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Starting in April we will be clearing some of our land. I currently have a John Deere (made by ?) chainsaw but I am looking to get another. In the past I have owned a few cheap models but wasn't impressed with performance. Just wondering what my options are and I don't want to spend over $400? [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
I still have the Stihl saw that I bought in 1975, and it hasn't given me a reason yet to buy another saw. And there hasn't been a season yet that it didn't get at least a workout cutting up 6 real cords of oak firewood.
Deere, I believe, had saws made by remington and homelite, but have now switched to a much better Italian-made saw (if my information is correct). I have used the Italian-made saw that they sell now, and liked the way it performed very much. But I couldn't bring myself to buy anything but Stihl, whenever the saw-buying time draws near (this one may outlast me!). [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Get a Stihl.
Being a logger in the northwest, I have had the opportunity to use several different makes of saws. Johnsered, huskavarna, homelight, mc cullah and a few others. I now have 5 stihls from an 017 to a 066 wuth 36inch bar. With the availability of parts and places to take care of maintenance around here, Stihl has been the best choice for me.
In my opinion Stihl is second to none in parts and service and quality.
That is one of the things I like about my JD tractor,parts are not a problem to get when you need them(usually overnight).
Stihl, Husquvara, Jonsered, Echo, Shiwdaiwa all make good pro model saws.
I have a Stihl MS260 that works great.
Ken
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<font color="blue"> Stihl, Husquvara, Jonsered, Echo, Shiwdaiwa all make good pro model saws. </font color>
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I agree with what you say,
I just like the Stihl dealerships,there are so many in my area within a 30 mile radius or less and they have such good service. I never went in a Stihl shop that did not have a part I needed in stock. I guess I just like the Stihl brand and would recommend it to anyone based on my own personal experience.
Will I bought a Stihl today, an MS250. Its smaller than my JD but that is what I wanted. Had a little bit of trouble getting it to start the first time but after that it worked great. I think I will be happy with it. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Should be a fine saw... I've run an 026 for over ten years with only a couple minor repairs which were my fault. (got dropped once or twice [img]/forums/images/icons/blush.gif[/img] ) Starts every time I need it... Couldn't ask for a better tool. Thinking about a larger buddy to go with it as I have some thinning/clearing to do this year. Probably a 036 or 038 or whatever the current numbers are this year. [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Just bought a Stihl 370 with 18" bar. Cuts better than I hoped it would. Chain adjustment knob is a real handy feature. Paid about $375 for the saw and case, another chain and a few goodies. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Here is a comment regarding the ongoing neverending debate of Stihl vs Husky...
Ask anyone who has been an open minded "industrial user" and they will mostly agree that there is hardly a dimes worth of difference beteen the two brands for comparable sizes. Weigh about the same, about the same HP, B U T it seems there may be a significant difference in warranty.
The larger saws, called PRO model saws by Stihl, when purchased in the US only have a 90 day warranty! If you buy one from Canada for delivery in the US, it has no warranty!
Husky carries a 2 year homeowner use warranty. So for essentially equal saws at equal prices, why not go for the Husky with 8 times as long of a warranty????? If you are a pro logger you need not respond! For the majority of us, we'd get the benefit of the longer warranty.
[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I have a Stilhl 029 "Farm Boss" and a 036 "Wood Boss".
I am more then pleased with both. I do routine maintainence and they run like champs.
One tip: Use Bosch spark plugs. They are 10x what the stock champions are that come with most saws.
Good Luck on your quest.........J
Forget the warranty for a minute... I've never had to use mine... Go pick each one up and look it over. Think about how your gonna mount it on your mill and see if you can get to everything. That will find your winner. I'd buy the Stihl because I already have one. If I owned a husky, I'd probably buy a husky. If you go the Stihl route, get the dual port muffler. It will run cooler and make a tad more power. Scare the neighbors too... [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
OK Scott, the minute is up and I'm thinking about the warranty again! The saws are essentially equivalent except for 90 days vs 2 years, just a factor of 8! Still if Stihl was just a lot more convenient when on the mill, I wouldn't ignore that and buy a well warranted but access nightmare. An excellent point.
