This restoration is on the first gasoline-powered one-man bow chainsaw ever produced. It was made by Precision Part Ltd. of Montreal, Canada in the 1940s.
It took me 5 years to find 3 separate dilapidated chainsaw motors, 2 bow bars, 1 straight bar, and 2 chains just to source all the parts to restore one function chainsaw. Unfortunately, the most complete motor happened to also be completely seized, but that is just the way it goes sometimes. Adding further to the complications, the body of the chainsaw is rumoured to be made of out of a magnesium alloy that is so high in nickel and iron that it cannot be welded, so any major repairs that require welding, cannot be made. Furthermore, the massive chain that is used on this type of chainsaw is not made anymore and all available options potentially used to the point of being unsafe.
This saw is so rare that I actually stopped trying to take it apart when I got deep inside the crankcase. I became worried that the risk of trying to hammer out shafts and bearings would put too much stress on an unweldable casting that it would crack, and then I would crack and throw myself in the garbage, never to be restored.
The bow itself is quite unique, with its patented "self-tensioning" mechanism, which can be seen here: patentimages.storage.googleap...
The restoration process took so long that you can see how long my facial hair grew by the end of the video.
In the end, this insane chainsaw design is just too much fun to use and I am definitely keeping this one for myself.
I'd like to thank CRC for sponsoring this video. I've switched to a food-grade penetrating oil from them as a more safe alternative, and it as worked just as well as the usual penetrating oils I've used.
You can check out the products from them used in this video in the links below:
www.evapo-rust.com
www.crcindustries.com/evapo-rust/
www.crcindustries.com/smartwasher/
www.crcindustries.com/food-grade-penetrating-oil-11-wt-oz/
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Podcast (with @jimmydiresta and Andrew Alexander) - anchor.fm/fitzall
This guy is so on top of things he even made sure to do a chainsaw with a bow for Christmas.
I approve. (Guess who?)
@@loginregionalSANTA!!
And there were Christmas balls in the bearing
@@pharmdiddy5120🤣
🤣
I can't remember how many times, while watching one of your videos, I thought, "Never seen one of those before, never even imagined such a thing existed!" Love the rarity of your projects.
Lo que más me sorprende no es que alguien inventara estas cosas sino que este señor las encuentre
And then he even finds replacement parts for it, that is the most impressive thing.
@@Ranger_Kevin Yep, dug around in the junk and pulled out a fuel tank that he just happened to have.
I'm quite sure that the sale of these tools didn't exceed 10 units sold in the whole country.....😊😊😂
@@lambertax I'd never heard of such a chainsaw even existing either, but I guess someone must have thought it was a good idea enough to buy one. It's nowhere as terrifying as the Annular Saw he put back together a while ago. That' thing runs on nightmare fuel
Just incredible how many big, complicated pieces were cast metal back in the day. It's a shame most of the moulds and dies used to make stuff like this are long gone, but at least HTR is here to endanger life and limb to preserve these cursed (yet beautiful) creations! What a guy.
Now all those pieces are plastic, and they certainly wont last as long. That being said, corrosion for metal parts is still an issue.
Like you said. Big and complicated. Why would you keep moulds for these things? One or two examples for museums is enough. I will chose modern Husqvarna anytime over this monstrosity.
I restored an antique bandsaw that had lots of cast aluminum parts, and they were pieces of crap. I'll take stamped steel any day; if they get hit and bent, you just bend them back. Depending on the quality of the aluminum, cast aluminum cracks too easy.
Big and complicated isn't a good engineering design. Small and simple is why these things no longer are manufactured, and that's a good thing. I'm an electrical engineer, do you really want to return back to the bad old days where you needed a vinyl record player to listen to music, and a separate radio, and an amplifier, and a set of speakers? You can still have all this stuff, but a single computer replaces them all, and that computer is your $150 smart phone. $100 if you shop around.
Incredible that you still managed to finish this restoration and edit this video despite being decapitated by the chain, Canadians really are a different breed of tough!
