HolmenTree
Banned
He probably just spurred up with lanyard only. Definately not a good tree pruner.
New 200t?
- Thread starter flushcut
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CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
I could see that happening with dead fronds on say a washingtonia.... Some hot carbon with no spark arrestor...
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
I can't imagine climbing that. I'd quit.
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
They don't grow well up here 
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
--nor Manitoba or Ohio for that matter --
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
So... I am going to guess the article said the climbers saw was modified Willard?
Gotta link?
Gotta link?
HolmenTree
Banned
No ,I just figured that out, even just pulling the screen out of a saw is classified as muffler modding, especially on the MS200 Stihl where the screen has a restrictor plate attached for the exhaust outlet.
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
It would be a rarity like that tinder dry palm to ever catch afire .
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
I've caught moss on fire with hot exhaust alone on big wood. I would imagine bone dry fronds could easily catch the same way. Or with a hot enough spark. Our last big fire up here was caused by gun shot. Grass caught. They were not clear on whether it was the muzzle flash or hot FMJ that caused it.
Marc-Antoine
TreeHouser
Thank you Al, it will be interesting to try the mod. Before, I must cut some cookies to have a picture at the start point. It's difficult to say something only with the recall.
That inverted funnel deal would have a venturi effect except it dead heads right into that bulkhead .If you carved about 1/4" inch off of the outlet I suspect it would have a dramatic effect on how it runs .That or drill a hole right in the middle of that bulkhead to relieve that pressure some .
The shape of those mufflers are not really condusive to a true pressure can although by design it does hold a certain amount of volume .In my opinion relieving that pressure would allow for more fuel on transfer before the muffler pressure and cylinder pressure equalizes and should incease the power level substantually .Of course at the cost of more fuel .Then again you can't make power without fuel .
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
Just requires full on attention is all. Just be observant and be prepared. Mitigate the risk.
HolmenTree
Banned
In this palm fire situation its obvious the saw had the muffler spark arrestor screen removed. Those dead fronds would be like dry paper and while the saw is in the cut a red hot piece of carbon from the piston/ cylinder lands on one of them with hot exhaust blowing on it igniting the frond. These type of fires can get out of hand very quickly.
Now another situation could have happened, that piece of carbon could have smoldered for days before a fire could have ignited. Just like alot of forest fires have been started long after the loggers have moved on to another area. Many states and provinces has laws for spark arrestor screens.
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
Exactly the point I was making... They are like dry paper and could have as easily been started by hot exhaust, let alone a spark...
I live in California where we DO have those very laws about spark arrestors and you are held responsible should you start a fire and can be fined if caught without one in place. They DO inspect.
Not arguing your mod point Willard, just elaborating on it.
As for this statement of mine...
Originally Posted by CurSedVoyce View Post
Just requires full on attention is all. Just be observant and be prepared. Mitigate the risk.
That is about keeping an eye on what you are doing around flammables and the heat that can start them into burn cycle. Also taking notice as best you can that you have not started the burn cycle after the cut is complete or the shot was made. No shit that he would not have had time except to bail.
One of the ways that boy could have mitigated his risk was to have a life line that would have saved him from a fall.
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
I do know that during certain dry conditions they don't allow cutting in Idaho as per a gent I know who is a faller in that state .
It would depend on the conditions of course as to the risk .What would apply in California would not in Ohio . In Ohio you'd be pretty hard pressed to start the woods afire with a saw or even a match for that matter .
It would depend on the conditions of course as to the risk .What would apply in California would not in Ohio . In Ohio you'd be pretty hard pressed to start the woods afire with a saw or even a match for that matter .
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
true that!
Cobleskill
Treehouser
My bud moved from the burbs to a place with woods. He was always concerned with his woods catching on fire. I assured him you could dump gas on it and still not get it going. I did see an orchard brush fire get dry leaves on the woods floor going. It went a surprisingly long way. No damage to trees.
When my kids were about 11 and 7 they had a small fire going back by our pond. It was early in the spring and quite dry. They had cleared an area and made a ring of rocks for the fire. They wandered away from the fire for a little bit and the wind jumped the fire out of there cleared area. By the time they noticed it was too big for them to put out. They had a young neighbor friend (actually the daughter of my bud who worried about his woods burning) who they sent to get me, and the youngest son was sent to a neighbor for help. I was at the house and noticed the girl standing by herself looking lost and went out to ask her what was wrong. By the time I got back there it was out of control, and heading for the neighbors pine grove. Water from pails and rakes didn't work. We worked the perimeter kicking the grass into the fire. Burned the bottom of my frayed carhartt pants off. Both my son and I got sick from smoke inhalation. Lesson learned.
