Chain Saw Recommendations

[Harlacher]

Nice looking saw. Do you mind telling me what you paid for it. Is it comparable to what a Husky 445 Rancher cost? The quality of the Husky Rancher appears to have gone down. To bad I bought my Saw before I read this thread. Next saw will be a Stihl.

 

[SuperSteeler]

Harlacher, sent you a PM on the price. This saw is most comparable size-wise to a Husky 455 (55cc). The 445 is 45cc, the Stihl 290 is 56cc.

 

[Harlacher]

The Stihl was cheaper than the Husky. !#@$@%@%@

 

[GCroyle]

That's the same saw as I bought. Just used it to cleanup some limbs from the big oak, ran it for a nice run at lower power, just limbs, ran great, a bit heavy for little stuff. But it runs great.



Now, who has a homemade log splitter rig?



My former neighbor built one that lifted the logs up to the cylinder on a cradle, now that was a back saver.

 

[WDixon27]

just got a 445 husky and like it but doesn't start as easy as my 8 year old poulan wild thing, damn poulan crapped out with a rotten primer at the end of the first tank of fuel cleaning up gustav's deposit of trees across my driveway (got just enough room cleared to mudbog across my front yard in my bmw) tried to bypass the primer and the fuel lines crumbled #@$%! yea i am gonna find that crap the day of the hurricane, found a lowes open and they must of known i was coming as they had my husky cabled to the shelf :-laf "uhhh i don't think we's supposed to sell that one" "uhhh i am buying this one!" everything else instock was a turd 14" saw and i had stood inline almost a hour to get in, was only about 20 back when i got there and out waited 10 of them before they started letting in a couple at a time

 

[Alphacowboy]

This is how I get in trouble. Somebody starts a thread like this and the next thing you know this guy shows up on my work bench.



#ad

Nice... I bought the same one, very awesome saw, and was under 360. 00 out the door!

 

[mopars1]

My first saw was a Stihl 021. I had it for twelve years and then sold it to a tree feller a couple of years ago. The saw never failed and was never in need of a repair. I purchased a Husqvarna 359. The saw performed very well. I was cutting some large and small wood so I was using both saws. The same fresh mix was being used in both saws. The Stihl ran great and the Husky locked up. I still have the saw all torn apart with a scored cylinder and a screwed up piston. I now have 5 Stihl saws. No more Husky's for me!!!!

 

[icman95]

Mopars1,



I had exactly the same experience, but to my Stihl. Scored cylinder and piston. Someone in the know guessed that bad fuel was to blame, but who knows? I bought a Husky after and so far no problems. I guess it can happen to any saw.

 

[Alphacowboy]

mopar, I just cleaned up, and did some repairs to my dads 021 Stihl yesterday. I couldnt believe it, after sitting for 6 years, it fired on 3 pulls... unbelievable.



Going back outside to finish some tree trimming with the 290 right now.

 

[mopars1]

icman95, that is why I stated I used the same fresh mix in both saws. The dealer I talked to about the cost of parts figured that it must of had a slight air leak in the boot that attaches the carb to the saw. I never fixed it. The parts cost almost as much as a new saw would have.



Alphacowboy, I kept my 021 fairly clean and it went many months not used, I would guess at times it sat for a couple of years and all I did was put in a fresh mix of fuel. I replaced the spark plug once. The saw has to this day never been apart and is running strong.

 

[Alphacowboy]

What oil mixture do you guys use, and what oil? I am using the Amsoil 2cycle ashless oil, and so far, I like it alot.

 

[Dl5treez]

What oil mixture do you guys use, and what oil? I am using the Amsoil 2cycle ashless oil, and so far, I like it alot.

Stihl mix @ 50:1



I don't like the aftermarket oils, as most aren't really designed for the high temps a saw runs at--most are for bikes, sleds, etc... but Amsoil's Saber line I hear is pretty good, and specially designed for saws, etc... .

 

[rscurtis]

Stihl also recommends using at least 89 Octane fuel, as they consider these "high-performance" engines. Detonation can ruin a piston and cylinder assembly very quickly.

 

[24V-DSL]

My Stihl dealer (lots of loggers) recommends 92 octane and not to mix more than you would use in a month due to the ethanol added to gas around the NW. Ethanol is a cruel joke politically forced on us.

 

[mopars1]

I use Stihl oil and fresh premium gas.

 

[SuperSteeler]

Anybody looking for a good chainsaw forum, I came across this one yesterday.

Chainsaw - ArboristSite.com

 

[Steve Robinson]

chainsaw winch

Speaking of chainsaws and things, where did the Rule 1800 chainsaw winch go? Nobody sells them any more. I am looking for one to help me with elk hunting in a few weeks but I can't find one anywhere. I have found capstan winches, and a Lewis winch but it is $800. 00 and doesn't come with a motor. Too much for my wallet. Anybody have a Rule winch you could part with?

 

[GCroyle]

Follow up, owners report.



TDR, It's been over 1 1/2 years since I bought the Stihl, remember this is homeowner use, not pro.



I have had ZERO issues with this saw. It starts predictably, at startup when you get it at idle, you can even put it down and it continues to run. It cuts like a Super Beaver on energy drinks with new set of store bought carbide tipped teeth trying to impress a girlfriend. It weighs a pound or so more than I'd like, but I think the weight was put to good use by Stihl. I just dropped a lighting struck long leaf pine that was standing dead for 8-9 months or so, that pine hardened up a bit, but the chain just made slightly smaller chips than if it was green.



Easy to recommend a Stihl.

 

[dresslered]

Probably a little late jumping in on the discussion, but I just bought the 20" Husqvarna Rancher and love it. I'm not a pro, but have lots of trees.

 

[BIGNASTY]

cant beat a Husky I think mine is 5. 0 or 5. 1 its about 13 years old not one thing wrong never had the motor open just new plug and chain every year and saw like there's a tree shortage and you want more than your share. We (my son and I ) cut at least 10 cords of wood a year its more than some but less than others, never a problem with the saw. Have a Homelite also its been a good saw