Some of the mill sellers and folks who sell plans for more advanced chainsaw mills recommend a big Husky, approx $1000. I will think about it from a couple angles before I buy: 1. do I need to spend over $5-600 to be well satisfied since I would not be doing this as a job and don't have HUGE trees most of the time, and 2. will the smaller saw hold up to the abuse I would give it in mill operations? Maybe if I go with the smaller less expensive saw I might need to be more concerned with warranty.
Note: To all you Stihl zealots... I never even hinted that Stihl isn't a virtual mechanical wonder deserving of praise and admiration with durability and virtually a personality of its own. I know they are good saws!
Unfortunately someone in the Stihl management decided to void the warranty on any Stihl imported from Canada to the US and only offers 90 days to non-industrial users buying in the USA from only authorized price controlled sellers (not permitted to be sold via internet.)
On the other hand Husqvarna is essentially equivalent and can be purchased, with waranty, from discount sources, including Canada, and the warranty remains intact and 8 times as long. Of course warranty isn't the only issue but realistic appraisal of actual use in the forestry industry shows the Husky to be essentially equivalent.
I agree that most times the warranty might not be needed. In fact the length of warranty is often an indicator of the MFG's expectations or experience regarding product failures but not always. Sometimes waranties are extended to ensure customer confidence (see also KIA car warranties at 10 years and 100,000 miles)
In the case of the Husky brand, I don't think they have a poor track record or poor public image that requires them to provide a warranty that is out of proportion with their actual experience with failures. I could still go for Stihl but more ikely in a used vs used contest where warranty doesn't count unless as was suggested one of the saws is just difficult to access in a mill lashup.
[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I have a Stihl 028 - great saw!
Most all of the tree service guys around here use Stihl.
My Neighor has a husky and I can fell a tree and have it cut up by the time he gets his started... [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I think my wife is getting me either pallet forks, for the tractor, or the Stihl 200 for Christmas! [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Foghorn
I have a Stihl 034 and an 021. They both work great and start whenever I need them to pretty easily ( in spite of my not so good maintenance practices ).
I bought them used, I think I have about $200 total invested in them.
One thing I have learned, sharp chains make a huge difference in performance regardless of brand of chain saw.
I'm really happy for all the pleased Stihl owners. Stihl makes a good saw, as does some other makers, including Husqvarna. Always compare similar models under similar conditions and there just isn't THAT much difference one way or the other. If you look long enough (or check the appropriate forums) you'll find evidence to support the view that both are good or just about any other position.
I bought a used unit with a 32 inch bar and an engine about the size of a small motorcycle. IT starts and runs OK and has been through the local shop and has a new "combination" ripping and cross cutting loop. I expect it to cut wood fine for my needs.
Luckily I have a 16 inch Mac to wield manually as I don't think I would last all that long with the big'un. I single hand my 16 over my head etc. No way could I do that with the larger unit.
Season's best to all of you.
[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I am happy to report after almost 10 months of work I am still very happy with the Stihl MS250 that I bought. [img]/forums/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
One thing I would reccomend is getting a good safe practice instruction booklet. I have been in the buisness (tree care) for over 15 years and have seen and recived some nasty saw cuts (Over 100 stiches). Most of these were people with lots of training who should have known better, including myself. I know husky makes a great manual with lots of safty tips and production pointers. Just remember, even a small saw will kill you. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
I have a Shindaiwa 488 and very happy with it's performance.
I have had Stihl, Husky, Red and grey Homelites and Mac. and a couple of others that didnt stay around. I spent more on Husky and Stihl for annual repairs than I paid for my Poulan. That is the measure for me its not as fast and you dont join a club but year after year I use it and spent nothing on it. If it breaks get a new one. I have 2 one is the $130 model and the larger is the $170 model. They work well when they die I get a new one. When I used Stihl the saw shop guy got the same money every year to keep the saw working correctly. Now I sell the used Poulan saw on ebay and use the new one the new tension adjustments are worth the trade. Poulan does run as fast and is not as good as the others but dollar for dollar its a better saw. I do miss the stihl saw suckers club.
hey brother, im the last person to give chain saw advice...but i learned some things the hard way.
if you buy poulan, or homelite, be prepared to replace the chain right away. I bought one of each and they had stretched chains that kept coming off no matter how I adjustted them. new chain on poulan and it will cut clear to china. I'd say don't be a sucker for those expensive saws. homelite was better than poulan for me.
