New Chainsaw Question

[farmerjim]

i've got a stihl ms270 "woodboss" 16in bar, an older stihl 038 w/ 20in bar for the big stuff, and a small husky 334t its one if the pro arborist model, i use it for limbing, and light work. the stihl is much quieter and seems to start easier than my husky. the 038 i got at a tag sale for about $50 wasn't running, but i got it back in shape for little $, and you can still get parts for it. imo can't go wrong w/ any stihl or husky. my dad has 2 echo 's and 1 stihl. his echo's are a bit older and they're still running great and we cut about 12-14 cord per year. i may step up my 270 to an 18 in bar, i'm pretty sure it will handle it w/out issues as it seems to have plenty of go.

 

[Egon]

RWEST:

I've got a 24 in. bar and two 18 in. bars with at leat four chains.

 

[montanaman]

The consumer versions of Husqvarna saws are like the Poulans, the commercial saws are true Husqvarna saws and are very good saws. Your dealer either didn't know much about Husqvarna or he had problems with Husqvarna and was bad mouthing them as an excuse.

I think that is what he was saying, just not worded to mention that the commercial Husqvarna saws are still a good saw.

I am a Stihl dealer and I can tell you why I wouldn't sell anything else. First off, the majority of my sales are in the consumer grade saws. I do sell to a lot of local tree services but I sell one PRO saw to every 5 consumer grade saw. The consumer grade Stihl saws have so much more in common to the commercial Stihl saws than the consumer grade Huskys do to the commercial Huskys. EVERY Stihl product with an engine uses a two ring piston and EVERY Husky sold at Lowes has a single ring piston.

The BIG problem is that now the local Husqvarna dealer is now losing the majority of his consumer sales to Lowes and Tractor Supply, but he is still expected to be the warranty center for Husky. I can tell you that would get old fast!

I can also tell you that both my saw prices and chain prices are LOWER than the prices at Lowes AND a saw doesn't leave here without every question the customer has being answered AND it is filled with fuel and bar oil and test run. This is after I have taken the time to help guide the customer toward the right saw for their cutting needs so they will be happy with their purchase!!

 

[montanaman]

enjoy the saw - I've got a couple of old Stihls, a Husky 372, and a Craftsman (rebadged Poulan)
Stihl makes a great saw - just be careful what kind of gas you're using for mix, since the "super clean" formulas and ethanol blends can separate out the oil within 10 minutes of mixing -- I have a friend that scored a piston within minutes of firing up her saw, and warranty didn't cover what they considered negligence on her part. (i generally shake up the gas can before fueling just in case)

since you didn't get a case, I recommend the Husky "Power box" they sell at Lowes and Home Despot for about $35. It's a plastic box with a slot for the bar cover and has slots inside for tools, oil, etc... flat on top and sides so it packs into spaces handy - and you can set things on top of it during storage.
Very handy.

good luck and enjoy!

Just a note from a Stihl dealer. Stihl alos has a case similar to the "power box". It is a much roomier case that the slim woodsman orange case so it will hold more items. I use one and it is OK but I still end up taking the milk crate with me with fuel mix and bar oil so the orange case would have worked just fine.

I actually was hoping the MS361 I use would have fit in an old Poulan case I found because I wouldn't need to worry about it getting stolen them!

Ken

 

[montanaman]

I noticed that on the Husky site they list the 345 as the "most affordable swedish made saw". I assume that means that everything below that is a rebadged unit from another manufacturer. Husky does the same thing with their riding mowers. I went out today at lunch and bought the MS250. I will try it out this weekend and report back. I was a little surprised that the saw did not come with a case. Even the $79 Craftsman came with a case. Thanks for the replies.

Mike

Don't be shocked if it isn't a power house right out of the box. You will need to run 5 to 10 tanks of fuel through it before the piston rings are completely seated and it's making full power.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I think that is what he was saying, just not worded to mention that the commercial Husqvarna saws are still a good saw.

