Stihl 460 Self Destruct?

Shayne Picard

Shayne Picard

Location
Massachusetts
Need some help here!

I had my 460 serviced recently. The shop said it needed little: "Spark plug . . . Washed air filters . . . fueled and added bar chain lube test ran okay."

I fired the thing up on Saturday to fell a tree. On the back cut, it stopped suddenly. No coughing, no slowing down, no warning. It just stopped.

I pulled to start it again and felt it had no compression. I then brought it back to the shop. He pulled it apart and told me the cylinder was destroyed and it would cost more to repair than to replace. His diagnosis: current at-the-pump fuel properties, specifically alcohol content, caused the saw to run lean, overheat, and mis-shape the diaphram (at least that's my recollection of his diagnosis; I know little to nothing about small engines).

Has anyone heard of this?

Oh, one more thing. The saw is about three years old and I only use it 10-20 weekends per year.
 
I wouldn't take my saws to that shop anymore!

It sounds like his techs put straight gas or the wrong mix in your saw, and he's blaming the gas from the pumps in general. Wasn't it still HIS gas that was in it when it quit?

-Tom
 
Same thing happened to me with the same saw, never really found out why it happened. Bialeys has a big bore kit for the saw for $120 which I replaced it with and so far it's been fine. The kit is pretty easy to do and has good instructions.
 
If he is so aware of the gas at the pumps content then why didn't he adjust for it? He fueled it and was entrusted to get it in proper running condition. He's on the hook.
 
Gas at the pumps does have some minor things to do with it. I have yet to see a saw blown up from it. The worst ive seen is it eats diaphragms like crazy.

What octane are you running? What is your oil ratio? Did he say how the carb looked when you brought it in?

What part of MA are you in? Bring it by the shop and ill give you a second opinion on the repair bill and a TreeBuzz discount. Theres NO way that will cost more to replace the top end than to replace a $950 saw. Maybe you tore up the crank and bearings bad too?
 
Actually Stihl is having problems right now with their brand new saws, they were designed to run on higher or lower alcohol gasoline mixtures(I'm not sure whether its higher or lower) this mixture is made at the refinery and have changed recently for emission reasons.

This may not apply to your saw because its 3 years old, but its a problem Sthil is dealing with right now.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Actually Stihl is having problems right now with their brand new saws, they were designed to run on higher or lower alcohol gasoline mixtures(I'm not sure whether its higher or lower) this mixture is made at the refinery and have changed recently for emission reasons.

This may not apply to your saw because its 3 years old, but its a problem Sthil is dealing with right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

havent seen this in any recent classes or tech bulletins. Do you have a copy of the info you could email me? Or is this maybe a canadian issue only?
 
Don't know of any written info yet, my uncle has a Sthil shop and has had it happen to a saw he sold that day. It happened last week and apparently it happened to alot of other saws within a few days. I don't know how wide spread the problem is, it maybe just in Ontario.
 
The shop did say that the diaphram appeared stiff(?) and that's what caused the damage. I don't understand that; perhaps it makes sense to some of you?

My problem is this:

Assuming the shop did nothing wrong, I'm left with the following:

1. The shop never heard of this problem and therefore never warned me about it, or was aware and failed to warn me.

2. Stihl has never heard of this problem and therefore never warned me about it, or was aware and failed to warn me.

Is there anything else they're not telling me? It just blows my mind that I was running an $850 saw in compliance with the manufacturer's instructions and now they're telling me that I should find out its scrap value.

By the way, SimonCX, thanks for the tip on the big bore kit. I may look into that.
 
Stihl recommends high octane fuel only.

I don't see how on the one hand they tell you it's a problem with current fuel content causing it to run lean AND they fueled it but it's not their fault!?!?!

Sorry, I'd just recite this to them and ask them to explain the logic. There is none... they are at fault.
 
It sure seems odd it blew right after a trip to the shop.

I think about ten or more years ago ethanol blend fuel was sent to the arctic. Almost all the two stroke snowmobiles blew, bad scene.
 
Where you located? I would like to look it over, free of charge, and see what it looks like.
2 strokes fail in a certain way when certain things happen, like straight gas, lean seizure, sucked something through the intake, etc etc
 
We can't get high octane here unless we drive 90 miles to get it. On top of that issue, all fuel here has at least 10% aclcohol in it.

This is an issue for STIHL. Back to the drawing board!
 
[ QUOTE ]
2 strokes fail in a certain way when certain things happen

[/ QUOTE ]

We had every mid size saw blow this summer. equip guys was saving the company big money on 2 cycle mix oil. New oil was to save 2000 $ every year, new oil cost the company over 2000 $ in 2 months. Good thing that guy is the VP
bangtard.gif
 
Bull,

I'm south of Worcester. I'm still waiting to hear back from the manager at the shop. When I get the saw back, I'll contact you.

I used regular fuel, with Stihl brand 2-cycle oil. I thought that was safe. Although, I'm not sure what the shop put in. I'll find out.
 
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