee70ss on Feb 10, 2018 13:13:30 GMT -5
First thing to check, is if it has spark. It could be a bad plug, or other issues with ignition system. Best to check for spark with a new plug.
|
|
|
Post by sweepleader on Feb 10, 2018 17:24:51 GMT -5
After you know it has spark, dribble a little fuel (maybe a tablespoon full, (1cc?)) in the carb with the choke open. Close the choke and try the starter again.
|
|
|
Post by Banchory & District Men's Shed on Feb 16, 2018 12:08:36 GMT -5
Thanks guys - that teaspoon of fuel into the carb woke up the saw from its decades of sleep. It ticks over nicely, and made short work of a 10” diameter log I tried it out on. It is indeed a great American product!
|
|