I am a Stihl dealer and I can tell you why I wouldn't sell anything else. First off, the majority of my sales are in the consumer grade saws. I do sell to a lot of local tree services but I sell one PRO saw to every 5 consumer grade saw. The consumer grade Stihl saws have so much more in common to the commercial Stihl saws than the consumer grade Huskys do to the commercial Huskys. EVERY Stihl product with an engine uses a two ring piston and EVERY Husky sold at Lowes has a single ring piston.

The BIG problem is that now the local Husqvarna dealer is now losing the majority of his consumer sales to Lowes and Tractor Supply, but he is still expected to be the warranty center for Husky. I can tell you that would get old fast!

I can also tell you that both my saw prices and chain prices are LOWER than the prices at Lowes AND a saw doesn't leave here without every question the customer has being answered AND it is filled with fuel and bar oil and test run. This is after I have taken the time to help guide the customer toward the right saw for their cutting needs so they will be happy with their purchase!!

It could be, I know my Husqvarna dealer has great prices also and he usually donates something to our Turkey federation banquet and is a sponsor member also. He does the same as you as far as helping the customer to the right model, answering questions and showing how to operate and adjust the machines, then fill them and start them up. He is also real good with repairing equipment regardless of brand and is affordable.

I bought my Cub Cadet lawn mower from TSC and regret it but I knew the manager and try to support everyone some. But for saws I will only buy from my Husqvarna dealer now. I was originally going to buy a Stihl pole saw but the dealer we were talk with only had regular saws and they went out of business before they ever got any pole saws in. I don't know why they went under but they were more of a hunting shop that took on Stihl saws. I personally think they expanded too fast and couldn't afford their bills during the slow time of year. The other small engine shop sells Stihl saws but their prices show they like their product to stay in the shop They donate to our federation also but usually just a small trinket and they are not a member. I still stop in and talk to them and buy a part from time to time if I need it but I prefer to support the people who support me or our club.

 

[RWEST]

I've got a 24 in. bar and two 18 in. bars with at least four chains.

A very wise man!!

with slightly less vibration

I have an old (probably 30 years, anyway - doesn't have a blade brake or anything, it's so old) 056 Stihl that vibrates and bounces around like a motocross bike when it's sitting there idling!! Man, run that thing for a while and then try to sign your name to something. Looks like you have palsy or something!!

 

[BigE_]

Selling my old Stihl 020AV tomorrow. I just put a new chain on it today, and man are those expensive for that saw. 72 link (14" bar) 0.250 chain set me back $36. A new chain for my 036 is about $18, and the bar on that is 25".

The Stihl 036 is a good saw for cutting the big pieces into firewood fast, ready for the splitter, but for limbing I use my Shindaiwa 357. Great little saw, light weight, and until recently, ran like a champ. (Now I have carb issues that I spent $100 fixing, and it still isn't fixed!).

The Shindaiwa 357 is a top handle saw, and if I only had one saw, it would be a top handle model, mainly because you can use it one-handed. This feature is very nice for cutting up the little 3" limbs into firewood because you can hold the limb in one hand and cut with the other. Also, when you are up in a tree trying to cut a limb, being able to hold onto the tree while cutting is a *nice* feature!

The MS250 should work fine for cutting up firewood, but me, I'd be going for the MS200T (don't forget the T) or at the very least the MS192T. Of course, these are $600 and $300 saws respectively.

 

[montanaman]

The top handle saws are nice, but keep in mind that they are not for everyone. I sell to a few local tree services that don't even use them because they know the risk of a kick back is MUCH greater with a top handle saw. In the hands of a skilled pro, they are a very nice tool but in the hands of a newbie, it's a good chance for a trip with the sirens on and a different look in the mirror.

These saws DO have there place, but I would NEVER suggest that someone just cutting a bit of firewood buy one. There are to be used IN A TREE and that's IT.

They should also never be used to cut a limb that you are holding as no chain saw should be used.

 

[JiminGa]

"I actually was hoping the MS361 I use would have fit in an old Poulan case I found because I wouldn't need to worry about it getting stolen them!"

not necessarily true! my dad had an old POS Poulan bow saw stolen off the front porch...not a bad thing, but someone did actually steal a Poulan...He replaced it with a Husky that has run maint free since.