Chainsaw Recommendations

[Jo D]

Was that the Ace Hardware where you bought the chainsaw and charges $15 for sharping the chain if removed from bar?

No it was not ACE, none of the stores within like an hour or 2 away had in stock, and unable to get. This is a local place, one of 5 or 6 stores. I want to check out Tractor supply to see what they charge since they are also authorized repair shop, and then find out if sharpening is something that can void warranty if not done at authorized location because Im sure there are other places I could bring it. But then again, that could be the going rate around here

 

[Jo D]

Congratulations on the new saw. Do take the time to check out Baileys Online for all your related equipment. They sell safety PPE, axes, wedges, anything you could need. You mentioned $15 for chain sharpening. At Baileys you can purchase a 72 drive link full chisel chain for $18.

I will look into them. I am assuming they ship? Thanks

 

[happysawer]

No it was not ACE, none of the stores within like an hour or 2 away had in stock, and unable to get. This is a local place, one of 5 or 6 stores. I want to check out Tractor supply to see what they charge since they are also authorized repair shop, and then find out if sharpening is something that can void warranty if not done at authorized location because Im sure there are other places I could bring it. But then again, that could be the going rate around here

Sharpping ones own chain has nothing to do with the saws warranty. I sure hope Tractor Supply will give you a lot better service then where you bought your Sthil saw, that $15 cost to sharppen a chain and then if you removed it yourself shocked me and i feel they are taking advantage to people.

 

[ArlyA]

We hand file our chains here, but eventually they need to be resharpened via machine. Seems the mark up on saws is rather limited so they make there $$ via sharpening, repairs and accessories sales. I'd agree that $15 is quite high.

 

[Jo D]

Sharpping ones own chain has nothing to do with the saws warranty. I sure hope Tractor Supply will give you a lot better service then where you bought your Sthil saw, that $15 cost to sharppen a chain and then if you removed it yourself shocked me and i feel they are taking advantage to people.

They very well could be, being as they are the only local Authorized sales and repair. Ace is authorized sales. but no place within 100 miles of me had one and they werent able to get. I have to verify if they are authorized repair. Tractor Supply was Authorized repair, but dont sell. the only other local place was where we went. It wouldd appear to me they have a lock on the market

 

[happysawer]

They very well could be, being as they are the only local Authorized sales and repair. Ace is authorized sales. but no place within 100 miles of me had one and they werent able to get. I have to verify if they are authorized repair. Tractor Supply was Authorized repair, but dont sell. the only other local place was where we went. It wouldd appear to me they have a lock on the market

The good thing the Sthil chains are quality and should last many cuttings, and you can always order them direct from Sthil STIHL I would be careful buying from Amazon or on e-bay, many vendors rebrand items, like i read on Amazon where someone ordered an Oregon chain for their pole chainsaw, they received a rebranded chain not an Oregon chain they ordered.

Also most of the time all your going to need is a file touching up of chains cutting teeth, and as long as your not making just sawdust, you don't need anything done to your chain.

 

[cdaigle430]

True-but so isnt the battery ones...worse because you dont respect them like the loud, obnoxious, smelly gas cousins. However if your using it occasionally as a home owner-you cant beat the battery ones.
Especially if you already own battery tools....most have a battery chainsaw in their tools list. I have the Milwaukee M18 because I also have power tools. it was cheaper for me to buy the chainsaw - tool only since I already owned three M18 batteries.
You also dont have to worry about storing gas or stale gas or even mixing gas.....very problematic if you use occasionally.

 

[kenmbz]

I have an Echo CS-490 which I loathe. It's a pain to start, finicky as all get-out, and guaranteed to leave me with weeks of rotator cuff pain.
It was the echo that drove me to try out a Milwaukee battery powered chain saw, which works well from a power perspective but gets pinched too easily, derailing the chain.

I'm not sure what I'd buy for gas powered if I was replacing this odd duo above. If money is no object, get a Stihl. If you're less loyal to brand and more loyal to your wallet I'm not sure what to suggest I shy away from Husqvarna equipment because of the repeated customer feedback they get when they fail to honor waranty's, but hey, you can't believe everything you believe on the web. I will not buy another echo.

I've always liked how easy my Honda equipment starts, my brush cutter is always a one pull start. Don't think they make chain saws though.

Good luck, curious what you get and how you like it.

My CS-490 was finicky starting, once it coughed, you needed to take choke off.
Since I learned this , starts on third pull.
Had my shop tweak the carb and it runs stronger now since factory setup was too lean.
Running 18 and 20" bars and have taken down some massive ash with no problems. Almost three years and hundreds of hours use.

