Which chain saw?

[jyoutz]

The only regular maintenance that ANY chainsaw requires is: chain sharpening, clean/replace spark plug, use clean fuel and bar oil, clean the gunk off the saw and ocassionally bang out the air filter. Really all saws are the same in this regard. Sounds like what you're reading is just Husky marketing dept. story-telling.

 

[Egon]

Gary:
Gary, I'm not being hard on the the farmer. He had a dog for herding his cows. Trouble was the only tree where the poor dog could lift his leg was 10 miles away and after the 20 mile morning round trip was tired out and usless for herding. The Farmer was going to cut down the tree so his dog would be of some use but did't own an axe or saw. When he went to Regina a slick salesman sold him the most expensive chainsaw in the store [ note: rich farmer ] but didn't tell him all about using it. After several days of sawing the Farmer gave up and set a post in the yard for the dog and gave the saw away to one of his most disliked neighbours. Think that fellow also gave it away.

Egon

 

[looch]

Keeping the chain sharp is the most important part. I take regular breaks while using the saw because you really don't want to use one while you're tired. I take this opportunity to give the teeth a quick whack the file. I also sharpen them before putting the saw away. At the same time I'll clean any gunk out from around the chain-brake area, check/clean the air intake, grease the bar tip, and depending on how long unitl next use - empty the gas tank.

 

[Scott_in_WVA]

The filter.....can go a long time without cleaning.I have used my Stihl all winter without cleaning it...and it it does need a cleaning it is a small task and I have never had trouble with my Stihl.The only maintenance is keeping the chain sharp and the right tension on the bar and keep your fuel/mix clean and you won't have any problems.

 

[dmccarty]

TractorGirl,

Each year in the summer time the saw will be a bit harder
to start so I replace the spark plug. I buy two or so at a time
since my other Stihl equipment uses the same plug.

Use fresh 91+ octane fuel/oil mix.
I use Stihls bar and oil mix. I don't have any problems with
their consumables so I use em.

I sharpen the chain every time I use the saw.

I also clean up the air filter every time or every other time. No
real good reason but I just do it. I did get it clugged up once,
likely because I had not cleaned it in a year. So now I just
do it all the time. Not hard at all.

When its time to put on a new chain I try to remember to
flip the bar over.

Thats about all the maintenance the thing takes. And it does
not take long to do nor is it hard. You will fumble around the
first couple of times but it ain't rocket science.

Later,
Dan

 

[butzkeg]

I've used both Stihl's and Husky's, and have zero complaints about either. Don't know the exact models, but my dad has a Stihl 31 and Husky 28, father-in-law has a couple smaller Stihl's and a Stihl 57 and 84 I believe. I have helped them cut, that's why I don't have any saws. If I had to get one, it would be the best deal on a Husky or Stihl I could get. As much as theirs have been used and continue to hold up, I'm convinced both brands are excellent.

Anyway, that big Stihl is a beast. Must weigh close to 20lbs, feels like 50 after a couple hours, 42" arm, and goes thru just about anything.

 

[Tractorgirl]

Thanks guys! My hubbie was adament that based on speaking with one guy who operates a Husqvarna (who raved about the "no maintenance") that was the route to go. The friend knocked the Stihl for requiring more maintenance. That didn't seem right after what ya'll reported so had to check it out. Thanks!

 

[rstcso]

Just thought I'd heat this up a bit (not hot enough in Texas, yet). I went into my favorite chainsaw shop a couple of months ago. They have been in the same location for over twenty years and have sold Stihl and Husvarna the whole time. In the maintenance area were two Husvarnas and over twenty Stihls. Just an observation /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif.

And of course, I own Husky /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif. I'm not prejudiced, I just wouldn't own any other brand, even if it was given to me (although I would keep it long enough to sell it!).

The local Home Depot started a deal with NationsRent and now have rental in the store. They use Husqvarna equipment.

No matter what route you go, Husqvarna or Stihl, learn it, respect it (immensely) and maintain it properly and it will last for many trees.

Spend the few extra dollars on the safety equipment.

 

[rancar]

No chainsaw is a no maintenance saw. Every one requires maintenance of some sort whether it is change of plugs, chain sharpening, chain replacement and tightening, and the like. I've had my Stihl 044 for 7 years and I've never had to yet bring it in to the shop for maintenance. All I've ever done is sharpen the chain and or replace it and clean saw dust from the air filter. You'll find you'll be doing the same thing with the Huskys.

 

[rstcso]

OOPS. I knew I shouldn't have posted what I did...

<font color=green>...and maintain it properly</font color=green>

You might compare the number of Stihls and Huskys in the shop to how many Dodge Ram pickups (what I own) you would see in the shop compared to the number of Dodge Vipers in the shop at the same time. Just a lot more Stihls out there. The actual failure rate of both, when properly maintained, is quite low.

You MUST take care of it. Sharpened and correctly maintained chains are critical. I used to carry several chains. I would just change the chain when out cutting, then sharpen them all when sitting around the house. Saved a tremendous amount of time while I was out cutting.

Thanks for letting me turn up the heat. We still haven't hit 100 degrees in central Texas this year... yet!

