Chain saws

[ultrarunner]

Just went through this a couple weeks ago. The Stihl 032AV I've been using got hard to start, so I rebuilt the carb and learned that parts are starting to get hard to find, even in the after market. I really like the reliable starting light weight, and surprising power of my Stihl MS192TCE, as well as HT131 pole saw, so choosing to go with Stihl was easy. Looked at the Farm Boss and 261, but the only 261s available had the new computerized fuel management system, new and at least to me unproven complication that I just didn't need, especially since it increases the cost of the saw. So I ended up with a MS271, a nice combo of power (3.49 HP) and weight (12.3 lbs.), lighter than the old 032 that used to have my back complainin' after just a couple of hours use. Haven't had a chance to use it much yet because fire restrictions are still in place out here in N. Kal, but I've got three bus sized piles of downed trees to clean up this winter and will find out quickly just how easy to use this saw is.

The dealer recommended a place to purchase ethanol free fuel, and even at over $6/gal, it's cheap if it helps keep the carb seals and fuel lines from swelling. Even so I dump any left over gas at the end of the day, then run the engine dry.

Good luck with your search!

Sounds like a good dealer... ethanol gas is elusive here in the SF Bay Area.

 

[ultrarunner]

Something is off with this S. It cannot mean "life of the saw". When I was cutting I'd put 30 cutting hrs a week on 4 saws. So lets say 8 hrs a week per saw (which in reality is totally inaccurate) and a 48 week work year. That's well over 300 hrs and saws use to last me at least 2 years. Unless they make pro saws lousier now than they did? In reality I wouldn't hazard a guess that on some saws I'd do a thousand hrs after 2 years.

I believe this is the manufacturer compliance certificate stating the saw will remain compliant for 50 hours.

Which for a lot of homeowners could well be the life and lifetime use of the saw.

Gave one to my brother for his 40th birthday... he has used it once... they no longer burn wood and he has not trees to deal with.

 

[Mark 42]

Sounds like a good dealer... ethanol gas is elusive here in the SF Bay Area.

I'm guessing you mean w/o ethanol?
Arco used to be w/o ethanol, which always surprised me because I associate it with "cheap"

 

[tommyrocks]

Have a stihl 029 great saw but like any saw depends on how sharp the chain is so sharpening the chain most important have also used huskys not as heavy a saw so found them easier to use if using continually over a day a lot easier on the arms.

 

[catskinner]

I try to never run a carbureted 2-stroke dry. No fuel means no lubricating oil. I also try to refill while cutting at the frist sign of sputtering.

Running dry at idle is the key, no high speed run out. The trouble is not the gas/oil ratio, its the air/fuel ratio. Causes saw to run lean, but the span is so short that there is no damage.

 

[catskinner]

I need to replace my chain saw. It will be used mostly on small to medium sized trees and branches just to maintain a 10 acre property. About 20-30 hours per year operation. Any suggestions?

So which saw are you thinking about? Have you went and looked at any yet?

 

[DeereMann]

+1 :thumbsup:

Has nothing to do with his use and his case and size only matters to a point.. He should get a comfortable saw. I've cut faster with a 50-60 cc saw than using a 70 or 80 cc saw that had longer bars. Using every size saw imaginable in about every condition and circumstance in N.E. style woods cutting professionally, along with watching different people using saws, I've come to several conclusions about saw equipment. If we associate "size" beyond cutting grunt, then i'd say "correct"?ize does matter and in this case I'd select an 026 size saw all day long.

 

[DeereMann]

Didn't 026 only come with .325" chain? 3/8" (.375") chain only comes on the magnums. starting with 361. the 026 bogs down with too aggessive a chain. At least that is how mine were supplied. I would not recommend a 3/8" pitch chain for a medium size saw such as Stihl 026, it really wasn't designed for that.

Hmm. I don't think my 026,16" bar will keep up with my 044 20" bar. Both have 3/8 chain. "Size does matter".

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm guessing you mean w/o ethanol?
Arco used to be w/o ethanol, which always surprised me because I associate it with "cheap"

Opps... yes.

 

[DJFireUSA]

forgive me... too late to read 14 pages.

I love my Huskvarna (sp?). Have left it sitting for months and months on end... fires up a bit reluctantly which is understandable but after that first pop which is usually within 5 pulls she is good to go. Hasn't let me down yet and I lent it to my neighbor...

Neighbor plumb wore his 14 yr old Husky out a couple of weeks ago. He wants to get it fixed but local shop telling him it is dead and to replace. Compression is about 35 psi below what it should be. Told him to get a gasket and ring set, hone the cylinder and put it together to see what it does.

Thoughts?