Jo D - congrats on the saw- hope it works great and lasts through all the work your family needs.

 

[happysawer]

My CS-490 was finicky starting, once it coughed, you needed to take choke off.
Since I learned this , starts on third pull.
Had my shop tweak the carb and it runs stronger now since factory setup was too lean.
Running 18 and 20" bars and have taken down some massive ash with no problems. Almost three years and hundreds of hours use.

Jo D - congrats on the saw- hope it works great and lasts through all the work your family needs.

Many times we read that the factory sets up rich, and people lean them out.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So far I LOVE my ECHO saw. Starts exactly like any other saw I have ever owned. Choke, pull til it burps, choke off, pull and away you go.

Like that it doesn't piss out all it's bar oil like every Stihl I have owned. 034, 036 and 017.

Not impressed that the nose wasn't greased from the dealer, seized up virtually the first time and now has a tendency to lock up. Also annoyed that the Oil plug is of stupid design. Two finger tabs, rather than a screwdriver slot like the Gas cap.

That mixed gas in the can that doesn't go bad is apparently becoming VERY popular. Expensive? Yes, but not nearly as much as shop time or a carburator.

 

[happysawer]

So far I LOVE my ECHO saw. Starts exactly like any other saw I have ever owned. Choke, pull til it burps, choke off, pull and away you go.

Like that it doesn't piss out all it's bar oil like every Stihl I have owned. 034, 036 and 017.

Not impressed that the nose wasn't greased from the dealer, seized up virtually the first time and now has a tendency to lock up. Also annoyed that the Oil plug is of stupid design. Two finger tabs, rather than a screwdriver slot like the Gas cap.

That mixed gas in the can that doesn't go bad is apparently becoming VERY popular. Expensive? Yes, but not nearly as much as shop time or a carburator.

are you saying the nose of your bar was not greased?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes, it would appear so. I don't even always grease the nose and this is the first one I ever had seize up.

 

[happysawer]

are you saying the nose of your bar was not greased?

First thing my dealers service guy did on my 211 was spray the full chain, this was after he had already started it, then he removed the bar&chain for some reason have no idea, i have a tooth brush and rub bar oil on any chain i have off for cleaning or checking.

Sales guy set up my 261 put gas in it and bar oil, just started it and quickly shut it off then he handed it to me, i took it home and i lubed chain and adjusted it, every service person does things diffrent and i really don't fully trust any of them.

The 211 does not have adjustable bar oiler and i did not think it was working, took it back they said it was oiling enough, i e-mailed Sthil support they said EPA forced them to keep oil at minium, i still take bar off and check flow while it's running.

And i do a lot of checking the oil hole in the bar.

The 261 has ajustable chain oiler it was set for minium flow i kicked it up some, i want my chain to have oil on it even if it get all over.

 

[crazyal]

I use a dremel with a chainsaw chain sharpening bit they sell. If you have a dremel or similar tool you can repair chains. I use to use a file for routine sharpenings and the dremel to repair damage. Now I just use the dremel as I can touch up the chain in about 1/4 the time (not that it too too long before). Being able to do it yourself means if you hit a rock on a Saturday afternoon doesn't mean loosing the rest of the weekend waiting for it to get sharpened. A back up chain is nice but I prefer to keep one on hand so when one stretches too far I toss it and swap over to another. I'm not always the best at remembering to get a new one so if I had two half (or more) worn chains and one was damaged it's possible that I'd forget for a week or two to get a replacement. This way I always know you have a new chain waiting in the reserves. It doesn't sound like you are going into the woods for so long that you will need more than one chain. If you think there will be large gaps between using the say I would suggest draining the oil and gas while it sits.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I don't use that high priced stuff in the metal can that doesn't go stale. But, I certainly would, before I had to empty my saw.

 

[happysawer]

I don't use that high priced stuff in the metal can that doesn't go stale. But, I certainly would, before I had to empty my saw.

Is there a problem with getting non alcohol fuel in Canada?

 

[kenmbz]

Hard for me to get it in eastern PA. unless I want to pay for Aviation fuel.

 

[xyz123]

18" bar is what I read and wanting to be able to do bigger trees if needed. With $400 to spend.

I would be looking at the Echo 590 that comes with a 20" for $399 over the S271 or H440 you listed.

Great bang for the buck 60cc class saw. Took one in to try out myself. Then sold to a friend after muffler mod etc.