Stihl gas and oil caps like or loath?

I loathe the Stihl caps because I've seen them come off so many times. Can you imagine how much fuel and oil have been spilled worldwide over the years because of that design?

When Husqvarna moved to the flip-up screw cap design 10 years ago I went and bought the new caps to replace all my old screwdriver caps.

Edit: maybe "loathe" is too strong a word. I don't like the unnecessary complexity of the Stihl caps. It should be difficult to open, so it doesn't get opened accidentally, the way an auto-locking carabiner works, or the lid on a pill bottle. Why it would be purposely difficult/complex to close is a mystery to me. What possible benefit could be had by making a lid difficult to close?
 
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Matias said:
I agree that the ones that use a screwdriver suck too, but Husqy's current design is the perfect marriage of the two designs. I have never had a Husqy cap fall off, no matter how hastily I put it on, because it's a screw cap. Anything that reduces the number of seperate things I have to focus on is great
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Sounds like a great design, I’ll have to find one to look at. I’m not familiar with that cap. Thanks for the review!
 
Reach said:
Sounds like a great design, I’ll have to find one to look at. I’m not familiar with that cap. Thanks for the review!
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I'll dig around and see if I can find the video, because it didn't work when I tried, but I saw a guy use the husqy caps to replace the ones on a 2511.
 
I think they are... OK. Yes they are a bit over complicated, and yes I've failed to close it and dumped oil out once or twice, and employees more times than that, but generally I find they work well. Anything is better than a cap that requires a tool to open in my book.
 
If you compare Stihl flippy caps to tool-required caps, sure, they are OK. But I still wouldn't say hands down winner...there is always a scrench nearby, so not a big deal. However, Stihl flippy caps to Husqvarna flippy caps = there is no competition for the better cap. Husqvarna wins that particular battle.
 
I find that if you have strong fingers, the ones that can take a screwdriver to tighten don't actually require a tool to get them tight enough to not have issues. They just suck if you can't grip them for any of several possible reasons, but I like that they are the easiest to manufacture, and without actually looking it up, I assume that makes them fairly cheap to replace, right? The flippy caps aren't cheap.
 
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Matias said:
I find that if you have strong fingers, the ones that can take a screwdriver to tighten don't actually require a tool to get them tight enough to not have issues. They just suck if you can't grip them for any of several possible reasons, but I like that they are the easiest to manufacture, and without actually looking it up, I assume that makes them fairly cheap to replace, right? The flippy caps aren't cheap.
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The floppy caps aren't cheap, I think the Stihl caps cost us around $12 each, but when I look at the cost per minute to pay a crew member, I find that I can buy a more expensive cap many times for the difference in time it takes to find a scrench and take off a tight screw cap.
 
Reach said:
The floppy caps aren't cheap, I think the Stihl caps cost us around $12 each, but when I look at the cost per minute to pay a crew member, I find that I can buy a more expensive cap many times for the difference in time it takes to find a scrench and take off a tight screw cap.
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without a doubt. which is why I like the modern Husqy flip caps.
 
Reach said:
The floppy caps aren't cheap, I think the Stihl caps cost us around $12 each, but when I look at the cost per minute to pay a crew member, I find that I can buy a more expensive cap many times for the difference in time it takes to find a scrench and take off a tight screw cap.
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you need to buy more screnches! Keep one always near the fuel. Often the chain could be snugged up too at refuleing time and that's more likely to happen if there is a scrench right there.
 
ATH said:
you need to buy more screnches! Keep one always near the fuel. Often the chain could be snugged up too at refuleing time and that's more likely to happen if there is a scrench right there.
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i used to keep one in my pocket at all times
 
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ATH said:
you need to buy more screnches! Keep one always near the fuel. Often the chain could be snugged up too at refuleing time and that's more likely to happen if there is a scrench right there.
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We keep one on each side of each truck, but any steps that can be reduced or eliminated are best to be reduced or eliminated. The simpler we can make things the better. I do tell the crews to tighten chains when they need it, and usually they do pretty well at it, but we still don't want to need a tool to open fuel caps.
 
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Reach said:
I'll have to check those caps out some time, if I can find a Husqy dealer. Somewhere I go has to be one, I'm just not sure where.
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That's a shame to not have options. I ended up going with Husqy saws because the guy at my local Stihl shop was a gruff. gatekeeping jerk to me for years, and the guys at the Husqy shop were always really nice and answered all my questions like there wasn't anyone else waiting for their assistance. I have no brand loyalty, and would have bought a bunch of Stihls if they had treated me with some dignity at that one shop.
 
Matias said:
That's a shame to not have options. I ended up going with Husqy saws because the guy at my local Stihl shop was a gruff. gatekeeping jerk to me for years, and the guys at the Husqy shop were always really nice and answered all my questions like there wasn't anyone else waiting for their assistance. I have no brand loyalty, and would have bought a bunch of Stihls if they had treated me with some dignity at that one shop.
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There's saw dealers all over, for all brands imaginable, but I'm not sure any of my regular shops carry Husqy. I could make a stop somewhere easily enough to look at one, that's not a problem. Gap Arborist Supply is a Husqy dealer, actually, I just don't get there much anymore because they moved further from our shop.

I am very brand loyal, we use only Stihl power, and love our local dealer. If we didn't, we would go elsewhere in a hurry.
 
Matias said:
I find that if you have strong fingers, the ones that can take a screwdriver to tighten don't actually require a tool to get them tight enough to not have issues. They just suck if you can't grip them for any of several possible reasons, but I like that they are the easiest to manufacture, and without actually looking it up, I assume that makes them fairly cheap to replace, right? The flippy caps aren't cheap.
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The larger scrinch caps that are two piece will leak near the hex pattern after a while. This creates a second potential leak point other than the gasket.
IMO a scrinch should be within arms reach, handy for some many things and work in a pinch to roll of bigger chunks or help with stump cuts. A stick is just a good and somewhat safer.
In the rare times a saw gets pinched hard it’s nice to have one handy to take the bar off. Then the obvious for a thrown chain or adjustment.
 
Njdelaney said:
Anyone know if the Husky flip-up caps will fit a 346xp?
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Send it over and I'll try some of my Husky flip caps to let you know. Probably need a few years of testing to say for sure though.

But seriously, I'll try to remember to put calipers on them and compare to the older saws I have next time I'm at the shop (next few days are not promising for that!). Do you know if the 346XP caps are interchangeable with other saws? maybe something like the 338XPT that probably overlaps manufacture date would be similar...but that may be smaller? Perhaps my 455 Rancher (also may be same vintage) or543XP (newer)?. The only Husqvarna I have with flip caps is a 562XP I'll see if those caps fit any of the others.
 
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