Can’t let a little inconvenience like a major shoppe accident hinder things
Hello Hello From Victoria Canada!!! That is for sure my friend, Canadians are bread for tough, so a couple of stitches will usually cure everything. I hear from locals, that one winter my great grandpa needed fire wood so badly, but his chainsaw was broken and his mule was frozen stiff in the barn. He walked out in the forest, chewed the tree down, then carried that tree all the way home on his shoulder and kept the family from freezing. The locals were drinking pretty heavy at the Legion, but it was a good story. Now back on a more serious note, have you been watching him long? I am new to this channel, but the two items he restored so far are both amazing feats of engineering, given the times they were built. That gas tank he said was some kind of unique alloy with magnesium, totally made my jaw drop, because I thought that mixing different metals to get lighter alloys was a more modern thing. Is there a favorite restoration you would recommend that I check out next? Stay safe and happy. 🤘😁👍
"It took me 5 years to find 3 separate dilapidated chainsaw motors, 2 bow bars, 1 straight bar, and 2 chains just to source all the parts to restore one function chainsaw. Unfortunately, the most complete motor happened to also be completely seized, but that is just the way it goes sometimes. Adding further to the complications, the body of the chainsaw is rumoured to be made of out of a magnesium alloy that is so high in nickel and iron that it cannot be welded, so any major repairs that require welding, cannot be made. Furthermore, the massive chain that is used on this type of chainsaw is not made anymore and all available options potentially used to the point of being unsafe. This saw is so rare that I actually stopped trying to take it apart when I got deep inside the crankcase." Incredible job. Many don't read the description, so I wanted to post this here to illustrate just how crazy this saw is.
"I became worried that the risk of trying to hammer out shafts and bearings would put so much stress on an unweldable casting that it would crack, and then I would crack and throw myself in the garbage, never to be restored." You left out the absolute best part
I was thinking the whole time I was watching that it this was something I would never have the determination to do. It would be impossible for me. In a hundred lifetimes it would never be done. Amazing but also to me a waste of time. But I will gladly waste the time watching the video? Yep.
After you recovered from the fatal attack by the old chain, I realised there were a number of things I would never do: circumnavigation of the oceans on a small mahogany log, be allowed back into the penguin enclosure or start up that saw. Needless to say, great respect to you for finding the right home for all those parts and pieces and putting it back together. Thank you for sharing.
Ok... I agree, but I must ask, why the penguins?
@@jessieslocum459the lawsuit likely prohibits discussion of this topic 🐧⚖
Aren't you supposed to use that saw like a miter saw with the motor end sitting on the ground? You use the handle on the bow to lift the bow and control the cut. No need to hold up all that weight. The Original Power Miter Saw!
@@AlexInAuburn The way I heard it is the bow design can be started at the top of logs up to a certain size - and cut right out the bottom because the log had pinched together on itself and not on the middle of a cutter bar.
@@AlexInAuburn я никак понять для чего эта пила. (Валить деревья ею затруднительно). Пока вашу подсказку не увидел. Прошу прощения что не по английски. Автомат ютуба переведет лучше чем я буду пытаться писать на вашем.)))
I am continually amazed at your ability to remove old, flathead screws. They are my nemesis!
Great job man. Looks really light weight and comfortable to use.
It's no wonder men were stronger back then. They used these things.
@@RoscoeWasHere And they were complete wimps compared to the people who swore by the two-man saw and not this modern tech nonsense
Beavers still doing it old school 😁@@AndersHaalandverby
Congratulations on passing one million subscribers. You deserve it.
I hope the rust-remover guys give you a lifetime supply now.
Wow. Inventor was a man named Kenneth Harmon. The patent was filed in November of 1936 and was granted/published just a smidge over a year later in December of 1937! Thank you for showing us that number!! I absolutely LOVE researching this kind of thing!!
Maannn, this brings me back, i used to watch this gentleman fix the craziest most unique contraptions and wonder how he understood every mechanism he touched. I'd throw on his videos just before bed, as the sounds of the tools was soothing in a way. Years later its so good to see you still doing your thing 🔥 youtube gold right here
Top tip for desoldering, put a bit of flux on the solder and have a bit of solder on the iron, it will quickly liquify the old solder and pop apart. It's a really handy thing to know if you have to do electronics that are heat sensitive.
Using a solder-sucker to remove most of the solder before trying to pull out the wire will help also
Ahh a Warm cup of Tea/Coffee, Rain pouring down outside, cozy in sweats on the couch and the relaxing noises of the best restorations in the business. Thank you for the amazing work!
The Santa Confederation will make sure he gets a special Christmas gift for bringing back all those neglected tools. Maybe Nutella? Or a replacement wire wheel.
Which is it? Tea or coffee, or some unholy combination of the two?
Warm cup of... yellow liquid.@@dubioushumor9243
@@dubioushumor9243lol or hot chocolate 😂. It was rainy all day here too in SC. I love this channel
And now you have a VERY effective leg-amputater! What a contraption. Great job, entertaining video, high production values, fatal shop accidents...who could ask for more?