Safety has been mentioned previously and is not the topic of this thread but I would definately recommend this item with any chainsaw....
Peltor Hard Hat System
http://http://www.benmeadows.com/sto...s/bmw93938.jpg
I wish I had read this thread earlier. I bought a Craftsman about a year and a half ago... not sure who makes it for sears... anyway... it is the biggest pain in the ars to get started! It also has some kind of easy change tightener... which is anything but easy. Oh well, live and learn...
My Stihl starts every time,has low vibration and cuts like dream. The other day I watched my neighbor abuse his Homelite on some swamp maple, about the easiest wood to cut. As one person here pointd out, fixing a Stihl is not cheap. For what it cost me to have my Stihl fixed this year, I could have bought one cord of wood here in NJ, $150. But the saw was 5 years old, so I can't complain too much.
If your not buying a pro saw you wont see a stihl or husky as better than any other brand,Domestic saws are cheap and nasty whatever brand they just add gimmicks like quick chain tensioners and easy start cords to sell it to you that junk just makes it unreliable . To get a real saw you have to spend more than your 400 .
I cut 100-150 cords firewood a year and have worked on powerline clearance, tree surgery and harvesting hardwood on private land , These saws are working 5-7 days a week 10 tanks of gas a day ,75 % of the saws used are stihl the rest are husky nothing else that tells you something.
I have owned huskies , stihl, dolmar , JD , Jonsered , komatsu you name it ,We found lower end J reds to be absolute junk currently i have Stihl 036 and ms 260 and some other brands .most of the professionals i know will say that for it's size the 026 or ms 260 is the best saw you can buy.
As for stihl having short warranty ? I've never needed it .
the italian made saw you write of is called an efco and it comes with a 5 year warrenty i believe. You can check them out at northern tool .com [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I am finding this thread interesting as I am in the market for a new saw as well. I currently have a Husky 51 that I have had for approx. 15 years. I used to heat our last home 100% with wood and I cleared a few lots for people, etc.; not a pro's amount of usage by any stretch, but I figure I must have cut well over 100 cord of wood during that time. I have never brought it in for service...ever. It has it's second spark plug and original air filter which isn't cleaned nearly as often as it should be. It tends to smoke when I am felling trees and one thing that has somewhat irritated me since I've owned it is it is always leaking bar oil; especially if stored on it's side (bar down); I don't know if that's common but my previous saws never did this to this degree...
So... Now I own a small farm...mostly open fields. I don't currently heat with wood but am looking into it for the future. Currently my cutting consists of trees encroaching on the fields, and storm-damaged trees. It doesn't sound like much, but it probably adds up to 4 to 6 cord per year.
My thoughts on saws...
Husky pros: Well, my experience with them kind of speaks for itself; never in for repairs, 15 years of service with little or no maintenance... kind of hard to beat.
Husky cons: That dripping bar oil bugs me, but that may not be a brand-specific thing?
Stihl pros: They seem to have a larger following lately... they seem to run quieter (not an issue for me as I always wear a helmet with ear/eye protection, but might be beneficial to bystanders/neighbors)
Stihl cons: No direct experience with them.
So...where do I go from here? Maybe I should just have my Husky re-ringed (assuming that's why it smokes more?) [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
I'm betting that you're knowledge of chain saws just may be above the average so go with what feels best. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
And if in doubt there is always a "Wild Thing"! [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
A few years back I bought my first Jonsered saw .....A few years back I bought my last Jonsered saw...It has been nothing but problem after problem.. Since Husqvarna is almost an identical build that takes both of those brands off my future saw list. Next saw will be a Stihl.
I cut timber down in rye texas and i only use a stihl 310 have 3 of them and have had no trouble