Thinkin about..

[coast40]

What you see is 1/2 the products of 2 years ago, And a couple of the saws on the website are showing discontinued on the dealer B2B site which is the dealer parts and wholegoods order site.

https://makitauk.com/data/pam/public/emailmarketing/2020/november/notice_of_production_discontinuation_of_engine_products_-_muk_letter.pdf

Can't beat facts! Thanks RT!

 

[JasperFrank]

The best saw is the one you just bought a new chain for.

 

[kenhar]

Hey ksbrdmkr, I had a homelite 360 my dad bought in 1965 when I was a kid at home. Good saw at the time. First auto oiler I ever saw, state of the art. Used a long time. Traded it in on the husqvarna 266 se in 1984. Husqvarna is or was made by Electrolux Corp that also made jonsred and pardner chainsaws. A factory rep told me the pardner saw was lesser known and that Electrolux would put their new ideas or improvements on the pardner saws first to see how they worked out rather than put a new gadget on the husky or jonsred and it flop. Husqvarna orange means the same quality as John Deere green.Just match your saw size to your job size.

 

[Tbone07]

If you've got a Stihl/Echo dealer down the street from you, then I would consider that a no-brainer. As long as it's a quality dealer, and from your words it sounds like it is, then pick from one of those two brands.

Personally.....my MS261 will out-cut my MS391 and MS311 in any conditions. It's my go-to saw for all-purpose cutting. If I have 18+" logs that I'm bucking for firewood and making numerous repeated cuts, I'll grab my MS461.

It sounds like an MS261 or MS362 would be right in your wheel house. You could also look and getting a good condition Stihl 036, 028 Wood Boss, 034, etc. Lots of options for you out there. Maybe see if that dealer has any used saws for sale?

I'm not familiar at all with Echo stuff. But I hear they do make a range of great products as well.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Prior to 2020 I didn't own a saw, then I bought a tractor and now I have two saws and a forestry winch. My two Husqvarna's are a delimbing saw 435 and the big cheese 572Xp

 

[John_Mc]

The reports I'm seeing about Makita is that they had announced they were discontinuing production of gas engine products at the end of March 2022. I have not been able to find published confirmation that that actually happened as scheduled, but it's clear they are getting out of those lines.

 

[Hay Dude]

The reports I'm seeing about Makita is that they had announced they were discontinuing production of gas engine products at the end of March 2022. I have not been able to find published confirmation that that actually happened as scheduled, but it's clear they are getting out of those lines.

I wonder if it’s a profitability thing, or a climate change thing?
I just hope they sell the line off to someone and keep making those saws.

 

[Deleted member 371759]

Im sure its a climate change, emissions thing. Honda has also stopped making lawn equipment due to not being able to meet the emissions standards. HK Honda To Stop Manufacturing All Gas Powered Lawn Mowers
I cant wait until all fuels are banned in the name of a new green world and we have to clean up and power cities after a major hurricane/F4 tornadoes, earthquakes with electric backhoes, electric chain saws and solar powered generators. Clown world is going to be exciting.

 

[RandyT]

I wonder if it’s a profitability thing, or a climate change thing?
I just hope they sell the line off to someone and keep making those saws.

Makita claimed that the gas power products was only 5% of their annual sales volume.

 

[hornett22]

Just replaced my Husky 562XP with the Echo 620. Lost the bearings in the 6 yr old Husky, not sure why. Have only run one tank of gas through the Echo, but seems to have the power I was use to, controls set up logically, like the sprocket outside the clutch, see thru gas tank. It does have a lot of plastic, but so does everything else. Time will tell about how it lasts, but it was also $599 instead of $900+ for the comparable size Stihl or Husky. The 5 year warranty and a good dealer also helped.

I run 40:1

A little more insurance for the bearings.

 

[hornett22]

Makita claimed that the gas power products was only 5% of their annual sales volume.

Their poor marketing and lack of dealers didn't help.

 

[Hay Dude]

Their poor marketing and lack of dealers didn't help.

Agree. Never saw them market their saws in stores!

 

[John_Mc]

Agree. Never saw them market their saws in stores!

I'd probably own a Dolmar/Makita saw by now, if there were decent servicing dealers in my area.

 

[hornett22]

Agree. Never saw them market their saws in stores!

I saw two in Corrupticut. One was a big logging supply shop that sold Husky and Jonsered as well. The other was a small lawnmower shop.

A couple buddies of mine had them. They didn't seem to hold up to commercial use long.

 

[John_Mc]

I saw two in Corrupticut. One was a big logging supply shop that sold Husky and Jonsered as well. The other was a small lawnmower shop.

A couple buddies of mine had them. They didn't seem to hold up to commercial use long.

The pro level Dolmar saws (and the better Makitas which were just relabled Dolmar, once Makita bought them out) had good reputations. Like every saw maker, they also made some saws which were not intended for full-time commercial use. I wonder what models your buddies were using?

About the only knock I heard against the pro Dolmar/Makita saws were that they weighed a bit more than pro saws from some other manufacturers.

 

[RandyT]

Their poor marketing and lack of dealers didn't help.

Prior to 2015 when Makita took Dolmar in house there was 6 within a 20 mile radius of me. And Makita killed off all of them except 1.

Agree. Never saw them market their saws in stores!

Home Depot

I'd probably own a Dolmar/Makita saw by now, if there were decent servicing dealers in my area.

Makita killed their own market by killing off their own dealers. Similar to a product that I used to use from Walmart that was never in stock. And the reason they gave for not stocking it was they didn't sell enough. So by not stocking it they didn't sell it and since they didn't sell it they didn't stock it.

 

[RandyT]

The pro level Dolmar saws (and the better Makitas which were just relabled Dolmar, once Makita bought them out) had good reputations. Like every saw maker, they also made some saws which were not intended for full-time commercial use. I wonder what models your buddies were using?

About the only knock I heard against the pro Dolmar/Makita saws were that they weighed a bit more than pro saws from some other manufacturers.

Dolmar was the only saw manufacturer that offered a 2 year commercial warranty. How many of the other saw makers would offer a 2 year warranty to a logger. At one time Stihl warranty on all saws larger than the 034 had a 90 day warranty no matter how it was used,. Homeowner or logger.

 

[John_Mc]

Agree. Never saw them market their saws in stores!

Home Depot

Out local Home Depot had Makita saws in their equipment rental program, but they did not sell them (other than selling their used rental equipment every couple of years). If I recall correctly, they may have sold the lower end (and possibly mid-range) Husqvarna at one point, but I believe they have since switched to Echo for gas chainsaws. (Echo does make some solid saws, but I have not looked at what models the local Home Depot carries - I won't buy a saw from HD. I prefer to support someone who services what they sell.)

 

[5030]

Dolmar was the only saw manufacturer that offered a 2 year commercial warranty.

Not true. Echo also has a 2 year non commercial warranty on their saws. I know, I have one.

 

[NealC]

Everyone throw away their non Stihl saws. A Youtube celebrity said so. Man this site cracks me up.

You didn't watch the video, that is obvioius. The guy from "Project Farm" does an excellent job comparing all sorts of products. I am guessing he has an engineering background given his methods for testing. He is not a celebrity. I have used Stihl's for 40 years. There is nothing better although they are the most expensive. I have never had one not start and their chains are great. No one said to throw away their chainsaws. It just depends on your budget and how one plans on using their saws.