New Chainsaw Question

mountainlake · Dec 21, 2010

Yes the same mountainlake, I'd agree if he's going to be cutting big wood a lot get a 372 or better yet a 7900. if he only has a few big ones and most are smaller get a 60cc saws, I'm pushing 60 and a 70 cc saws wears me out fast, I can run a 15"# full 50cc all day. Steve

LD1 · Dec 21, 2010

mountainlake said:
Yes the same mountainlake,

Well, welcome to this forum steve. I like it here better than there. But to each his own I guess. It just seems to be a friendlier environment here with a wider range of topics IMO. I rarley go there unless it is to search for dumb stuff like saw problems or to get an idea of what a particular saw is worth.

mountainlake · Dec 21, 2010

Thanks, theres a lot of follow the leader over there and some that shouldn't run a saw. They can sure get a a guy like a pack of wolves sometimes. Steve

Chilly807 · Dec 21, 2010

I haven't been that impressed by Husqvarna over the past while, maybe that's just me. I've got an older 242 that works really well, but for a bigger saw I run an older 044 Stihl with 20" bar.

Husky's quality seems to have suffered in the past 10 years or so, a 372 calls for a lot of cash out of pocket in my opinion. If I had to buy either a 372 Husky or a 441 Stihl new, which I hope I never have to, the Stihl would get the nod.

Echo makes a good saw, they just don't have the following the Husky and Stihl does.

No experience with Dolmar in the past 20 years.

Sean

MiserableOldFart · Dec 22, 2010

Again, thanks for all the replies. The thing about the 372 is, it feels lighter than other comparable saws I've picked up. Was at a Stihl dealer today and was holding some of their saws, and they felt heavy. He was recommending a 440 (I think, the model numbers are swimming around me) but didn't have one in stock, but the smaller one, the 362, I think, just felt too heavy for my 60 year frame. Went to a Husky dealer and again held the 372 (which is apparently at the end of its run because Husky only shows the wrap-around model on their site) and it again felt quite a bit lighter.

Tried to get to the Echo dealer but couldn't find him. Left my mapquest map home. I'll call him tomorrow. Can't buy a saw without feeling it in my hands, for sure.

The Husky Rancher refurbisheds only carry a 90 day warranty. So I dropped that off my "possibles" list. Not an appropriate guarantee for a factory refurbished, IMHO. I was aware that they are not the top line Huskys, but if they had a year warranty I might have jumped on one anyway.

Stihl guy was cool. Had the saws lined up in three rows top shelf homeowner, second shelf, landowner, bottom shelf pro and all three in ascending size from left to right, with price tags. I do not like dealers who don't put price tags on the machines. The Stihls have a very good look about them, felt solid, nice fit and finish, etc.

Saw a Husky 372 for about $100 less than quoted by the other dealer the other day. Won't bite on it though until I've held the Echos in my hand.

Don't know why $750 or more for a saw gives me sticker shock. My CS 500 VL set me back $350 and that was 25 years ago, so it's natural to expect price to double and then add some for a bigger machine.

LD1 · Dec 22, 2010

MiserableOldFart said:
Again, thanks for all the replies. The thing about the 372 is, it feels lighter than other comparable saws I've picked up. Was at a Stihl dealer today and was holding some of their saws, and they felt heavy. He was recommending a 440 (I think, the model numbers are swimming around me) but didn't have one in stock, but the smaller one, the 362, I think, just felt too heavy for my 60 year frame. Went to a Husky dealer and again held the 372 (which is apparently at the end of its run because Husky only shows the wrap-around model on their site) and it again felt quite a bit lighter.

Tried to get to the Echo dealer but couldn't find him. Left my mapquest map home. I'll call him tomorrow. Can't buy a saw without feeling it in my hands, for sure.

The Husky Rancher refurbisheds only carry a 90 day warranty. So I dropped that off my "possibles" list. Not an appropriate guarantee for a factory refurbished, IMHO. I was aware that they are not the top line Huskys, but if they had a year warranty I might have jumped on one anyway.

Stihl guy was cool. Had the saws lined up in three rows top shelf homeowner, second shelf, landowner, bottom shelf pro and all three in ascending size from left to right, with price tags. I do not like dealers who don't put price tags on the machines. The Stihls have a very good look about them, felt solid, nice fit and finish, etc.

Saw a Husky 372 for about $100 less than quoted by the other dealer the other day. Won't bite on it though until I've held the Echos in my hand.

Don't know why $750 or more for a saw gives me sticker shock. My CS 500 VL set me back $350 and that was 25 years ago, so it's natural to expect price to double and then add some for a bigger machine.

