DennisBT
New member
Quite a thread, thank you all. OK. So being well into retirement, I still have my Stihl 031. Had family health problems and it didn't get run for a while, so it needs a good chain saw mechanic and everything cleaned up, (especially fuel system I'm sure - even though it's never seen ethanol gas) I bought it new....back then. Always took good care of it; cut line a banshee. After all this time, it's only on it's second bar. (20 inch, I think) Has the electronic ignition, which will be a problem if it ever dies as I doubt there are parts now for the ignition. Bit of a heavy saw. My question to this group is, I'm wondering how much $$$ I ought to put into it now?????? I'd also like opinions as to how practical the 031 is in today's world. ??????? Thoughts appreciated.
I know I will get flamed here but, I have had Stihl's an 029. 044 and other gas powered saws. My son got me an 18" electric SunJoe and this thing cuts mesquite like butter. Light weight, has an oiler and brake. I have a generator I take behind the tractor/trailer for remote cuts and never has it broke down. I just sharpen the chains and keep some new ones on hand (cheap to own). I also have their pole saw, I think 8" with 7ft pole, and it is real handy. If you have power close in, try one, you will never go back to gas. Oh yea, be easy on me....
Sun Joe SWJ701E 18-inch 14.0 Amp Electric Chain Saw
Your photo prompted my question, both to you and any other chainsaw cognoscenti:
Background: I have used chainsaws (fire service roof operations, and ranch/firewood duties). I no longer perform either (residence no longer supports the need), nor possess a chainsaw.
Requirement: I intend to purchase a chainsaw for preparedness purposes. It will, in all probability, never be used. It will function as a "break glass in case of emergency" item for clearing downed trees to enable emergency egress/travel. I intend to store it in a saw case together with an extra bar, 2 additional chains, Stihl pre-mixed fuel, bar oil, etc.
Question: Does storing a never-fueled/never-operated, virtually new-in-box saw create any long-term issues to the saw itself?
(I considered a cordless/battery model, but with zero use for potentially years, battery life would be an issue.)
Thank you in advance for any input.
I use Dewalt, but nothing with the battery size of their chainsaws.
RVGuy
New member
I have had the same Stihl Farmboss saw for about 30 year. It has had to have a couple trips to the shop for tuneups and minor repairs, mainly to the fuel lines because they tend to break down over time. My expaierience is that it is not so much the saw as the chain you use. I bought a couple of "consumer grade" safe chains that would burn through a log faster than cutting it. A logger friend told me to go to a pro shop and ask for what he called a "skip tooth" chain. He said I would have to be careful or it would tear me up, but it cut through the same logs extremely fast and smoothly. Also, keep your chain sharp. Like a dull knife, a dull chain is much harder to deal with.
Fields_mj
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2021
- Messages
- 121
- Location
- Central Indiana
- Tractor
- Ford 1710, Kubota F2880, White FB16
Pick a brand of battery powered lawn equipment that you want to use (string trimmers, blowers, ect), and get a chainsaw that matches. I know that the power will be out when its time to use it, but keep 3 batteries charged and you won't need to worry about that. 3 batteries is enough to do quite a bit of work so long as you not cutting everything into firewood lengths. Cut it short enough to move it, and that's it.
Sitting there on a shelf, the rubber (intake boots, fuel line, oil line) on a gas powered tool will eventually dry out just like the old brake and vacuum lines on a car that sits in a garage or barn for years. If you use it from time to time, then you can run into carb issues if you use fuel with ethanol in it. Even with non-ethanol fuel, you still have varnish that can build up. Bottom line is that if you use it, it WILL eventually have starting issues. If you don't use it, eventually the rubber will dry out. With battery tools, when you squeeze the trigger, it turns on. Besides, battery powered string trimmers are nice and light
Based upon the above, my choices are evaporating. I do not possess (nor need whatsoever based upon our now current and foreseeable future residence: HOA does all maintenance) any battery powered lawn equipment. My battery powered tools have much lower/smaller design & capacity than chainsaw requirements. And, since the point of use could be years in the future, there is zero confidence that the batteries will still be health upon the "break-glass" intent for use.Pick a brand of battery powered lawn equipment that you want to use (string trimmers, blowers, ect), and get a chainsaw that matches. I know that the power will be out when its time to use it, but keep 3 batteries charged and you won't need to worry about that. 3 batteries is enough to do quite a bit of work so long as you not cutting everything into firewood lengths. Cut it short enough to move it, and that's it.
Sitting there on a shelf, the rubber (intake boots, fuel line, oil line) on a gas powered tool will eventually dry out just like the old brake and vacuum lines on a car that sits in a garage or barn for years. If you use it from time to time, then you can run into carb issues if you use fuel with ethanol in it. Even with non-ethanol fuel, you still have varnish that can build up. Bottom line is that if you use it, it WILL eventually have starting issues. If you don't use it, eventually the rubber will dry out. With battery tools, when you squeeze the trigger, it turns on. Besides, battery powered string trimmers are nice and light
That battery dynamic, with the rubber rot on a gas powered model makes my concept of an emergency-unused device problematic.
