Upgrade to new(er) saw?

[Jon1270]

I don't really want to buy another pro level saw for $500+
It's those down periods when I can't even buck logs that make me think a smaller saw would be good to have around.

How about a (broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Husqvarna-545-Chainsaw-with-16-Bar-MORE-DISCOUNTS-AVAILABLE-/161550878080?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item259d2ec580)? I've never run one of these, but I've read really good things about them.

Honestly I should probably let others make recommendations for new saws, since I've never bought one. I have stable full of of excellent saws, but I bought them all used, cheap and most often broken. It's really tempting to tell you that there are great deals out there on used machines, because there are, but shopping for them is awfully risky if you don't have significant experience working on them.

 

[drz1050]

Gotta disagree with this, oldman. I've owned a few of each brand, minus Dolmar. The Echo saws I've owned are dead reliable, but definitely lag Stihl and Husqvarna on performance (I.e. Power/weight ratio).

No argument about that... but for a firewood saw, I'll take an easy-starting and stone reliable one all day over something that will be fickle and/ or temperamental. If my saw breaks, I don't have 20 others to choose from like your pal with the company. For an only saw, I want a reliable one.

I have a few motorcycles, including a few street-legalish (they have plates at least) race bikes... My daily rider? That's a 12 yr old almost stock bike. I know it won't let me down.

 

[aansorge]

If this one is available (gotta be an error), get it now! (broken link removed to http://catskills.craigslist.org/for/5027893174.html)

 

[ADK_XJ]

Quick update here; had a small engine guy take a look at the saw yesterday, he fired it up to start and then it cut out completely at idle. Couldn't get it started again...he says he thinks it's the "coil" and was going to look into a replacement and get back to me. Sounds like a busy dude so I'm not sure when I'll hear back...

At this point I'm 3 weekends without a fully functioning saw and I've run out of other landscaping projects to tackle...so, I've decided to take the 041AV up to the Stihl dealer that's a little further away but says they work on the older models all the time. I'm going to leave the old Farm Boss with them and buy a new Farm Boss (MS 271) while I'm there and just be done with this nonsense. If they fix the older one, great and I have a hoss of a cutter in backup - if not, oh well, I got MORE than my money out of it over this last cutting season.

 

[CTYank]

Quick update here; had a small engine guy take a look at the saw yesterday, he fired it up to start and then it cut out completely at idle. Couldn't get it started again...he says he thinks it's the "coil" and was going to look into a replacement and get back to me. Sounds like a busy dude so I'm not sure when I'll hear back...

At this point I'm 3 weekends without a fully functioning saw and I've run out of other landscaping projects to tackle...so, I've decided to take the 041AV up to the Stihl dealer that's a little further away but says they work on the older models all the time. I'm going to leave the old Farm Boss with them and buy a new Farm Boss (MS 271) while I'm there and just be done with this nonsense. If they fix the older one, great and I have a hoss of a cutter in backup - if not, oh well, I got MORE than my money out of it over this last cutting season.

Living where you do, I'd sure not tie myself to any Stihl entity, not when you have one of the best Dolmar dealers in the East, over east a few miles on NY 29 (The Cutting Edge, in Greenwich.) At all levels, seems Stihl folks don't like competition, especially on pricing. Not so with Dolmar.

Got my PS-6100 there from Steve for $550. Try one vs a Stihl 36X, then look at the price tag. No brainer, IMHO. Not to mention that service access on Dolmars is far better, as is access/pricing on parts. The 59 cc Echo (Shindaiwa design) for $400 is a good option. The 61 cc Dolmar is a high-tenor beast. IMO. With excellent A/V besides.

 

[Ashful]

Service access on Dolmar is better than Stihl?

 

[TreePointer]

Only in the sense that it has a plastic chassis and a clamshell engine. Not the best reason to associate it with homeowners, I know, but that seems to be the convention on most forums.

In my experience, it's more than that.

Let's look at two contemporary saws: MS-390 (64.1cc) vs MS-361 (59cc). However, there's a lot more to it than a simple displacement measurement.

390 = 4.4 hp, plastic chassis, clamshell crankcase, heavier overall weight, lower power-to-weight, rubber spacers antivibration

361 = 4.4 hp, magnesium chassis, split crankase, less bulky, about a pound lighter, greater power-to-weight, spring antivibration.