If you can, do more than just hold the saws. A good dealer will have a log out back and let you run the saws before you buy.

And the 460, while not a TRUE pro saw, it is darn close. It used to be that there were two types, homeowner and pro. Pro saws had the magnesium cases and adjustable oilers while the homeowners had plastic cases and NON adjustable oilers. It used to be black and white.

Husky and some others have blured the line a bit with their "landowner" models. They still have the mag cases and adjustable oilers and are built as good as pro saws, they just aren't tuned to run the RPM and make the HP as to not overshadow their pro saws.

Some examples in the husky lineup of darn good saws are the 460, 365, and the 570. The 365 is actually the exact same saw as the 372xp but with a smaller jug and piston.

Chilly807 · Dec 22, 2010

MiserableOldFart said:
Again, thanks for all the replies. The thing about the 372 is, it feels lighter than other comparable saws I've picked up. Was at a Stihl dealer today and was holding some of their saws, and they felt heavy. He was recommending a 440 (I think, the model numbers are swimming around me) but didn't have one in stock, but the smaller one, the 362, I think, just felt too heavy for my 60 year frame. Went to a Husky dealer and again held the 372 (which is apparently at the end of its run because Husky only shows the wrap-around model on their site) and it again felt quite a bit lighter.

The 440/441 is the Stihl answer to the 372XP, as I recall it's 72 cc as well. Mine is the older model 044, the 441 is the modern version of the same saw.

LD is right, it's really worth leaning on the dealer to let you run the saw for a couple minutes before buying. Vibration is a big factor in saws that size. I've never run a 372, so I can't comment. The 044 I have, even with 20 year old anti-vibe bushings is smooth as silk, accelerates and cuts like an F1 car.

The 372 is probably about the same, neither Husky nor Stihl can afford to let the other dominate that market, that size saw is hugely popular with pro loggers.

I don't like any big saw for limbing, they're just too heavy. I usually drop either the 262 Husky or the 044 Stihl in the tractor bucket for felling and bucking big stuff, and let the 242 Husky do what it does best, limbing. I also have an older 023 Stihl that's a surprisingly durable homeowner saw for light work like limbing and fence posts. Good power for a 40 cc saw too.

Good luck with the saw!

Sean

dfkrug · Dec 22, 2010

LD1 said:
But again, as you probabally already figured out, I am partial to dolmars. The 6400 IMO is one of the best in the 60-70cc range.

I agree. I rented the Makita version of the Dolmar 6400 back in the 90s,
and I would have bought one if it did not cost so much more than the
455 Rancher. Trying it out for a half day was a great test.

I need a good small saw, too, because I am cutting on very steep slopes.
My current Makita suffered a broken plastic body where the starter
cord is, making it hard to start at times. The part costs as much as I paid
for the whole saw. Maybe I should get one of those small top-handle pro
saws. Any experience with those, LD1?

LD1 · Dec 22, 2010

dfkrug said:
I agree. I rented the Makita version of the Dolmar 6400 back in the 90s,
and I would have bought one if it did not cost so much more than the
455 Rancher. Trying it out for a half day was a great test.

I need a good small saw, too, because I am cutting on very steep slopes.
My current Makita suffered a broken plastic body where the starter
cord is, making it hard to start at times. The part costs as much as I paid
for the whole saw. Maybe I should get one of those small top-handle pro
saws. Any experience with those, LD1?

Actually the dolmar 6400 (actually the makita version) is one of the best saws for the money. The 455ranchers run about $400 if memory serves me correctly. The makita DCS6401 can be had for $499 at baileysonline.com most dealers sell the dolmar version, the ps6400, for around $600 bucks. But we were buying 4 saws total when we bought the 6400's and they met the price baileys has. he sold them for $500OTD. Which was actually less than baileys by the time you figure shipping. And the dealer actually sold them for less than that because of the TAX.

It always amazes me when I talk to professionals that have been around saws and cutting forever who say that they have never heard of dolmar:confused2: But they are top-notch just like stihl and husky. Several companies "claim" to have invented the first gas-powered chainsaw, and dolmar is one of them making that claim. Regardless of who actually did, dolmar has been around since the 1920's.

As to the top handel saws, no I have actually never owned one. I perfer a larger saw with at least a 24" bar. Less bending over and I can also reach higher limbs.

So I have never felt the need for a top handel. But the pros around here seem to use either the husky 338xpt or the stihl ms200t, so they must be decient. I just cant see spending $400 give or take for little and slow saw.