I watch almost all repair/restoration videos at 2x speed, yours are the rare exceptions. You have excelllent pacing and the ability to hold one’s attention with what is necessary while eliminating the superfluous.
I LOVE IT! It's like a modern chainsaw except very unnecessarily bulky. Great restoration. You put a lot of time & effort into that. It's a neat relic.
Excellent video close up work . Designed by someone with little respect of parts count - must have cost a fortune to make and assemble . Needed an artist like you to assemble . A true Swiss watch or a saw
I'm kind of wondering why they would have designed a saw like that to begin with? It's like a chainsaw but with so many more limitations and incredibly bulky. I wonder if there was a certain use for them, or just some reinvention that never took off because it's so overly complicated and bulky.
@@keithyinger3326From watching C&Rsenal, I'm going to assume it was at least partly trying to dodge existing patents. Still not entirely sure what the intended operation was, because none of the handle and control positions make sense.
@@keithyinger3326 I've always wanted to safely put my head directly above the cutting part of the chain, but with convential chainsaw designs, it's a tad dangerous to do that. Not with this bow saw! Now I can finally get those super up-close shots for my TikTok videos! I wonder what the real purpose for these things was. It looks like a coping saw, but I don't think it's quite as nimble as one, and what kind of wood are you trying to carve intricately like that anyway? Regular chainsaws are fine, why introduce these complications? But then again, I doubt a company would have gone through the trouble of designing and building something so complex without a real purpose in mind.
Hopefully someday, someone will explain it to us, why this is like it is. And we will say, Wow yes this makes absolutely sense and it’s the best design for it. Today I’m just sitting and thinking why? It’s absolutely senseless. It’s like making something good absolutely more worse for no reason. It’s not even over engineered or something like that. It’s just an absolutely unnecessary bad design.
I was told as a child that if you're not gonna do it right, then don't do it at all. I'm glad to see that work ethic my elders had is still around!! Thanks for passing that on to the up-and-comers!!
Согласен
But how are you supposed to learn if you don't make mistakes
I hate that saying. It's basically means don't try anything new leave everything to the experts and be good at one thing only and don't dabble in anything else that might interest you. I have no where near this guys skills or equipment or resources but I still enjoy and have fun restoring things. It IS fun to watch the best of the best like this guy, and maybe even learn something.
You literally spent countless hours restoring a tool that could easily be less efficient than a hack saw at chopping wood I love it keep up the good work
You can't have a better motivation for restauration. You're the only one who has a chainsaw with the worst loudness, fuel consumption and weight to power ratio to the rest of the market!! And it's looking brand new! You will never stuck out of the crowd better than with this monster!
Yeah. Great video, hilarious invention.
The little bits of humor you put into your videos, starting with your "intro", make your videos SO much more fun to watch. (e.g. When the saw chain got caught in the wire brush.) 😂
If you aren't going to completely remove the rings from the piston after you loosen them up...I would recommend putting it in an ultrasonic cleaner...then spin the rings, then put em back in the sonic cleaner to break the crap up behind the rings... Very very very cool restoration! Tons of parts and work! Great Job! Keep em coming!!!!
That must be the most over engineered chainsaw ever created! Congrats on getting it all back together again and working well.
At 3:31 when you were asking what that stuff was, they look to be very old oil soaked leaves. You can see the stems in the video. Also you should be careful about putting brass carb floats into ultrasonic cleaners, I was told that it can crack the solder joints. EDIT: I noticed that yes you got a new leather cup for the oiler, but it needs to be the other way around, it needs to try and expand when your pushing it in that way it seals against the side walls when you're pushing oil, the way it is right now will let oil get behind the cup and possibly give you issues. You should also have hose clamps on those fuel lines, yes it's not high pressure but it's still a good idea to help prevent an accident.
Eric, I don't know how you manage to find the most oddball, craziest, and sometimes flat out scariest pieces of equipment on the planet, but you do. Not only 1 but 2 of the same death machines. Lol nice work getting this one looking that good. Keep up the great work.
Love the howling wind noise in the workshop while you're working. Adds a bit of suspense! 😊
The power saw I had back in the days when I was in Branciforte Jr. High school was a drag saw that was made for cutting aluminum. 😳
The acoustics in that place are really cool.
Dang, this is one of the most complex restorations I've ever seen! Interesting rings on that piston that can be salvaged but also didn't require a ring compressor. Doesn't seem as efficient as a regular chain saw but super cool.
