The Homelite 650 was a 100 cc professional logging saw introduced in 1974. Manufactured at Homelite’s Gastonia, North Carolina plant, it was designed primarily for large timber and the demanding West Coast logging market.
With a 21.5-pound powerhead, full-wrap handle, .404-inch chain and guide bars reaching 43 inches, the 650 was very much a big-timber saw. It also offered several advanced features for the period, including electronic ignition, automatic spark retard, a decompression valve and Homelite’s four-point Tri-Axial vibration-isolation system.
Specifications
| Specification | Homelite 650 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Homelite, a division of Textron |
| Company headquarters | Port Chester, New York, USA |
| Manufacturing plant | Gastonia, North Carolina, USA |
| Model | 650 Automatic |
| Common UT number | UT-10161 |
| Later production listing | UT-10428 for some later 650 and 650E applications |
| Production period | Approximately 1974–1976 |
| Introduced | Mid-1974 |
| Intended market | Professional logging and large-timber cutting |
| Saw type | One-man, rear-handle gasoline chainsaw |
| Engine type | Air-cooled, two-stroke, single-cylinder |
| Scavenging system | Loop scavenged |
| Cylinder orientation | Horizontal |
| Displacement | 6.1 cu in / 100 cc |
| Bore | 2.125 in / 54 mm |
| Stroke | 1.720 in / 43.7 mm |
| Cylinder | Light-alloy cylinder with chrome-plated bore |
| Combustion-chamber description | Homelite “Hemi-Head” design |
| Intake system | Piston ported with full-flow ram intake porting |
| Piston | Lightweight semi-skirted piston |
| Piston rings | Two thin tool-steel rings |
| Ring thickness | 0.024 in / 0.61 mm |
| Bearings | Heavy-duty roller and needle bearings |
| Advertised horsepower | Not published |
| Maximum engine speed | Approximately 9,000 rpm under load according to secondary service data |
| Factory chain-speed reference | At 7,000 engine rpm |
| Dry weight | 21.5 lb / 9.8 kg |
| Construction | Die-cast magnesium and other light alloys, with some plastic components |
| Drive type | Direct drive |
| Clutch | Heavy-duty six-shoe centrifugal clutch |
| Carburetor | Walbro WB-2 diaphragm carburetor |
| Carburetor features | Integral fuel pump and strainer, externally adjustable |
| Walbro major repair kit | K10-WB |
| Walbro minor repair kit | D10-WB |
| Homelite carburetor repair kit | Part 12846 |
| Homelite carburetor gasket set | Part 12837 |
| Air filter | Reusable polyester or nylon micro-mesh cartridge |
| Fuel tank capacity | 42 US fl oz / 1.24 L |
| Original fuel mixture | 32:1 or 16:1, depending on the two-stroke oil used |
| Fuel recommendation | Regular gasoline, according to period literature |
| Fuel pickup | Flexible pickup with replaceable filter |
| Starter | Automatic rewind starter |
| Decompression system | Mechanical decompression valve |
| Starting assistance | Automatic spark retard and starting-throttle latch |
| Ignition | High-voltage capacitor-discharge electronic ignition |
| Ignition timing | Fixed, no routine adjustment |
| Breaker points | None |
| Ignition-coil arrangement | Plug-mounted high-voltage transformer coil |
| Flywheel-to-coil gap | 0.015 in / 0.38 mm |
| Original spark plug | Champion UCJ-4G |
| Alternative spark plug | Champion CJ4 listed in later references |
| Spark-plug gap | 0.025 in / 0.63 mm |
| Muffler | Homelite Softone dual-chamber muffler |
| Spark arrester | Screen meeting period PSMA and USFS requirements |
| Chain-oiling system | Positive crankshaft-driven automatic pump |
| Oil delivery | Adjustable output |
| Oil-pickup system | Dual-pickup arrangement |
| Chain-oil capacity | 19 US fl oz / 0.56 L |
| Original chain | Homelite No. 40 series |
| Standard chain pitch | .404 in |
| Standard chain gauge | .063 in / 1.6 mm |
| Standard sprocket | Seven-tooth .404 rim sprocket |
| Optional chain setup | Eight-tooth 3/8-inch spur assembly appears in the parts list |
| Factory chain speed | 3,500 ft/min / approximately 17.8 m/s at 7,000 rpm |
| Hard-nose bar lengths | 19, 23 and 29 in / 48, 58 and 74 cm |
| Sprocket-nose bar lengths | 31, 36 and 43 in / 79, 91 and 109 cm |
| Period working-bar claim | Approximately 30–50 inches for heavy-timber applications |
| Bar mount | Large Homelite mount, commonly identified as pattern 14 |
| Chain tensioner | Right-angle side-access adjuster beside the bar nuts |
| Front handle | Thick rubber-covered full-wrap handle |
| Anti-vibration system | Homelite Tri-Axial system |
| AV mounts | Four captive, constrained-motion shock absorbers |
| Chain brake | None |
| Bumper spikes | Twin spikes fitted as standard equipment |
| Felling sights | Fitted on both sides of the saw |
| Sawdust discharge | Large discharge chute |
| Color | Homelite red with black and silver details |
| Original parts list | Part number 24836, including later revisions |
| Original 1974 price | $469.95 with a 36-inch sprocket-nose bar and chain |
| Related models | 650E Automatic, Super 650, 750 and 750E |
Interesting details
- It took four years to develop. Homelite described the 650 as a purpose-built professional saw rather than an enlarged version of one of its homeowner models.
- It was part of the “Great American Chain Saw” campaign. Homelite openly positioned the 650 as an American-built competitor to imported professional saws, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.
- Homelite made ambitious cutting claims. The company said the 650 was suitable for felling trees between 30 and 96 inches in diameter, with bars of approximately 30 to 50 inches used for the largest timber.
- The 650E was a handle and gearing variation. It used the same 100 cc engine but received a flush-cut handle instead of the standard full wrap. The original parts list also specifies an eight-tooth .404 rim sprocket for the 650E, compared with the 650’s seven-tooth sprocket.
- “Automatic” refers primarily to chain lubrication. The saw used a crankshaft-driven automatic oil pump with adjustable delivery.
- The oiling specifications are slightly inconsistent. One early dealer brochure mentions a manual override, while the later B-089 factory sheet and production parts list show an adjustable automatic system without a separate manual-oiler plunger.
