Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[hunt4570]

Mine isn't (as other posters know). The oil fill on the Portland corded pole saw is about the diameter of the end of a toothpaste tube...lol and it don't hold much, maybe 1 fluid ounce at most. Very limited oil capacity.

I will say the motor seems to be powerful enough though. Powers right through limbs, no issue. Not sure the cordless ones have that much gumption but then I don't know never have had one to compare.

My cordless has tons of qumption (new word for me)

HT 13 Pole Pruner | Professional Pole Pruner | STIHL USA

 

[lostcreekranch]

The HF battery powered one is actually very good. The motor is strong and the battery lasts longer than I do. I had an oak tree where I used it to cut 8" branches up so I'd rate it pretty high. And the oil tank apparently is bigger with a bigger cap because I can fill it from a gallon jug.

I assume you’re describing the Lynxx 40 volt pole saw? I’ve got the pole saw, chain saw, and the leaf blower. I use the pole saw a lot for trimming up lower branches on oak trees for clearance for tractors. I also use the pole saw for cutting down cedars. I can reach in and notch it in the direction I want it to fall, the cut backside until it goes over. The battery life is very good and use of Oregon bar and chain is a plus.

When I got my 40 volt chain saw it leaked oil bad. I took it back to the store, for an exchange, and the manager told me to keep the battery and charger so .. I now have a spare battery.

I keep some bar oil in a mustard container .. flow is very controllable. I also use a similar mustard container for blue marker dye for sprayers.

 

[5030]

My cordless has tons of qumption (new word for me)

HT 13 Pole Pruner | Professional Pole Pruner | STIHL USA

Most likely 3 times the price of my HF Portland. I can deal with the small fill port for the price.

 

[hunt4570]

Most likely 3 times the price of my HF Portland. I can deal with the small fill port for the price.

Probably more like 8 times the price..

 

[3Ts]

I assume you豎*e describing the Lynxx 40 volt pole saw? I閾ｴe got the pole saw, chain saw, and the leaf blower. I use the pole saw a lot for trimming up lower branches on oak trees for clearance for tractors. I also use the pole saw for cutting down cedars. I can reach in and notch it in the direction I want it to fall, the cut backside until it goes over. The battery life is very good and use of Oregon bar and chain is a plus.

When I got my 40 volt chain saw it leaked oil bad. I took it back to the store, for an exchange, and the manager told me to keep the battery and charger so .. I now have a spare battery.

I keep some bar oil in a mustard container .. flow is very controllable. I also use a similar mustard container for blue marker dye for sprayers.

View attachment 653034

Yes, Lynxx 40 volt pole saw, and I like it well enough that the string trimmer is on my list for the next time I get to HF.

 

[John_Mc]

If you are going to spend that much, may as well go the distance and get a real one.. just my thinking..

No "real ones" available anywhere near me that I could find. I was not going to buy one that I couldn't lay hands on first. I was able to actually lay my hands on one of these, and liked what I saw. It also helped that they had a sale on the Hercules model right when her old saw bit the dust. With the sale going on, the price difference was about $100. I liked the Hercules enough better that it justified the extra cost for me.

As mentioned, it suits my wife's needs just fine (she has made furniture and cabinets with it).

 

[hunt4570]

No "real ones" available anywhere near me that I could find. I was not going to buy one that I couldn't lay hands on first. I was able to actually lay my hands on one of these, and liked what I saw. It also helped that they had a sale on the Hercules model right when her old saw bit the dust. With the sale going on, the price difference was about $100. I liked the Hercules enough better that it justified the extra cost for me.

As mentioned, it suits my wife's needs just fine (she has made furniture and cabinets with it).

No lowes or homedepot or anything like that?

 

[ronjhall]

Yes, Lynxx 40 volt pole saw, and I like it well enough that the string trimmer is on my list for the next time I get to HF.

I have all 5 of the Lynxx tools. The string trimmer is only one I would not give a five star to. String trimmer does not auto feed new string like it should. I used all 5 tools today.

 

[3Ts]

I have all 5 of the Lynxx tools. The string trimmer is only one I would not give a five star to. String trimmer does not auto feed new string like it should. I used all 5 tools today.

I've read that it works better if you throw away the string and restring it with better quality line.

 

[ronjhall]

I've read that it works better if you throw away the string and restring it with better quality line.

Tried that. Maybe need to try another brand.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Tried that. Maybe need to try another brand.

I changed to the Pivotrim heads on both of my Echo has trimmers. I also use .105 Vortex line. You just cut 4 x 12” lengths and replace them when the ends wear down.

Pivotrim(R) Pro Trimmer Head | Oregon Products

Rotary Item 12183, Trimmer Line .105 Sm Donut Black Vortex Line https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IFQZF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MVcQEbDJG3DZP

I use the same brand in .155 for my Swisher brush cutter.

