Tractor vs. Chainsaw...you guess

[Jay4200]

A little off topic, but kind of funny in a sick sort of way anyhow...

I got a 52cc Chinese no-name chainsaw, and after some degree of tweaking, it performed admirably. There are a bunch for sale on e-bay and elsewhere - lots of different names but all the same saw for prices ranging from $125 to as much as $380. I got a $125 one, and it was a terrific saw for short dough.

I did a LOT of work with this saw over a month or so while cleaning up a large-acreage property I recently acquired: cleared several roads, cleared around buildings, cut up a ton of brush, made a large clearing in the woods, bucked up dozens of trees, etc. I ran about 15-20ish tanks of fuel through the saw, but had yet to have to sharpen the chain, though it was just about due to a filing - getting better at not hitting the ground, I guess. I also have a Stihl 036 Pro, but found myself using the chi-com saw exclusively, and grew to love the little thing. Well, now it's dead.

I had it in the bucket of my tractor, but didn't have the bucket fully tilted back. I got distracted, and forgot about the saw when I took off, so I neglected to tilt the bucket. I had just graded my road, and was marveling at how smooth it was, and how fast I could go on my tractor. At about 100 yards down the road tapped in 7th and, **BA-WHAM**... my tractor stared bouncing around violently. "What was THAT??" I spun around to see my chi-com saw clatter to a stop behind me.

Oops. THATs why I don't allow myself to pay $600 for a saw... Evidently, getting run over by an 8000 pound tractor is not good for a chainsaw. Bah. I hate when that happens.

I think I DID end up with some one-off unobtanium-tipped chain though - I replaced the squished saw with a new one, and ran a single tank through it - I've already noticed a slight bit of dulling on the new chain. The new saw is also not a nice as the squished one - it runs OK, but the trigger/grip safety assy. isn't as smooth as the first one. It's still a perfect fit as my primary camp saw though. My 036 Pro stays home where it's safe from rogue tractors and such.

JayC

 

[dodge man]

A little time in a vise and J.B. weld, that old one would be as good as new.

 

[Jay4200]

A little time in a vise and J.B. weld, that old one would be as good as new.

I was thinking more along the lines of duct tape and WD40...

JayC

 

[Gordon Gould]

That's the thing with Chineese equipment - There is absolutely no consistancy to their product. Its hard for me to understand why people buy there stuff, but plenty do, so I must be the one who is screwed up.

 

[zman007007]

I was thinking duct tape and JB weld lol

 

[Jay4200]

That's the thing with Chineese equipment - There is absolutely no consistancy to their product. Its hard for me to understand why people buy there stuff, but plenty do, so I must be the one who is screwed up.

I completely agree, but kinda bought the saw on a lark. I wanted a cheap saw to leave at my camp, but didn't want a crappy Craftsman or Poulan - which cost more and you KNOW it is going to die after 20 hours of use. I saw the 52cc Chinese saw for $95 (+30 shipping) from a dealer that advertises on ebay, and figured for that kind of dough, it was worth a shot. When I first got the saw, I was unimpressed. The body wasn't in the greatest of shape, and once I pulled it apart, I found that the clutch had a retaining tab broken off. I contacted the dealer and ultimately ended up getting a new saw body (he didn't know how to remove the clutch so he had to send the whole thing - heh). It was easier to swap over everything else onto the new body, then I was good to go. I also now have the original body for parts, with an entire spare motor. After a little tweaking, the saw ran great - it feels like the 3HP 52ccs that it has in it, and didn't skip a beat until it's untimely demise. After squashing my saw, I immediately ordered another one. The new one still needs a bit of a tweak on the trigger - I just adjusted the idle and started cutting.

I had a Craftsman 42cc saw ($169) which died this past year. I'll bet I didn't have 10 tanks of gas through it. The Chi-com saw ran better and cut WAY faster than the Craftman - I cut 20 times more trees with the Chi-com saw before I ran it over than I did with my last Craftsman before it's motor died. The little Chinese motors are pretty good - while I've never owned one personally, I know a bunch of folks that have them in cheepo kids' ATVs and pitbikes and such. They make many very popular Honda 50 clones that are used tons of pitbikes, which are all the rage these days. They do a good job and are quite reliable mechanically - most of the problems that do occur are caused by cheap electrical switches and such. Since a chainsaw is little more than a motor and a sprocket, I figured it would be worth the chance. Turns out, it was...at least until I ran it over.

That being said, I wouldn't buy a Jinma tractor.

I also have a Stihl 036 Pro saw - that's my good one that I keep at home. It cuts absolutely amazing, but you're talking apples and oranges there.

JayC

 

[Soundguy]

any idea if those rice saws are at harbor freight?

soundguy

 

[Jay4200]

any idea if those rice saws are at harbor freight?

Don't think so. Go to the chainsaw section on ebay and search for 52cc and you'll see a few. Forester brand ($189) is the same saw too. I got mine from Bigjacktools.com in Canada.

JayC

 

[Johno Geo]

I know there is always cheaper stuff on the internet, but I am sooooo tired of the leaf Blowers and other equipment that works for one season and is a serious maintenance item, years to follow.
For Gas Grills .... I bought the Char Broill..... $129 and other cheap brands....
JUNK. (Then bought the Weber... year after Year,,,Cooks and does what it is supposed to do)!
I buy Stihl Equipment.. My Wood boss costs like thunder, but it runs and runs!!! The other stuff are boat anchors!....
(My situation is : I need minmum maintenance, reliable equipment. If I had the time to Play, repair the cheap stuff, I'd buy it)!
btw, as my friend from Taiwan said recently:
"Cheap... No Good... Good, No Cheap"

Johno Geo

 

[Don87]

I purchased a Stihl 026 12 years ago( I was logging then). They said......."you can't cut your trees with that small a saw". I said .......okay, whatever you say.
30 inch trees..........no problem.......just took a few seconds longer that a 046 would have.
Now I have a great 'firewood saw'......cuts fast and clean, and is light enough to throw around all day.

EDIT: If ya'all want, I can take pictures of the cherry tree I'm going to cut down with the 026, as soon as the sap goes down.