When my kids were about 11 and 7 they had a small fire going back by our pond. It was early in the spring and quite dry. They had cleared an area and made a ring of rocks for the fire. They wandered away from the fire for a little bit and the wind jumped the fire out of there cleared area. By the time they noticed it was too big for them to put out. They had a young neighbor friend (actually the daughter of my bud who worried about his woods burning) who they sent to get me, and the youngest son was sent to a neighbor for help. I was at the house and noticed the girl standing by herself looking lost and went out to ask her what was wrong. By the time I got back there it was out of control, and heading for the neighbors pine grove. Water from pails and rakes didn't work. We worked the perimeter kicking the grass into the fire. Burned the bottom of my frayed carhartt pants off. Both my son and I got sick from smoke inhalation. Lesson learned.
MasterBlaster
Administrator Emeritus
No screens in my mufflers! 
woodworkingboy
TreeHouser
Good perspective, Al, my 020 has that same muffler, and it occurred to me right away to make an opening in that plate to allow the exhaust to flow better. I didn't run it much before the mod, so I can't compare.
HolmenTree
Banned
While on the subject of saws causing fires, here is what happened to my Stihl 090Av one dry windy day back in the spring 2002. I didn't get a picture of the actual fire but a few pics from a few hours later.
While cutting paper rolls at our local paper mill the 090's exhaust ignited paper debris while near the bottom of the 54" diameter cut. With a helper handle on the end of the 60" bar and wedges hammered in tight at the top of the cut in the roll the saw was stuck while the fire took off under the saw.
Within about 30 seconds I had a fire hose on the fire and saw but not fast enough to save the paint and most of the plastic pieces on the saw.
I borrowed a piece of rubber hose from the mills labratory for a fuel line and wrapped the burnt up sparkplug wire with electrical tape to protect the bare copper wire, I stole the starter handle from my 044, peeled the melted hose off the top handle and I was back to business cutting paper rolls and the tough old saw ran perfect.
About $800 later I replaced all the covers, plastic pieces etc.
If you look close at the 1st pic the big paper debris pile in the back ground next to the mill almost caught fire from pieces of burning paper blowing towards it with the wind.
While cutting paper rolls at our local paper mill the 090's exhaust ignited paper debris while near the bottom of the 54" diameter cut. With a helper handle on the end of the 60" bar and wedges hammered in tight at the top of the cut in the roll the saw was stuck while the fire took off under the saw.
Within about 30 seconds I had a fire hose on the fire and saw but not fast enough to save the paint and most of the plastic pieces on the saw.
I borrowed a piece of rubber hose from the mills labratory for a fuel line and wrapped the burnt up sparkplug wire with electrical tape to protect the bare copper wire, I stole the starter handle from my 044, peeled the melted hose off the top handle and I was back to business cutting paper rolls and the tough old saw ran perfect.
About $800 later I replaced all the covers, plastic pieces etc.
If you look close at the 1st pic the big paper debris pile in the back ground next to the mill almost caught fire from pieces of burning paper blowing towards it with the wind.
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Cut4fun
Redneck Chainsaw Repair
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2007
- Messages
- 2,635
Funny thought I got from reading the fire in tree here and they are going to do to you climbers in future. Along with all the other bs you already carry up a tree, they will start requiring a small fire extinguisher be on person. 
They already make us do it on small boats with a gas motor.
They already make us do it on small boats with a gas motor.
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
They make us pack one in if fire danger is too high. They can also make you hike it in as you will not be able to take any kind of motorized vehicle off an established road. So if you need to fell a tree in a bad summer, you may also be carrying a shovel and fire extinguisher along with your saw, gas and oil.
Cut4fun
Redneck Chainsaw Repair
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2007
- Messages
- 2,635
I remember when I lived in MT we had to carry at least a military fold-able shovel strapped onto our dirt bikes when riding up in the woods, mountains etc (maybe it was because we were in the National Forest areas). I think we had to have ext in truck, not sure.
