John Deere 300CS--PLASTIC chainsaw!

Giles · May 4, 2015

I have worked on many JD chainsaws and all were top quality saws, made by Echo and Efco.
Not the case today. I always considered JD products to be quality until I took a non running John Deere 300CS in on trade for a Stihl MS290.
It is nothing more then a Plastic Homelite 300!
Basically a throwaway tool that I should have checked closer.
Owner said he bought it new from a JD dealer in 1999 and paid $405.00 ??
Oh--it has an adjustable automatic chain oiler that is inaccessible without removing the engine from the housing!

gsganzer · May 4, 2015

I don't know why JD has been on such a plastic kick. Look at their compact tractors. Hoods, fenders and other major parts are all plastic. Some things need to be made of metal.

swines · May 11, 2015

John Deere discontinued chainsaws in 2009 - and you're complaining about a 16 year old saw.

Hardly front page news...I'm not sure why anyone should care.

Giles · May 12, 2015

swines said:
John Deere discontinued chainsaws in 2009 - and you're complaining about a 16 year old saw.

Hardly front page news...I'm not sure why anyone should care.

Still got John Deere name on it!

Gary Fowler · May 12, 2015

I guess that is why they no longer sell them. One can buy a Stihl for about the same price so why would he have paid over $400 for a JD no name brand saw 16 years ago. Guys stuck on the JD name need to get shafted. The JD name means nothing in todays world at least in the under 75 HP stuff and all the small stuff on the shelves. JD obviously takes the cheapest thing they can negotiate for and stick a JD sticker on it and sell to unsuspecting buyers who for some reason that has not been thought out at all, think they are getting a JD saw, weedeater etc. I never heard of a tractor company making saws, weedeaters ,leaf blowers etc.

Giles · May 12, 2015

Gary Fowler said:
I guess that is why they no longer sell them. One can buy a Stihl for about the same price so why would he have paid over $400 for a JD no name brand saw 16 years ago. Guys stuck on the JD name need to get shafted. The JD name means nothing in todays world at least in the under 75 HP stuff and all the small stuff on the shelves. JD obviously takes the cheapest thing they can negotiate for and stick a JD sticker on it and sell to unsuspecting buyers who for some reason that has not been thought out at all, think they are getting a JD saw, weedeater etc. I never heard of a tractor company making saws, weedeaters ,leaf blowers etc.

Exactly my thoughts!

Industrial Toys · May 12, 2015

I find it utter stupidity that JD is making saws, and pressure washers and generators! Well, actually branding, not making! Let's say, they first learn how to build a decent high quality tractor. Maybe one in which the gears actually mesh easily!

I have several Stihl saws. Homeowner and commercial. All of them plastic pieces of garbage! I am sure the days of your zinc cast saws are long over!

Like so much else, the world is driven my Marketing! Put some slick looking piece of crap on the showroom floor and someone will buy it.

Giles · May 12, 2015

"Oh--it has an adjustable automatic chain oiler that is inaccessible without removing the engine from the housing"

I fixed this stupid set up by grinding app. 1/4" off the bottom three cooling fins. Now it can be adjusted with a TEN INCH long screwdriver!

Will_C · May 12, 2015

Sad to see that happen. My father was a buddy of the local small town JD dealer in the 1970s, and he bought a variety of JD branded products-pressure washer, salamander heaters, chainsaws and my brother and I each had a JD branded bike. All were first rate products-in fact my brother and I still use the heaters.

Will

gladehound · May 12, 2015

I bought a JD CS400 years ago for my Dad who takes care of everything very well. I was practically a kid when I bought it for him and didn't realize JD was just rebranding poor quality stuff. I thought I was buying something decent. It lasted about 5 or 6 years of fairly light use. It was an OK saw until it burnt up but nothing to write home about.

Disappointed in the JD, my dad replaced it with a Stihl MS250 just for the Stihl name. Neither he nor I knew about the home owner / farm / and pro model differences back then. However, The "homeowner" MS250 has been flawless for over 10 years cutting about 6 cords a year and is surprisingly light and balanced for a saw in this price range (~$250). My Dad has been completely happy with it. I've used it climbing a few times and find the balance and weight to be very reasonable for climbing. My Dad bought me an MS290 (because I kept borrowing his MS250) but I sold it shortly afterward because I was cutting a lot of big stuff and it was struggling (not it's fault, it was too small of a saw for the jobs)

I replaced the MS290 with a Dolmar 7900 and eventually got an Echo 355T as my climbing saw. The Dolmar 7900($700) and the Echo 355T($450) were bargains for top notch pro quality. Both cut very fast for their size. Both have been flawless. Both have good balance and are smooth in operation. The Dolmar is especially versatile, light enough to use every day with a 20" bar, strong enough to pull a 36" bar with authority. I highly recommend both of them - worth every penny!