Are Stihl saws still dependable

[KYrob]

Are the new Stihl saws as dependable now as they have been? I read where they are made in other countries and have a higher failure rate than in the past. Now I am wondering whether to buy a new one or not. I figure you guys know a lot more about them than I do so what,s the real deal?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Gooserider]

You can depend on them to cost a lot..... :lol:

Gooserider

 

[North of 60]

OH OH POPCORN any one.... Goose, you started it. :lol:

 

[Gooserider]

OH OH POPCORN any one.... Goose, you started it. :lol:

What - I didn't even put in the obligatory Dolmar reference... And if anyone can point me at a CHEAP Stihl dealer.... :lol:

Gooserider

 

[Bigg_Redd]

OH OH POPCORN any one.... Goose, you started it. :lol:

What - I didn't even put in the obligatory Dolmar reference... And if anyone can point me at a CHEAP Stihl dealer.... :lol:

Gooserider

Touche, but now point me to ANY Dolmar dealer.

Bonus points if he/she actually has a saw in stock and knows something about them.

Ouch.

Oh yeah.

Deal with that.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Are the new Stihl saws as dependable now as they have been? I read where they are made in other countries and have a higher failure rate than in the past. Now I am wondering whether to buy a new one or not. I figure you guys know a lot more about them than I do so what,s the real deal?

Thanks,
Rob

It depends. The 250/260/270/280/290/310/361/362/390/441/460/650/660/880 are all very dependable.

If you plan on buying a 170/180/181/192/200/211 I'd say save your money and go buy a Poulan or Dolmar

 

[thinkxingu]

From the sounds of it, all the 'better' brands are reliable: Stihl, Echo, Husky, Dolmar, etc. If you ask this question a million times, you'll get the same answer: The Stihl-heads will say Stihl, the Husky-heads'll say Husky, etc.

SO: go talk to your closest dealer, and if you like him/her, buy the saw they sell that fits your needs. You'll then have supported a local dealer while guaranteeing yourself a place to be taken care of. As for money, Lexus doesn't apologize for their pricing.

S

 

[Stlshrk]

Most of the big brands have their saws split down into homeowner grade, moderate use, and pro level. (even if they all call them by different names) You'll see it time and time again through older threads. The MOST important thing is to have a dealer that is a combination of convenient to you and provides excellent service. That being said, I've had my current saw for over 5 years and no trouble that was not attributed to operator error.

I've never personally seen a Dolmar in my area, or a dealer. But tons of Jonsereds, Huskys, and Stihls. Lots of guys getting good service (along the lines of the grade of saw) from each brand.

Sorry so little help. The location and service, again, are the factors that should make the final call.

The saw threads are getting almost as bad as Ford, Dodge, Chevy or Pepsi, Coke or Brand of Beer etc, etc

 

[smokinj]

You can depend on them to cost a lot..... :lol:

Gooserider

any saw you can use for a couple year and get 95-100 percent back is the clear winner Stihl. Now to the question Stihl are very dependable even there home owner line up....

 

[Highbeam]

The last thing I worried about when I bought my stihl was dependability. I am confident that the stihl is as dependable as any other saw out there. Be more worried about which Stihl to buy. There are so many choices. Honestly, for a little brush and branch saw I really like(d) my poulan for 100$. For cordwood work the bigger saws are much better and that means you need a real brand like dolmar, husky, or stihl.

 

[karri0n]

My poulan seems to work fine for the amount of cutting I do. I'm not doing any major felling, but bucking things 12" to 24" hasn't been an issue, and really doesn't seem at all slow, or like the saw is bogging. The only dependability issue I've seen is in regards to the spark plug. I need to change it once every few months. Switch the chain from a safety chain to a real chain and keep it sharp. I've had no other issues.


If I was clearing land or taking trees down professionally, obviously a pro brand would be something I'd want to look in to.

I can;t justify spending 3-600 dollars on a toy that is going to do what the tool I have now does, only slightly faster, when I'm doing it to save money in the first place.

 

[andyrlee]

wheew!

I just thought I was on a Toyota forum!

Yes, Stihl's are still dependable.

I did more research then I care to admit with my chainsaw purchase and ended up with a Stihl.

Dependability is very important to me and yes, I think Toyota is still dependable as well, hence my signature.

