Small Chain Saw Advice?

[Vob]

Hi, I'm a newbie from the (shock horror) UK. I am an apprentice tree surgeon, working on the local government's tree gang.
I own a Stihl 009 and a Husky 50, both second hand.The 50 feels great, but is battle weary and has been run without chain oil and the chain break band has been cut by the previous owner;god only knows what else is wrong with it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
The 009 is ok, but the carb is mis-adjusted and it's very temperamental-gave up on me mid-job on some pruning work yesterday.

basically, what course of action should i take for these two rotters and are they worth it? Obviously it'll be hard to judge without seeing the saws, but i have little clue about the actual models and want to know if they may be worth restoring.

Also, what's the best hobby saw on the market. I'll probably buy Stihl or husky, but i want something from their lower power end;ALL the saws will be for personal use, once or twice a month, for now...

Any correspondance'll be well appreciated, Saw Jockeys!

P.S. I am 21, on about $150/$180 a week and have no savings /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[btolle]

I have a Stihl and here in East Texas where logging is the big industry most of the loggers use Stihl.

You might want to take the Stihl to a dealer and get an estimate on what it would cost to have it put back in good shape. Unfortunately, it may cost as much to rebuild it as you would pay for a new one but the only one who can tell you is a dealer.

For a very inexpensive chainsaw a Poulan may be OK. I had an 18" Poulan "Wild Thing" and it did a pretty good job and held up well. Cost about 1/2 (or less) what an 18" Stihl costs.

If you plan on keeping it for many years you will be better off to stick with Stihl.

BTW, the Husky is also a good product and is the second most popular in this area. I have seen both brands that had been used every day and held up equally well.

Bill Tolle

 

[Vob]

Thanks, Mr Tolle. I haven't seen Poulans for sale in the uk, only Makita, Jonsered, MacCulloch, Alpine and Stihl and Husqvarna.
I'm lucky enough to have a local dealer that does both top makes, and i'm only lookin for a short guide bar (13-16")
It'll mainly be used for cutting timber into blocks for my fathers wood turning business /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

I used to buy "whatever is cheap" when I needed a chainsaw. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Last summer, I broke open the piggy bank and bought a new Stihl MS260 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Best saw I've ever ran. Best money I've ever spent on a tool. I got a 14" bar and 3 spare chains, and I went WAY over my budget, and got an Oregon chain sharpener. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I no longer fear cutting wood............... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobertN]

Get a Husky 335XPT. It is tailor made Arborist saw. Your application is specifically what it was designed for. It is pricey, but good tools cost money, and you will be depending on it when you are up in a tree.

Around here, some folks will keep an Echo, since they are less expensive to replace when dropped from a tree...

The other option is to have the two saw you have serviced. Bars do not last forever; replace the one you have on the saw. Keep extra chains, and keep them sharp. There is few things worse than a dull cutting tool. It only takes a minute to run a file on a small saw...

At worst case, maybe get a new saw, and have one of the old ones serviced and tuned, as a backup...

 

[Egon]

Ever consider an electric chain saw.

I like them if I'm going up a tree to remove some limbs.

Egon

 

[notamustang]

( Around here, some folks will keep an Echo, since they are less expensive to replace when dropped from a tree...)

I have a 14" echo and its great for one hand operation, it also has a nice ring to tie a rope too.
By the way VoB welcome to the TBN !!!

 

[tinytractors]

I like the Echo CS3400 with a 12" bar... It's quit a bit like the Stihl 009, but less expensive. Very durable and troublefree in the 6 yrs I've been using it.

Pete.

 

[RobertN]

Interestingly, a lot of the crews I see here that do trimming around power lines use hydraulic driven saws....

The issue with an electric saw is if an accident happens up in a tree, and that power cord gets cut. That would be bad if you got shocked up there in a tree...

Some of the saws made for the aborist, are made for use one handed too, even though it is frowned upon due to safety.

