Look at the MS 250 or the MS 290
Chainsaw advice please
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Are you recommending these because they don't have plastic crankcases? Do any of the Stihl's have plastic crankcases?
None of the STIHL saws have a plastic crankcase.
Those models i recomended fit your price range.
Those models i recomended fit your price range.
Thanks everyone for the input!
Do the Efco saws have much of a reputation in North America yet?
http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and...AL-CHAINSAWS-82CC-AND-65CC-W0QQAdIdZ188733882
http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and...AL-CHAINSAWS-82CC-AND-65CC-W0QQAdIdZ188733882
I depends on what color you are talking about. 
Efco and E-Mac built John Deer labeled Chain Saws and a few other pieces of equipment for the last 8 years or so. John Deer got sick and tired of slow/no availability of spare parts. They were so disappointed that finally got out of the hand held equipment market after 30 years.
Efco and E-Mac built John Deer labeled Chain Saws and a few other pieces of equipment for the last 8 years or so. John Deer got sick and tired of slow/no availability of spare parts. They were so disappointed that finally got out of the hand held equipment market after 30 years.
Glad this post got revived, I was about to do a search.
D'Animal- I just got off of the Stihl site and read this entire thread. I noticed your recommendations were a few years old.
Right now, I am just a residential home owner with a few broken branches from last snow storm, but I plan on buying 10 acres at least after med school, so about 3-4 years from now.
I like to buy tools once...
I did the saw help tool, but not sure my current classification will still be correct in 5-10 years. I want a saw that will last that long, so what models would you recommend... I am leaning towards south central Texas for land, if that helps with anything as far as I will not be cutting sequoia or the like.
Thanks
Brad
D'Animal- I just got off of the Stihl site and read this entire thread. I noticed your recommendations were a few years old.
Right now, I am just a residential home owner with a few broken branches from last snow storm, but I plan on buying 10 acres at least after med school, so about 3-4 years from now.
I like to buy tools once...
I did the saw help tool, but not sure my current classification will still be correct in 5-10 years. I want a saw that will last that long, so what models would you recommend... I am leaning towards south central Texas for land, if that helps with anything as far as I will not be cutting sequoia or the like.
Thanks
Brad
Lulu
What diameter trees/logs are you planning on cutting?
What diameter trees/logs are you planning on cutting?
Not sure really... otherwise I would just go with small unit. Texas hill country doesn't grow em too big. I have 3 pecan trees that are about 30" across. For the next few years it will be small, but the wife and I have tossed around moving to the high country (northern new mexico or colorado too) that would depend on a job offer. I want a general purpose saw, that will fit in the 40, and maybe handle cutting wood for wood stove in a few years. I would love to set up a off grid place, or at least mostly off grid, and have a saw that would keep up with chores and fuel wood. I don't know if that will happen but we are hoping!
HTH, if you need to ask more questions, fire away.
B
HTH, if you need to ask more questions, fire away.
B
If most (80%) of what you will be cutting is the diameter of a 5 gallon bucket, an MS 250 will work great for you. You can get it with a 16" or 18" guide bar length, 20" is not available. At $299 it is the best value in a 3 hp chain saw. Many loggers I know carry one on their log skidder.
If most (80%) of what you will be cutting is the diameter of a coffee can, an MS 170 will work great for you. The come with a 14" guide bar length, 16" is available. At $179 it is the best value in an under 2 hp chain saw. It is a home owner/occasional user saw and is not designed to cut cords or wood year after year.
If most (80%) of what you will be cutting is the diameter of a coffee can, an MS 170 will work great for you. The come with a 14" guide bar length, 16" is available. At $179 it is the best value in an under 2 hp chain saw. It is a home owner/occasional user saw and is not designed to cut cords or wood year after year.
Thanks for the recommendations Dan. For the next 4 years nothing bigger than coffee can. As above, if I knew it would stay that way I would be perfectly happy with 170. At that price I don't see it a problem to get just to have a nice light small saw. When we get our land, as you posted above, I can always get a bigger unit if the task calls for it, and still have a nice small light unit for trimming and the like.
Dan, what are the 2 or 3 most important things in term of chainsaw maintenance? (aside from not putting bar oil in the gas 
) Stick with Stihl mix oil, or are they all basically the same? Ethanol-mixed gas should be avoided?
I'm picking up an essentially new MS 170 tomorrow.
