Avoid servicing cut-off saws in the field.
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Service should be scheduled around a preventive maintenance plan dictated by hours of usage and type of material cut.
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Air filters should also be changed in the shop based on the maintenance schedule.
Know the importance of the air filtration system.
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Look for a multi-stage filtration system, consisting of a specially designed flywheel that blows dust away from the motor, a high-capacity oil-soaked foam primary filter and secondary paper filter.
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The oiled-foam filter can hold up to 10 times its weight in dust, thus requiring changing at fewer intervals than other filters, ensuring peak power in the field and lower maintenance costs.
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The frequent changing of paper filters adds up. A model with an oiled-foam primary filter could save you $75 a month by avoiding changing a $15 paper filter once a week.
Look for a compensating carburetor.
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A clogged filtration system will choke off the air supply to your saw. Make sure that your gasoline-powered saws have a compensating carburetor, which will adjust the fuel flow downward when less air is available.
Keep a clean starter assembly.
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In gasoline-powered saws, a dirty starter assembly can cause failure in the field. Dirty starter recoil springs lose tension and can break. Add these maintenance checkpoints to your service plan.
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Look for a cut-off saw that features a heavy-duty starter cord and sealed starter assembly, protecting it from dirt and dust.
Lightweight assembly improves ease of use.
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Look for saws that are made with composite materials such as high-impact plastics in housings, fuel tanks and handles.
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Molded composite components also lower the cost of the original saws as well as replacement parts.
Information compiled from article provided by Partner Industrial Products, Itasca, Ill., and written by Ed Sullivan, a technology based writer based in Hermosa Beach, Calif.
