So it's time

[kenmac]

I found a 372XP last yr on line. I called my local dealer and got him to match the on line price..

 

[Bud Soda]

I run a part time biz. and have had Husqvarna and stihl. I like the Husqvarna better and sold my last sthil on CL. Dealer not importing to me as I shop online and found a much better price than I could buy local.

 

[crazyal]

So I picked up the saw today. It turns out the saw had never actually cut wood. The bar had a few scuffs on it but the plastic is like new. I didn't have much time to play with it because it was getting dark but I did have a 24" red maple I dropped last month close to the house. The saw starts great, much easier than my 357xp. Second to third pull everytime. While I didn't want to push it too hard, not being broke in, I was easily able to cut through that maple in about 15 seconds. The kill switch isn't as refined as the Husky. On the Husky pulling the choke out also pushes the switch to the run position. The Dolmar is just a slide switch that seams kind of simple. Hopefully next week I'll get some free time to really play around with it.

 

[dbaer78]

I had looked at the 576xp auto tune but I was a little concerned about the weight. It's pushing 15 lbs just for the powerhead. I did find a dealer with an older 7900 (non-epa version) dealer demo for $700. It has a 28" bar, a little bigger than I was looking for but it's rated at 6.3 hp (the new epa 7910 is only 5.7) it shouldn't have any problems. He said it has a few scuffs from being on display but it hasn't even had a half of a tank through it. The bar has one small mark on it from cutting through a log. It comes with the full warranty and all the tools and a scabbard. I figure it's about $150 off of a new 7910. So I gave him a deposit and next week I'll go pick it up. He's going to have the service department go over it once more to make sure it's tunes up (said it was last summer when they last started it). Hopefully it's not too much saw, after all my 357xp has always handled everything I've thrown at it. If not for the really big trees and not being able to cut quite fast enough I probably would be going with the 562xp. Not being a professional logger I'm not an expert at determining the exact direction a tree wants to fall. I'm pretty good but I like to make the back cut as quick as possible so I can retreat to a safe distance on some of the trees that are crooked, are leaning pretty good, or have an usual landing zone and could jump when they land. I really don't like it when a tree starts to barber chair even after doing side cuts just because my saw isn't cutting as fast as the tree wants to fall.

After reading this I would strongly recommend finding a local logger training course and take their timber cutter training. If you learn to plunge cut and trigger your trees you'll avoid "chasing" them like you are now. It gives you much more time to get away from the tree and is MUCH safer. In Indiana the classes are fairly cheap... I'm sure they're reasonable in your area as well.

 

[crazyal]

So I thought I would post an update. I've put several tanks through the saw now and have a feel for it.

The pros are:
It's very powerful. The thing eats wood. With a sharp chain a 24" round red maple is child's play. 10 to 15 seconds per cut.
The balance seams good. I was a little worried about the weight and the length of the bar but over all it feels fine.
Starting. Clod takes 3 or 4 pulls on full choke and it'll pop. One more on half choke and it fires right up.
Once started it's ready to go. My Husky needed a few cuts before it was really warm and ready to make power, not so with the Dolmar, once it's running you take the choke off and it'll cut just like it was hot.

The Cons:
The kill switch is close to your throttle finger but it's not a natural place plus it's not a nice smooth switch. It's almost like an after thought or every other brand patented all the ergonomic styles and locations.
The caps. The fuel cap is not bad but the oil cap is a bear to remove. Even though it tightens easily and each time I swear I just went tight enough to make it seal it's always tough getting off. I often use the blade of a screw driver between the two raised parts for your fingers. It's not a case of you just can't grip it because the raised parts aren't large or tall enough, it's just hard. Even putting oil on the o-ring doesn't help. Not sure if it's a vacuum thing, it does suck all the oil out of the tank without a problem. I think it's just the o-ring sticks to the plastic and metal of the oil tank. Hopefully it breaks in.
Chain wear. I only have one chain, an Oregon (not sure of the model). It's a full chisel and it's stretching like crazy. After about a half tank I have to tighten it. I have the oil turned up and I get a nice stripe of oil on a round when I rev it up near a log so I know the oil is doing it's thing. I'm currently using some Poulan bar oil (green jug). I normally use Husky oil but couldn't get it so I got this instead. It's a real nice stringy oil and half of the jug was used with my Husky (Husky sprocket tip bar and Sthil pro chain) without issue. So I don't know if the extra power is the problem, if the chain isn't designed for an 80cc engine, or the oil isn't correct.

I'm cutting some dirty logs that I skidded in the spring. After two tanks the chain is noticeably not as sharp so I'm filing when I fill up the tank. Once I'm cutting clean wood I'll get a full chisel and a semi chisel Stihl pro chain and see how that works out. But for now I'll just wear out the Oregon chain and see if I can find the box it came in or a number on one of the links to see what it is. I think it came in a white box with black writing.