CHeap chainsaw?

[KYErik]

I bought a factory reconditioned 16" Homelite about 8 years ago and love it. I am on my third chain (sharpened thr first two until there was nothing left to sharpen).

I did have to put a carb kit in it this spring, but it still runs/starts great and the antivibration handles make it easy to use even on ling cuts.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yes back then they were a real good saw, now they are made by electrolux. Most all the cheap saws are made by electrolux, poulan craftsman mc's homelite low $ husky etc..

Husky, cheap? Not in this part of the country. You also left out Jonsereds.

 

[20 20]

Husky, cheap? Not in this part of the country. You also left out Jonsereds.

I'm talking about the low $ husqvarna sold in the big chain stores{lowes homedepot TSC etc..} The guy up the road bought 2 because he thought they were a good deal, he's had nothing but trouble. I've also talked to a few other guys that have had trouble with them. Husqvarna wanted a cheaper saw to try and get some of the home owner business{little use}. So they let someone else build there cheaper saws. I'm sure their sales are what they're interested in, but IMO this has MISTAKE written all over it. I'm sure their high end saws are still fine quility, but I'll never buy one! I'll stick with my stihl's even though they have a home owner model they are still the ones making it.

 

[Jstpssng]

Gotcha. I use my saw too much to even consider a cheap one. I did consider a poulan for a truck /ATV saw; if it got stolen I wouldn't be out much. But I can a used Stihl from my local saw shop' for not much more money.

 

[CrownHawg]

If you look at the Husquavarna, the good ones will say "Made in Sweden". I actually bought mine at a box store, long time ago and it happened to be a "good" one(made in Sweden). Had it now for about 9 years without a minutes problem. I threw out 2 old Poulans about a year ago, they were junk.

 

[radioman]

Did it burn the outer cases of the saw or just the plastic? If the cases are ok Id like to buy them from him. That is the old two trigger model isnt it? I ran over mine and broke the case.
larry

I was referring to the super XL that burned up.mine is the little xl that is all plastic and still running. the fuel line in the super XL had a leak and it went all over the muffler and caught on fire. There is no plastic stuff on the super XL. all metal and no springs. it's beyond rebuilding and sad to say it was one of the best saws wewe ever had. However I finally managed to snag one off ebay recently for him and gave it to him last weekend. We went out and cut several huge elm trees that were dead and it ran great.

Sorry spyderlk, I dont have any homelite to sell.

 

[WayneB]

The response to this posting is really amazing!

Gosh when I put it out here it was mainly just to let people know that CPO was pushing out a bunch of cheap chainsaws.

They seem to be the sales outlet arm for many of the manufacturing companies, like Porter Cable, DeWalt, Bosch just to name a few.

One thing is for sure! I would never buy a cheap chainsaw ,,,,,,,,, and if I did I would not tell this group about it!! Just joking

Wayne

 

[Steve C]

The response to this posting is really amazing!

Gosh when I put it out here it was mainly just to let people know that CPO was pushing out a bunch of cheap chainsaws.

They seem to be the sales outlet arm for many of the manufacturing companies, like Porter Cable, DeWalt, Bosch just to name a few.

One thing is for sure! I would never buy a cheap chainsaw ,,,,,,,,, and if I did I would not tell this group about it!! Just joking

Wayne

I made the big mistake of buying 2 cheap Craftsman/Poulans about 12 years ago. They were in a big pile of clearance stuff. They are 34cc and 36cc 16" saws. They both came with a case and one of them came with an extra chain. I paid $35 for one $50 for the other one.

They were brand new. I did have to adjust the carbs to get them to run like I thought they should.

They haven't had a lot of use, but they start every time and cut what I need to cut. I had to resist the urge to buy a new 34cc 16" Poulan at Sears a couple of days ago. It didn't have a case but it was new in the box and it had been marked down to $71 from $149. They had a special sale event where everyone got an additional 10% off so I could have taken it home for $65. I am a sucker for a good deal so I was on my way to the cash register with it when my wife caught me.

She said "so did you finally wear out those other saws?"
ummm well no...

"did your new Husky 372XP break?...

ummm well no...

"did somebody steal the 2 big electric chain saws that didn't get burned up in the barn fire?"

....ummmm...well no...

"O.K. then, you have 3 gas saws and 2 big electric chain saws and you need this one?"

like the dumb *** I am I said......ummmm...well no.....and I put it back.

Of course a real man needs more than 5 chain saws especially if most of them are "junk".....and you can buy them fom little more than the cost of a bar and chain.

 

[MossRoad]

I made the big mistake of buying 2 cheap Craftsman/Poulans about 12 years ago. They were in a big pile of clearance stuff. They are 34cc and 36cc 16" saws. They both came with a case and one of them came with an extra chain. I paid $35 for one $50 for the other one.

They were brand new. I did have to adjust the carbs to get them to run like I thought they should.

They haven't had a lot of use, but they start every time and cut what I need to cut. I had to resist the urge to buy a new 34cc 16" Poulan at Sears a couple of days ago. It didn't have a case but it was new in the box and it had been marked down to $71 from $149. They had a special sale event where everyone got an additional 10% off so I could have taken it home for $65. I am a sucker for a good deal so I was on my way to the cash register with it when my wife caught me.