I can't find specs on fuel tank volumes, but I recall being able to cut much longer with with a 361 than with a 290/310/390 series (same fuel tank in all three). About the only advantage the 390 had over the 361 was better max oil flow rate (361 is pretty stingy with oil).

Other characteristics that often appear in pro saws and sometimes not in homeowner/midgrade saws: higher rpms (with or without limited coil), adjustable oiler, faster linear chain speed, better balance side to side, better low end torque. With that being stated, lots of today's homeowner saws have some traditionally pro features. For instance, you can buy a new Craftsman chainsaw with an adjustable oiler and spring antivibration technology.

 

[Jon1270]

In my experience, it's more than that.

Let's look at two contemporary saws: MS-390 (64.1cc) vs MS-361 (59cc). However, there's a lot more to it than a simple displacement measurement.

390 = 4.4 hp, plastic chassis, clamshell crankcase, heavier overall weight, lower power-to-weight, rubber spacers antivibration

361 = 4.4 hp, magnesium chassis, split crankase, less bulky, about a pound lighter, greater power-to-weight, spring antivibration.

I can't find specs on fuel tank volumes, but I recall being able to cut much longer with with a 361 than with a 290/310/390 series (same fuel tank in all three). About the only advantage the 390 had over the 361 was better max oil flow rate (361 is pretty stingy with oil).

Other characteristics that often appear in pro saws and sometimes not in homeowner/midgrade saws: higher rpms (with or without limited coil), adjustable oiler, faster linear chain speed, better balance side to side, better low end torque. With that being stated, lots of today's homeowner saws have some traditionally pro features. For instance, you can buy a new Craftsman chainsaw with an adjustable oiler and spring antivibration technology.

Sure, there are all sorts of smaller but potentially significant differences between what we typically call 'homeowner' vs. 'pro.' I guess it would've been clearer to say that chainsaw forum conversations tend to categorize any saw with a clamshell motor as 'homeowner' model, regardless of any other features. Homeowner vs. pro is treated as binary distinction, so looking too closely muddies the water. I understood Mass_Burner's comment to mean that it was odd to associate a 64cc saw with typical homeowner use, and I thought he had a point.

 

[ADK_XJ]

Living where you do, I'd sure not tie myself to any Stihl entity, not when you have one of the best Dolmar dealers in the East, over east a few miles on NY 29 (The Cutting Edge, in Greenwich.) At all levels, seems Stihl folks don't like competition, especially on pricing. Not so with Dolmar.

Got my PS-6100 there from Steve for $550. Try one vs a Stihl 36X, then look at the price tag. No brainer, IMHO. Not to mention that service access on Dolmars is far better, as is access/pricing on parts. The 59 cc Echo (Shindaiwa design) for $400 is a good option. The 61 cc Dolmar is a high-tenor beast. IMO. With excellent A/V besides.

I'm not against Dolmars and have heard good things from friends out the Greenwich way about this dealer you mention. Thing is, I have the larger Stihl dealer 10 mins from my work and a small one man shop 5 mins from my house.

 

[ADK_XJ]

Well, just came back from the Stihl dealer up in Glens Falls - they're going to go over my old Farm Boss with a fine tooth comb to see what the deal is with the understanding that it's a 40-something-year-old piece of equipment and that I can't go broke fixing it.

In the mean time, I came home with a newer, younger model - she's a hell of a lot lighter, too! Stihl "Dealer Days" discount got me an MS271 Farm Boss 18" semi-chisel, 2 year warranty, pack of oil mix and a case for $501. Not what I expected to spend but I felt like I should make the right purchase not the easy (cheap) one.

Boy, the 041AV was jealous - I just told her this one has a lot more plastic:

 

[BrotherBart]

Time to go get that puppy dirty.

 

[Diabel]

Congrats!
Christmas comes early for you...

Way too clean, hurts the eye.

 

[ADK_XJ]

Oh, it's set for a workout this weekend; my brother in law had a cluster of mature box elders come down in a storm last week that I need to go cut and carry, I've got the remnants of two 100+ foot white pines that need to be added to my shoulder season supply and there's a whole mess of oak, maple and ash limbs thicker than my leg scattered along the road frontage of our property from National Grid trimming along the power lines early this Spring.

