'Professional' grade saws vs. 'Homeowner' saws

[5030]

That would flood my 620p, ask how I know.
choke on, switch on, pull 2 times when cold. choke off, pull to start.

Not if you leave the choke off when doing it. The choke plate causes that to occur because it causes a big pressure differential (vacuum) in the carb. I start all my saws, Echo and Stihl using that method and the ones with primer bulbs (my CS top handle saws) I don't pump the primer bulb more than 2 times as well.

 

[Darth_DMack]

I finally got it figured out, and it's starting well now. I don't believe the MS280 has a primer bulb...

I put four full tanks through it last Saturday, probably will do the same this coming weekend. It definitely cuts well.

 

[5030]

Not to start a pizzing war but I like the Echo saws better than Stihl and I have both. Echo's are priced lower than Stihl's are today and are just as good in all respects. My issue with late model Stihl's is Stihl has succumbed to the 'noise police' and new ones always need to have the mufflers modified right away to let them breathe. That and the electronic carburation. I really don't like anything electronically controlled at all.

 

[5030]

I finally got it figured out, and it's starting well now. I don't believe the MS280 has a primer bulb...

I put four full tanks through it last Saturday, probably will do the same this coming weekend. It definitely cuts well.

Any saw will cut well so long as the chain loop is sharp and the depth gages are set correctly. I always carry a spare sharpened loop with me and when the loop starts building pitch on the top of the teeth, it's time to change it out and the dull loop goes back to the shop to get sharpened and when I change out a loop, I always flip the bar over as well.

I sharpen and set a ton of chains for my arborist customers. Last chain sharpening session was 80 loops.

 

[5030]

Im looking at the Stihl 400 Has real nice power to weight ratio and the price is real good. Will run a 25”, which is fine.
Currently have 261C with 20” and Makita/Sachs 6401 with 24” (scored piston/cylinder)

Sounds like it's time to take it apart and install a new piston and rings but don't hone the cylinder if it's Nikasil plated as the plating is very thin and you'll destroy it if you hone it and then you'll be buying a new jug as well.. Just remove any stuck on aluminum from the bore (I use easy off oven cleaner) to soften it and a pick to remove it.

You need to look at an Echo CS 490 Timber Bear. They will stock pull a 24" bar but I run a 20 myself with full tooth (not skip tooth) chipper chain. Nice saw and less expensive than a comparable Stihl and has a better warranty as well, not that I've ever had a warranty claim on any of mine because I have not. If you really want to cheap out, buy a Chinese saw from Amazon. No warranty and if it breaks, toss it and buy another one....lol. Neo-Tek comes to mind. I had a weak moment once and bought one and gave it to a friend soon after.

 

[kenmbz]

Sounds like it's time to take it apart and install a new piston and rings but don't hone the cylinder if it's Nikasil plated as the plating is very thin and you'll destroy it if you hone it and then you'll be buying a new jug as well.. Just remove any stuck on aluminum from the bore (I use easy off oven cleaner) to soften it and a pick to remove it.

You need to look at an Echo CS 490 Timber Bear. They will stock pull a 24" bar but I run a 20 myself with full tooth (not skip tooth) chipper chain. Nice saw and less expensive than a comparable Stihl and has a better warranty as well, not that I've ever had a warranty claim on any of mine because I have not. If you really want to cheap out, buy a Chinese saw from Amazon. No warranty and if it breaks, toss it and buy another one....lol. Neo-Tek comes to mind. I had a weak moment once and bought one and gave it to a friend soon after.

CS590 ?

 

[5030]

CS590 ?

Yes 590. 59 cc engine.

 

[Rockbadchild]

My saw has so much compression when cold, on the first pull I do it slowly just to go through the compression and get things moving then I crank it and I don't know why she is that stiff, its not like its that big of a saw... if I don't do that the chainsaw follow cord upward instead of turning the engine and it feels like that cord wants to snap as well...

 

[5030]

If any saw has no cold compression when you pull the starter rope, you have internal issues. Time to pull the muff off and have a look-see at the piston and bore.

