Need a new saw

[mikefrommaine]

I wood avoid Ebay like the plague when it comes to buying chainsaws. That 660 sounds like a good deal. Far more saw than the 460/1. If you can run it without it running you; it has a lot of vibration and weight. I wood take a 440 or a 372xp over a 441. I read good reviews about the 461, but it is a rubber mount and not a spring mount saw. Seems a lot better than the 460 for AV, it has the same weight and power.

Why avoid the eBay sellers? The saws are new in the box and they have buyer protection. I was not impressed with the husky dealer. Very limited selection and didnt seem to know his product well. The only other local husky dealer is ace hardware or box stores. The stihl dealer is someone I would feel comfortable buying from.

After doing some more reading I think it's between the 660 or an eBay 372xp. The 576xp auto tune is not something I want. Who needs a computer run chainsaw? Probably should invest in some 372xp's to sell in a few years when all you can buy is computer controlled saws. The dolmar is out after looking over the 510, wasn't all that impressed with how it felt.

I have a feeling if I get the 372xp I'll never use my 029. Same weight but considerably less power. I'll have to see how the 660 feels tomorrow. The stihl 362 at 725 is an option too.

 

[HittinSteel]

Do you need a dealer to do your saw repair/maintenance?

Amazed at the prices of stihl.......... for the price of a 362, you can have a 372XP.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Don't need a local repair now that I have hearth.com to trouble shoot with Once the saw is out of warranty I wouldnt bring it to a dealer.

Locally the 372xp was the same price as a 441. If the husky dealer could come within a hundred bucks of eBay on a 372xp I'd be leaning that way.

 

[Bret Chase]

FWIW: The 55 Rancher was a tough old saw and better than the 455R that replaced it IMO. Sounds like yours had fuel/carb issues and was most certainly an exception to what was generally known as a very reliable saw.

I have no experience with the 55r... I *was* going to buy a 346XP... but then my wife's minivan ate it's transmission in the driveway... and I ended up with the 455r...

and I have been happy with the 455R, sooooo much lighter than the 257 it replaced...

 

[StihlHead]

Why avoid the eBay sellers? The saws are new in the box and they have buyer protection. I was not impressed with the husky dealer. Very limited selection and didnt seem to know his product well. The only other local husky dealer is ace hardware or box stores. The stihl dealer is someone I would feel comfortable buying from.

After doing some more reading I think it's between the 660 or an eBay 372xp. The 576xp auto tune is not something I want. Who needs a computer run chainsaw? Probably should invest in some 372xp's to sell in a few years when all you can buy is computer controlled saws. The dolmar is out after looking over the 510, wasn't all that impressed with how it felt.

I have a feeling if I get the 372xp I'll never use my 029. Same weight but considerably less power. I'll have to see how the 660 feels tomorrow. The stihl 362 at 725 is an option too.

Using Fleabay to buy a new saw maybe, but there are many knock offs out there and I would NEVER buy on Ebay from a 0 first time seller (as there seems to be selling new 372xp saws now). I have had my Ebay account hacked into and the hackers were selling new Kawasaki motorcycles in a giant scam using my 100% feedback rating. Buying saw parts and parts saws on Ebay is OK. But used saws have a history, and I want to see a saw run myself before I buy it from someone used. I have bought some saws that were not as described on Ebay, and had to go through the hassle of refunds. Paying with Paypal only has so much buyer protection. In one case I had to file a dispute against the seller and I had to pay return shipping on the saw. He was a jerk and claimed that the saw was not in the same condition as he sent it (actually he was right about that, I had fixed the coil wiring so that it would actually start!). On another Ebay saw the seller agreed that the saw was not in the shape he described, and he paid the return post and refunded the full amount. Buying with a CC is better, as in that case you can return the saw for any reason, and once they sign for it, the money is refunded through the CC company. Much better deal than Paypal. In all though, it is not worth it in my book. So I avoid Ebay for buying any used saws. For saw parts and parts saws, great source. You know that you are buying broken saws, or pieces.

M-tronic and equivalent computer auto tune saws are the wave of the future for chainsaws. People that have run them seem to love them, in both Husky and Stihl. Computer chips have been in cars for decades and many cars have dozens of CPUs in them now. The 372xps also vary; there are 3 different models, the original 71cc (same as the 371xp), the 74cc model (the one I had, and the best) and the newer smogged 372xp/x-torque. I have not run an x-torque 372xp/xt, so I cannot saw how good or bad they are.