Next weekend I go back to a 10 foot high stack of black locust logs that I'm migrating from my wife's cousin's horse pasture back home.

It's gonna be fun...

 

[Osagebndr]

Doesn't sound like your wood poor or anything. It's a fast cutting little saw congrats!

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Service access on Dolmar is better than Stihl

Said no one ever

 

[Ashful]

Said no one ever

Exactly. Well... no one except CTYank, that is.

Got my PS-6100 there from Steve for $550. Try one vs a Stihl 36X, then look at the price tag. No brainer, IMHO. Not to mention that service access on Dolmars is far better, as is access/pricing on parts.

 

[ADK_XJ]

Put the new Farm Boss through a "light warm up" with the remnants of a 120' white pine - I was pretty impressed with the results:

 

[Wildo]

Put the new Farm Boss through a "light warm up" with the remnants of a 120' white pine - I was pretty impressed with the results:


View attachment 158652

There's a piece in the back that you missed or are you saving that for the 041?

 

[ADK_XJ]

There's a piece in the back that you missed or are you saving that for the 041?

Ha, in fact I am - that's my "come on home '41" log. I also ran out of time in that cutting session...

 

[ADK_XJ]

Just talked to the guys at the big Stihl dealer who have my old Farm Boss - they tried her out and saw all kinds of flooding (my experience, too), so they're replacing the fuel diaphragm and holding out hope that will bring her back to life. Even just so that I can use her a couple times a season for the really big cuts I'd be pretty happy.

Meanwhile, the new little(r) MS271 has been coming into her own. Did another cord or so of black locust, cut up some storm-fall sugar maple limbs and even got a little fancy and cut some rough sawn boards down to size for a trellis to put in our raspberry patch. Starts literally every single time (so far) on the second pull and with one short, half pull after she's warm. Very glad that I just went ahead and grabbed the newer model for reliability, my arms/shoulders/wrists are happy with the (much) lighter cutter, too.

 

[ADK_XJ]

Hey all, so if anyone is still following along I need some input on locating aftermarket parts for my old 041AV. Specifically I need to source a new coil. Spoke with the guys up at the big Stihl dealer who've had my old Farm Boss for the last couple months and they say they replaced the fuel pump and diaphragm and starts/runs well but is cutting out at the top end due to a dying coil.

I've heard that the ignition systems on these things is a losing game but that was from the small time Stihl guy who refused to work on my saw. Is there any hope that I can find a good aftermarket coil for the old girl and bring it back to life?

The techs at the big dealership said they'll put it in but they don't get into ordering parts from eBay or whatnot.

 

[Wildo]

Hey all, so if anyone is still following along I need some input on locating aftermarket parts for my old 041AV. Specifically I need to source a new coil. Spoke with the guys up at the big Stihl dealer who've had my old Farm Boss for the last couple months and they say they replaced the fuel pump and diaphragm and starts/runs well but is cutting out at the top end due to a dying coil.

I've heard that the ignition systems on these things is a losing game but that was from the small time Stihl guy who refused to work on my saw. Is there any hope that I can find a good aftermarket coil for the old girl and bring it back to life?

The techs at the big dealership said they'll put it in but they don't get into ordering parts from eBay or whatnot.

Arboristsite.com

post an ad in the trading post. I think that model may still be made for foreign markets, specifically where there are no e regs and they are mowing rainforest(central/south America/south asia) Over on AS someone will point you in the right direction.

 

[Wildo]

Found it @ http://www.lilredbarn.net/Stihl-041AV-Ignition-Coil-and-Chip-s/51153.htm

I got the piston for my 2152 from them. Low price and fast shipping. ($40 and on my porch in 3 days)

 

[ADK_XJ]

Found it @ http://www.lilredbarn.net/Stihl-041AV-Ignition-Coil-and-Chip-s/51153.htm

I got the piston for my 2152 from them. Low price and fast shipping. ($40 and on my porch in 3 days)

Sweet. Thank you - strangely enough I also just found one of these at the small time Stihl dealer right up the road who wouldn't work on my saw BUT has the exact part I need! Go figure.

 

[Wildo]

Wow! They suck x2... Had the part yet wouldn't work on it? Must be rich and not need $$.......Stihl?