) Stick with Stihl mix oil, or are they all basically the same? Ethanol-mixed gas should be avoided?I'm picking up an essentially new MS 170 tomorrow.
Good Fuel
Good Mix Oil
Good Bar and Chain Lube
Keep the chain sharp
Clean the Air filter
Good Mix Oil
Good Bar and Chain Lube
Keep the chain sharp
Clean the Air filter
I would like to understand some day why some engines call for 30:1 or 40:1 or 50:1 etc. One would think that the exact type of oil should be the main determinant factor, no? But that's not generally specified. Is it a matter of tolerances?
Its not so much tolerances, or anything in the engine itself, the drive to lower oil ratio's has been for two reasons,
1. modern 2 stroke oil that is able to stay in the engine longer as the fuel evaporates off in the crankcase and it protects better,
2. emissions regulations from the EPA,
You should be able to run 50:1 in most 2-stroke equipment with good modern oil, but I run 40:1 in everything, I like the extra assurance,
with ethanol fuels it is even more important to use fresh fuel that has had as little time as possible to absorb moisture, and to mix it in small batches, I mix in a 1 litre fuel bottle and sake it vigorously to assure that the fuel alcohol oil and water do not stratify,
1. modern 2 stroke oil that is able to stay in the engine longer as the fuel evaporates off in the crankcase and it protects better,
2. emissions regulations from the EPA,
You should be able to run 50:1 in most 2-stroke equipment with good modern oil, but I run 40:1 in everything, I like the extra assurance,
with ethanol fuels it is even more important to use fresh fuel that has had as little time as possible to absorb moisture, and to mix it in small batches, I mix in a 1 litre fuel bottle and sake it vigorously to assure that the fuel alcohol oil and water do not stratify,
The oil itself has to be designed for the specific engine.
The design and tolerances of the motor all the way to the carburetor play an important parts as well.
The design and tolerances of the motor all the way to the carburetor play an important parts as well.
My turn to ask for advice. Ive looked back thru this thread and Im still not sure which model would be best.
My inlaws just bought 5 acres of land about 20 miles southeast of San Antonio. The land is heavily wooded with hardwoods. They wont start building on it for another 4 or 5 years so myself and the other son-in-law have been told we can start clearing it. We plan to use some of the wood ourselves for our fireplaces and camping and selling the rest. The trees range from 6" to 20" in diameter. A few are larger but those will probably be saved. Im familiar with running a saw and the other sil is about to be a certified arborist.
This will be used for clearing the lot, cutting old power poles for fencing then for yearly firewood and general use.
What Stihl models should we be looking at? Im pretty sure the FIL is footing the bill and he, like myself wants to buy one good, saw one time and use it for as long as possible.
My inlaws just bought 5 acres of land about 20 miles southeast of San Antonio. The land is heavily wooded with hardwoods. They wont start building on it for another 4 or 5 years so myself and the other son-in-law have been told we can start clearing it. We plan to use some of the wood ourselves for our fireplaces and camping and selling the rest. The trees range from 6" to 20" in diameter. A few are larger but those will probably be saved. Im familiar with running a saw and the other sil is about to be a certified arborist.
This will be used for clearing the lot, cutting old power poles for fencing then for yearly firewood and general use.
What Stihl models should we be looking at? Im pretty sure the FIL is footing the bill and he, like myself wants to buy one good, saw one time and use it for as long as possible.
If I had to buy one saw to last as long as possible (lifetime?) while cutting up to 20" hardwoods.
I would buy an MS 362.
Light enough you can run it all day. Powerful enough to cut the 20" hardwood. It won't wear you out when cutting the smaller stuff.
I would buy an MS 362.
Light enough you can run it all day. Powerful enough to cut the 20" hardwood. It won't wear you out when cutting the smaller stuff.
The 362 is one I thought about while researching them on the Stihl site. Thanks for the quick help. Price seems reasonable to me. I may just buy it myself so Ill have a good saw that will last as long as possible-I might go as far as lifetime lol.
The other sil is sold on Husquvarna but Im not so sure about those. I do know that is what he uses in his city job but that is more because the dealer cuts them low prices and does repairs cheap.
The other sil is sold on Husquvarna but Im not so sure about those. I do know that is what he uses in his city job but that is more because the dealer cuts them low prices and does repairs cheap.