What is the good Chainsaw for clearing?

[ericm979]

So how do you run them dry? Siphon the fuel from the tank and then let the carburetor run dry?

If there's a fuel valve, I turn it off and let the engine idle until it's used up the fuel in the carb. With chainsaws I dump the gas into a can, then start the saw and let it idle to run the carb dry. The old gas goes into the lawn mower or log splitter.

OTOH my riding mower is 24 years old and since it does not have a valve, I just let it sit with gas in the carb. Never been a problem. It's also on the original carb. I should probably replace the original fuel line as it's looking kind of moldy on the outside.

Ethanol can cause phase separation in cold weather but it doesn't get that cold in my part of CA.

 

[Reddogs]

well,-- lets see,---Powerful?,--lightweight?,-- start on first pull????????????????? THAT rules out ALL chainsaws! lol! Better opt for a big dozer and be done with it!lol!

So you dont mind dropping 700 green backs a day to clear out all the lots...better to just buy a new tractor with the attachments, and a good chainsaw...

 

[Reddogs]

Battery chainsaws are almost here. My primary chainsaw is a Stihl....but it is picky about just what gas it likes - and there are days I just don't want to pull that cord or wrestle with it. I've been cutting our firewood since building the cabin in 1971 and don't need the hassle.

So I decided to try a portable electric. A Makita XCU03. It runs on two 18 volt lithium batteries and comes standard with 4 batteries & dual charger..
Frankly I've been surprised at how handy it is. It's a lightweight nicely balanced saw and one set of batteries will drop a mature 10 inch ponderosa pine, then limb and dice it up into 16" rounds. 4 batteries will do two trees, which is more than the FEL bucket can hold.

There are downsides: It does use a chain with smallish teeth, and lacks any low end torque for getting unstuck. Bring a mallet and plastic wedge - but then I do that anyway. Plus it has just about the worst bar oiler - or non-oiler - that I've yet seen. It has an adjustable oiler which allows for multiple settings that don't work. So also along comes the shampoo bottle of bar oil.

It's a nice trimming and limbing saw that will also do enough small tree work to make it worth bringing along. I'd buy it again.
rScotty

The ones that seem to fit the bill are the Stihl battery powered chainsaw with 36 volt battery and the Dewalt battery powered chainsaw with 60 volt battery, but curiously they are missing out of the inventory in the stores (they leave them out on the floor with no security, wonder where they went).

 

[warrendeere]

I have used battery powered saws and for limbing trees, they are good. But the most powerful battery chainsaw wouldn't hold a candle to a mid grade pro saw. Heck, it probably wouldn't out do a low grade pro saw, like 50cc or higher. Wranglerstar has a good comparison. Now for occassional work, i understand a battery saw. But not for clearing land. It just wont last or hold up

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

The ones that seem to fit the bill are the Stihl battery powered chainsaw with 36 volt battery and the Dewalt battery powered chainsaw with 60 volt battery, but curiously they are missing out of the inventory in the stores (they leave them out on the floor with no security, wonder where they went).

I have a couple friends that have the Milwaukee 18V saw. They both love them. I have the Milwaukee weedeater and blower. Don't let the "little" 18v battery throw you off. They are super powerful. I would not expect to be able to run it all day on 1 battery but for intermittent work they would be great. I would hesitate to recommend a battery saw as primary for your project but they have their place.

 

[JDZ735M]

The ones that seem to fit the bill are the Stihl battery powered chainsaw with 36 volt battery and the Dewalt battery powered chainsaw with 60 volt battery, but curiously they are missing out of the inventory in the stores (they leave them out on the floor with no security, wonder where they went).

Most places I see them have them chained down pretty good.

 

[JDZ735M]

So you dont mind dropping 700 green backs a day to clear out all the lots...better to just buy a new tractor with the attachments, and a good chainsaw...

I understand your point as it's exactly what I usually do. But I have been in situations where, after it's all said and done, I wished I had just paid the money and got someone with the experience, equipment and expertise to knock it out quickly so I could move on with other projects and just maintain the finished result of the main project. It will have to be maintained after all.

Looking back on some, I would have been better off because by the time I got through doing it myself with little equipment I was just right back where I started. Had I had it all done with proper equipment I would have been way ahead.

It really just depends on the extent you want done and the time line you need to have it done by. If you are just doing it to have something to do then have at it with a chainsaw and tractor. But if you are wanting to develop something professionally for profit, gotta remember, Time Is Money.

 

[big bubba]

I have used battery powered saws and for limbing trees, they are good. But the most powerful battery chainsaw wouldn't hold a candle to a mid grade pro saw. Heck, it probably wouldn't out do a low grade pro saw, like 50cc or higher. Wranglerstar has a good comparison. Now for occassional work, i understand a battery saw. But not for clearing land. It just wont last or hold up

i'd say your u tube selection should be required reading for those considering battery powered ch saws. definitely advantages to battery, but he does bring out good points in favor of gas powered. it's always about choice & application interesting view

 

[arrow]

luckily our local Cenex (Roseau MN) has a premium non ethanol pump option so that is all I run through my small engines, snowmobiles, wood processor, atv's, etc... the extra cost I think is well worth it.

I think it has made a big difference in lowering repairs over the years.

I highly recommend using the non ethanol suppliers for chain saws.