Geez, $725 for a 362??? I bought my first 361 for $500 new. There are some people buying new ones that people bought and stashed for steep prices (like, $700). The 372xpw that I had was $775 new from the local dealer with my discount. That was an 74cc pre-smog 372xpw with a 3/4 ("full") wrap and large falling dawgs and a 24 inch bar & chain. According to that dealer, those saws are no longer available for sale in the US.

 

[HittinSteel]

How close are you to Scarborough? There is a good Husky dealer there, as well as one in upstate new york that should be competitive with ebay.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

If it was/is a demo, ask to make a couple of cuts with the 660. Check the weight and see if you will be happy running that thing for a day.

This

 

[fabsroman]

This

Keep in mind, that you do not have to run it as long to cut the same amount of firewood versus saws with less power, or in the alternative if you run it all day you will have a lot more firewood made at the end of the day versus less powerful saws. Give and take to everything. When the conditions are right (i.e., large logs), I like running the 660.

 

[mikefrommaine]

How close are you to Scarborough? There is a good Husky dealer there, as well as one in upstate new york that should be competitive with ebay.

I'm about an hour from Scarborough. Who's the dealer?

 

[mikefrommaine]

Problem I see with buying the 660 is I can already see myself wanting a 60 to 70 cc saw to fill in the 'gap'

 

[HittinSteel]

TK Power Equipment....... site sponsor over at the arboristsite. I'll send him a message and see what his price is.

 

[fabsroman]

Problem I see with buying the 660 is I can already see myself wanting a 60 to 70 cc saw to fill in the 'gap'

lol - I am currently looking for a MS362 even though I need it like I need another hole in my head. Definitely getting a MS192c-e after tax season when I really get back to cutting wood. Figure the MS362 will fill the other "hole" nicely. Meanwhile, my dad thinks that everything could simply be done with the MS261.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Bought the 660.

 

[Jags]

Bought the 660.

And hopefully a couple of boxes of Wheaties.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Lol, I had pretty much talked myself out of the saw before I went to see it. Imagined it would feel something like this

 

[fabsroman]

Lol, I had pretty much talked myself out of the saw before I went to see it. Imagined it would feel something like this

Yeah, while the 660 is a heavy saw just to carry around all day, when you are cutting with it and it is in the wood quite often it isn't that big a deal IMO. Like I said before, under the right conditions the 660 is "nice". Congrats on your purchase.

 

[DexterDay]

Congrats. Pics?? Never happened without pics

 

[mikefrommaine]

Here you go

 

[HittinSteel]

Looks nice!

 

[mikefrommaine]

I spent an hour cutting with it this afternoon. Not sure I would have been happy with a 362. The 660 goes right through a 24" log like the 029 goes through an 8" log. Not that I'm disappointed but people make the 660 out to be a scary monster that's so fast and heavy anyone that's a lesser man than the gronk should stay away.

The 440 might have been a better match but I couldn't get anyone with a used one to respond to my emails and calls. I like to keep thing simple so I have no interest in a 441 m-tronic or the husky auto tune. The 461 would have been close to two hundred more than I paid.

Thanks for the help,

 

[Danno77]

*Vulture swoop*

Soooooo, what did you do with your old 55 Rancher?

 

[mikefrommaine]

Let a neighbor borrow it who straight gassed it. Sold on cl for 50 years ago.

The 029 was a pawn shop find. It had sat on their shelf so long they made me a decent deal.

 

[Danno77]

Darn, I needed a husky, I don't have any of those.

 

[fabsroman]

I spent an hour cutting with it this afternoon. Not sure I would have been happy with a 362. The 660 goes right through a 24" log like the 029 goes through an 8" log. Not that I'm disappointed but people make the 660 out to be a scary monster that's so fast and heavy anyone that's a lesser man than the gronk should stay away.

The 440 might have been a better match but I couldn't get anyone with a used one to respond to my emails and calls. I like to keep thing simple so I have no interest in a 441 m-tronic or the husky auto tune. The 461 would have been close to two hundred more than I paid.

Thanks for the help,

lol - that is how they treated me at the dealer. It was like they wanted to sell me a casket along with the saw. I too love the 660 for 24" logs. Cut a couple oaks down last year that were in that range and I really liked using the 660 on them. I think the 660 is great for anything above 18", or at least that is until I get the 362. lol

 

[kopeck]

My 029 has the four holes, so I've left it alone.

My local cl has a guy that always has rebuilt stihl saws. He has a 310 with a new ms390 engine in it for 395.

And theres a couple 440/044 for 400-500. I don't mind buying used but I'm not sure that's enough of a savings over new.

First of congrats on the new saw, that thing is going to be a beast.

Second, if the cl guy you are talking about the guy in Phippsburg? If it is have you ever dealt with him?

K