CHeap chainsaw?

[Raw Dodge]

Not sure how much $$ your looking to spend,but there are a lot of great saws out in the 350-500 range.Right now baileys has the 6401 Makita for 499.00,you cannot beat that deal.The saw is a dolmar,top quality,professional grade.Best part is if you need more power down the road than its 4.4hp 64cc,you can go with a factory big bore or aftermarket,to bring it to 79cc,and 6 hp.This saw rips,and is a rebadged orange dolmar 7900 in that form.If you are looking for cheaper,or smaller saws youve got some good suggestions already.

 

[CurlyDave]

One of the questions I always have when a seller claims an item is "factory reconditioned" is "whose factory?"

The implication is that the item has been reconditioned in the original manufacturer's factory, but this isn't necessarily true. There are a lot of small and medium sized job shops all over the world that can loosely be called "factories" but are associated with no original manufacturer. Something run through one of these shops can be called "factory reconditioned" even though it has not been re-worked by the original manufacturer.

I ran into this 30 years ago when I worked for an outfit that sold electrical and electronic connectors and insulators. One of our customers was a shop in Florida which sold "factory remanufactured" alternators for cars. They would buy old alternators, all brands, from low-end auto supply chain stores and re-build them as best they could. I was amazed to find that they made their own diodes in one of their back rooms.

Today, I bet similar shops are located in China and other low labor cost areas.

 

[tallyho8]

Another thing that makes chains loose on the new Poulans is quickly wearing soft sprockets. When you take off your chain, look to see if it has a groove worn in the sprocket already. I keep an extra spocket around for quick replacement when one wears out.

 

[OKnewguy]

The saw guys on another forum are raving about this little number, seems to be a tough little saw.

Ryobi Reconditioned Gas 18 In. Bar 40 CC Chain Saw - ZRRY10532 at The Home Depot

I have this saw (bought it new thou) and I must say, it really is a good saw. I had a wild thing, and had used a friends husky, but for my needs this saw has been great. It has very good isolation, so I can use it all day and not have my hands numb afterward.
Dave

 

[RobertN]

Can't remember where I read, a recommendation to replace the sprocket after only a couple chains? Ever hear of that?

Another thing that makes chains loose on the new Poulans is quickly wearing soft sprockets. When you take off your chain, look to see if it has a groove worn in the sprocket already. I keep an extra spocket around for quick replacement when one wears out.

 

[RobertN]

Ya, I saw you poking around over there

Those folks were really helpful. They helped me identify my big Husky saw. I have had it for 20 years, and it was well used before that; there were no stickers left on it.

Turns out it is an early '70's Husky 1100CD. It's a 99cc/6.0ci monster saw.

Funny, because the local Husky shop couldn't figure what model it was. They could adjust, even get a carb kit for it(actually based on the numbers on the Tillotson carb).

The saw guys on another forum are raving about this little number, seems to be a tough little saw.

 

[om21braz]

IMHO, there are exceptions to every rule, but mostly - cheap ain't good and good ain't cheap.

 

[MossRoad]

MossRoad
You chain may not be getting loose. I have had quite a few of the newer model Poulans and the chains stretch a lot when they get hot.

If I put one of my old worn out chains next to a new chain, it is about 2 inches longer.

I suspected that at first, too. However, it can get loose in just a couple minutes. I'm talking hanging down 1/2 - 3/4" down from the bar in the middle. So loose that if I don't tighten it it will fall off the bar. There are about a bazillion complaints about this on just about every review of this saw. Very few good things being said about the tool-less tensioner.

 

[MossRoad]

Can't remember where I read, a recommendation to replace the sprocket after only a couple chains? Ever hear of that?

Yes. I have read that in my Craftsman manual, I believe. However, my sprocket still looks good. As someone else mentioned, though, it may be a good idea to keep a spare around if you do a lot of cutting. They shouldn't be too expensive.

 

[Steve C]

Not sure how much $$ your looking to spend,but there are a lot of great saws out in the 350-500 range.Right now baileys has the 6401 Makita for 499.00,you cannot beat that deal.The saw is a dolmar,top quality,professional grade.Best part is if you need more power down the road than its 4.4hp 64cc,you can go with a factory big bore or aftermarket,to bring it to 79cc,and 6 hp.This saw rips,and is a rebadged orange dolmar 7900 in that form.If you are looking for cheaper,or smaller saws youve got some good suggestions already.

Also if you want something a little smaller but still top quality, you can get the smaller Makita at Amazon.com. They must be pretty good saws, Home Depot uses Makita gas chain saws in their rental department.
Makita DCS510-18 Commercial Grade 18-Inch 50cc 2-Stroke 3.2 HP
Price: $359.99 & eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime
You may be able to get an even better buy on it locally.