OP
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
Right. That's why I am thinking I am going to talk to the owner of the other dealership just to see what he says.
Kubota Dealer is really good sport!
- Thread starter proudestmonkey
- Start date
- Views: 5190
OP
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
Right. That's why I am thinking I am going to talk to the owner of the other dealership just to see what he says.
OP
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
You were so right. I used it today for about an hour. What a difference between the Poulan and the Stihl. The Stihl cut through the buckthorn like it was butter. I cut down about 7 trees, three of which had diameters of 6" or more at the cutting height. After cutting each down, I also chopped up the trunks and branches into about 6 foot lengths. All of this would have taken about 2 hours with the Poulan, and I would not have been able to do it in one outing (because it would have run out of gas or just quit on me, and I would have had to let it cool for a couple of hours before I could get it restarted).
Also, after about an hour, I decided I should stop to give the new engine a break. I took it into the garage, cleaned it up, switched the bar around, added gas and bar oil, and started it up. It started in four pulls, and didn't quit on me. With the Poulan, I could not for the life of me get the thing to start up once it had been running for a while and then quit. That can be kind of dangerous, too. Often I would need to re-tension the chain as it expanded during use. I let it get way more loose than was probably safe because I didn't want to turn it off, and didn't want to risk tightening the chain with it still running (even more dangerous). With the Stihl, it doesn't look like I'll have that problem. The tensioner is a little plastic gear that can be adjusted very simply with my finger. No tools, no taking anything apart.
Surprisingly, the Stihl is also lighter, yet seems to have quite a bit more power than the Poulan. I guess you get what you pay for (Poulan was $99 and the Stihl was $199).
Also, after about an hour, I decided I should stop to give the new engine a break. I took it into the garage, cleaned it up, switched the bar around, added gas and bar oil, and started it up. It started in four pulls, and didn't quit on me. With the Poulan, I could not for the life of me get the thing to start up once it had been running for a while and then quit. That can be kind of dangerous, too. Often I would need to re-tension the chain as it expanded during use. I let it get way more loose than was probably safe because I didn't want to turn it off, and didn't want to risk tightening the chain with it still running (even more dangerous). With the Stihl, it doesn't look like I'll have that problem. The tensioner is a little plastic gear that can be adjusted very simply with my finger. No tools, no taking anything apart.
Surprisingly, the Stihl is also lighter, yet seems to have quite a bit more power than the Poulan. I guess you get what you pay for (Poulan was $99 and the Stihl was $199).
OP
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
You were so right. I used it today for about an hour. What a difference between the Poulan and the Stihl. The Stihl cut through the buckthorn like it was butter. I cut down about 7 trees, three of which had diameters of 6" or more at the cutting height. After cutting each down, I also chopped up the trunks and branches into about 6 foot lengths. All of this would have taken about 2 hours with the Poulan, and I would not have been able to do it in one outing (because it would have run out of gas or just quit on me, and I would have had to let it cool for a couple of hours before I could get it restarted).
Also, after about an hour, I decided I should stop to give the new engine a break. I took it into the garage, cleaned it up, switched the bar around, added gas and bar oil, and started it up. It started in four pulls, and didn't quit on me. With the Poulan, I could not for the life of me get the thing to start up once it had been running for a while and then quit. That can be kind of dangerous, too. Often I would need to re-tension the chain as it expanded during use. I let it get way more loose than was probably safe because I didn't want to turn it off, and didn't want to risk tightening the chain with it still running (even more dangerous). With the Stihl, it doesn't look like I'll have that problem. The tensioner is a little plastic gear that can be adjusted very simply with my finger. No tools, no taking anything apart.
Surprisingly, the Stihl is also lighter, yet seems to have quite a bit more power than the Poulan. I guess you get what you pay for (Poulan was $99 and the Stihl was $199).
Also, after about an hour, I decided I should stop to give the new engine a break. I took it into the garage, cleaned it up, switched the bar around, added gas and bar oil, and started it up. It started in four pulls, and didn't quit on me. With the Poulan, I could not for the life of me get the thing to start up once it had been running for a while and then quit. That can be kind of dangerous, too. Often I would need to re-tension the chain as it expanded during use. I let it get way more loose than was probably safe because I didn't want to turn it off, and didn't want to risk tightening the chain with it still running (even more dangerous). With the Stihl, it doesn't look like I'll have that problem. The tensioner is a little plastic gear that can be adjusted very simply with my finger. No tools, no taking anything apart.
Surprisingly, the Stihl is also lighter, yet seems to have quite a bit more power than the Poulan. I guess you get what you pay for (Poulan was $99 and the Stihl was $199).
copperhead1967
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
- Messages
- 250
- Location
- greensburg PA
- Tractor
- kubota BX22, Cub ZForce S 48 inch deck
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( . (because it would have run out of gas or just quit on me, and I would have had to let it cool for a couple of hours before I could get it restarted).