 

[ptonline]

one brand that should not be overlooked is shindaiwa,they are made in japan and are maybe the greatest little saws. their larger ones(over 50 cc) are not as popular being too hard to crank. but they are pricy. I dunno if they are available in the US but up here in the great white north, you see as many of them as jonsered-husky or stihl. used to own one but drove over it with the tractor!!!! still have a jonsered, a husky and one big berta Pioneer that is thirstier than the tractor. PTOnline

 

[toystuff]

I have a Stihl for home use, it has bar about 18". I love it so much I bought a slight bigger one for my God father and he loved it too. My god father now has 4 chain saws but he uses the stihl the most. It starts, runs and cuts the best out of the rest.
My friend bought a big stihl to make himself a log home. Currently he still have not started.

 

[rancar]

Brent....

<font color=blue>"...You might compare the number of Stihls and Huskys in the shop..." </font color=blue>

I wouldn't know how many brand names are in the shop...I've never had a need to bring my 044 to the shop for maintenance. There's also a good reason why there are 2 Huskies and 20 Stihls in the shop for maintenance. This dealer may have sold 20 Stihls but only 2 Huskies over the past few years. This says something about the quality of Stihl products when Stihl out sells the Huskies 10 to 1./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I've used my Stihl 044 each year for seven years, cutting 6-8 cords of firewood. Never had any problems with it except for chain sharpening or replacement. I think it's just a matter of preference. The three big name brands are Stihl, Husqvarna, and Jonsered. I've known timber guys who use all three for various reasons. I'd say just pick one and you'd likely be happy./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bob

 

[cisco]

Well, you folks have covered all the angles, but I'd like to re-emphasize 1 from a prior post. The 20" blade saws are heavy, and the vibration when going through a large piece of hard wood (not pine) is considerable. My wife (125 lbs) would not last long. Indeed, most males, who don't saw daily, won't get past an hour or 2 with a large saw (yeah, they're still standing, but arm reserve strength is too low for safety - i.e., stopping a "kickback"). After the hurricane Hugo hit the South Carolina coast in 1989, there were a lot of folks buying chain saws and trying to clear out their yards - the acute injuries were common, but the chronic stuff such as elbow and shoulder tendinitis was epidemic, and lots of inexperienced folks still have golf, tennis or other game problems because of what they did to their joints over that 5-7 day period of post-storm clean-up. So, keep in mind what you hope to accomplish, over what time frame, and your arm strength and body mass.
Oh yeah, Sears has an 18" Husqvarna on sale, now.

 

[rstcso]

Bob,

I agree the Stihls may very well have outsold the Husqvara. This shop also sells the Jonsered and Shindawa. I hope all know I was just trying to heat things up. I've been happy with the Huskies I've owned, but it's kind-of a Ford/Chevy type of thing, personal preference. They are both very high quality saws and will give anyone years of fantastic service, IF properly maintained.

BTW, I when to buy some Husvarna oil. They didn't have any Husvarna bar oil, so have a gallon of Stihl bar oil in the shed. Felt it was the right thing to do. Always go quality and you'll never regret it!

 

[misterg33]

welcome tractor girl...i too have been lurking in thebackground due to little or no free time...hope to join in more often..i have been a satisfied sthil user the 70's wewhen i purchased a farm boss which is now riding in my tool box in the back of the pickup..never know when u will need saw..2 years ago my farm girl bought me a sthil 046 for my birthday..it is a heavy saw but it does super job on the big stuff{a side note..i had this saw shiped to madsens where they ported and polished and did some carb work..i now have the power of a 048 with the weight of an 046 crazy i know but i always liked fast cars ..i gues fast saws just follows}..i also us a shilt 010av and a 025 for smaller type work..i am in the process of reclaiming the fields on our property (135 ac. in catskill ny...which ever u decide good care and SAFE usage are a must...

 

[rancar]

<font color=blue>I hope all know I was just trying to heat things up.</font color=blue>

Thanks Brent...really appreciate you thinking of us northerners. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Some of us up north need this heating up as even now the August temps are dipping and fall is in the air. Snows are not that far off.

Maybe, I'll look into a Huskie for a limbing saw for my next purchase. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bob

 

[rstcso]

Well, now that I went and tried to heat things up, it hit 100 degrees yesterday. To top it off, my wife and I took the kids to our property after church and started installing a fence for the dogs, so they can play and frolic to their hears content, without trying to "play" with the neighbors cows. Six inches down with manual post hole diggers, hit rock. By the time we finished setting that ONE POST (Ugh!), we decided the pen could wait! When we bought our <font color=green>tractor</font color=green> a few weeks ago, I couldn't justify the post hole digger for setting a dozen posts for this pen. Now my wife is saying maybe we should have gotten it (can you believe how stupid I was for NOT getting it when I had the chance?). Now all my comments on owning a Husqvarna are really tainted /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif.

 

[Tractorgirl]

Well guys, I've got my choices narrowed down to the Husqvarna 357XP/359 OR the Stihl 260 or 290 models. Now over the next few weeks, I'll make it to the dealers to check them out. We'll be traveling back to WV in Oct. to work on the property (it used to be a Girl Scout Camp). Our main goal then is to begin remodeling the Lodge (we also have a dining hall, cabin, old farm house, garage, and "trading post"). But I'm also hoping to tackle some of the trees downed in the creek.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Argee]

Tractorgirl,
Now it boils down to which one feels the most comfortable when you hold it. That's the final decision maker. Remember your going to spend a lot of time with it, so get one that you'll be comfortable with!