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Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw

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Scott

08-29-2002 05:02:03




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I recently aquired a 1964 Homelite XL 12 chainsaw. My father bought the saw new and used it heavily for cutting firewood. It had been sitting idle for about 18 years when I aquired it. I cleaned the carb and filled the saw with gas and to my surprise, the saw fired right up. For this saw to be 38 years old, it runs and cuts very well. I was wondering if anyone out there could tell me about these saw. Were they good saws?, specs and so forth. I appreciate any help on this. Thanks.

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xse

12-21-2006 15:30:38




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 Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to Scott, 08-29-2002 05:02:03  
I have two of these saws. Some of the other comments referred to their lack of safety, and "good for their day", etc, but I think this is the best saw I have ever owned. Plenty of power, and they just don't quit. One word of advice: Stihl makes a 3/8" chain that fits the bar perfectly. I highly recommend it.



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RWK in WI

08-29-2002 18:39:56




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 Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to Scott, 08-29-2002 05:02:03  
The XL-12 were good saws for their day. I had one and several of the later Super XL's. the XL-12's came with manual chain oiling and when they changed to automatic oiling they called them Super XL. They were known as the farm saw of the day. The Super XL were in porduction until about 5 to 8 years ago. By todays standards they were dated. Little kickback protection, no anti vibration mounts, ran a 32 to 1 fuel mix, non electornic ignition.
Old but dependable. I am still using Super XL's and like them. By the way the name XL-12 came because the saw was "Extra Light with a 12" guide bar"
Enjoy your saw and use it safely.

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Bruce from Newfoundland l

09-28-2006 14:10:35




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 Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to RWK in WI, 08-29-2002 18:39:56  
I don't know if anyone will read this but here it is. XL 12 chain saw was great in their day. I grew up my father cutting fire wood with them. My brother inlaw asked if there were any around that was for sale, he commented that they worked so well. With that in mind I went out to the shed for a smoke and looked at the 5 gallon buckets full of parts. Before you know it after a 3 hours I had one put togather ready to fire up. She was not a pretty sight there was a green chain guard in the mix with mostly the red color but the green stater cup set it off. That was aprox 18 years ago and he still uses it. The reason for them being so durable and lasting so long is pick one up and tell me that it is one hell of a light saw with out a smile on your face. Compared to the new saws if you ever have to use it use patients and be safe they bite if you let em.

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Jim in N.S.

09-01-2002 05:57:12




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 Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to RWK in WI, 08-29-2002 18:39:56  
I bought one of the first xl-12 saw's to be sold in this area in the early 60's. They were good saw's. I believe the "12" refers to the weight of the saw (12 lbs) rather than the bar length, as the one's I owned all had 16" bars.



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Scott Green

08-31-2002 03:02:54




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 Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to RWK in WI, 08-29-2002 18:39:56  
RWK in WI , I use to have XL-12 , Super XL-12 , and Super XL also. You covered just about all that needed to be covered. The last one we bought was back around late 1970's. That saw never quite ran as well as the others. The paint job wore off easily , etc.. That's when I bought my first ECHO chain saw. It was a model 650. Although the ECHO saw doesn't cut any where near the wood it use to , it still starts and runs like the day it was new. My uncle uses that saw to this day. But yes , the older homelites were good saws for there time.

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Steve Mabe

03-17-2004 20:58:28




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 Re: Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to Scott Green, 08-31-2002 03:02:54  
My grandfather purchased a xl-12 in 1963 this saw has went thru 37 bars to date and still runs like a top.In hard woods {oak...etc}I rather have it than a brand new husky.By the way I am the 4th generation using this saw.I hope you get as much enjoyment out of yours.



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DBR

09-23-2005 20:19:49




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to Steve Mabe, 03-17-2004 20:58:28  
Can you still get replacement chains for this saw?



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dbt

10-02-2005 01:07:13




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to DBR, 09-23-2005 20:19:49  
Yes, you can still get a chain for this saw, my new bar is actually an Oregon bar. My father supported our family for a while on this saw while also cutting firewood for my grandparents and others at the same time. It has been used by several members of the family for clearing and general woodcutting for as long as I remember. I can still go out and it is rare that it will take two pulls to start. Plan to use it in the AM to cut some more wood for this fall. I don't know where you live, but we have Farmers Coop's that carry the chains and bars for the saw. Many of the other parts if needed may be harder to find due to the history behind Homelite in the recent years.

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ken fowler

11-17-2006 11:47:04




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to dbt, 10-02-2005 01:07:13  
I'm having trouble with my manual oiling plunger. Could there be an "o-ring" that needs replacing? there doesn't seem to be enough pressure, if that makes any sense?



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kerry molloy

05-09-2007 22:07:59




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to ken fowler, 11-17-2006 11:47:04  
had same problem with mine.Took handle apart (2screws) pulled wee pin in front of trigger,removed plunger and gave the whole line a good belt of compressed air.Cured the problem buggin me for months.Re fuel mix;Running an XL 12 model 150 and my mercury 110 outboard all on 20;1 mix,all go like a hot blonde! kerry



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Pete Swanson

07-01-2007 14:18:11




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to kerry molloy, 05-09-2007 22:07:59  
I'm using my late father-in-law's XL12, and have been feeding it 24:1 and using it pretty hard. It works like a champ. My Sears (Poulain) [lighter weight] saw is inferior in every way, including starting & running. The 40 yr. old Homlite is the "keeper."
(pine, locust, oak, maple - all good)



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Trey M

07-06-2006 10:30:41




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Homelite XL 12 Chainsaw in reply to dbt, 10-02-2005 01:07:13  
My understanding is that this was a John Deere design and you can still find parts thru JD. Haven"t had the need for that yet, but I trust the source of that info as he was a JD mech. for 50 years.



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