Which Stihl pole saw?

[i579rbd]

I've got the Stihl that extends. I think you will appreciate the extra reach. It has been a great saw. Besides keeping your face pretty you may want the extra reach to put more sunlight on the edge of a field or stop overhanging limbs from dropping new seeds.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Using the harness I mentioned in post #18, I can easily put in a few hours with my Stihl HT131. Unlike other harnesses, this one will pretty much remove the total weight of the saw from your arms.

Sounds good, but does the harness still bear all the weight when you have to lift the saw with your arms over your head to reach a branch way up there? I seem to do a fair amount of that kind of thing, and that's what really tires me out.

Been reading more.... looks like the Stil is a 4 cycle, 2 stroke?

(looks like it has valves like a 4 stroke BUT, uses premix?)

Also read that the valves are plastic?? (huh?!!!!)

I am a big fan of Stihl but that alone might sway me to the Husky. I need to get to the dealer and see them.

I hope you have better luck gettin' the straight dope on the engine from the dealer than I did. Nothing he said made any sense to me:confused2:. I'd really like to see an exploded view parts diagram. FWIW, I did find a video showing the valve adjustment procedure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82xlP6mpZiQ

Also found a trouble shooting guide for the 4-MIX engine that shows a picture of the valve adjusters (no instructions for adjusting them, but looks like a simple screw type adjuster):
http://golftechs.us/Reference/4.pdf

Stihl sells a special 0.004" feeler gauge for the job (cheap:thumbsup.

No way the valves are plastic:shocked:. Can you site the reference that made that claim?

My ex wife's favorite saying was
" Bob we do not need one of those "

Heck of a difference between WE and I, especially when the I isn't the one doing all the work. Maybe part of the reason she's an ex, huh. :laughing:

 

[KiotiKowboy]

...but does the harness still bear all the weight when you have to lift the saw with your arms over your head...

The harness has a lifting arm that extends in front and above you. The arm has 2 pistons, like a hatchback car, to lift the saw. You have "some" adjustment on the starting point of the lift force. Within the range of its operation, there is very little lifting required by the operator. Like any harness, the weight is transferred to the vest - meaning your shoulders and trunk. An HT131 can still get heavy but your arms will thank you. The thing I find most difficult is getting into the vest and hooked up to the saw - after that it's easy. You can get a pretty good idea by watching the site videos.

The cost is something to consider. If I was talking about residential usage, I would not suggest paying the price. For me, I've got at least 3 miles of tree line to maintain.

 

[s219]

I stopped at a Rural Farm store tonight and looked at the PAS266.
Then I started looking around at attachments, and all of them stated they were for PA 260, 261 and 265.
So I asked the kid in the area, he was lost, he barely knew how to read much less figure out the differences so He called the manager, and of course the manager said none of the attachments fit that PAS266 powerhead and blamed the issue on the Echo rep and that they will have to call them to figure out what is going on

Sounds like a bunch of dopes. There are several different PAS powerheads with different CC and horsepower. The same attachments work on all of them, though some attachments are only recommended for the more powerful models.

 

[Sodo]

looked at the PAS266,,,,,,,and all of them stated they were for PA 260, 261 and 265,,,,,,manager said none of the attachments fit that PAS266 powerhead ,,,,,,will have to call them to figure out what is going on

That's funny. I called to see if the store had what I wanted in-stock and it was the same thing, PAS 266 powerhead and all the accessories said PAS 26_ (but nothing said 266). So I went there, and test-fitted the stuff and it all fit perfectly.

 

[dodge man]

I'm not sure, but I think my Stihl pole saw is a stroke. It sounds a little different but you wouldn't really notice the difference. Yes it still takes the oil and gas mix. I assume they are starting to use 4 strokes more because of emmisions.

 

[ac2520]

I narrowed my choices to the Stihl HT-101 and the Echo PPT-266. The dealer where I bought my tractor had both of these in stock. I ended up purchasing the Echo PPT-266 mostly due to how the handle felt and what I felt was less flexing of the pole when fully extended. Both very subjective criteria. I used it to prune a bunch of trees and am happy with my purchase. Good luck

 

[coobie]

I narrowed my choices to the Stihl HT-101 and the Echo PPT-266. The dealer where I bought my tractor had both of these in stock. I ended up purchasing the Echo PPT-266 mostly due to how the handle felt and what I felt was less flexing of the pole when fully extended. Both very subjective criteria. I used it to prune a bunch of trees and am happy with my purchase. Good luck

I am sure you will be happy with the echo they make a good product.

 

[lilranch2001]

I stopped in at the Farm and Fleet store tonight to see if they had any info since they have not called me in 4 days
I talked to the manager and he was like....
"Well the Echo Rep hasn't called back" and that was it...

I really do not know how these big box stores even stay in business
I will tell you its the last time I go in there
With almost a grand worth of tools to be purchased and the manager of the store is that flip, I don't need to support them
Let him sell his 2 dollar bags of candy

 

[RalphVa]

I'm loving my new 40v Kobalt chain saw. GardenersEdge now offers a 40v pole saw. That's what I'd go for. No startiing problems and use half (in the fossil fuel cycle) the fuel of a gas saw. Not much noise either.

Ralph