Chainsaw advice please

[D'Animal]

LOL!

But you can buy the at Costco right now. How bad off does a successful company have to be to send pallets of product to COSTCO?

Oh Yeah, The husqvarna servicing dealers are real happy about it.

Interesting wrinkle if you are in the saw market, Husky saws will soon no longer be available online

 

[RavenTai]

I did not know you could get Huskys at Costco, are they Swedish saws or orange poulans?

 

[D'Animal]

The 355 Rancher for $349.95. They are the Orange "Husqvarna" labeled Poulan saws assembled in Shreveport Louisiana using parts from Mexico. Most dealers do not stock that saw since it is just an Orange Poulan.

Husqvarna makes thier "Pro series saws and the sears line in Sweden.

I did not know you could get Huskys at Costco, are they Swedish saws or orange poulans?

 

[Adam R]

Growing up in Oregon and felling a few hundred trees over the years, here is another vote for Stihl.

If you look at what the loggers are carrying, you'll find a few Husky's, but most of them run a Stihl.

Aside from chains and one bar over 15 years, I've never had a problem with my 036.

I'd be confident buying one of their smaller saws.

After I joined the service, I broke it down for easier storage. 7 years later, when some wildfires where theatening to get close to us in Colorado, I put it back together, filled it up and it ran the same as the day I turned it off. I was impressed.

Adam R

 

[Overlander 80]

I really like my Poulan 22" - it has not let me down once in three years.

This should be obvious; Don't drink and saw.

And be aware of your footing, clear branches often and have an escape route if things don't go according to plan.

 

[debushau]

another vote for Stihl. Had a big box Poulan Pro for about 2 weeks before it broke. Reading the manual thoroughly is also a very good idea and eases frustration.

 

[jonb96150]

I vote for Husky pro models. I bought a big one used (over 15 years old when I bought it, and worked hard). While using it to help clear the logjam at the bridge oner the Rubicon river it froze up. I thought I had sucked in water as I was cutting submerged logs. With the 36" bar it was the longest saw on the job.

I get it home and take the head off and found a piece of the muffler on top of the piston, piston and head a little dented up. Put it back together and started first pull! That saw is still running today, has to be at least 20 y.o. and has cut s***loads of wood.

I gave it to a buddy and got a Husky 372xp with 32" bar because of the extra vibration dampening in the newer saws.

The Stihl vs. Husky debate will never end because most of us are pretty loyal to one or the other.

The most important thing is using a saw safely. Never put the tip of the bar of a running saw on wood. It can cause the saw to "kick-back" (probably the cause of the injury to the guy in the photo) and sends the saw right back up at your body. Even small diameter brush can cause kick-back, and personally I think clearing brush is more dangerous than most other chainsaw work for the average guy.

INHO 16" is too small. I think 20" is a lot more versatile, but I heat with wood and cut my own so that affects my preference.

If you plan on owning the saw many years, the extra money on a pro model only costs a few buck more per year vs the frustration of pulling out a cheap saw to cut up that windblown tree across the trail and have it fail. And instead of being the heroe of the day you are the goat!

 

[BooKilla]

All this chainsaw talk inspired me to get into the backyard a couple of days and chew up some of the wood I had lying around. It had been two months since I had started it and it fired right up. I love craftsman chainsaws! Can't beat stihl either though...

 

[Chrishdj80]

HO ho ho merry x-mas everyone.

It's cold and frosty weather over here.
So I've been sharpening chains and pulling old plugs these last few days.
Loony Stihl dealer I am, so I'm probably a little biased

Anyhow I see Dolmar, Husky, Johnsered in the shop.
Most problems originate from wrong usage.

Most common problem, working with a dull chain. It should bite, then it's sharp.
Second most common, pouring just about anything into the chain-oil tank or fuel tank and thinking it will do the job

Safety well, I simply don't work without the proper gear. I need all my fingers to fiddle on those saws and Toy's

We heat our house with wood every year and I've used anything from a second hand "Shindaiwa" through an old Stihl 019 AV.
If it fires up I'll use it to get the feel of it.

Treat it well and it will serve you well.

Ho ho ho merry x-mas Colleman Machines voor Tuin, Park en Bos

 

[D'Animal]

Awesome! I work for the Corporate Office here in the USA.

