New Chainsaw Question

[LD1]

You guys keep talking about a 24 inch bar and I've never even seen one outside of TV. 16 inch is max for me.
How do these cut? How do they handle and what do they feel like?
Doesn't the bar get pinched all the time?

Here, hows this. Now you have seen it somewhere other than just on TV.:laughing::laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

Here, hows this. Now you have seen it somewhere other than just on TV.:laughing::laughing:

Thank you. Impressive.

 

[crazyal]

I would rather hold onto a 13-14 lb saw in the 70cc range (like the 7900 or 372xp) and get through the wood in about 1/2 the time as a 11-12lb 50cc saw.

So how do the two saws compare? On paper the 7900 has more power than either the 372 or 576. Husky has the 576 as 5.7hp and the 372 as 5.3hp but in the real world I thought I read there really wasn't much of a difference between the two. But with the 7900 rated at 6.3hp, a full 1hp over the 372 I would think you would notice the difference.

I noticed the difference between my 357xp and a friends 272xp (I assume it's close in HP to the 372xp) and that's slightly less of a difference than between the 7900 and the 372.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

Ther are better matches for the 7900 in the husky line-up than comparing the 372 to the 7900, like lets say the 385XP @ 6.3 HP.

 

[newbury]

You guys keep talking about a 24 inch bar and I've never even seen one outside of TV. 16 inch is max for me.
How do these cut? How do they handle and what do they feel like?
Doesn't the bar get pinched all the time?

Depends on the use and the saw. I just recently purchased a short (24") bar for my 660's, shown here with a 28" bar and a 42" bar.

 

[sixdogs]

Depends on the use and the saw. I just recently purchased a short (24") bar for my 660's, shown here with a 28" bar and a 42" bar.

Amazing photo. What do you come across for such a big bar?
Occasional use in an old city environment?
How does saw handle or balance with such a big bar?

 

[LD1]

I do notice a difference. The 7900 has noticabally more power IMO. But I have not ran the 576 or the 385.

But how the saw feels in the cut, and how fast it cuts isn't just about power. Chain sharpening, raker depth, and cutting technique have as much to do with it as anything considering these saws are all fairly close on power.

The 372xp does perform very well. And if you cut with it today and the 7900 tomorrow, you wont notice much difference. You have to run them back to back to notice.

And as far as wether or not to compair the 7900 to the 385 or the 372, I would say either. Husky doesn't really have a saw that matches up with the 7900. It is about right smack in the middle of the 372 and 385 as far as cc's go. And its like the power of a 385 with the weight of a 372. The 385 is a couple of lbs heavier than either the 372 or the 7900. So as far as shear power to weight ratio, the 7900 wins.

 

[gladehound]

"I do most of my limbing and trimming with the little Echo 300, and I will be keeping the 500 VL as well, (in view of the fact that selling older saws without chain brakes around here raises liability issues) so the larger saw will likely be used almost exclusively for bucking large downed trees and the rare felling of something (like the hemlock that broke off at 20 feet) that I feel comfortable with."

That will be sweet having three saws! I'm always on the look out for an inexpensive T handle saw for climbing.

For on the ground work, others mentioned a 24" bar is good. If you are tall I'd consider something longer. I still have to bend over with a 24 inch bar to cut on the ground but the 28" is perfect (I'm 6'2").

All these saws have been discussed to death on the arborist forum. And I don't thinke there are many 70-80cc saws that are "cheap". If you are a guy who doesn't mind doing your own work, then get whatever gives the most performace per dollar (for me that was the 7900). If dealer support is very important to you than only get something supported by local dealers (I incidentally also have 2 local Dolmar dealer within 2 miles of my office so it was an easy choice). Also have stihl, Husky and Echo dealers near by but they don't have the power to weight ratio of the Dolmar.

 

[gladehound]

In case you're wondering how well a Dolmar 7900 cuts. This is debarked 12" walnut. Saw has HD filter kit which may bump up the hp a little :thumbsup: and a fairly new Oregon LGX chain, 28" bar, 7 pin sprocket.

YouTube - Dolmar 7900 with HD filter kit (faster than stock)

 

[newbury]

Amazing photo. What do you come across for such a big bar?
Occasional use in an old city environment?
How does saw handle or balance with such a big bar?

They are for milling, the 42 gives me the max cut w/ a 36" Alaskan.