The STIHL 042 AVE was produced from 1976 to 1980 and shares most parts with STIHL 048.
The 042 was introduced as the chainsaw for STIHL’s 50th anniversary.
These specifications are pulled from the 042/048 service manual.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Engine | STIHL single-cylinder two-stroke engine with specially coated cylinder wall |
| Piston displacement: | 68 cm³ (4.15 cu. in) |
| Cylinder bore: | 49 mm (1.93 in) |
| Piston stroke: | 36 mm (1.42 in) |
| Compression ratio: | 9:1 |
| Max. torque: | 4 Nm (2.97 lbf. ft) at 6000 rpm |
| Max. speed: | 11500 rpm |
| Mean idling speed: | 2200 rpm |
| Crankshaft: | Bi-sectional, drop forged |
| Crankshaft bearings: | 2 deep-groove ball bearings |
| Crankpins: | 16.0 mm (0.63 in) in dia. |
| Conrod big-end bearing: | Needle cage |
| Piston pin: | 13.0 mm (0.51 in) in dia. |
| Piston pin bearing: | Needle cage |
| Starter: | Friction shoe, with automatic rope rewind |
| Starter rope: | 4.5 mm (0.18 in) in dia. 1000 mm (39.4 in) long |
| Clutch: | Non-faced centrifugal clutch, 76 mm (3 in) in dia. |
| Clutch engagement speed: | Approx. 3200 rpm |
| Crankcase leakage test, for pressure: | 0.5 bar (7.25 lbf/in²) |
| Crankcase leakage test, for vacuum: | 0.5 bar (7.25 lbf/in²) |
| 1.2 Fuel system | |
| Carburetor: | Omnipositionally operable diaphragm carburetor with integral fuel pump |
| Main adjustment screw H: | 1 turn open |
| Idle adjustment screw L: | 1 turn open (basic adjustment from locked position of screws) |
| Carburetor leakage test pressure: | 0.4 bar (5.8 lbf/in²) |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 0.82 l (1.73 pt) |
| Fuel mixture: | Regular grade gasoline and branded two-cycle engine oil Mix ratio 1:40 with STIHL two-cycle engine oil; 1:25 with other branded two-cycle engine oils |
| Air filter: | Large-surface, double-face wire mesh flat filter |
| 1.3 Ignition system | |
| Principle: | Thyristor controlled magneto capacitor system |
| Timing: | 2.5 mm (0.098 in) before TDC at 8000 rpm |
| Spark advance angle: | 27° before TDC at 8000 rpm |
| Point gap: | 0.2 … 0.3 mm (0.008 … 0.012 in) |
| Spark plug: | Bosch WSR 6 F spark gap 0.5 mm (0.02 in) |
| Spark plug thread: | M 14 x 1.25; 9.6 mm (0.37 in) long |
| 1.4 Tightening torque | |
| Crankshaft nut (at igniter end), M 10 x 1 | 29.4 Nm (21.7 lbf. ft) |
| Hub (at output end), | 58.8 Nm (43.4 lbf. ft) |
| Hex. socket screws, M 6 x 25 | 9.8 Nm (7.2 lbf. ft) |
| Hex. socket screws, M 5 x 20 | 6.9 Nm (5.1 lbf. ft) |
| Screws, M 4 | 2.5 Nm (1.8 lbf. ft) |
| Cylinder head bolts and nuts, M 5 | |
| Bolts and nuts, M 6 | 6.9 Nm (5.1 lbf. ft) |
| Spark plug: | 24.5 Nm (18.1 lbf. ft) |
| Observe: | The M 5 x12 flat-head screws at the leading hand guard and the M 4 x6 screws at the driver are locked with LOCTITE. |
| 1.5 Bar and chain assembly | |
| Guide bars: | STIHL Duromatic bar with carbide tipped nose; STIHL Rollomatic bar with spider nose. Either type is protected from corrosion by induction-hardened contact surfaces |
| Length of cut: | Duromatic 40, 45 and 50 cm (16, 18 and 20 in) Rollomatic 40, 45 and 50 cm (16, 18 and 20 in) |
| Chains: | 9.32 mm (3/8″) pitch |
| Chain sprocket: | 7 teeth for 9.32 mm (3/8″) pitch |
| Chain speed: | 18.5 m/s (60.7 ft per second) at 8500 rpm |
| Chain lubrication: | Speed-controlled, reciprocating piston oil pump delivers only when chain is running. Pin-adjustable, additional metering device. Oil delivery can be shut off mechanically for zero delivery for various attachments |
| Max. oil delivery: | 13.5 cm³/min (0.82 cu. in per min) at 6000 rpm |
| Min. oil delivery: | 4 cm³/min (0.24 cu. in per min) at 6000 rpm |
| Oil tank capacity: | 0.43 l (0.91 pt) |
| 1.6 Weight | |
| with 40 cm bar and chain | AV/AVE 8.9 kg (19.6 lb) AVEQ 9.0 kg (19.8 lb) |
| 1.7 Special accessories | |
| STIHL repair kit 042 (friction shoe rewind starter) | 1117.900 5000 |
| STIHL repair kit 048 (single pawl rewind starter) | 1117.900 5001 |
| Set of gaskets 042/048 | 1117 007 1050 |
There were (or are) two versions of the STIHL 042:
- 048 AV electronic – weighing 8.9 kg (19.6 lb)
- 048 AVEQ – weighing 9.0 kg (19.8 lb)
The only difference being that one version had the Quickstop Chain Brake causing it to weigh slightly more.
Here’s an old article from a 1977 Popular Mechanics magazine which mentions the 042.
The text says:
Stihl has added a couple of new wrinkles to its extensive line of chain saws. The first is an improvement in the safety chain-stop system. They’ve cut the time it takes the chain to stop from 125 milliseconds to 60 (six hundredths of a second). It may seem like hairsplitting, but if you get into a situation where your foot slips as you’re cutting and the chain starts coming back on you, those fractions of a second become precious.
The Stihl 031AV we tested sells for about $300 with electronic ignition and the chain stop. It’s a hefty, well-balanced machine that gives you a solid feeling of control. With a 14-in. bar, it performed well cutting firewood and old oak railroad ties we ran it through.
Many saws use a brake system that clamps the crankshaft. Stihl’s clutch disengagement device overcomes the problems these other brakes can develop from crankshaft stress and slippage from lubrication leaks. Remember that chain saws pack a lot of power and sharp teeth. Manufacturers stress safety in their designs, but safety in the field is up to you.
The other development is a master control button within thumb reach so you don’t have to let go of the handle to operate it. The single lever has a start position, four semichoke levels, full choke and fast idle settings.
The innovation is convenient, and also adds a degree of safety since you can keep both hands on the saw all the time. Now the switch is standard only on the 042 AVEQ model, a professional-quality saw. But Stihl plans to build it into every saw in its line. — M.M.
Captions under images:
Stihl’s chain stop instantly disengages the clutch when hit. Forward, it locks the chain even while the motor is on.
The double trigger includes a standard throttle control, throttle lock button and a half-power lock for starting.
The 15½-lb. saw is easy to control. In case you slip or the saw kicks back, your forward hand hits the chain stop.
The STIHL 042 is referenced as the model that fully embodies the new safety and control innovations STIHL was introducing in the mid-1970s.
While the article’s hands-on test is technically of the 031 AV, the 042 AVEQ is positioned as the professional-grade flagship where these features are standard rather than optional or transitional.
In other words, the 042 is used as the benchmark for where STIHL is heading, not just what they tested that day.
