Two stroke mixes

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

So recently I’ve been getting into old saws. I have just this one at the moment but I have a few old mccullochs I’ve been eyeing up. 
So I know back in the day two stroke mixes were leaded gas and straight motor oil so we had mixes like 10:1 and 16:1

Anyways this particular homelite calls for 32:1. I’ve been told that modern two stroke mixes lubricates better than the old stuff, I’ve also been told that too much of the new oil can lead to carbon scoring in the cylinder. Some people have told me to run regular 40:1 50:1 multimix. What’s the consensus here? 
Do old two strokes need the original mix ratios, or is modern 50:1 suffice?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,577]

No expert, but I’d go with manufacturers recommended mix. If you observe problems you can tweak it from there.

 

[lynnmor 7,307]

That saw was produced way after two stroke oils were readily available, so use any two stroke oil that is rated for 32:1.  Those folks that say it is good to run 50:1 without knowing the bearings types in the engine have no clue.  Some old outboards and other two stroke engines had plain bearings and needed plenty of oil, needle, roller and ball bearings can tolerate less oil, but even then the design of the bearing may not allow those lean mixtures.

[wallfish 17,000]

At 50:1 you'll probably seize it.

I run my even older Homelite (Blue paint 60s,16:1 motor oil) stuff at 32:1 because modern oil will lubricate better than motor oil did but I'd still run that 70's saw at 32:1 too. A little extra lubrication ain't gonna hurt it.

The Super XL is an excellent saw with plenty of power.

I never got into the collecting of old chainsaws (Just the 2 stroke powered tools) because there's no bottom to it, Ever! So many different saws out there. Some of the old Russian stuff pops up from time to time which is very tempting.

Edited February 26, 2022 by wallfish

[squonk 41,125]

I bought an old 2 stroke tiller with a Tecky. It had sat for about 20 years. Sticker said 32:1. I ran 40 : 1 pre mix fuel from Lowes for years in it until I finally sold it. Ran fine even for a Tecky! . Same thing for a couple old Toro Sno-Pups that had Teckys in them.

 

Edited February 26, 2022 by squonk

[clueless 3,001]

Local Wheel Horse dealer and small engine shop down here that closed a few years ago old mechanic had a jug of 16:1 mix he used on any 2 cycle stuff he worked on. Back in the day most pulp wooders down here had a jug of 16:1 in their trucks for all their saws along with some extra plugs .

[Digger 66 3,478]

Lean is mean for sure but I'd run it as fat as you can without gumming up the plug .

[8ntruck 7,007]

2 cycle mix ratios is a point of discussion.  This is my opinion based on some light interweb reasearch - for whatever it is worth.

 

The old equipment made in the '60s was typically designed for fuel mixed with 30 weight motor oil, which didn't mix very well with the gas.  The modern synthetic 2 cycle oils mix better with gas and are said to have better lubricating properties than the old 30 weight.

 

I've got an old Craftsman saw that calls for 40:1 mix, so that is what I run,  I also have an older Mac 10-10 that calls for 16:1 or 32:1.   I'll use 32:1 or 40:1 in it.   

 

The new oils claim 50:1 or even 70:1 are sufficient for all equipment.  Maybe for the new equipment that is designed for the modern oils, BUT, for old equipment, I don't feel comfortable running that lean a mix.