“They don’t come much nicer than this one!!”
That’s what Tom Gray said, whose impressive chainsaw collection we’ve featured many times before, and it’s difficult to disagree with him.
It’s the STIHL TS 510 AV electronic, an old-school professional gas-powered cut-off saw. Instead of taking a bar and chain, its engine turns a 12- or 14-inch abrasive or diamond wheel through a centrifugal clutch and V-belt.
A Cut-Off Saw With STIHL 051 DNA
The TS 510 is closely related to the legendary STIHL 051 AV chainsaw, sharing its basic 1111-series engine architecture and many major components.
That means there’s a substantial 89.2 cc two-stroke engine hiding beneath those orange and white covers. STIHL rated it at 4.0 kW, or approximately 5.4 horsepower—serious power for cutting steel, stone, asphalt, pipe, and other construction materials.
Model TS-510 AVE Cutquik®
Can be used as a hand-held unit or cart mounted. Anti-vibration is a plus. Dual air filter system is top mounted. Uses a 14″ cutting wheel.
Displacement: 5.44 cu. in. (89.2 cc)
Engine Power: 5.35 bhp (4.0 kW)
Weight: 32.2 lbs. (14.6 kg)
Fuel Capacity: 2.53 pts. (1.2 l)
Engine Speed: 8,400 rpm (gov)
Arbor Size: 20 mm
The letters AV indicate STIHL’s anti-vibration system, while electronic refers to its contactless electronic magneto ignition and electronic engine-speed limiting.
Why This Particular TS 510 Is Special
The TS 510 itself had a long working life, so describing every example as exceptionally rare would be stretching things. What is rare is finding one looking like this!
Cut-off saws normally spend their lives inhaling abrasive dust, throwing sparks, getting covered in slurry, and being knocked around construction sites. Consequently, surviving machines commonly have worn paint, damaged guards, missing labels, improvised repairs, and heavily weathered covers.
Tom’s example remains remarkably clean and complete. It retains bright paint, excellent labels, its wheel guard, belt cover, handles, and the distinctive twin-wing-nut filter cover. It is also photographed alongside a period TS 510 instruction booklet and STIHL cutting wheel.
That older TS 510 AV electronic badge and twin-wing-nut arrangement identify it as the pre-mid-1996 configuration, although the serial number (which I don’t have) would be needed to establish its precise production date.
The TS-510 was first captured on the Wayback Machine in December 1998 and last captured in June 2003.
STIHL TS 510 AV Electronic Specs
| Specification | STIHL TS 510 AV Electronic |
|---|---|
| Machine type | Professional petrol cut-off saw |
| Engine | Air-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke |
| Displacement | 89.2 cc / 5.43 cu. in. |
| Bore × stroke | 52 × 42 mm |
| Rated output | 4.0 kW / 5.4 PS |
| Maximum governed engine speed | 8,400 rpm |
| Ignition | Contactless electronic magneto with speed limiting |
| Carburetor | All-position diaphragm type with integral fuel pump |
| Final drive | Centrifugal clutch and V-belt |
| Cutting-wheel sizes | 300 or 350 mm / 12 or 14 inches |
| Maximum cutting depth | 98.5 mm with 300 mm wheel; 123.5 mm with 350 mm wheel* |
| Fuel capacity | 1.2 litres / approximately 2.5 US pints |
| Dry weight | 13.0 kg with 300 mm setup; 13.4 kg with 350 mm setup** |
| Notable equipment | Anti-vibration system, decompression valve, adjustable guard, and optional water attachment |
*Using the specified 103 mm flange. Cutting depth varies with flange and wheel wear.
**Without cutting wheel or water attachment.
The specifications come from STIHL’s original TS 510 and TS 760 workshop manual and TS 510/760 instruction manual.
At nearly 30 pounds before adding fuel and a cutting wheel, the TS 510 is a substantial machine from an era when professional equipment was built with very little concern for saving weight.
It’s powerful, mechanically interesting, closely connected to one of STIHL’s best-known vintage chainsaws—and this example appears to have escaped the punishment that claimed most working cut-off saws.
Tom was right: they really don’t come much nicer than this one!
