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Post by partndn on Apr 26, 2016 16:29:57 GMT
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Post by fordy on Apr 26, 2016 17:11:02 GMT
............I had a Poulon once upon a time , I had a heck of a time getting it started , and even more trouble keeping it running ! Walk away and find a new or used ECCO through Craig's List . , fordy |
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Post by partndn on Apr 26, 2016 17:50:54 GMT
............I had a Poulon once upon a time , I had a heck of a time getting it started , and even more trouble keeping it running ! Walk away and find a new or used ECCO through Craig's List . , fordy A saw is sure no good if you can't get it going. I googled and saw ECHO saws? whoof, didn't see any under 300. They must be nice. Maybe I will keep an eye out for bargains more on the used side. I am notorious for destroying lawnmowers.  Partially because I might've had some lemons, but mostly because I don't properly keep winter maintenance and stuff. |
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Post by paisley on Apr 26, 2016 17:52:19 GMT
Check out chainsaw shops ask if they have any repaired one's they took in for trades.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 18:04:36 GMT
Yeah, Poulan's are not great. They're mostly for the suburban guy who will use it to cut down one tree and then never use it again. A refurbished one might be better than new, though, because maybe they fixed some of the issues they come with from the factory.
Stihl, Echo, Husqvarna are some good brands, but even among those brands they have problems on some models. I can't imagine many saws under $200 new will be worth it, but a good used one should last a good long time.
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Apr 26, 2016 18:48:22 GMT
This time of year you might be able to pick up a used Stihl on Craigslist. Unless it's totally worn out, you probably won't find a better brand.
Like Fordy, I had a Poulan once, and wore my arm out trying to start it. Now I've got a small 16" Echo from Lowes for little jobs, but a 20" Stihl for the serious work.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 18:51:42 GMT
I just thought to add that there are some decent battery powered chainsaws out there now for under $200. Most will probably do for the kind of use you describe, except they won't be good for an Alaskan mill because that takes a lot more power than they have.
I don't have any experience with any of the brands but I've heard some good things. I might get one myself sometime this summer.
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Post by partndn on Apr 26, 2016 19:21:45 GMT
Ok, I see that sometimes a bargain is not a bargain.
I might justify buying a 149 dollar lawn mower if it lasts me 2 years, I've gotten my money out of it.
But that doesn't mean a 99 dollar chain saw is any use if it doesn't crank or quits on one or two small projects.
I'll keep an eye out for better brands at auctions or posted sales. Thanks!
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Post by poppy on Apr 28, 2016 0:41:10 GMT
It's pronounced "pull-on" for a reason. Someone on another board said he got one and used it as a gauge in his wife's flower garden. He covered it in mulch and when he could see it again, he knew it was time to add more mulch. I think they're on the level of the cheap McCulloughs. Not many hours of operation built into the engines. My brother bought a refurbished McCullough at Big Lots and when he got home there were 2 in the box. He called to tell them and they didn't even want the other one back so he gave it to me. Looked great but never did start even after taking it to 2 repair shops. They said the motor was junk. He used his to trim some big limbs off trees so he could mow under them and it ran about 20 minutes before locking up.
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Post by farmrbrown on Apr 28, 2016 1:08:14 GMT
I learned a little about chainsaws, the hard way naturally, and paid for the lesson.
lol
Everything said on here is spot on.
Without boring you with the mechanics (machinists like to know the details of that stuff) when my 2nd brand new Poulan died like the first one, a good small engine mechanic explained the reasons why.
I went to the factory HQ in Charlotte and they graciously sent me the replacement, which I thought was commendable, but like I said, they aren't built to last and neither made it much more than 50 hours of use over several months.
Basically it's all in the pistons, rings (1 ring in the cheaper saws) and the precision in their manufacture.
I had no idea, so I also thought it sounded like a good deal. I bought the same deal, same price, same store.
It may be harder to find, but if you can find a Stihl, Echo or even an OLD McCullough, even a small used one is better than what you're looking at now.
A retired buddy who still does some tree work has a little 12" (Stihl I think) that he totes up with him when he climbs. It's a little power house and easy to handle. Even that size, I noticed that it had more compression on the pull than the bigger, cheaper-made saws.
I think it's from the 1980's or 90's.
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Post by fixitguy on Apr 30, 2016 3:49:21 GMT
I fix this stuff to eat.
If you can swing it go for the Stihl or echo, echo has a 300hr rating, Stihl 250hr. The cheapy's have a 50hr rating.
Stihl saws had a EZ start on some saws, stay away from them, nothing but trouble.
Used 0 series saws (021,023,025 etc, plastic case) are very dependable, and parts are fairly cheap. The older metal 0 series are great also, but heavier than Helen.
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Post by nchobbyfarm on May 30, 2016 19:29:57 GMT
I love my Stilh 026 and 036. Great if you can find them!
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Post by sawmilljim on Jun 7, 2016 4:22:37 GMT
I have a Stihl MS310 that I have wore out a five gallon bucket of chains on and a dozen bars . I even ran a 24'' bar with full skip chain on it for a while .I never ran the safty type chains running the full skip chain you got about half the teeth to keep sharp. .This saw has far exceeded the 250 hours and never been it the shop. In days gone by we mixed five gallons of gas at a time every two days.
Those pull on's I had one you could pull on the rope till it smoked and it might not start or you might half pull it and it start . I was the guy used it for a mulch indicator, if you saw green add mulch .
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Partially because I might've had some lemons, but mostly because I don't properly keep winter maintenance and stuff.