 

[chad3]

+all on the variables. In the really big saws Stihl is still the brand that others ask to compare to. With this said, I have many that I am very happy with for less cost. Depends on where you are looking. Next saw on my list will be either a 660 (all other 90cc saw will be compared) or another 372 (in the 75cc class this saw screams). Need to know more about what you are looking for before I can give you more info.

 

[firefighterjake]

I have used Stihls in the past . . . own a Husky now . . . and probably would still own a Stihl if the local dealership had not stopped carrying them (they were selling more Husquavarnas for whatever reason) . . . they're both good saws . . . Dolmars are highly rated by many folks too . . . but I don't see too many of them around here.

Oh yeah . . . forgive me for this one . . . the Stihls are OK . . . just be careful of the Toyota-crafted thumb throttle . . . apparently it results in unanticipated sudden acceleration.

 

[timberr]

You get what you pay for. I don't know much about Sthils, I have 2 friends that swear by them and that is good enough for me. They both bought saws in the last 2 years and have had goo luck with them. My suggestion get a near the top end of the Homeowners saw or any of the Pro saws and you will be happy. Personally I run Husky's and my advice would be the same to someone asking about Husky's, Dolamar, or Jonsereds.

Just buy a saw and make some saw dust!

 

[Highbeam]

I thought that my poulan was plenty fast in the logs too, until I ran a real saw. Actually I did side by side cuts through cottonwood comparing my poulan to a Stihl 260(026, whatever) and it was a shocker how much slower the poulan was despite making plenty of chips, noise, and not lugging. We both could limb at the same speed and my poulan was quieter. Putting the saw into a log and bucking rounds is where the bigger saws show their value. You'll never understand how slow the poulan is until you use a better saw.

 

[Danno77]

Don't buy a Stihl lest you end up like me. I have this stupid 028 that cuts anything I need it to, but it's 15+ years old and I want a shiny new saw, (for no other reason than I want a shiny new saw.) I can't justify it while this one keeps working like it is.

I can't tell you anything about a Dolmer, never seen one, never seen a dealer....Dealer for Poulan around here wears a blue vest and has to call a manager over to the counter because he isn't old enough to sell me beer.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Don't buy a Stihl lest you end up like me. I have this stupid 028 that cuts anything I need it to, but it's 15+ years old and I want a shiny new saw, (for no other reason than I want a shiny new saw.) I can't justify it while this one keeps working like it is.

I can't tell you anything about a Dolmer, never seen one, never seen a dealer....Dealer for Poulan around here wears a blue vest and has to call a manager over to the counter because he isn't old enough to sell me beer.

GOLD!

 

[LLigetfa]

I want a shiny new saw, (for no other reason than I want a shiny new saw.) I can't justify it while this one keeps working like it is..

Ja, damn... IKWYM. If my next saw lasts as long as my current one has, I'll be dead before it's even broken in. I might have to go looking for a used 10 year old saw to give it a decent head start.

 

[ironpony]

i have an older craftsman like that, wont die
also have a husky
dont know who built the craftsman
but it keeps chugging along

 

[Highbeam]

i have an older craftsman like that, wont die
also have a husky
dont know who built the craftsman
but it keeps chugging along

Probably poulan or whoever owns poulan. The craftman saws are the same saws with different colors of plastic that make them harder to find when you set them down in the woods.

They are hard to kill, mine still works well enough to use for chopping up pallets and since I decided to winterize the stihl, the poulan has been my goto saw for pallets and to chop up the Xmas tree. Don't get me wrong, the poulan is actually a great saw for the money so long as you use it within its capabilities. Smaller wood and limbing. Easy to start, cheap, light, quiet, and dependable.

 

[TMonter]

I own both Stihl and Husky and I must say both make great saws. I despise Stihl's starting setup and on/off switch compared to the Husky and the Husky does better at keeping the air filter clean but side by side they cut very similar albeit have different sounds and powerbands. I like Sithl's gas/oil caps better than Husky's.

 

[drdoct]

Never tried a 'real' Stihl. But I've got the ms310 which was called a pig by someone here one time. It handles a whole lot of nice size oak and will run a 20" bar sunk completely in a 38" trunk. I really want a 440 or 660, but right now the city cuts all my wood and I really can't justify even getting another chain, muchless a whole saw.