Recommendations for 14"/16" chainsaw?

[LD1]

I forgot to add that most of the wear items that need replaced on a saw from time to time aren't even brand specific.

Like chain- can be bought at any dealer.

Bars-MANY interchange of different brands

Sprocket Rims - can be picked up at any dealer

Spark plugs - Most dealers of any saws will carry one that will work

You get the idea.

 

[bglz42]

I love my echo. I also have a Stihl Farm Boss for the big stuff...

 

[IslandTractor]

Have rarely needed parts of service.

But I do have a good servicing dealer 20 miles away. But the only dolmar "parts" I have ever purchased were top plastic covers.My 7900 was one of the first few years that was ALL ORANGE. I like the black top plastic better. None in stock, order only. He took the plastic off a saw he had on the shelf, gave that to me, and said he would put the ones he ordered back on that saw. Hows that for service.

But seriously, in this day in age, internet is the parts king. You can get anything and everything. Ebay, out of state distributors and dealers.

But I do my own servicing though. But have rarely had to. Dolmars are built solid.

Thanks. I need to find a local dealer. I usually do things via internet (even bought my tractor from a dealer 300 miles away) but the Dolmar chainsaws seem to be sold only "in store". I suppose they are not that strict about parts and supplies though so internet support should be fine.

I'm interested in looking at the 350 and dreaming about the 3410.

I'll still check out the relevant Husky, Stihl and Echo models but those are easier to locate. The Dolmar dealer network reminds me of the Kioti network.:laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks. I need to find a local dealer. I usually do things via internet (even bought my tractor from a dealer 300 miles away) but the Dolmar chainsaws seem to be sold only "in store". I suppose they are not that strict about parts and supplies though so internet support should be fine.

I'm interested in looking at the 350 and dreaming about the 3410.

I'll still check out the relevant Husky, Stihl and Echo models but those are easier to locate. The Dolmar dealer network reminds me of the Kioti network.:laughing:

I know Sachs/Dolmar makes good motors... the one in my 1939 Motorcycle is still kicking... 16 to 1 mix.

Echo CS-341 is widely available... my Saw Shop sells a lot of them to arborist because they cost much less than the Stihl version top handle saw and are very reliable.

I've bought all of my saws at saw shops... the one Echo and two Stihls.

Was very tempted to go with a new Tanaka... my saw shop confirmed it is a terrific saw and he can get parts... they just don't stock them which is the case with most shops.

I've used Tanaka commercial hedge trimmers for years and ZERO problems... smooth and quiet.

I forgot to add another reason I like my little Echo that I keep in the truck... it doesn't leak oil all over the place and I can't smell any gas fumes...

 

[LD1]

Thanks. I need to find a local dealer. I usually do things via internet (even bought my tractor from a dealer 300 miles away) but the Dolmar chainsaws seem to be sold only "in store". I suppose they are not that strict about parts and supplies though so internet support should be fine.

I'm interested in looking at the 350 and dreaming about the 3410.

I'll still check out the relevant Husky, Stihl and Echo models but those are easier to locate. The Dolmar dealer network reminds me of the Kioti network.:laughing:

It doesn't do you any good for trying them out, but I see NEW dolmars on ebay quite often. And it also probabally wouldn't be good for a warrenty either, but just an option.

I would also stay away from the 3410 UNLESS you plan on climbing and NEED a top-handel saw. The top-handel saws are actually built more like a home-owner grade saw. With lots more plastic and a plastic case to save on weight. They arent designed to last as long as a magnesium-cased mid or pro grade saw. They are used for limbing only and not ran for extended periods of time like bucking/felling. Not to mention that a TH saw is more dangerous.

And if you do find a dolmar dealer to try the saws, you may want to try the 460 and 510 as well. Because these are also made in the Makita version which can be purchased online through places like baileys. But unfortunatally, they dont have a makita version of the 350,420,or 5105

 

[dfkrug]

I need to find a local dealer. I usually do things via internet (even bought my tractor from a dealer 300 miles away) but the Dolmar chainsaws seem to be sold only "in store". I suppose they are not that strict about parts and supplies though so internet support should be fine.

I never saw any Dolmars or Makitas in a store. I bought mine based on
the experience I had renting the DCS5400, and the sterling rep that
Makita has. (I never take anything into a store for service.)

I paid $150 for my DCS34 new from an internet dealer. I still see some for
sale new, but it has been discontinued. The Dolmar equivalent is the
PS34.

After I broke mine, I contacted Makita for parts. Wrong move. I have
just ordered the new starter and handle I need from ToolPartsDirect.com,
where you can view all the parts diagrams.