)</font>
Glad your happy with your new toys. Both the saw and the tractor.
I had a similar problem with my husky chain saw. I took it to the shop. Tha guy put a new plug in it and adjusted the carb. Works fine and cuts all day long. Sounds like you may have the same problem. It's always good to have a backup saw even if it is a peice of crap Poulon.
The guy had a neat little gizmo he held up by the spark plug wire to tell how fast the RPM's were, reminds me I was going to try to find one. He said it wasn't very expensive.
)</font>
Glad your happy with your new toys. Both the saw and the tractor.
I had a similar problem with my husky chain saw. I took it to the shop. Tha guy put a new plug in it and adjusted the carb. Works fine and cuts all day long. Sounds like you may have the same problem. It's always good to have a backup saw even if it is a peice of crap Poulon.
The guy had a neat little gizmo he held up by the spark plug wire to tell how fast the RPM's were, reminds me I was going to try to find one. He said it wasn't very expensive.
copperhead1967
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
- Messages
- 250
- Location
- greensburg PA
- Tractor
- kubota BX22, Cub ZForce S 48 inch deck
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( . (because it would have run out of gas or just quit on me, and I would have had to let it cool for a couple of hours before I could get it restarted).
)</font>
Glad your happy with your new toys. Both the saw and the tractor.
I had a similar problem with my husky chain saw. I took it to the shop. Tha guy put a new plug in it and adjusted the carb. Works fine and cuts all day long. Sounds like you may have the same problem. It's always good to have a backup saw even if it is a peice of crap Poulon.
The guy had a neat little gizmo he held up by the spark plug wire to tell how fast the RPM's were, reminds me I was going to try to find one. He said it wasn't very expensive.
)</font>
Glad your happy with your new toys. Both the saw and the tractor.
I had a similar problem with my husky chain saw. I took it to the shop. Tha guy put a new plug in it and adjusted the carb. Works fine and cuts all day long. Sounds like you may have the same problem. It's always good to have a backup saw even if it is a peice of crap Poulon.
The guy had a neat little gizmo he held up by the spark plug wire to tell how fast the RPM's were, reminds me I was going to try to find one. He said it wasn't very expensive.
OP
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
Hmmm. I hadn't thought to have someone look at it. I figured it did this from the first day I used it to the last, so it was just not a good chain saw. My brother-in-law has the same exact chain saw and told me a few weeks ago his does the same thing, and like mine, his doesn't cut very well. Besides, given the original cost ($99), I am not sure its worth the cost of having someone charge me to tune it. I loaned it to a friend the other night, warning him about its not-so-great performance. He grew up in the Northern Minnesota woods, and his family heated their house with wood, so he grew up with chain saws. He's going to see if he can get it to work better while he uses it. I told him don't hurry to bring it back.
OP
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
Hmmm. I hadn't thought to have someone look at it. I figured it did this from the first day I used it to the last, so it was just not a good chain saw. My brother-in-law has the same exact chain saw and told me a few weeks ago his does the same thing, and like mine, his doesn't cut very well. Besides, given the original cost ($99), I am not sure its worth the cost of having someone charge me to tune it. I loaned it to a friend the other night, warning him about its not-so-great performance. He grew up in the Northern Minnesota woods, and his family heated their house with wood, so he grew up with chain saws. He's going to see if he can get it to work better while he uses it. I told him don't hurry to bring it back.
TommyT
Member
My Stihl dealer (not the same place as my Kubota dealer) does minor adjustments / tuning / maintenance whenever I take my saws in for sharpening. All included in the $7 for sharpening.
I calculated wrong, my Stihl O15L will be 29 this year. Paid about 80 bucks for it way back then. Makes the $425 I paid for the new MS260 sound crazy.
You're lucky to have a great Kuboata and Stihl dealer all in one. Orange Rules!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I calculated wrong, my Stihl O15L will be 29 this year. Paid about 80 bucks for it way back then. Makes the $425 I paid for the new MS260 sound crazy.
You're lucky to have a great Kuboata and Stihl dealer all in one. Orange Rules!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
TommyT
Member
My Stihl dealer (not the same place as my Kubota dealer) does minor adjustments / tuning / maintenance whenever I take my saws in for sharpening. All included in the $7 for sharpening.
I calculated wrong, my Stihl O15L will be 29 this year. Paid about 80 bucks for it way back then. Makes the $425 I paid for the new MS260 sound crazy.
You're lucky to have a great Kuboata and Stihl dealer all in one. Orange Rules!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I calculated wrong, my Stihl O15L will be 29 this year. Paid about 80 bucks for it way back then. Makes the $425 I paid for the new MS260 sound crazy.
You're lucky to have a great Kuboata and Stihl dealer all in one. Orange Rules!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
