Looking for chainsaw advice

My old Husqvarna has a compression release button to make starting easy. Not sure if the later models have it. It is a rancher 55 and pulls a 20" bar as well as the 18 that came on it.

My brother just got a saw with the tool-less chain adjustment. It either doesn't hold well or the chain stretches because he is constantly tightening his chain. (it is a cheaper saw. You generally won't go wrong with a Stihl or a Husky.)

I just bought a Kubota 20' because my Husky was down and I needed to cut some blanks beside the road before they were hauled away. It is a heavy sucker but it has the umph. Wouldn't want to use it all day.

Good saw, not a bad unit at all. I own two Husky's myself, a 455 with a

24 inch bar and a 300's series with a 16. But as many bux as a Stuhl, but great saws

Either Stihl or Husqvarna is good.

If it's all in range of the house (and won't do much for an ice storm) one poster here had gotten an electric Stihl and was quite happy with it

- can use inside, no fumes, no gas going bad on you, but not a joke as electrics usually are. Not cheap either, but that comes with the territory.

I have an MS290 (Stihl, "rancher") with 20 inch bar, and it's been very reliable. 5 years and one service (fuel line broke - the way the saw is assembled getting to that fuel line was tricky, so I handed it to my saw shop). Get at least one spare chain, swap chains regularly, and replace the sprocket when you wear out the chains. Flip the bar when swapping chains. Beware gimmicks - a tool adjust chain is easy to adjust and stays put, where a "no tool" adds more ways to go wrong. Sharpen with every fuel fill. Crank the chain oil setting up - factory setting tends to be a bit wimpy as shipped - you should go through nearly a tank of bar oil to a tank of fuel, and always refill bar oil when refilling fuel.

Both good brands.. I really like my 14" Stihl..

I needed to add a gas chain saw a few years ago.. Liked the Craftsman 14" electric but couldn't find a 5 mile long extension cord..

We looked at 16" and bigger, but decided to stay with 14" for the following reasons, which may or may not apply to your use:

Good size to carry and use, since my wife also uses it..

Don't plan on cutting any 30 or 40" logs..

Needed it to fit in the "farm box" behind the cab of the truck...

Needed to be able to comfortable LIFT the sucker into the farm box... Especially as I "age to perfection", as my wife puts it.. (bought it about 5 years ago, I'm 62 now)

It's been a very good saw... Easy to start and run, very nice balance, parts/service are available anywhere, etc..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

When I was buying, all the recommendations were Stihl or Husqvarna, 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. I bought a Stihl because it came with a case, and the Huskie dealer was out of cases and wouldn't have one for a few weeks. I have an 025C, 18" bar, and the only complaint I have is that the kill switch sometimes vibrates out and the saw won't shut off without some finagling with the choke and stuff. The 025C only takes up to an 18" bar, and in retrospect I should have bought the 029 (MS 290 now, I believe), for a bit more power and length, but I opted for the smaller saw because I'm not as strong as I used to be.

Got to love it when I see 'My old Husqvarna ... Rancher 55...'

I was using my Husqvarna (Sweden made) 50 with a 20" bar today cutting an oak tree I dropped.

Have to buy a new bar for it - to many times a loose chain drug on it so I flipped the bar over and the loose side is on top. Works good again.

I suppose I should get it to the dealer some day for a 50,000 log checkup.

Mart> StephenM wrote:

FWIW, I have an electric Sthil and am happy with it - but I don't live where trees falling in an ice storm will be a problem. But, with that said, the Sthil web site a few years back talked about a lumber company using the electric saws and a portable generator - apparently greatly reduced operator fatigue - so this might be a consideration. But, the Sthil electric saws are more expensive than the gas ones - but they are hugely better than any other electric I'm aware of. I posted my sad experience with "lesser saws" a few years back, searching the archives will probably reval those posts

Think of the tree trimming teams in the Orange Trucks. They use air driven saws. They also have arbor saws for larger stuff.

I have a beautiful Sthil arbor saw ~ 6# and is easy to start. Normally on two pulls. One to set the valves and then fire.

Mart> FWIW, I have an electric Sthil and am happy with it - but I don't live where

Thanks all for the input.

I'll be going for the Stihl w/o the tool-free chain adjust. The corrsponding Husky was $20 cheaper but 10% less HP and a 1/2 lb heavier. Also, the bar attachment had only one smallish nut rather than the two w/ an integrated flange in the Stihl.

Cheers,

Steve

When I needed to replace my SP81 McCulloch (5 cuin) I looked at both Stihl and Husky but bought a 7900 Dolmar becauase I got a better deal. I still have a Sachs-dolmar 120 that I've had for years. The Dolmar was lighter and had more power than the Husky or Stihl of the same class.

6.1hp and 13lb. I use a 24", 28" and 32" bar. I had to cut up a Poplar that was about 5 and half feet in diameter. there's also Solo which makes a good saw. Jim