As for the DCS34 being a light duty saw....yes, but I found it to be
made better than the Stihl MS170 that I also have owned. That's a light
duty saw, too. Both have lots of plastic, but some much bigger saws
do, too.

The only complaints I have with the DCS34 is that the oil pump drips when
the saw is not being used, and the choke is on the left side and is easily
engaged accidentally when you rest the idling saw on your hip.

 

[ultrarunner]

The only complaints I have with the DCS34 is that the oil pump drips when
the saw is not being used.

I took two saws back because they always left a puddle of oil...

Never had that problem with the Echo...

 

[LD1]

I took two saws back because they always left a puddle of oil...

Never had that problem with the Echo...

Yep, echo makes a great little saw. And the PS34 is at the bottom of the dolmar barrel. As mentioned, it is a cheaper homeowner grade saw. If the only experience one has with dolmars is a PS34, I can see why they wouldn't think they were a good saw. I am actually glad they are dropping that model. It is giving dolmar a bad rap since most people havent heard of them, they think all their saws are that bad.

But if the only husqvarna you ever ran was a little 136 or similar from a big box store, you probabally wouldn't be impressed with them either. That is all dolmar was doing with the PS34. Trying to make a saw to compete with the poulans and the poulan made huskys at the box stores.

I dont actually own any small saws. The 350 I list in my sig line is actually dads. But since you mentioned TANAKA, I almost owned one last year. The tanaka TCS 33EB that is about $260. That is a little too much $$$ IMO for a 33cc saw and only ~1.6HP. BUT WAIT, tanaka is owned by hitachi power tools. And last year, menards was offering a $100 mail in rebate on the hitachi CS33 (same saw) which brought the price down to $99. I almost got one but decided I didn't want to fool around with the mail-in-rebate.

 

[IslandTractor]

Well, after lots of internet research, I think I have narrowed the choices down a bit.

Leading contender:
Dolmar 420 at $265 delivered via ebay or $330 locally

Also considering:
Dolmar 350 at $250
Husqvarna 440e at $289
Stihl MS180cbe at $230 and MS210cbe at $290
Echo cs370 at $265

From what I have read these are all excellent 14 or 16" saws with many happy owners. I'm sure I'd be happy with any of them. They are all fairly lightweight (at about or under 10lbs) so should be good for cutting up brush and delimbing trees.

I'm leaning towards the Dolmar 420 due to the magnesium construction and "prosumer" rating while the others at similar price points are more clearly fine consumer grade saws. Against the Dolmar is the potential for service hassles though I did finally discover there is a dealer in Eastern MA. I am unimpressed with the Dolmar USA operation though. Their website dealer locator is broken and a phone call to headquarters to find a local dealer went to an answering machine. I get the impression they have a just as good a dealer network as Kioti does.:laughing: Still, I am used to that by now and the combo of internet and UPS is something I have gotten quite comfortable with for service.

Now I need to decide whether to buy one sight unseen via internet based on reputation or whether to dedicate next weekend to visiting dealers.

Any others I should think about in this price/performance range?

 

[peterc38]

Well, after lots of internet research, I think I have narrowed the choices down a bit.

Leading contender:
Dolmar 420 at $265 delivered via ebay or $330 locally

Also considering:
Dolmar 350 at $250
Husqvarna 440e at $289
Stihl MS180cbe at $230 and MS210cbe at $290
Echo cs370 at $265

From what I have read these are all excellent 14 or 16" saws with many happy owners. I'm sure I'd be happy with any of them. They are all fairly lightweight (at about or under 10lbs) so should be good for cutting up brush and delimbing trees.

I'm leaning towards the Dolmar 420 due to the magnesium construction and "prosumer" rating while the others at similar price points are more clearly fine consumer grade saws. Against the Dolmar is the potential for service hassles though I did finally discover there is a dealer in Eastern MA. I am unimpressed with the Dolmar USA operation though. Their website dealer locator is broken and a phone call to headquarters to find a local dealer went to an answering machine. I get the impression they have a just as good a dealer network as Kioti does.:laughing: Still, I am used to that by now and the combo of internet and UPS is something I have gotten quite comfortable with for service.

Now I need to decide whether to buy one sight unseen via internet based on reputation or whether to dedicate next weekend to visiting dealers.

Any others I should think about in this price/performance range?

If you do decide to go with Stihl, I'd skip both those models in favor of the MS211 which can also be had for under 300 clams and is a superior saw to both the MS180 and MS210.