In the proletarian states i live near such as Ma, RI and Conn, no choice for non ethanol at the pump. You can buy it at our local outdoor power equipment facility..$14 per gallon.

 

[Sonny580]

Non-alki gas here in Il. is hard to get too! --- SAD for sure!

 

[m1garand762]

In the proletarian states i live near such as Ma, RI and Conn, no choice for non ethanol at the pump. You can buy it at our local outdoor power equipment facility..$14 per gallon.

Look around near water boats use non ethanol gas and there is a website that list everywhere non ethanol gas is sold google it

 

[spruce Deere]

As I posted before, I am clearing several lots, and need a good chainsaw to tackle the bigger trees and can grind them down afterward with a stump grinder. But you really cant find out much of anything out of the stores on what works for solid pine and oak that we have down here. What is a good Chainsaw that starts on the first pull, lightweight but powerful, and doesnt breakdown after a day or two of heavy cutting..?

Always been partial to husky myself. Owned stihl, but back with husqvarna. The two brands of saws I would consider for day in and out reliability over and over.

I like a mid-range saws 365 or 372xp hushy or 440 or 460 stihl. Awesome power to weight ratio and handles 28" bars well to save on the bending over, which there is p!enty of doing saw related saw activities.

Good fuel and a little maintenance go a long way on both or any saw

 

[Reddogs]

Most places I see them have them chained down pretty good.

Well, the 18V batteries were the ones that were locked up when I went to check in hardware, and they run $60-70 apiece. But the 40V and 60V were out on the floor or in the box with the chainsaw, and only a few recognized what the value was and put security features on the displays. Consequently their inventory did not match up and they kept saying they had them but when I asked to see a box, none could be found except for the TOOL only boxes....

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Just buy one on clearance. Should be good to go.

 

[Reddogs]

Always been partial to husky myself. Owned stihl, but back with husqvarna. The two brands of saws I would consider for day in and out reliability over and over.

I like a mid-range saws 365 or 372xp hushy or 440 or 460 stihl. Awesome power to weight ratio and handles 28" bars well to save on the bending over, which there is p!enty of doing saw related saw activities.

Good fuel and a little maintenance go a long way on both or any saw

What about weight, after a few hours of cutting, that can be a factor....

 

[arrow]

What about weight, after a few hours of cutting, that can be a factor....

It can be but the longer you work the saw, the stronger your arms get. It got to the point for me that a Husky 372 was simply an extension of my arms. It became weightless after awhile.
If I had to recommend a saw for you saying you are in decent physical shape, it would be the Echo 590.
Put on a 20 " bar and you'll be good to go no matter what you'll confront.
Just quit when you're tired and build up to it gradually.

I once owned a JD 750 and currently a tractor commensurate size wise to your Kubota. I also logged professionally so I know how tough the woods can be on equipment.
I'm telling you that cutting down trees is one thing but if you think you're going to de stump your plots with either of these, you're in for a wake up.

I don't now how much land we're talking about here but a track hoe of some type might be a consideration. Would be much faster than a bulldozer because the hoe can dig out the stump, dig a hole beneath where the stump used to lay, and then bury the stump right there as opposed to going back and forth to keep pushing the mess toward a border line of some sort.

I think a Cat 310 would be more applicable than a Cat D-8 from what I've experienced with land clearing.

 

[MACflyer]

When buying my current saw I spent a lot of time researching and like the suggestions here, decided I couldn't go wrong with a Stihl, Husky, or Echo. Walked into my local Stihl and Echo dealer, and they confessed that even their die hard Stihl fans had become Echo converts with the CS-590. They had several Stihl's on the shelf that they could have sold me right then and there, but they recommended waiting for another CS-590 to come in. It has performed flawlessly (as I'm sure the Stihl would have as well) but cost significantly less than a comparable Stihl or Husky. It may be a little heavier than you're wanting, but if you're in decent shape it's no problem.

 

[JDZ735M]

Non-Ethanol Fuel by State:

https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=NC

 

[arrow]

When buying my current saw I spent a lot of time researching and like the suggestions here, decided I couldn't go wrong with a Stihl, Husky, or Echo. Walked into my local Stihl and Echo dealer, and they confessed that even their die hard Stihl fans had become Echo converts with the CS-590. They had several Stihl's on the shelf that they could have sold me right then and there, but they recommended waiting for another CS-590 to come in. It has performed flawlessly (as I'm sure the Stihl would have as well) but cost significantly less than a comparable Stihl or Husky. It may be a little heavier than you're wanting, but if you're in decent shape it's no problem.

If the 590 wasn't a right fit for the op, going to the 501P could be a feasibility. With an 18" bar, that saw would cut down any tree the op has mentioned thus far.

 

[arrow]

Non-Ethanol Fuel by State:

https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=NC

Thank you. The RI, Ma and CT mentions are selling racing fuels in 5 gallon cans. $65-$80 per can. Nothing at the pumps in these states.
Maybe marinas might have something. Tried the local Piper Cub airport and they only sell to air plane owners on site.

Shouldn't be this hard to obtain but in the infinite wisdom of our federal legislators that represent these areas, its more about transactions than common sense.
Ya know "I'll keep voting for the ethanol mandate Iowa if you can scratch my back later down the road."
With the power of the electoral in Iowa, no presidential candidate will cease the mandate.