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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,855 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,855 Likes: 3 |
What does your local dealer sell? I am not a fan on Husky or Stihl and would go with an Echo. They make some really nice "pro" saws that your average consumer overlooks. I bought an Echo brush cutter a couple of years ago and I like it. They make good equipment. Its a little easier to start than most of my Stihl stuff but its newer so hard to say its "better". I don't think you could go wrong with either. But if the OP has an Echo servicing dealer close by then yeah I'd check out their saws.
"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants". --- William Penn
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,437 Likes: 4
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,437 Likes: 4 |
I like my husky 346 xp.... 50cc saw but rips.... it will run a 20" bar which I do because I hate bending over but it's probably best with a 16 or 18. Love that little hot rod.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,549
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,549 |
I had an 044 stihl for years. Good saw. I have a stihl 500I now. What a beast! Husky makes some good saws too
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,250 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,250 Likes: 2 |
I bought a Stihl at a pawn shop about 15 years ago, MS270 I think. Paid $100. it has been a Beast. rebuilt the engine last year (Stihl shop) the guy at the shop wanted to buy it from me, LOL.
can't beat Stihl
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,472
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,472 |
Another vote for Stihl, but stay away from the C-M series saws as they have a reliability problem. For a Stihl pro level saw - leaves you with: 261 - 50cc 4hp 362 - 59cc 4.6hp 500I - 72 cc 6.7hp and electronic fuel injected, if the m-tronic scares someone, EFI likely does too 880 Magnum - 122cc 8.6hp Of those - I'd guess 362 meets his criteria the best. The 261 and 362 are kinda turds. The New Ms400C which is a souped up 362 is a great saw. There is nothing wrong with Mtronic on the latest saws. In fact it's a good thing for most guys who can't tune a carb to save their lives.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,472
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,472 |
I like my husky 346 xp.... 50cc saw but rips.... it will run a 20" bar which I do because I hate bending over but it's probably best with a 16 or 18. Love that little hot rod. 346 Is the best 50cc chainsaw ever made IMO.
Last edited by BWalker; 07/11/22.
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 456
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 456 |
I bought a ms-390 about 15 years ago. it came with I think a 24 inch bar. Besides having starting issues its been a pretty good saw. i then put a 20 inch bar on it and it made all the difference. If i can get it started it is a cutting fool.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,572 Likes: 6
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,572 Likes: 6 |
Youngest picked up a Husqvarna w/16" bar. I ain't cutting no heavy timber, it'll take down anything I care to tie into. I can take down trees up to 36/40 inches. That's more than I want to mess with. Oldest bought a Homelite gas weed eater a couple of years back It's been a good one.
Just never run that ethanol crap!
I use 100% gas and mix my own or the pre-mix (50:1) in the can.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 300
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 300 |
Buy once, cry once! Stihl 500i is the best power to weight ratio saw Ive ever had on my hands and that's saying something!
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 104
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 104 |
I bought a ms-390 about 15 years ago. it came with I think a 24 inch bar. Besides having starting issues its been a pretty good saw. i then put a 20 inch bar on it and it made all the difference. If i can get it started it is a cutting fool. Same thing here on getting it started. I have a really low mileage 30 year old Husqvarne xp 266 and for that reason I have considered getting a new Stihl. Are the new saws any easier to start?
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,248 Likes: 6
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,248 Likes: 6 |
I’m an arborist. All we run are Stihl. If I was looking for a good homeowner saw that could cut down a decent sized tree and do great for firewood I’d go with the MS250.
Make sure to use fuel stabilizers or even better, get pre-mixed fuel from a company like VP.
Last edited by Jeffrey; 07/11/22.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,686
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,686 |
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,248 Likes: 6
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,248 Likes: 6 |
We had a Husky rep drop some saws off a few years ago. They [bleep] the bed pretty quick. Our stihls go to the shop too, but usually from honest wear and tear of from rolling around in trucks or the occasional fall from a tree. If you buy a Stihl and take care of it, it should last a homeowner a very long time.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 300
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 300 |
I bought a ms-390 about 15 years ago. it came with I think a 24 inch bar. Besides having starting issues its been a pretty good saw. i then put a 20 inch bar on it and it made all the difference. If i can get it started it is a cutting fool. Same thing here on getting it started. I have a really low mileage 30 year old Husqvarne xp 266 and for that reason I have considered getting a new Stihl. Are the new saws any easier to start? 500i will start from cold engine in 3 cranks, whether its Zero or 100 degrees.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 69,724 Likes: 30
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 69,724 Likes: 30 |
I've been window shopping myself. Sorta settled on a Stihl 462 with a 25 inch bar. Longer the bar, less I need to bend over for trimming branches etc when the tree's down. I have a 24" and a 20" Husky... I like the 20" much better for just general cutting. But when I have to tackle the big stuff, that 24" with a full chisel, skip tooth chain cuts like a beast. I haven't settled on it - was just my thinking on 25 inch bar which is the recommended length Stihl has on the 462 Dad was a Stihl guy, lots of friends are Stihl guys and IIRC Stick - Husky (love him or hate him, he cut a lot of wood). Recently it seems like the Stihl is the better choice than Husky on new saws - dunno how true and doubt you can go wrong betwixt the 2. I've had and run both Stihl and Husqvarna over the years. Can't really say I can tell a difference in how they cut, but it's my experience the Husky starts easier, both from the first start to restarting after chain repair, refueling etc. after it's hot. Won't cut much if it's not running...
Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla!
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370 |
I’m still using Stihl…my interpretation of “pro level” means being able to find parts if something breaks.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,742
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,742 |
I'v got a good Sachs Dolmar-- fast and good. But in talking to some of the local loggers around here , they use Husky's----- Talk to the local loggers in your area.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,266 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,266 Likes: 37 |
I bought a ms-390 about 15 years ago. it came with I think a 24 inch bar. Besides having starting issues its been a pretty good saw. i then put a 20 inch bar on it and it made all the difference. If i can get it started it is a cutting fool. My dad's is probably about 8 years old or so now. Hard starter as well. I've heard tho - the more recent M-Tronic Stihls start much easier.
Me
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 61
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 61 |
Spent 20 years in logging camp in AK, only two saw’s you’ll ever see are Husky and Stihl
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,923
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,923 |
Stihl 400 Weight of a 362 but with extra CCs
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