The Stihl 010 AV is a 37 cc light-duty chainsaw that was produced between 1978 and 1985.
Wesley Green, the owner of the 010 AV EQ pictured here, bought it in poor condition, cleaned it up, and got it running well again.
The 010 and the Stihl 011 AV are essentially the same saw. They look the same, and most parts are interchangeable, but the 011 is slightly more powerful at 41 ccs (thanks to a bigger bore).
STIHL 010 Versions
There were at least three versions of the saw:
- 010 AV
- 010 AV-Q
- 010 AV-EQ
The AV system was standard on all models.
‘Q’ means the saw had the Quickstop chain brake system, which has been standard on all Stihl saws for many years now.
‘EQ’ means the saw had a chain brake and electronic ignition. You can learn more about the features in our post on Electronic Quickstart.
It is rumored that the 009, 010, and 011 saws were the only chainsaws that Stihl let Americans engineer. This is joked at being the reason why they are more difficult to work on!
Stihl 010 Reviews
The 010 is a popular little saw, but it’s not exceptional.
It’s one of the cheapest Stihl saws you can buy (or sell), usually going for between $50 and $100 on eBay. It’s not uncommon for people to pick these saws up for $20 from yard sales – if you spot one for that price, it’s a good deal.
They’re not very valuable because some parts, like oil pump diaphragms, are very hard to find. Most parts can be found on eBay but OEM can be a problem.
Another reason is that they’re not very powerful. The big saws, like the 090s 0r 075 AVs, that sell for the big bucks!
User reviews of the 010 from around the web:
- Ron said, “Great saw use it all the time.”
- Bryan said, “Handy, reliable saws!”
- Jeremy said, “They’re good little saws.”
- Harry said, “Fantastic little saw.”
- Chris said, “It’s Stihl, it’s good.”
Joe said:
They work well until the oil pump diaphragm goes. They are no longer available.
Nathan said:
Good saws. I have the orange 010 and the white 009. They are a little bit awkward to work on.
Overall, the 010 is a well-respected chainsaw for what it is.
The main downsides of the 010 are what you’d expect:
- Parts can be hard to find – for example, oil pumps, diaphragms, and fuel lines
- The power-to-weight ratio isn’t great
- The 009, 010, 011, and 012 saws are more difficult to pull apart and work on
Juha shared:
Works fine on smaller jobs. Don’t go over 12″bar. Ignition coil cost a lot if you have to replace one.
Because these saws are old and usually well-used, they are prone to problems. They’ll often be harder to start and require more maintenance, but that’s the price for nostalgia and history.
One of the other things we’ve noticed when using the 011 is that the emissions are very high. You don’t realize how much they’ve changed until you go from a modern homeowner saw to a saw designed in the 70s.
Specs and Features
Stihl called the 010 an “occasional use saw.”
It has the standard features of a saw of this era, including an anti-vibration system, front hand guard, and automatic oiler.
The saw is recommended for use with 12, 14, and 16″ bars (30, 35, and 40 cm), making it best used for light pruning, limbing, and clean-up tasks.
It’s not the type of saw you buy for firewood unless you often do thinner branches. However, it can occasionally be used for dropping small trees and that sort of thing.
010 specs:
- Displacement: 37 cc/2.26 cu. in.
- Power: 1.5 hp / 1.11 kW
- Bore: 36 mm / 1.42″
- Stroke: 36 mm / 1.42″
- Weight: 9.9 lbs / 4.5 kgs
- Bar length: 12 – 16″/30 – 40 cm bar
- Oil tank: 0.24 L / 0.51 pint
- Fuel capacity: 0.25 L / 0.53 pint
- Spark plugs: Bosch WSR 6 F, Champion RCJ 6 Y
- Air filter: felt mat
At 9.9 lbs, the 010 is light enough to be used for hours, but if you wanted something to use all day, you’d be better off with a higher-powered saw.
For those who like old diagrams, here are the parts of the 010.
This comes from the 010/011 manual (download here).
As already mentioned, the 010 is very similar to the 011. It also shares parts with the 009 and 012 of the same era.
John shared the starting sequence in an FB thread:
Turn them on, put the choke lever in full choke, pull until she rolls over ( attempts to start but does not), push to half choke and pull until she runs and then blip to idle.
I have never owned an 010, but I have an 009. The levers are a little different from current Stihl saws but that is the sequence. After it rolls over do not pull it again in full choke.
010 Chainsaw
The 010 is a good little saw for light tasks and is popular among Stihl fans… though in saying that, it did get a mention among the worst Stihl saws…
However, it still holds some value as a collector’s item, but because of the scarcity of parts (and because it’s not a powerful or pro saw), it’s not hugely valuable.
These days, battery-powered saws tend to be better for light tasks. We’ve been using the 20-volt DEWALT for pruning more and more lately, just because it’s hassle-free. But when working away from the house, we’ll always use gas saws like the 010.
Share your experiences with this saw in the comments below. Thanks!
Can you get new cylinders and cranks for these? Or can the cylinder be bored and honed? I have one that my father owned. But it hasn’t been started in 20 years and I don’t know if the motor will even turn over. I’d like to get it running again if i can get parts.
I still (pun not intended) own and occassionally run an 010; very good little saw. Nearly impossible to get parts for it though and the last time I took it to my chainsaw mechanic ( a young bloke) he laughed at me and said, “Anyone else would tell you to go and buy a new saw”. He attempted to repair it without success and actually stuffed up the crankshaft. I eventually repaired it myself (dodgy job) and it’s cutting beautifully again. I like using those old saws as compared to the modern Stihls and Huskies; they’ve got “character” and they are honest (unlike the 500i or 362 etc).
An 010 AV was my first saw in Australia ! Biggest mistake I ever made was selling it ! Never failed to start and did more and bigger work than it was ever intended to do and kept on ticking !! I was of the understanding that it was the smallest of the Stihl pro saws . Would have another one tomorrow if I could find one in Aus at the right price ! Currently own an MS 180, not near the saw the 010 was !