I thought Sthil made a good saw?

[Oaktree]

The two "big box' brands you can get service for without question are Husqvarna and Echo -- both brands have other dealers and usually they have an arrangement to do warranty and service work. I have all three brands in various saws, trimmers mowers etc. varying in age from 30 to 2 years of age,. All require very little maintenance

Are the box store Echos the same as the ones sold by the power equipment dealers? I got mine at a dealer...had it a good 20 years, maybe closer to 25. Only things I've had to fix was similar to the OP's (only no bolts broke off on mine)...the muffler bolts loosening up. I found that using hi-temp silicone as a gasket on the muffler seemed to keep everything in place better. Other than that, just maintenance. Still even has the original pull rope!
It's on the heavy side, but it's stood up well, and always started in a few pulls. I try to use non-E gas when I make mix, but it seems happy with E-10 too.
Mine has a 20" bar...had to search a bit to find a replacement a few years ago.

Stihl's are good saws if you can get the damn things started! They flood worse than the Mississippi pre 1970's!

I've noticed that when we do trail work with our snowmobile club. I'm already cutting while the guys with the Stihls are still trying to get theirs started.

 

[ArlyA]

We got three stihls which are all start fine, no different than our Echo's. Change the plugs and filters yearly. What are we doing wrong?

 

[newbury]

Part of the problem with Stihls seems to be the starting procedure. Mine for saws that have been sitting a while are normally 2 or three pulls at full choke to get fuel in the jug, then they will pop, then reduce choke and a pull to get it started. If I leave them on full choke after they pop they often flood. My JD chainsaw has a plastic bulb I need to pump to get the fuel in.

 

[ArlyA]

Part of the problem with Stihls seems to be the starting procedure. Mine for saws that have been sitting a while are normally 2 or three pulls at full choke to get fuel in the jug, then they will pop, then reduce choke and a pull to get it started. If I leave them on full choke after they pop they often flood. My JD chainsaw has a plastic bulb I need to pump to get the fuel in.

All our Sthils have fuel pump balls. What models do you have??

 

[ericm979]

None of my Stihl saws have bulbs. My Stihl blower's got one though.

 

[newbury]

All our Sthils have fuel pump balls. What models do you have??

My 660's and 021 don't have the little plastic fuel pump "balls".
/edit - I don't remember my 088 having one either. But I rarely use that.

 

[Johnny Ducati]

I don't want to read all 6 pages of advice, so if this is a repeat, sorry. The gent that recommended Snap-On easy outs was correct, in my opinion. The cheap ones are usually tapered, which to my way of thinking, would tend to expand the broken bolt, making it harder to get out. The S-O,s are straight and splined, not expanding it. Yes, they are pricey, but it will be a lifetime purchase and the individual parts may be bought separately. What I would do before any of these methods, though, would be to use a sharp, slender center punch, angled off center, at the periphery of the broken bolt, gently tapping in removal direction. If broken piece is not seized, this will often allow you to "walk" bolt out slowly, obviating use of an easy out. If broken piece is even slightly seized, though, this will not work. You'll know in a few seconds if this doesn't work, so you can then go on to other methods.

 

[PILOON]

My best and 'go to' is a Stihl 009 that was a yard find, cost me all of $40.00.
I've hand many offers to buy it but it is a keeper as it never lets me down.
2 pulls and ready to work!
Heck one guy offered to trade a nearly new $300. to get mine, No sale!
OK, I also know how to sharpen chains (by eye and hand) so I'm good to go.

I also have a big Husky but that sees less service than my 009.

 

[bmg88201]

I had the same thing happen to me with my 15y/o Echo trimmer. A muffler bolt sheared off, the other was gone. I drilled a small hole in the center first, then a little bigger bit. Then I used an ease out And I did get it out. Then I drilled out both holes and tapped them for 1/4 inch threads and used two 1/4 inch bolts with lock washers. Been working fine now.

 

[manzer7]

I just cut a fairly good sized dying white pine down, was limbing it when the muffler fell off my MS291. Can't figure out why. Soon as I got it in garage it's raining like crazy, so had to quit anyway.
Getting the one bolt recessed will be fun. Any ideas...thanks in advance. View attachment 701069View attachment 701070View attachment 701071

I bought my 026 in July 1990 and it still goes very good. My muffler fell off a few times and that bolt finally would not keep on. I had to tap the threads to the next size and it worked out better. Best saw I ever bought. I use it alot around the house and on my 59 acres of woods. I used to cut all my firewood - but being an old fart now I have a heat pump and solar power to supplement a pellet stove.

Good luck getting that bolt end out of there.