CHeap chainsaw?

[20 20]

Don't get bar size mixed up with power. Just because a cheapo list with an 18-24" blade doesn't mean it has the power to turn it, especially in full wood. These cheapo's with a 18,20+" bar with only a 45cc or smaller engine are worthless unless your just cutting air.

 

[MossRoad]

Don't get bar size mixed up with power. Just because a cheapo list with an 18-24" blade doesn't mean it has the power to turn it, especially in full wood. These cheapo's with a 18,20+" bar with only a 45cc or smaller engine are worthless unless your just cutting air.

You are correct that it is underpowered for full width logs although a long bar on a small engined saw is very handy for limbing downed trees. They weigh less and have a long reach, meaning you don't have to lean over as far. They are less stressful on your body than a monster saw in an afternoon of limbing.

 

[Steve C]

You are correct that it is underpowered for full width logs although a long bar on a small engined saw is very handy for limbing downed trees. They weigh less and have a long reach, meaning you don't have to lean over as far. They are less stressful on your body than a monster saw in an afternoon of limbing.

And since the chain is longer and has more teeth it will cut longer between sharpening than a short one.

They all have their place. Even the small saws can perform pretty good with a little muffler and carb tuning. A friend of mine has a little bitty Husqvarna 240. He did the muffler mods and tuned the carb and that little saw thinks it is a Stihl. We were clearing land with a Stihl 026, a big Johnserend and the little 240 and there wasn't much difference in the limbing and cutting going on on the 12 to 14 inch trees we were dealing with. The Big saw had a lot more power but the wood we were dealing with didn't give it the load to use it.

 

[20 20]

You are correct that it is underpowered for full width logs although a long bar on a small engined saw is very handy for limbing downed trees. They weigh less and have a long reach, meaning you don't have to lean over as far. They are less stressful on your body than a monster saw in an afternoon of limbing.

You are correct if someone is experienced with a saw then a long blade would be good for limbing. Folks just need to remember using the tip of the blade CAUSES KICKBACK !

 

[MossRoad]

You are correct if someone is experienced with a saw then a long blade would be good for limbing. Folks just need to remember using the tip of the blade CAUSES KICKBACK !

Yep. That's true. Even with a small saw.

 

[WayneB]

And since the chain is longer and has more teeth it will cut longer between sharpening than a short one.

A friend of mine has a little bitty Husqvarna 240. He did the muffler mods and tuned the carb and that little saw thinks it is a Stihl. NO NO NO It's a great little Husky!!!! LOL

We were clearing land with a Stihl 026, a big Johnserend and the little 240 and there wasn't much difference in the limbing and cutting going on on the 12 to 14 inch trees we were dealing with. The Big saw had a lot more power but the wood we were dealing with didn't give it the load to use it.

Those little huskies will cut wood I have an even small one 141 and it is a great little saw to work with, especially limbing. No way it will keep up with the 455 but it is still a nice little saw to have around.

 

[om21braz]

Now you need a Stihl 066 or 090 to have a big bad saw.

CAD spreads; I have three saws now, rebuilding one, and looking for another

Well, at least they are cheaper than tractors. lol

 

[Steve C]

Well, at least they are cheaper than tractors. lol

CAD=chain saw addiction

That is true although my 372XP with the 24" and the16" bar and extra chain cost me almost twice as much as my Craftsman 18 HP Hydrostatic Garden tractor with a 48" mowing deck, 48" dozer blade, wheel weights and tire chains.

(in fairness I should say that the saw was new and the tractor was used and abused.)

But the saws do take up a lot less space in the tool shed.

 

[RobertN]

CAD - Chainsaw Addiction/Aquisition Disorder

CAD=chain saw addiction

 

[SPIKER]

I went & took a look at the 22" $199 TSC Poulan Pro saw, 55CC and was a lot more metal in the saw than in the more expensive ones...

Mark

 

[Steve C]

I went & took a look at the 22" $199 TSC Poulan Pro saw, 55CC and was a lot more metal in the saw than in the more expensive ones...

Mark

Yes. I am very impressed with it. It is similar in construction to the 20+ year old 70cc Craftsman/Poulan that I lost in my barn fire. That was one great (but heavy) saw.

The 55cc saw is much lighter, and would be a great firewood saw with a 16" or 18" bar on it. I need to resist the urge to fill out my collection with it.

 

[SPIKER]

I didnt mention while I was there a guy, (my age) saw me looking at the chainsaws (I happen to be standing in front of the Orange Huskies at the time) as I didnt see the Poulan at first. He said he bought one (Orange Huskie) last year and it has had to be worked on constantly... plastic bearing inside and on the clutch!? run them hard and the bearing melt and seize up and or out goes the compression. His has had broken leaking fuel and oil tanks on top of the constant issues with bearings seizing up... He asked me why I was looking at the inexpensive Poulan saws, I told him my experience with the 14 & 18" machines and was looking for the 22" I had heard about. (they had the 22'' on the shelf on the bottom pushed in behind all the more expensive saws, cable tied up so you could not even et the thing out to try & lift it up..?? ) Must be low profit on that machine?? He said if he had seem the 22" then he would have bought it for sure back then. He said there was hardly any metal in his saw, even under the plastic housing parts it is more plastic.. So I went looking around for tractor chains ect. and didnt see anything I need at the time, on my way out (chainsaws are up front) the guy was over there with them un-locking the 22" Poulan saw : Not sure if it went home with ihm or not though...

