Whats the best $400 chainsaw.

[Snobdds]

I have a Craftsman 18 inch saw I bought from Sears 14 years ago. I don't know who made it but I can tell you.....it has cut hundreds of trees down.....lots of firewood.....starts after a couple of pulls every time and aside from changing the plug......has required little maintenance. The ones they sell now appear to be cheaply made but 14 years ago.......they were better. My saw has been used and abused but is still going strong.

That was probably a re banded Partner saw. Partner made some good stuff before they were bought out by Poulan...

 

[C4Ranch]

Whatever saw I ended up with, I'd make sure there was a full service dealer located nearby so that when, not if, it broke I could get parts or have them fix it.:2cents:

That kinda keeps out the brands only sold on line or in big box and department stores.

Round here, my local Kubota also deals Echo. Is that the same elsewhere?

 

[IXLR8]

Ok, dont laugh at me - I have a Husq 455 20" and a little HomeLite 16". I find myself reaching for the little Homelite more than the 455. It's lighter, cuts well, and starts every time.
Did I just admit to using a Homelite?

I'm still running a Homelite Zip saw my grandfather bought in 1960. I have replaced the bar and clutch as the original style chain was no longer available. It starts a bit hard, is heavy and it needs the carb rebuilt, but if I can get it running... it is going to throw some chips. I also have a little Echo with a 14" bar and a Sthil 270 with a 18" bar. The Echo is my go to saw.

 

[rswyan]

Round here, my local Kubota also deals Echo. Is that the same elsewhere?

My local Kubota dealer handles Stihl.

 

[turnkey4099]

Whatever saw I ended up with, I'd make sure there was a full service dealer located nearby so that when, not if, it broke I could get parts or have them fix it.:2cents:

That kinda keeps out the brands only sold on line or in big box and department stores.

I bought Stihl as tehre were no dealers of any kind nearer. 60mile roundtrip to him. Then John Deere began selling and ?servicing? Stihl. Dealler 1/2 mile down the highway from me. Service? Well if you cound a tractor mechanic that went through a short course on Stihl saws. Couple experiences there and I am back to the 60 mile trip again. Just got back again with my MS361 - complete carb kit to sort it out. JD said it was the electronic ignition.

 

[TSO]

A vote for the Dolmar ps-5105. German saw. Probably closer to $450 but I've had mine for a couple years, and it's been fantastic. Lots of power, efficient. I've cut and bucked many trees into firewood (mainly oak and ash...probably 200+ trees with this saw so far) and it never quits.

Previously I had a Husqvarna 450 that I killed after only two years. This Dolmar is a much better saw.

 

[turnkey4099]

That was probably a re banded Partner saw. Partner made some good stuff before they were bought out by Poulan...

Poulan used to make professional saws then they went the way of McCullough, HOmelite, etc. to the big box throw-aways.

 

[jack707]

Never herd of that brand.

 

[LD1]

Never herd of that brand.

Care to be a bit more specific

 

[jerrybob]

That was probably a re banded Partner saw. Partner made some good stuff before they were bought out by Poulan...

No idea who made it........never heard of Partner.