My man you sure take on some seriously complicated restorations, but without fail, every one has been interesting. Cheers!
Art Drysdale Garden Claw!!! Undeniable performing tool! I had to actually go watch the retro 1998 commercial. I didn't realize he was Canadian. What a legend you were Art, absolute beauty!
Honestly, my favorite part about your channel is your humor. It’s literally unmatched.
I have never seen a bow chainsaw, or anything like that before. It does appear to be quite a rare find. It looks much better and it works like a charm too. Excellent work as usual.
I find it incredible that your larger restorations seem to get more and more lethal. Thank you for potentially risking your life for our art/entertainment. Congrats on the 1 Bamillion subs.
Thank you for the humor. The chain around the drill press, and the true volume at the end were my favorite parts.
Very nice job. I love watching you redo old machines like that. It looks like it's good to keep your mind going. But looking forward to seeing many many many more of your projects
Congratulations on 1M subs my man! 🤟👍💪
LOVE your content ONE suggestion: tell us more about the story of each restoration - where you found it, any history you might know, AND what happens to it after restoration! I imagine you sell most of them? Or do you keep them all? So curious to know.
Read the video description ;-)
@@My_Op Shoot! Good catch, thank you!
This was one of the best hours of my life
Great restoration, and this really shows just how much progress the motorized chainsaw has made. That size of engine nowadays is seen more on a go-kart than a chainsaw, and I can imagine it wasn't exactly the lightest engine either.
almost 1 full hour of great content. Thank you
Thanks for the very interesting video. What a machine. I am glad that you were able to bring this to our eyes. So many parts, so complex. I agree, just for the oddity of it, I would keep it along with that pogo stick compactor. Again, I very much enjoyed this video. I am so glad that you survived the whipping chain of death. I am impressed that you were able to find 3 of these, they are so rare.
I love this channel! Umm , I gave a 1953 chainsaw with a reverse gear away to a restorer . These were deadly. Now it looks great and works great. Thanks to my friend Joe .
There are a lot more pieces to this chainsaw than I expected! Nice job.
You are by far the best! God I love your projects! Thank you!
Everything you do is really impressive, but I have to say finding all the parts you needed is an incredible accomplishment all by itself.
Right?? The most astounding thing in this entire video is “oh hey I just found a replacement gas tank”
I'm rather glad that this design didn't catch on! Loved seeing the Fractal Chair in the background! That was an awesome build! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
Love it. That was a major undertaking. Best hour I've spent on KZhead in a long time.
I saw my first ad for Nutella on YT during a commercial break for this video and I’m embarrassed at the length and breadth of my laughter.
Do the research for some of the ads. You'll get more fun.
Old tools always had the best safety features.
Or none...
Best intros on KZhead AND an unconventional use of a portable chain/chop saw. It's neat that they designed that rolling side so you can move it around your workspace instead if the log.
An amazing rebuild thanks.
Where do you find such great relics? This one is very cool and you did a great job as usual!!! Hats off
Probably barn finds
It's amazing that you can remember where everything goes when you put it back together. That thing is truly a implement of destruction. The chain cleaning scene was hysterical!!
I have a Poulan 3400 Bow Saw. The goal when starting it is to not cut your leg off in the process.
This has to be one of the most involved restorations that I've seen you do. Well done! BTW -- how long before you noticed that the bottom bar bolt was loose at 58:05 ?
Until I was editing the video!
You're the tops at this kind of thing! I like the way you keep finding these oddball devices to restore with such care and skill.
Thank You for preserving real tools and not the disposable ones of today. Happy New Year and hopefully many more tool videos to come.
Хорошая работа, лайк 👍!
Harasho, stilyagi
WAIT. The evapo-rust bucket changed? AAAHHH I'm not ready for change! 😱
He moved across country and is setting up his new workshop. The Old Evaporust barrel Wanted to stay behind because it was dating a petrol can that just moved there from Britain.
my new favorite channel ! the engineering before computers is amazing. great content !
That is one of the most complicated saws I have ever seen lol. Awesome job!
I'm not sure I understand what would be the benefit of this "bow" design over the standard "bar" chainsaw. Was it to sidestep a patent in order to get into the market?
Came to ask the same question
The internet tells me that the bar chainsaw was invented over 20 years before this thing. What on earth was the advantage? Thrill of losing a limb?
@@bernierm 😆🏆🥇
To laugh in the face of kickback
Good thing his clone was able to take over the rest of the restoration after the chain killed him.
