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Homelite XL-12 chainsaw.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 2:48 pm
by propane1
I have one of these saws. It was given to my son when he stopped work at the small engine fella I deal with. Son work there two or three years in the summer. My son had a on the job training, thru school when he was 18, at the Ford dealer here. When he was done of school, the Ford dealer hired him on. He’s still working there.
Any way, the small engine guy gave this Homelite saw to my son in appreciation of my sons work there. Far as I remember the fella said that the saw worked, but you had to manually pump oil for the chain or the pump didn’t work. Can’t remember for sure. Any way, it’s been sitting up on that shelf for 14 or so years. I just took it down today to get some pictures of it. Amazingly it turns over. Normally there’s wood pile there and can’t see it. Hehe.
Some day I’ll see it it runs.

Noel

Re: Homelite XL-12 chainsaw.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:03 pm
by Toolslinger
Well the XL-12 was a manual oil pump saw. Plunger is located to reach with your thumb with your right hand on the trigger. I usually hit it once for a kinda normal 12" cut. Also depends on the weather a bit and what kinda oil you have in the tank.
Most common issue I've seen is the ubiquitous gummed up carb (easy rebuild), and the fuel line has turned to mush after all the years it has been around (that's more annoying, but not terrible to fix).

Re: Homelite XL-12 chainsaw.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:06 pm
by Eugen
I got two of these, both working. The one that works better than the other one was used to fell those two ash trees.

I also have a Homelite C5 that isn't working. The gas tank has a few big holes at the bottom, from corrosion. Would not mind getting it to work one day.

Nice saw Noel!!! :cheers:

Re: Homelite XL-12 chainsaw.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:45 pm
by propane1
Toolslinger wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:03 pm Well the XL-12 was a manual oil pump saw. Plunger is located to reach with your thumb with your right hand on the trigger. I usually hit it once for a kinda normal 12" cut. Also depends on the weather a bit and what kinda oil you have in the tank.
Most common issue I've seen is the ubiquitous gummed up carb (easy rebuild), and the fuel line has turned to mush after all the years it has been around (that's more annoying, but not terrible to fix).
Are parts like carb kit, oil pump, stuff like that still available. Good to know about how many pumps to do. All my saws are automatic oilers. And all 5 automatically leak a bunch of oil out where ever you set them down when not in use. :cuss: :headbash:

Noel

Re: Homelite XL-12 chainsaw.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 4:00 pm
by Toolslinger
Oh yea, no problem getting parts last time I needed any. They made the xl's for 30 or 40 years, so there's good support.

Most of my saws leak oil after use. I know I need to just crack open the oil tank to relieve the pressure, but I never seem to remember to do it. Most of mine sit on 5 gallon pail lids, which do a nice job catching the oil.

I've always been partial to the blue XL's over the red ones... That's what I grew up with, so that's just "right" in my mind...

Re: Homelite XL-12 chainsaw.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 4:37 pm
by Eugen
Propane57 wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:45 pm
Are parts like carb kit, oil pump, stuff like that still available. Good to know about how many pumps to do. All my saws are automatic oilers. And all 5 automatically leak a bunch of oil out where ever you set them down when not in use. :cuss: :headbash:

Noel
I rebuild mine with this kit.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07QR1 ... UTF8&psc=1