WWII two man chain saw restoration.

[marshalljt]

Hello, I have received this Mercury KB6-A Reed Prentice. I have found several references to this saw in the Timberman magazine. My particular example is serial number 3023. That did not mean much to me until I pulled out my Army Service manual for a G-36 (Mercury Disston KB6-AX). It states that the serial numbers for the Mercury motors started at 3001 which was for the KB6-A.

Since this was the first production model that makes this saw the 23rd produced. It has many features that are only found in this early version. I have a KB6-A serial number 4619 and it shows all the castings that were carried forward to the KB6-AX but are different on this early 3023 version. This early version has a differnt fan housing casting, gas tank casting, transmission casting, clutch lever, tranny throw out bearing, cylinder castings. They look similar but are cruder and missing the Mercury logo and the high rise tunnel that runs for the plug wires is similar to later KB6-A but no other versions.

So here are some pictures of the saw as I received it. It was frozen up from being run without oil. I had a set of the early pistons and replaced these heavily damaged ones. I had to come up with an early style starter complete, early style fan cover, cylinder shroud, clutch cable (had to borrow from my newer 6-A which is the only version it was used on). In need of one of these style cables for my other 6-A now.

The feet were broken off the fan housing and I had to cut feet off a later fan housing and weld those on and modify them to match the original configuration which gave poor support and let to them breaking off. Much welding on the tranny also. The two starter bosses were both damaged and had to be welded up and re-shaped. The bar plate was broken off and had to be welded back on.

The helper handle is the same one used on the air powered and electric saws and had been in production for several years so the serial number is higher.

The last picture shows the crank case after restoration.

















---------- Post added at 06:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

I got the restoration completed and here it is. I reread the short section of the Mercury history book and it had some interesting points. Reed Prentice had submitted two different gas chainsaw motors to the government for evaluation and the review board said the best bet for Reed Prentice would be to contact Kiekhaufer for a supplier of motors to use with their bars and chains and helper handles, which is what they did as seen here. But the deal fell through and Disston became the supplier of choice. Kiekhaufer had stated they only wanted to make the motors and let, in this case, Disston put the whole package together for the military.

Many little differences for this early 23rd unit produced saw versus even later saws of the same model. Small screws are brass, gas tank casting is different. Tranny casting is different with holes that proved to be a weak point. Clutch cable is different. Starter is slightly different. Fan housing casting is different. Flywheel cover has no cross bracing.

Information

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[sjc]

What an excellent restoration! It probably didn't look that good when it left the factory.

[Salt Flat]

Marshal, Very nice restoration ! About 20 years back I came to own a very similar looking contraption. We had a place out at Lake Tapps and we used the saw to help clear the land. (I saw you were from Renton) It was a little scary and I finally traded it off. I don't think mine was military. Salt Flat

[browningautorifle]

I've seen these saws in the past, what a massive piece of equipment compared to todays little saws. It would have been a real days work to run one all day...

[vintage hunter]

It surely was a days work according to my dad. Dangerous too. In the early 50's he worked part time at his neighbors sawmill cutting trees with a saw that closely resembled this one based on his description. He was around 13 at the time and the mill owners youngest son of the same age helped dad fell trees until noon and the rest of the day was spent dragging them out of the woods with a cantankerous old bull. Can you imagine todays young teens being asigned such a job?

[jsmosby]

That is an amazing, skillful and artful restoration; thank you for sharing! The detail description of the "journey" and photos were great. Having been down similar projects and related activities over the years certainly confirms my belief that you had way to much fun. Take care.

[marshalljt]

Thanks for the kind comments.
I do need some help from the more experienced military collectors. I need the manual for this saw. The military model number is G-12. There is a document number that goes with this manual but I don't know what it is and seaching for just G-12 is too vague.

Any advice? Who would be a good document collector to contact? Thanks.

[JEFarnham]

Excellent restoration.
I know this is an old post, but I was hoping you could tell me if you ever found any manuals or documentation.
I have a 1943 Mercury KB6-A in good condition and I wanted to try and locate some documentation for it.

[catman]

Wow, what a monster and you did a VERY nice job restoring it too.
And I have to comment on Vintage Hunters comment: personally I can't see (most) today's teens doing anything, except playing computer games.
Again, nice job,
Chuck

[Adolf Galland]

you did a great job fixing it up.