 

[Egon]

I like the light weight and start stop feature of the electric saw.

One does have to be careful with the cord both for cutting it and dropping a limb on it.

Then there are also some challenged folks that use a ladder to get up into the tree, don't tie it off and have falling limbs knock it down. Makes it real interesting when working alone and the tree trunk diameter is much larger than the arm reach. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Then there are other people who climb up the tree on the limbs cutting them off as they go higher. Could be called enforced tree sitting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Getting off topic but there have been some good saws recommended here.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Vob]

Thanks for all the advice, chaps. i went to my stihl/Husky dealer and he reccomended the stihl 170 or 180 over the equivalent husky.

I dunno about the US, but here you need a Chainsaw from a rope and harness license to but a top handled saw, so the 200t or equivalent is out of bounds.

how come guys in the US use the husky top handle? in the UK, we don't give it a second chance!

Stihl 200's all the way, it seems. I'm not speaking from experience, just other people.

 

[RobertN]

Which Husky model was he comparing too?

In my expierience with Chainsaws, Stihl/Husky are pretty much on par even.

My Arborist buddy has both brands. He has the Husky 335XPT, and the equivilant Stihl. He uses and likes both...

It is odd that you have reg's on use of a top handle saw...

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( how come guys in the US use the husky top handle? in the UK, we don't give it a second chance!)</font>

My small saw is a Husky 338XTP with the top handle. I like the top handle since the weight is balanced below my hand so it can be easily operated with 1 hand. When the weight is out front, the center of gravity is off and it gets hard on the wrist.

 

[Egon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ( how come guys in the US use the husky top handle? in the UK, we don't give it a second chance!)



I'm guessing it's a safety issue involving kickback. One has less leverage with the top handle.

Egon

 

[Mith]

at work there is a husky top handle on a shelf, nice as anything /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif real easy to handle (havent tried it, its too new) theyre not supposed to be sold to anyone who dont have a licence. its price tag is at £350 inc VAT /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

as to what you have already, the husky, sounds troublesome, leave it for now.
the stihl, adjust the carb, maybe a new sparker. i just completely stripped and redid a 013 (needed new piston and rings) they arent to hard to fix, maybe ask your stihl dealer to show you how to adjust it. go in buy some oil or something and ask, he should show you.
you say its very tempremantal, is this cos the carb is misadjusted, have you the right mix?

new wise get yourself a stihl, husky and any other dealers that are in your area magazine and price list. compare the models and prices.
go talk to your local dealer and say what you said here, he may have just the thing. seems sad to buy new for </font><font color="blue" class="small">( personal use, once or twice a month,)</font>

btw, welcome, nice to have more from the UK, well outnubler the USA soon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(north or south wales?)

 

[Vob]

South Wales, my friend-Swansea area.

yourself?

 

[Mith]

north hampshire ish

 

[voodoo]

Hi there and welcome to the forum. As Mith says, the more from this side of the "pond" on this forum the better. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Now down to business. I am totally biased, but go get yourself a Stihl. I bought a MS 250 last year with 16" bar. Paid £285 (inc VAT). Its the absolute dogs *$£^%^%^.

Like I said I'm biased. My father has a Stihl 044 somewhere in the region of 25yrs old. I grew up with him using it. Nothing it ever couldn't cut. Nothing ever broke. Oil lub to chain gave up once. Found out it was bit of dirt. Strip, clean and airline through and back to full operation.

The MS 250 has a reinforced plastic crank case. I thought this must be cheaper than the aluminium. Dealer says that in the 6 yrs Stihl has gone to plastic, there has never been one cracked, split or worn out through his door. The weight saving is a big bonus.

If you're serious about the tree surgery work, spend the money. If it dosn't work out the Stihl will still hold its value the best. Just look at e-bay to see the serious second hand money they make.

You might want to see a a dealer will give you something for your two knackered saws towards a new one. Alternatively, what about putting them on e-bay and getting what you can for them.

Hope this helps.

Nigel