She said "so did you finally wear out those other saws?"
ummm well no...

"did your new Husky 372XP break?...

ummm well no...

"did somebody steal the 2 big electric chain saws that didn't get burned up in the barn fire?"

....ummmm...well no...

"O.K. then, you have 3 gas saws and 2 big electric chain saws and you need this one?"

like the dumb *** I am I said......ummmm...well no.....and I put it back.

Of course a real man needs more than 5 chain saws especially if most of them are "junk".....and you can buy them fom little more than the cost of a bar and chain.

Nice!

 

[SPYDERLK]

I was referring to the super XL that burned up.mine is the little xl that is all plastic and still running. the fuel line in the super XL had a leak and it went all over the muffler and caught on fire. There is no plastic stuff on the super XL. all metal and no springs. it's beyond rebuilding and sad to say it was one of the best saws wewe ever had. However I finally managed to snag one off ebay recently for him and gave it to him last weekend. We went out and cut several huge elm trees that were dead and it ran great.

Sorry spyderlk, I dont have any homelite to sell.

Just so were on the same page I went and looked. I have 2 XL-2 saws and a Super 2. All metal, but handles broke off the XL2s when I ran over em. Super 2 OK but needs attention to the chain oiler pump. Im pretty sure the XL of yore was all metal circa 1980. It had a slightly smaller displacement than the XL2 and a 10" bar w/o sprocket tip.... I think.
larry

 

[Steve C]

Nice!

We went back to Sears yesterday. My wife was looking for something, I can't remember what. I wandered back to the tool area and to my amazement the Poulin 14" chain saw was still there.

(it was kind of tucked away in a corner, not where I would put something that I wanted to sell)

To my amazement they had marked it down further to $59.93.

I had recently purchased a "universal" chain saw case on clearance from Sears for $5 with the thought of using it for my Husqvarna. Is it turned out the Husqvarna saw power head is about an inch to long to fit in the box.

Hmmm this was meant to be then.

The poor orphaned Poulan followed me home and it fits in the Craftsman saw box like it was made for it. It actually was since Poulin makes many of the Craftsman saws.

 

[MossRoad]

If I could get rid of the tool less tensioner, I'd be fairly happy with my Poulan Pro. Good deal on that saw.

 

[Steve C]

If I could get rid of the tool less tensioner, I'd be fairly happy with my Poulan Pro. Good deal on that saw.

Yes I know what you mean. I don't know why they feel compelled to design something to fix a problem that isn't a problem, I have avoided all the saws with that feature including the newer Homelites!

 

[MossRoad]

I just got a Rural King flyer that has factory reconditioned Poulan Pro 20" 46CC saws for $89.00.... on Thanksgiving day only.

 

[Raw Dodge]

I had recently purchased a "universal" chain saw case on clearance from Sears for $5 with the thought of using it for my Husqvarna. Is it turned out the Husqvarna saw power head is about an inch to long to fit in the box.

My 372xp fits in the husky box easily with a 20" bar,your dealer should have them,and lowes stocks them here as well.Husky makes a 24" bar sleeve for there box as well,but its separate.I didnt try my big 395xp,but i dont think it will fit in the box,and id need to take the 32" bar off as well.I like using the boxes for transport,it keeps the saws from getting tosses around.

 

[Raw Dodge]

Forgot to mention a side benefit of the husky box,it happens tofit perfectly in the grapple of my skid steer! It fits snug,like it was made for it.This makes it easy to take 2 huskys out on the woods with me,my 372 and 345.

 

[Steve C]

Forgot to mention a side benefit of the husky box,it happens tofit perfectly in the grapple of my skid steer! It fits snug,like it was made for it.This makes it easy to take 2 huskys out on the woods with me,my 372 and 345.

Thanks fot the information about the Husky box.

I would prefer the plain black wrapper of a craftsman box, knowing that most Craftsman saws are identical to Poulan's and some low life would probably be less inclined to snatch it out of the back of my truck than an orange box that says Husqvarna or Stihl on it. For what he could get for a Poulan he could only party for a day. For what he coulld get for XP Husqvarna or a Stihl he could party all week

 

[RobertN]

Holy Guacamole! A 395?!? What are you cutting? That is a HUGE saw!

I just found out my old Husky appears to be an early '70's 1100CD 100cc saw. It is a rip snortin beast...

I didnt try my big 395xp,but i dont think it will fit in the box,and id need to take the 32" bar off as well.I like using the boxes for transport,it keeps the saws from getting tosses around.

 

[Raw Dodge]

For some reason I couldnt load pics this morning.It let me now though...heres a few of the saw case in the grapple,and then the 395.
I think the 395 is my favorite saw,because theres nothing it can't do....the 372 has its work cut out for it with the 28" bar,even with a skip tooth,the big boy 395 doesnt even care about the 32" bar on it.

 

[MossRoad]

For some reason I couldnt load pics this morning.It let me now though...heres a few of the saw case in the grapple,and then the 395.
I think the 395 is my favorite saw,because theres nothing it can't do....the 372 has its work cut out for it with the 28" bar,even with a skip tooth,the big boy 395 doesnt even care about the 32" bar on it.

I think that saw has a bigger engine than my tractor!