I tach my big bore saws top end around 10,500-11,000 rpm, 661 tachs about 13k top end, anything smaller (pro saws, IDK about homeowner models much) should tach 14-16k top end depending on elevation and how built or stock the saw is and the fuel you're running

We just usually had it run as fast as it would, I bought the Dewalt a couple of years ago for light work and it really impressed me the nice part is no noise, otherwise we had a couple small echoes and Stilh but normally used the 702 to do everything as it was in hand and I’m guessing the motor is getting bad.

The biggest thing is keeping the chain sharp, that's #1. After that, lubrication is is key, a 32" chain loop moves over 100,000 miles in a day of cutting, and anything worn out is placing undue stress on your saw. Also, when milling let the saw sit upright and idle for about 45-60 seconds between cuts, it's not getting lubricated evenly while running full throttle on its side. And don't let it run out of fuel in a milling cut, it's air cooled and needs to idle to cool off, going right from blazing hot running full throttle to ambient air temp is hard on things.

I didn’t think about lubrication not being right when running on its side, yeah when this idles it sounds like it’s got an oversized cam and lopes, so the heat probably builds pretty quick, I know it was warm on my leg.

I run mine oil rich.
Got an over sized clutch cover that helps when ripping.
And the chain oil is adjusted up.
Your gonna like that beast in big wood.

The guy I bought it from said it would handle the oaks no problem, I said they probably would till one twist and then he’d get it back to rebuild it.

And when I'm referring to what the saw tachs, that's adjusted on your carb unless it's m-tronic or a 500i, those tune themselves. The old school saws with carb screws you can turn, I have a tachometer made by Stihl, you hold it near the back of the saw while running it WOT with the bar and chain you'll be using (warmed up, not under any load other than the chain) and it picks up the pulses from the spark plug and figures out what RPM's you're getting so you can adjust idle and top end accordingly

Not used a tach. A dealer did on a new saw and what a joke that was.
Never went there again.
I tune right to the edge of 4 stroking under a load.
Rather be fuel rich than too lean.
I do have one auto tune and it does fine.

Good call. I just fall and buck several million board feet a year so me and my tach are probably wrong...

I don't have a clue of how big a million-bf pile is.
Was sittin around yacking about saws is all.
I did make a living with them at one time.
Later.

Not so much a pile as a couple hundred acres worth

How much did the Stihl tach cost?

Shoot, I've had it for over 10 years so I don't remember exactly. I want to say it was under $100 at Madsen's though

I tune them all with a tach. I think mine is a snap-on model. I don’t use chainsaws for a living, I just have a chainsaw addiction. My goal is to manage to burn at least one tank of gas in each saw every winter, but thats not easy because I can not burn that much wood. So I supply two neighbors with wood also. That almost does it. I would tell how many I really have, but I am afraid my wife might snoop my tman posts and find out. It definitely is beyond what even I consider reasonable.

I also have a considerable collection but they've been my livelihood since I was a teenager, so I pretty much have to buy at least 1 new powerhead per year, I usually buy 2 new ones (3 or 4 if I don't want the tax man coming for me). It's not that I can't fix and keep using my older saws (I've bought many many many saws over the years, I've sold exactly 2 lol) it's just a reliability issue, after the first hard year of use they're generally getting to the point where a bunch of small things start causing down time. Just because I can replace a clutch on top of a stump in the rain doesn't mean I want to, nor does the logger/timber buyer (depending on how the sale was contracted) want to pay me $150 an hour to fix my junk, I'm supposed to act professionally after all. So I keep new saws coming in on a more or less quarterly rotation, and that way I stay running and always have reliable back up saws in case I make an error in judgement (it's happened a time or 3) and my nice new saw ends up underneath a log I just bucked.

Ak - you have the perfect excuse. I am not so fortunate. Im just a saw junkie. And whats worse, I love the 80’s Poulans. Never said I was smart.

ALL my saws say Stihl on them lol. I sold 2 huskies I had, didn't care for them much. I know a lot of guys that do, they're usually the OCD sort who like to have something work related to do outside work, they're always packing their saws out of the woods on Saturday to clean and tune them and such. I leave my stihls to the mercy of mother nature for months at a time out in a unit, it's in my hands when I'm there, and it's keeping watch over my strip while I'm out trapping/hunting doing whatever I'm doing for fun instead of being OCD in my saw shed

Haha. Go ahead. I deserve it.

Everyone has their preferences, no judgement. Good friend of mine who's an excellent cutter I've worked with in several camps runs only 395's and loves them

Those are green right? I think I have a small one someone gave me somewhere . If I run across it I can send it to you. It ran but needed something I can't remember what been a long time since I messed with it. My youngest likest to tinker with small engines and people hear that and load him up with their borke down stuff. Sometimes it's simple cheal fixes like a pull rope and new pump on a pressure washer I just helped him get going. Nothing like geting a $500 pressure washer for $135 in parts and 25 minutes of time.