Super 2 SL?

[802super2]

What was different about the Super 2 SL model versus the standard Super 2 model? How many different versions / models of the Super 2 were manufactured? Thanks in advance. 

[edju1958]

The "SL" stood for safety lever,other than that I don't know of any other differences.

                              Ed

[onlyhomelites]

There were three distinct "versions"...the original metal twin trigger, the next gen plastic single trigger and then the last gen revised single trigger that had an anti-vibration throttle handle.

The SL models were offered in the metal case twin trigger and the final last gen plastic.

[rowdy235]

Just out of curiosity, was the target of the Safety Lever “SL” models? Was it to satisfy some safety requirement or just intended for homeowners / business owners who wanted the addditional safety?

[undee70ss]

The SL Models are kinda rare in the USA. Most were built in Canada and sold there or were exported.

[onlyhomelites]

I've always assumed that Canada and parts of Europe developed advanced safety standards sooner than the US and that's why most of the SL's ended up in the international markets.

[fossil]

I can't find any dates on Canada and chain brakes being required but my closest guess would be around 1985.

Safety regs are a provincial thing. I suspect British Columbia was first due to the amount of logging that went on there.

That meant you either abandoned sales in that province or made it standard or optional for the provinces that didn't require them. Pioneer had optional chain brakes in the early '80's and Poulan had ones you could buy at a dealer.

I believe in BC today a shop cannot work on a saw that doesn't have the required safety pieces in place. Most provinces, if not all, require brakes and guards as required for employees to use a saw. Where I live, I suspect some shops won't work on something without a working brake.

Individuals doing there own work can do as they please.

I suspect quite a few small firewood businesses violate that, but if there's an accident, they better have deep pockets.

[ronaldt]

I bought 6 saws last November from a guy who had bought out a retiring dealer. He said that a bunch of the Homelites were traded in by companies that required chainbrake for employees. This is in southern Minnesota.

[onlyhomelites]

Thanks for chiming in on that Tim...here in the US we don't have restrictions quite like that. But most shops won't look at the older saws because "parts aren't available". Really, they just don't want to work on the older equipment.

[rowdy235]

Interesting, not sure I’ve had a shop refuse to work on anything because of a lack of safety device, if the equipment wasn’t originally equipped with it. Of course it sounds like CA has had the safety features a lot longer than the US. I know Canada required daytime running lights on cars clear back in the 90s and to my knowledge they’re still not mandatory here.

[fossil]

Mar 5, 2020 15:30:08 GMT -5 onlyhomelites said:

Thanks for chiming in on that Tim...here in the US we don't have restrictions quite like that. But most shops won't look at the older saws because "parts aren't available". Really, they just don't want to work on the older equipment.

I can't say I would be working on old saws either if I had a repair shop. If you were backed up with 10 snow blowers, 20 lawnmowers and a bunch of saws, trimmers, blowers etc., who's got time to track NLA parts down?

I think there's definitely a niche market for a few shops to advertise that they work on vintage saws. Not a huge market though.

[ronaldt]

Mar 6, 2020 20:45:00 GMT -5 fossil said:

Mar 5, 2020 15:30:08 GMT -5 onlyhomelites said:

Thanks for chiming in on that Tim...here in the US we don't have restrictions quite like that. But most shops won't look at the older saws because "parts aren't available". Really, they just don't want to work on the older equipment.

I can't say I would be working on old saws either if I had a repair shop. If you were backed up with 10 snow blowers, 20 lawnmowers and a bunch of saws, trimmers, blowers etc., who's got time to track NLA parts down?

I think there's definitely a niche market for a few shops to advertise that they work on vintage saws. Not a huge market though.

In my opinion, working on anything old is a niche market. Larger shops have to charge a higher shop rate in order to pay good employees and keep the business going. We all know that resurrecting anything old can take a lot of time. A lot of time equals a big repair bill. I've worked in a body shop for the past 30 years. I appreciate the work that goes into a restoration but for us it is far more profitable to repair daily driver fender benders. I've been fortunate to have found a guy who enjoys fixing saws in his spare time. Keep in mind he's not making his living doing it so he's very reasonable on price.

[ken8831200]

Sometimes even finding a place that would work on something that is not covered by warranty could be problematic. Be it chainsaws, lawn mowers or vacuum cleaners most consumer products are designed and built to be disposable these days. Might be different for a large chain saw that a guy cutting trees for a saw mill but who is going to pay someone a living wage to fix a saw that Harry Home owner uses to trim a few branches off his trees a couple times a year with a saw that on sale goes for $129.99

[802super2]

Here is a couple pictures of my recently acquired Super 2 SL. It was manufactured in Canada. The tag with the UT / Serial #s is long gone. 

Attachments:

[Hoggwood]

Mar 4, 2020 20:56:59 GMT -5 fossil said:

I can't find any dates on Canada and chain brakes being required but my closest guess would be around 1985.

Safety regs are a provincial thing. I suspect British Columbia was first due to the amount of logging that went on there.

That meant you either abandoned sales in that province or made it standard or optional for the provinces that didn't require them. Pioneer had optional chain brakes in the early '80's and Poulan had ones you could buy at a dealer.

I believe in BC today a shop cannot work on a saw that doesn't have the required safety pieces in place. Most provinces, if not all, require brakes and guards as required for employees to use a saw. Where I live, I suspect some shops won't work on something without a working brake.

Individuals doing there own work can do as they please.

I suspect quite a few small firewood businesses violate that, but if there's an accident, they better have deep pockets.

I can confirm that licensed shops in BC are not allowed to touch saws that are not equipped with a brake.  A few years ago, the odd grey-haired mechanic would quietly entertain helping.  More likely out of an appreciation for the vintage versus making a buck.  Things have really tightened up.  For good reason. There are a lot of trees here and a lot of care-free weekend warrior Millennials.  I have witnessed countless butchered stump "hinges" in the bush and behaviors at the charity cuts that make me cringe.  One day, I suspect I will happen upon a pile of bones.  That being said, the safety features on modern saws must be working.  

[sweepleader]

Yeah, and wear chaps too!

[sparky]

I 2nd that!!