Stihl Chainsaw

[SteveS42240]

I am on my second Stihl chainsaw and other than them creating work for me, they are awesome machines. Great saws for homeowners and a lot of professionals use them as well.

 

[5030]

IMO, they are all just fine except the China clones... Those are not so good.

 

[jammo9199]

IMO, they are all just fine except the China clones... Those are not so good.

Interesting, been told about the dupes and keeping a keen eye out

 

[RobertN]

If you're using the saws with any regularity, and aren't super budget-conscious, the pro saws are a nice way to cry only once and smile ever after. I currently own and regularly use a pro saw (Stihl 064 AV) marked "Made in West Germany", if you want some idea of just how long they last. I suspect the damn thing might outlive me, if the ignition module made of unobtanium doesn't die first.

View attachment 2676675

I see more parts selection for the Pro saws also. There's repair parts, rebuild parts and performance parts (same for Husky Pro saws). Even for an older saw, that 064 has parts availability.

100% agree on the buy once cry once .

 

[Blue Mule]

Hi guys, just wondering if anyone has experience with Stihl branded chainsaws?

Recently added one to the collection but haven't got it out of the box yet, trying to do my due diligence!

Biggest pieces of s*it you'll ever have taking up space in your shed. Most over-rated brand in powertools hands down. I've been using saws and other power tools for 35 years and I've never touched a Stihl product yet that was worth pissing on if it caught fire. This is double true in cold weather. I've got a 50 year old hand me down Dolmar saw that will run circles around our newish Stihl Farm Boss. Don't know why we even bought the Farm Boss knowing that it was going to be junk. Live and learn I guess.

But hey, if you need a good upper body workout and don't want to bother with a gym membership, maybe a Stihl would be a good buy. Your shoulder and lats will definitely get stronger.

 

[jammo9199]

Biggest pieces of s*it you'll ever have taking up space in your shed. Most over-rated brand in powertools hands down. I've been using saws and other power tools for 35 years and I've never touched a Stihl product yet that was worth pissing on if it caught fire. This is double true in cold weather. I've got a 50 year old hand me down Dolmar saw that will run circles around our newish Stihl Farm Boss. Don't know why we even bought the Farm Boss knowing that it was going to be junk. Live and learn I guess.

But hey, if you need a good upper body workout and don't want to bother with a gym membership, maybe a Stihl would be a good buy. Your shoulder and lats will definitely get stronger.

This gave me a good giggle LOL

 

[Hay Dude]

Biggest pieces of s*it you'll ever have taking up space in your shed. Most over-rated brand in powertools hands down. I've been using saws and other power tools for 35 years and I've never touched a Stihl product yet that was worth pissing on if it caught fire. This is double true in cold weather. I've got a 50 year old hand me down Dolmar saw that will run circles around our newish Stihl Farm Boss. Don't know why we even bought the Farm Boss knowing that it was going to be junk. Live and learn I guess.

But hey, if you need a good upper body workout and don't want to bother with a gym membership, maybe a Stihl would be a good buy. Your shoulder and lats will definitely get stronger.

I’ve been running not only Stihl saws, but brush cutters, pole saws and even a gas drill and they all have been very good.

“Biggest pieces of s*it” based on one saw?
give me a break.

 

[jammo9199]

Appreciate everyone's replies on here. Still shopping around for best prices.

Best one for the money I've found.

See you on the other side!

*Queue Nearer My God To Thee*

 

[JeepHead]

Appreciate everyone's replies on here. Still shopping around for best prices.

Best one for the money I've found.

See you on the other side!

*Queue Nearer My God To Thee*

You'll be happy with it! Learn how to tune it (there is a process for the auto tune). I would also put a bark box on it, it will give really good gains in power.
I cut well over 100 cords of wood a year, mostly oak, hickory and ash with most logs frequently 20" plus in size, and I mostly do it with a 50 or 60cc saw even though I own 30+ saws up to 95cc. But I need to move fast and a light saw allows that without tiring out too quickly. That stihl will be a little work horse for ya and nice and light....

 

[dodge man]

You probably should explain what a “bark box” is.

 

[ning]

Appreciate everyone's replies on here. Still shopping around for best prices.

Recently added one to the collection but haven't got it out of the box yet, trying to do my due diligence!

Uh huh

 

[5030]

My final comment is... Any saw is good so long as it's maintained and by that I mean keeping the loop sharp and the rakers set, using a quality fuel canned or otherwise, using a good grade of bar oil (not used motor oil) and keeping the unit free of swarf and gunk especially around the cooling fins on the motor.

 

[5030]

You probably should explain what a “bark box” is.

A Bark Box is a West Coast Saw term for their muffler mod. Never bought one, never needed one. Just a noise maker in my opinion and not a cheap one either.

 

[Hay Dude]

You probably should explain what a “bark box” is.

You don’t know what a bark box is????

 

[JeepHead]

You probably should explain what a “bark box” is.

Just a modded free flowing exhaust. It really opens them up and adds considerable power.

 

[Snobdds]

Am I in a safe place to say I get a “thrill up my leg” when I rev my 500i?

A thrill is one thing...getting wood is another. These get the wood...

 

[dodge man]

I figured it’s where you put a bad dog.

 

[RobertN]

I figured it’s where you put a bad dog.

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[WinterDeere]

Not necessary if you use canned fuel like Echo Red Armor. Shelf life is 2 years or 1 year in a fuel tank.

... and you can save good bit of money by just using it for storage, if you are a frequent user. Even my local saw shop, who make money on selling the stuff, recommend burning regular E10 when cutting, and then dumping that out and refueling with canned gas, running it through before storage.

I just run my saws dry before off-season (summer) storage, but many don't like to do that, believing it's bad to run a 2-stroke dry. Making sure your last half-tank of the season is canned gas can be a good way to store, if you normally run E10 in-season.

IMO, they are all just fine except the China clones... Those are not so good.

I've owned Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, Homelite, and a McCullough. They all work, but they're definitely not equal. The Echo was as reliable as concrete, but I hated just about everything else about it, and they ain't breaking any power/weight ratio records.

I've never touched a Stihl product yet that was worth pissing on if it caught fire.

"A poor workman blames his tools." Stihl didn't become the top selling pro brand by not having good pro saws.

I've got a 50 year old hand me down Dolmar saw that will run circles around our newish Stihl Farm Boss.

"Farm Boss" is a homeowner grade saw upgraded with a few features taken off the pro saws. It is not a pro saw.

But hey, if you need a good upper body workout and don't want to bother with a gym membership, maybe a Stihl would be a good buy. Your shoulder and lats will definitely get stronger.

It sounds like you just don't know how to maintain a saw.

I have owned many Stihl saws, and presently use two of them on a weekly basis. 1-pull starts are normal, if it's been run at least once earlier in the day. Figure on 3 pulls if it's been sitting a week, and up to 5 pulls if it's coming out of storage after having been drained and run dry. That's the same as my Husqvarna and Echo saws, but all are maintained in good working order.

 

[RobertN]

Appreciate everyone's replies on here. Still shopping around for best prices.

Best one for the money I've found.

See you on the other side!

*Queue Nearer My God To Thee*

I like to look at local support where possible. I'm fortunate to have local dealers and service. Online is great, but sometimes it's nice to be able to take equipment in and see the parts in person. Or have service done.