Loony Stihl dealer I am, so I'm probably a little biased

(psst! don't tell anybody that if they read and followed their owners manual on maintenance schedules and procedures that most repair facilities would be out of business)

 

[Chrishdj80]

Awesome! I work for the Corporate Office here in the USA.


(psst! don't tell anybody that if they read and followed their owners manual on maintenance schedules and procedures that most repair facilities would be out of business)

Well the manual is supplied with every saw, so if it hasn't helped in the last 80 years. My contribution probably won't either

2 Toy's, 2 dudes, 2 Stihl's on 2 continents.

That's just great you working there. The next Stihl convention I can bragg about my intercontinental Stihl connection.
You guys have all the fun stuff I can't get my hands on.

 

[turbocruiser]

I've been happy to have my Craftsman 18". I'm not a logger by any means and mostly just do the weekend warrior stuff around the property, chop up cord of firewood each year, loan to friends for cleanups, etc. It is not a Stihl or Husqvarna by any means but one thing that I have learned is to follow the starting instructions exactly as they are written - if you do that it will start "first time every time" but if you skip one of the instructions even when its warm out, you cannot get the thing to start at all! It is definitely economical and so far it is surprisingly effective.

Ohh, forgot, one really annoying thing about the Craftsman is that it constantly leaks chain oil when it is in its case. I hate that!!!

 

[D'Animal]

2 Toy's, 2 dudes, 2 Stihl's on 2 continents.[/quote]

I used to be the regional service manager and covered 9 states. Now I'm a Field Manager in California and only cover 4 states.

I have 6 or 7 land Cruisers. I'm building the ultimate FJ45 Extended Cab.

I have 96 STIHL chainsaws in my collection. I also have two of the STIHL Go-Kart engines that Andreas had his engineers build for Rudiberg when he was a kid.

You guys have all the fun stuff I can't get my hands on.[/quote]

That is the same thing we say about you.

 

[nat]

I guess when I am ready I should buy one from you Dan.

those go kart engines sound really neat. It reminded me, years ago when I was a boy, I found a McCulloch 48" bar massive chainsaw in my Aunt and Uncle's barn. It had this big handlebar setup. I asked and they said it would be ok to have the motor.

It has been sitting in my Dad's shop ever since, we ran it a few times. I really should make it into something for my son..........but it is one loud beast.

 

[Dave-T]

Ohh, forgot, one really annoying thing about the Craftsman is that it constantly leaks chain oil when it is in its case. I hate that!!!

That is normal for saws to do that.

 

[bigbrowndog]

Stihl for sure.

I have a great old Stihl 015 that runs great and starts mostly on the second pull.
Also a very old Homelite XL12, bit harder to start than the stihl but runs great.
These Homelites were about 15 years ahead of the competition at the time.
Just like the 3 cylinder Johnson/Evinrudes of that era.
Also the great Mustangs,Mopars and Comaro's , AAHHH When the Yanks used to build great gear, Sighhh.

 

[D'Animal]

The McCullough BP-1 built by Bob McCulough in 1957 was a chain saw that was way ahead of it's time. The technoligy has yet to be duplicated. BP stand for balanced pistons.

McCullough was the leader in the 50's and 60's.
Homelite took the lead in the mid 60's through the late 70's. Thier XL 12 was a great saw. They built it for about 30 years starting in 1967.
Stihl took over as the leader in the late 70's and has been on top since.
Husqvarna has been going since the early 80's and has some nice saws. In big saws they are STIHL biggest competition.
STIHL's biggest competition in the little saw market is the Echo top handle saws. It used to be McCullough in the 70 with thier PowerMac 6 and then Puolan with the Micro25DA and them the Homelite XL and Super2.

 

[nat]

Wow, that is pretty interesting. I really kick myself for having taken the saw apart, they would have let me have the whole thing. I will get the motor from my Dad and see if I can find a part number.

Balanced pistons? Very cool

 

[Gold Boy]

STIHL 038 magnum 24" bar 72cc is what i have and it's an awesome saw!

so therefore i will recommend stihl.

one thing you will not regret, is learning how to sharpen a chain correctly.... no chainsaw will cut well with a poorly sharpened chain....

all the best nat!

and let the carnage begin!

pic is of me with a spruce i just dropped...

 

[TJDIV]

I've got a Stihl Farmboss in storage from Ivan. Bought it brand new. Awesome chainsaw.

I could bring it to Dana Point next week, was just gonna ship it home to Dad.