So I take it when an electric widget starts smoking, it's time to pack it in

This would be a small (16") chain saw that is 15 yrs old or possibly more. A redneck "friend" has mocked me for having this on his grounds that it is "girly." I have been unable to make a dent in his brain on this matter and many others that I am not a Halliburton sized operation, that I'm addressing the requirements of an urban, 7500 sq. ft, untimbered property.

Anyway, this thing is that old and has cut the branches that came its way every 5 yrs or so, that is, has done its time.

So after a couple days of use this week, today it did a little work then made funny noises and smoke started coming out of its (motor?), or some cylindrical thing with vents that were convenient for the smoke to emit from.

I'm guessing its time to replace it. Yeas AND nays welcome.

a hand crank.

More exercise and less noise.

the problem I was having in posting, while he had control of my (modem?)---!1

Them widgets is magic, and they only work with smoke an mirrors. If you let out the smoke, they is dead!

have the smoke factory sealed. Once the seal is broken, the smoke gets out and the device is trash.

This was originally intended for British cars, but it should work fine in your application.

A pal who knows things (a lot more than I, which might or might not be saying something) checked it out, told me to check the oil and try it (after all these hours of cooling off).

Sure enough, the oil was totally barren, as in used-up, GONE. So I filled it up and tried it and IMMEDIATELY it started smelling burned and MORE smoke poured out. He came over to look at it, and as soon as the smell and smoke poured out, he excitedly yelled, "TURN IT OFF!1"


He said it is burned out and was shorting. So anybody out there as clueless as I, take heed!1