Looking for an old diesel chainsaw

[JDemaris]

I'd like to buy an old diesel chainwaw for a project. Several companies made them in the 1950s, including Comet and Jonsereds.

Anybody ever come across one with a reasonable pricetag?

 

[Mike (WA)]

Didn't even know there was such a thing. How did you start them? Hang out in front of the local health club, and snag the buffest 25 year old you could find, BEFORE he went into the club and got tired? I assume we're talking titanium starting cable, rather than the more familiar starting rope. . .

 

[Dave_Id]

I wonder if they had glow plugs.

 

[JDemaris]

The first ones had a litte propane cartridge that ran a little glow-plug heater. The later ones used an electric glow-plug run by flashlight batteries.

 

[Davis In SC]

Speaking of starting cord, as a kid, I once had a huge old chainsaw, the kind with a bow blade. The starter cord on it was actually a piece of metal cable. Mine was gas though, I never was able to get it started. Looking back, that probably saved my life, or at least a limb or 2.

 

[Anonymous-0]

4-30 McCulloch..........Hated workin on them. 50 some odd yrs ago. Don't remember any others having a cable recoil..

 

[Anonymous-0]

jdemaris, those were Hatz diesels weren't they??

 

[Anonymous-0]

Jonsereds made several models in the 50's that run on diesel, gas & kero. The one we had was similar to the XA @ the link, but I don't remember the propane heated glow plug. Seems the old blowtorch was used instead.

Joe
diesel saw

 

[JDemaris]

I've got a 4-30, made in early 1950s and it has a gas engine, not diesel.

 

[JDemaris]

I don't think so. The first diesel chain saw was the Comet Model A - made in Sweden 1949. It was lighter then gas saws with the same power. The inventor made the two-stroke diesel engine in his own small factory.

 

[buickanddeere]

Amazing, never guessed such a machine existed. That's an interesting topic to research and keep one's eyes open for.