 

[Skeans1]

Any saw will cut well so long as the chain loop is sharp and the depth gages are set correctly. I always carry a spare sharpened loop with me and when the loop starts building pitch on the top of the teeth, it's time to change it out and the dull loop goes back to the shop to get sharpened and when I change out a loop, I always flip the bar over as well.

I sharpen and set a ton of chains for my arborist customers. Last chain sharpening session was 80 loops.

Flipping a bar is only as good as the oil holes being unplugged and rails being cleaned if those two things aren’t done what good is flipping a bar. If the pitch indicator works for that’s great but it’s no way to judge if a saw is cutting well, better way is the single hand test if a saw requires you to use any force it’s time for it to swapped.

 

[Skeans1]

Two examples of how a chain can change through out the day, the one on the husky is the first tree of the morning so it’s a touchy grabby vs one that’s been ran most of the morning on the Stihl 500i.

 

[5030]

Flipping a bar is only as good as the oil holes being unplugged and rails being cleaned

Whatever. I'm sure you wrongly assume my oil holes are plugged and the inside rails are loaded with sawdust. Get real. An expired credit card works real well for that. Only been fiddling with saws for better than 45 years now.

 

[5030]

Around here, ALL softwood winds up on the burn pile. No one wants it if it ain't hardwood.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I am sure everyone have notice but I am a husqvarna guy, sorry for my bias, I respect the other brands and opinions… I have to admit I am intrigued by Stihl and Echo. Seem like Echo is more then a knockoff but when I look at their website for my next chainsaw size range which will probably be a 80cc they are all pretty much at the same price, just like dewalt, makita or milwaukee it is what feels better in your hands … I certainly get my liking for husqvarna from my dad. It was the brand he was using when he was a lumber jack and he was making money and had no problems with his saws… I have talked to him about stihl and he made a face and said I am buying a husky and that’s it… that being said that’s what I used first and it was always a very powerful chainsaws, it was the closes thing from a dirt bike i could get my hands on and it was way too powerful for me… I weight like 80lb with a dryer full of wet clothing on my back but yet i learn to start it and i was making trails and bucking trees with it .. fist time I took it I didn’t even know if I could start it lol … but I am open but probably stick to what i know … if ain’t broke why fix it …

 

[Hay Dude]

I am open to Husky, Stihl or Echo.
I guess I go with Stihl because they manufacture a lot in the USA, there’s a lot of dealership support and they seem to get the job done.
But I’d own any of the 3 and probably a Dolmar if I knew they were still around

 

[xyz123]

Stihl just laid off 30% of it's US VA employees. Said profits are at all time high but not selling their stuff.

Even stihl dealers tell ya that means they are charging to much in first place.

 

[sea2summit]

Stihl just laid off 30% of it's US VA employees. Said profits are at all time high but not selling their stuff.

Even stihl dealers tell ya that means they are charging to much in first place.

Where are you seeing profits publicly reported? A brief review of revenue shows they are essentially matching inflation for last FY…which means they’re profits are likely in the toilet.

 

[xyz123]

Where are you seeing profits publicly reported? A brief review of revenue shows they are essentially matching inflation for last FY…which means they’re profits are likely in the toilet.

Stihl dealers in my chainsaw repair group. Talking stihl itself the head cheeses.

Just search it it's out there.

Got to remember talking stihl as a whole company. Not US alone. We are a pee on for them.

April 2023 they were boasting about record revenues for 2021 and 2022 as a whole.

 

[sea2summit]

Stihl dealers in my chainsaw repair group. Talking stihl itself the head cheeses.

Just search it it's out there.

Got to remember talking stihl as a whole company. Not US alone. We are a pee on for them.

April 2023 they were boasting about record revenues for 2021 and 2022 as a whole.

That is what’s called hearsay not public info…

 

[xyz123]

That is what’s called hearsay not public info…

Dude stihl posted right on their website.

Close to 6 billion in 2022 alone. Boasting about record profits 2021 and 2022 in April 2023.


My sign at front of bench comes to mind. Just a reminder.