The Strunk Eager Beaver is one of those wonderfully named 1950s chainsaws that collectors go crazy for today.
We’re digging into the Strunk Eager Beaver specs, vintage ads, and surviving details to get a better look at this vintage Coatesville-built saw and where it fits in early American chainsaw history.
Specifications
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Strunk Eager Beaver |
| Manufacturer / made in | Strunk Manufacturing Co., Coatesville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. |
| Year introduced | 1954 |
| Type/configuration | One-man chain saw with rigid handlebar |
| Engine | Power Products AH47, 1-cylinder |
| Displacement | 4.7 cu in / 77 cc |
| Bore x stroke | 2.0 in x 1.5 in / 50.8 mm x 38 mm |
| Cylinder/intake | Aluminum cylinder with cast iron sleeve; reed valve intake |
| Power | 2.5 hp / 1.86 kW |
| Weight | 28 lb / 12.7 kg, powerhead only |
| Clutch/drive | Centrifugal clutch with gear reduction drive |
| Construction/finish | Sand cast aluminum with red enamel finish |
| Ignition/starter | Wico FW2288 or FW2385 magneto; Fairbanks Morse automatic rewind starter |
| Carburetor/air filter | Tillotson MD-60A float type carburetor; Skinner ribbon element air filter |
| Oiling system | Positive gravity feed |
| Operating rpm | 2,700 to 4,000 rpm |
| Ignition settings | Timing 0.175 in / 4.44 mm; breaker points 0.020 in / 0.51 mm; flywheel/coil air gap fixed |
| Spark plug/gap | Champion J8J, Autolite A7X, or AC M45; 0.030 in / 0.76 mm gap |
| Main bearings | Ball |
| Fuel tank capacity | 64 fl oz / 1.89 L |
| Fuel mix | 16:1, listed as 1/2 pint oil to 1 gallon gasoline |
| Recommended fuel / oil | Regular grade 72–83 octane gasoline; SAE 30 motor oil |
| Chain spec | 1/2 in pitch, .050 or .058 gauge |
| Guide bar lengths | 16–19 in / 40–48 cm |
| Chain brake | None |
STRUNK Eager Beaver
- Instant starting
- Rugged construction
- Trouble-free operation
- Easy handling, perfect balance
- Ground-level cutting
- Automatic oiling
- Rugged geared drive
- One-finger trigger control for engine and clutch
2 1/2 HP, 28 LBS.
Reviews
Comments from Eager Beaver posts on our FB page (see here for more):
- Roy said, “All had manual oilers, and some were even direct drive. No clutch. Real widow makers.”
- Doug said, “My grandpa had one. Last time he used it was about 1970. I was helping him cut trees.”
- Eric said, “Yep my uncle had one then changed to McCulloch.”
- Larry said, “Makes me tired just looking at it!”
- Dan said, “First saw I ever ran, must have been about 12. Dad said if you can start it, you can use it.”
- Michael said, “But look how easy it is to work on the carb.”
- Hunter said, “Same power to weight as a Husqvarna.” 😆
Ronald said:
First chainsaw I ever ran. A pure man killer!!! I was about 16 at the time. I’m 83 now, so it’s been awhile!!!
Chris said:
28 lbs holy sh*t we have come along way in power to weight ratio on chainsaws.
You can see the difference just in those 2 models. Same weight but gained another 1.5 hp.
Isaac said:
Holy hell that’s bare bones and still weighs more than your average watermelon.
If they had a clutch cover and chain brake it woulda been 75 pounds.
Edward said:
The eager beaver was my dad’s first chainsaw. He bought it new to clear out old fence rows to make the fields bigger on the farm. He retired that saw when the crank broke off behind the clutch.
Pictures
Check out this collection of old STRUNK ads!