You've always gotta have a few clones on hand just in case you have a brain fart. 😂
So MANY unique parts and linkages on this thing.. thank god for a video of you taking it apart so you can use it to put back together later!
Thanks for bring back memories of paps basement and work tables. I used to love to watch him work on his projects, too.
I miss the "Emotionally Distant Garbage" :(
How heavy is that thing? Is it not terrifying using a chainsaw that you’re having to use your legs to help lift and move? Or is that part of the fun.
Это абсолютно безопасно.
Keep it weird. Love the little antics. I always look forward to them in your videos. Makes it very original and cuts the monotony.
My mother and I really enjoy watching your videos. Love the restorations but really enjoy your humor. Thank you so much for making us laugh!!
I'm the first 🥇 going to the narrated version now❤
Top of the line video as always! The fact you do real restoration is what makes you my favorite KZheadr! Keep up the awesome work!
Now THIS is a restoration. A proper restoration. Spread the word between the others "restorers" here around. Well done, mate!
You have an amazing skill but also great camera control..we can see every part in detail.great videos and love the sound of pure work
This is why Eric is my hero! After the first 15 minutes, I would have hauled this thing to the ravine and thrown it in. I never saw anything with this many things wrong with it. How did it ever run long enough to break in so many ways? The strangest points and condensers, carburetor, and crankcase I ever saw! Were those roller bearings on the connecting rod? Half of the parts I couldn't even recognize! Eric is a god!
It’s got to be the most complicated small engine you’ve done on this channel. Bravo!
Despite the massive amount of anxiety and exhaustion this video gave I still loved it!
What a fantastic machine, brought beautifully back to life: you are an artist. Had no idea there even was this type of saw, and sounded great and did a respectable job on the branch.
i appreciate that explosion affect you added in post. You did what everyone was thinking at that moment in time XD
As always I love how masterful you are, I love taking apart things and fixing them too.
Yet another successful restoration. Well done, that man!!
Loved it! The gas bowl yaks and wire wheel snag were great little moments of chuckles for those of use who have experienced those types of things. lol. 😄
Finally a person who did not destroy the past
That thing is bloody terrifying! Great work as always... perseverance paid off in the end.
The brass fixins, *chef's kiss. Nice work bud!!!
I've never seen someone besides me, be so detailed in a resto job like this. Very cool
A True artifact you have rescued here! Well done!
Entertaining restoration as always and what a beast of a machine. I half expected the MGS 3 ladder music when that screw took forever to come out. 🎶What a thrill…🎶😄
This is art. This equipment after restoration should be in museum, to admire.
When you tested the chain saw there was a loose nut where the chain goes into the engine housing. There is a brass fitting with a hose and two nuts in a row. It may have been deliberately loose as the nut was peened over, I think. Anyway, as usual you did a brilliant job of restoring a seized and worn tool back to it's former glory. I wish I had a tenth of your skill.
A relic, it works with ignition timing. Despite being very poorly cared for, the pieces did not suffer much wear. Congratulations on the excellent restoration.
Great work! Love that you fix all these old tools! I saw a loose screw at 58:10 in the video. Greets from Sweden 😊
museum quality buddy; i restore chainsaws from the 60s and up and the difficulty level of your project was 3 fold; excellent work.
The "bolt letter reading" is one of the (many) reasons you are the best, I will laugh all day thinking of it. Thanks! 😂
Well, that's another terrifying tool restored. Amazing job!
Superb restoration on a fantastic machine. Thank you. Best wishes from the UK
28:00 is one of the many reasons why I love this channel.
Another blast from the past! You are a Canadian Giant.
Aguardo ansioso todos os seus vídeos. Suas restaurações são perfeitas. Parabéns por todo seu trabalho, e continue sempre assim. Só tome cuidado com essa motosserra aí 🤭. Batatais/São Paulo/Brasil 🇧🇷
always a pleasure to look at your videos. sophisticated camera-work. thanks
The very moment I saw you leaned into the wire wheel with the chain my mind was yelling NO, DON'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT. Glad you were able to finish this video as I really wanted to see it run.
Amazing restoration and a true eye for detail and how everything works together on an antique build. With that being said, who the hell would use that monster? I get that our grandfathers saw putting engines on things like saws as a way to make life easier, but that is a BEAST!!!
Man, you just got the best Intro on KZhead, sometimes I’m randomly humming it just to brighten up my day 🕺🏻
My guy! 100% on your sense of humor! Excellence in your restoration.