Mark

 

[Steve C]

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.

I got a great Craigs list find. I bought a Husky box that a guy got with his saw and had never used it, for $15. My local tractor store had the 24 inch bar sleeve for $4.

 

[6011Artist]

I too must have the CAD, seeing I own 6 running chainsaws.

I bought a Homelite XL12 about 15 yrs ago used, was a great saw. I had it tuned several times. It finally got to running real rough. Took it and another Super XL12 I had bought on a deal and told the guy to get parts there if needed. He called me and told me the Super was a better saw in good condition, needed coil from old saw. We went with that. I have a bow on that saw.

I have a small Homelite XL that I bought new in the 80's, been a good lil saw. It got hard to start, wouldn't idle. I left it on the shelf, bought a new Poulan as my limbing saw. Biggest POS I ever owned. And I did loan it one time, has never been the same.

I bought a new Homelight small saw in December, the toolless adjusting system. That too is a piece of crap, chain will not stay tightened. It made me appreciate my older saws. So I then started buying old homelites for parts at an auction. Bought a lil Super XL for 15.00. Ended up needing fuel lines on it and a new primer bulb, great running lil saw. 25.00 total investment.

I then got my old Homelite XL out and rebuilt the carb. It too is back to being a great lil saw. I had a repair shop sell me a new bow to go on it for 20.00 and only charged me 18.00 for a new chain to fit it, longer on the bow saw. So now I have a lil bow saw, a big bow saw and 3 limb saws.

So I was back at the auction and bought a Homelite XL12 "BlueBoy". It is painted Blue and made prior to 1970 I later learned. I bought it for parts if ever needed. Paid 5.00 for it. Complete saw but no chain. Looks rough but all there and looked clean in the tank and carb. I got it home and checked it out, had good spark. I shot ether in it and low and behold it started right up. I then put gas in it and it runs great, nothing to do to it but put on a chain which I already had from the other parts saw I bought years ago, had a almost new chain and bar. It needs new paint, but a running XL12 for 5.00.

Still looking for parts saws. Bought 2 and both turned out to be good saws, one only needing gas & chain, the other fuel lines and primer.

I like my older Homelites. They seem to work well for me, easy to work on, parts still available. But I still can't get over the running XL12 for 5.00.

I said earlier I had 6 running chainsaws. I forgot about my Ryobi pole saw and my lil electric pruning saw, that makes 8 running saws. Homeowner use only.

 

[Steve C]

I too must have the CAD, seeing I own 6 running chainsaws.

I bought a Homelite XL12 about 15 yrs ago used, was a great saw. I had it tuned several times. It finally got to running real rough. Took it and another Super XL12 I had bought on a deal and told the guy to get parts there if needed. He called me and told me the Super was a better saw in good condition, needed coil from old saw. We went with that. I have a bow on that saw.

I have a small Homelite XL that I bought new in the 80's, been a good lil saw. It got hard to start, wouldn't idle. I left it on the shelf, bought a new Poulan as my limbing saw. Biggest POS I ever owned. And I did loan it one time, has never been the same.

I bought a new Homelight small saw in December, the toolless adjusting system. That too is a piece of crap, chain will not stay tightened. It made me appreciate my older saws. So I then started buying old homelites for parts at an auction. Bought a lil Super XL for 15.00. Ended up needing fuel lines on it and a new primer bulb, great running lil saw. 25.00 total investment.

I then got my old Homelite XL out and rebuilt the carb. It too is back to being a great lil saw. I had a repair shop sell me a new bow to go on it for 20.00 and only charged me 18.00 for a new chain to fit it, longer on the bow saw. So now I have a lil bow saw, a big bow saw and 3 limb saws.

So I was back at the auction and bought a Homelite XL12 "BlueBoy". It is painted Blue and made prior to 1970 I later learned. I bought it for parts if ever needed. Paid 5.00 for it. Complete saw but no chain. Looks rough but all there and looked clean in the tank and carb. I got it home and checked it out, had good spark. I shot ether in it and low and behold it started right up. I then put gas in it and it runs great, nothing to do to it but put on a chain which I already had from the other parts saw I bought years ago, had a almost new chain and bar. It needs new paint, but a running XL12 for 5.00.

Still looking for parts saws. Bought 2 and both turned out to be good saws, one only needing gas & chain, the other fuel lines and primer.

I like my older Homelites. They seem to work well for me, easy to work on, parts still available. But I still can't get over the running XL12 for 5.00.

I said earlier I had 6 running chainsaws. I forgot about my Ryobi pole saw and my lil electric pruning saw, that makes 8 running saws. Homeowner use only.

I like the XL 12's but they put my hands to sleep...my old Poulan 4200 was a huge improvement in both cutting speed and vibration isolation.

I just bought Partner P-85, a Homelite 250 (made in USA) and a Homelite XL-2 at a farm equipment auction. They all run and oil great. The Partner is a 85cc's of tree eating machine. The homelites are just nice handling saws with reasonable power. The little XL-2 has 1/4" chain on it!