 

[Oaktree]

When I got my 40 volt chain saw it leaked oil bad. I took it back to the store, for an exchange, and the manager told me to keep the battery and charger so .. I now have a spare battery.

About a month ago I picked up the 40v Lynx chainsaw with a coupon for $149. Didn't really need it at the time, but this was the last one in stock and with the world kind of upside down now wasn't sure they'd have any more for a while. I did get the 1 year extended warranty since the first Lynx pole saw I got died in fairly short order.

Had a chance to use it a couple weeks ago, seems like a pretty good saw for the price. One thing that took a little getting used to is that unlike a gas saw, it doesn't bog down, it just stops...you have to release the trigger and press again to get it going. Otherwise seems to cut well...I guess it should, it's a brand new chain. Cut up a bunch of winter blow-downs, and still had ~50% left on the battery. Sure is a lot lighter than my gas saw. Mine doesn't leak (at least yet).
We'll see how it stands up over time.

 

[3Ts]

I've heard some speculation that the 40v Lynxx brand is going to be replaced with 80v Atlas brand. Anyone know what the truth is?

 

[John_Mc]

No "real ones" available anywhere near me that I could find. I was not going to buy one that I couldn't lay hands on first. I was able to actually lay my hands on one of these, and liked what I saw. It also helped that they had a sale on the Hercules model right when her old saw bit the dust. With the sale going on, the price difference was about $100. I liked the Hercules enough better that it justified the extra cost for me.

As mentioned, it suits my wife's needs just fine (she has made furniture and cabinets with it).

No lowes or homedepot or anything like that?

The stuff that Home Depot and Lowes had in stock at the time for a similar price did not appear to be as well built as the Hercules. If I wanted to spend twice what I did for the Hercules saw, I could have gotten something a little bit better.

We've had it about a year know, if I recall correctly. No problems so far. Ask me again in another 5 years, and I'll have a better idea about durability.

 

[hunt4570]

The stuff that Home Depot and Lowes had in stock at the time for a similar price did not appear to be as well built as the Hercules. If I wanted to spend twoce what I did for the Hercules saw, I could have gotten something a little bit better.

We've had it about a year know, if I recall correctly. No problems so far. Ask me again in another 5 years, and I'll have a better idea about durability.

Glad its working for you.. yeah , and you never know about the durability thing.

 

[rangerfredbob]

About a month ago I picked up the 40v Lynx chainsaw with a coupon for $149. Didn't really need it at the time, but this was the last one in stock and with the world kind of upside down now wasn't sure they'd have any more for a while. I did get the 1 year extended warranty since the first Lynx pole saw I got died in fairly short order.

Had a chance to use it a couple weeks ago, seems like a pretty good saw for the price. One thing that took a little getting used to is that unlike a gas saw, it doesn't bog down, it just stops...you have to release the trigger and press again to get it going. Otherwise seems to cut well...I guess it should, it's a brand new chain. Cut up a bunch of winter blow-downs, and still had ~50% left on the battery. Sure is a lot lighter than my gas saw. Mine doesn't leak (at least yet).
We'll see how it stands up over time.

From my experience, once the indicator gets to 2 lights (50%) you are on borrowed time on that battery, lucky to cut through a 1" branch without hitting the low voltage cutoff...

I like mine, it's no fire wood cutter but does decent. If you use the pole saw to cut up the small stuff the batteries last longer then just use the big saw for the big stuff...

 

[5030]

I've heard some speculation that the 40v Lynxx brand is going to be replaced with 80v Atlas brand. Anyone know what the truth is?

Instead of 'Storage Wars', it's 'Voltage Wars'.....

 

[newbury]

PTO generator:
16000 MAX STARTING/15000 RUNNING WATTS TRACTOR-DRIVEN PTO GENERATOR $999.99

 

[hunt4570]

PTO generator:
16000 MAX STARTING/15000 RUNNING WATTS TRACTOR-DRIVEN PTO GENERATOR $999.99

My only problem with that is that it ties up the tractor.

 

[5030]

My only problem with that is that it ties up the tractor.

Simple answer, buy a second unit.....

For years I farmed with one unit and used it for everything but I finally convinced my partner (wife) that a second unit would make life easier... and it did. With 2, I don't have to constantly change implements out (and some of mine are heavy and have multiple hydraulic and electronic hookups) and I can leave one unit free for around the farm chores if necessary plus I don't accrue so many hours per unit with 2.

What I did was buy an identical unit to the one I already have so services and filters and grease points are identical and they both are on the same service schedule too. Makes life much simpler for me and I can go from one to the other and know exactly how both will perform because they are identical.

It's only money and you cannot take it with you so spend it...