chainsaws

[900kingcat162]

I am looking at buying a new saw as my old Stihl 036 bit the dust. (incompetant mechanic at dealer adjusted the carb too lean and now piston is melted and cylinder is scored). gonna see if the dealer will stand behind their work and give me a deal on a new saw. New piston and cylinder are $300, and I dont want to put that into an old saw. I was looking at either the Stihl Farm and Ranch Series MS 391 or a Professional Series MS 362. I had an 18 bar on the old 036, but want to put a 20" on my new one.
Anyone use these saws? If so, what are your opinions on them? The Proffesional Series MS 362 retails for $150 more than the MS 391, and I would like to get that one, but I am having difficulty verifying the extra $150. I have 2 wood fireplaces in my house and burn as much firewood as I can so I use less propane to heat the house. I will also be cutting wood for my parents. They have a wood/propane furnace, and again, the more wood they burn, the less propane they use. I cut a lot of firewood with the 036 over the years and want something similar in size and power, but a little lighter would be nice.

 

[rp7x]

bigger is better

440 or a 460 nothing less, i run a 44 and a 66 after running the 66 i think the 44 sucks

 

[whitedust]

I have Farmboss with 18" chain would not go smaller than 18 but need lots more HP for 20". Farm series not lite weight series. To me the lite Stihl saws are for people that are not serious woodcutters with easy start & quick chain adjust stuff like that still good saws but not big hp. Farm boss is for someone that wants to rip wood ASAP then milk the cows. You are on the right track Stihl or Husky both good saws both have good dealers where I live. I'm a Stihl guy never had problems with any Stihl product.

 

[lotoftoys]

Saws

I am a Stihl guy. I have used a stihl my whole life and have no reason to change. I tried a Husky in January and did not care for it. I am not saying the Husky is a bad saw, just that I prefer Stihl. I also cut for two families and the way my wood pile disappears I think I am also cutting for a family I don't know also. If you go Stihl go pro series. Just my 2.

 

[whitedust]

Don't know why but north of Eagle River,WI more Husky than Stihl dealers I prefer Stihl as well but if not offered kinda stuck with what dealer sells.

 

[yamaholic]

Go with the Pro Series or get the 032 rebuilt you won't like the Farm series like everything they don't make them like they used too..

 

[harski]

I would say Stihl Pro. My father-in-law is in the wood cutting business and puts these things through H@!!. They just keep coming back for more. Spend the extra dough!

Harski

 

[900kingcat162]

thanks for the comments everyone! I was never doubting getting a Stihl. my family has always owned Stihl products and has never had problems. my dad ran his Super 029 AV for i think 30 years. replaced it with a Farm Boss 290. I have used it and like the weight savings. it really sings thru the wood too. we cut primarily river maple, poplar, and birch. I have learned that a really big powerful saw is not that necessary. a smaller saw will keep up with a bigger one to a point. keeping the chain sharp at all times is the key. keep the comments coming. Thank you!

 

[snodogg]

Don't overlook a Husky XP series. Even if you stick with the Stihl spend the extra $$ to get into the pro series. Big difference in power to weight between the professional models and the consumer ones sold at the big box stores.

Ill say this, next time your up north in logging country stop at the bar on a friday night and look in the back of all the pickups parked out front...8 out of 10 saws will be a Husky.

 

[snodogg]

I've heard decent reviews on the Jonsered models as well

 

[rp7x]

at the bar

won't leave mine in the back

 

[900kingcat162]

snodogg, do you think this is because the loggers in the area prefer the Husky, or is it becuase that is the brand that most dealers have in the area, or both? I was thinking of looking at Husky and Jonsered too, just to make an informed decision. I prefer to buy American though.

 

[uncle_ed]

I keep a 250 and a 290 out at the farm I hunt to help keep the landowner stocked with firewood and keep my trails and woodlot free from blow downs. Mostly ash trees being cut but a mix of other hardwoods as well. I usually grab the 250 for most of my work because I just love the power to weight ratio of that saw. Up at the cabin I am mostly cutting up mature oak and have a 360 for that work. I dont think you would need to go much bigger than that, but its a matter of preference. I like to use a lighter weight saw when I can!
As far as a Stihl product they are blue chip. I had an 023 for 25 years or better which I paid about $300 for and sold it a few years back on ebay advertised in "not running condition" as it would not start when hot and it fetched a little over $100 for me!!

 

[900kingcat162]

I found a rebuild kit on ebay for about 80 bucks. i am assuming these are not Stihl parts for this price. Should I go this route?

 

[tundra ron]

Go with the kit from ebay I got one for a 029 farm boss that I bought for 20 bucks had to also change the gas filter and gas line runs real good now.Always use premium gas in stihl products.

 

[anonomoose]

Just like in snowmobiles, folks get stuck on one brand and think it is "the only one"....but frankly most saws are decent enough unless you cut wood for a living....and if you do...they don't make one good enough for that job...too heavy...too expensive...on and on.

I love the comment about seeing what's in the back of a pickup truck up north....along with kmart quality cluttered in....it means that they are relatively cheap and work and parts are available. Beyond this, you are reading into it too deeply.

I have an assortment of saws for various uses...and if you take care of them they last and if you use them everyday, you will need parts for them all.

I am curious to know why the 18 is not big enough and why the 20 inch job would be a better choice?

I have learned from time and some pros that the chain on a saw is as important as the saw itself. Even the smallest saw (back saving weight) will do a good job IF YOU buy the right professional quality chain. Box store chains are for wind storm users....guys who cut lots of wood get some very aggressive chain that chews thru fast, even though they are not as safe as the anti kickback stuff sold in plastic.

It always puzzles me to know why folks will pay 4 times as much for a tool because of a name, when over time you will need another or major repairs and the cheaper saw could be replaced 4 times over the same period and have a new saw each time?

Can someone explain this to me and why that is...I am curious to know?

 

[whitedust]

Just like in snowmobiles, folks get stuck on one brand and think it is "the only one"....but frankly most saws are decent enough unless you cut wood for a living....and if you do...they don't make one good enough for that job...too heavy...too expensive...on and on.

I love the comment about seeing what's in the back of a pickup truck up north....along with kmart quality cluttered in....it means that they are relatively cheap and work and parts are available. Beyond this, you are reading into it too deeply.

I have an assortment of saws for various uses...and if you take care of them they last and if you use them everyday, you will need parts for them all.

I am curious to know why the 18 is not big enough and why the 20 inch job would be a better choice?

I have learned from time and some pros that the chain on a saw is as important as the saw itself. Even the smallest saw (back saving weight) will do a good job IF YOU buy the right professional quality chain. Box store chains are for wind storm users....guys who cut lots of wood get some very aggressive chain that chews thru fast, even though they are not as safe as the anti kickback stuff sold in plastic.

It always puzzles me to know why folks will pay 4 times as much for a tool because of a name, when over time you will need another or major repairs and the cheaper saw could be replaced 4 times over the same period and have a new saw each time?

Can someone explain this to me and why that is...I am curious to know?

Bought a big box store Poulan 18" wildcat & actually held up pretty well took me awhile to kill it a lot longer than I thought but only 139 bucks. I had good luck with it but would not have been worth fixing when clutch went engine still ran well so just junked it bought a Stihl only replaced bar & chains starts on 1 or 2 pulls. The poulan started when it wanted to & could wear me out pulling that thing no so with any of my Stihl products pull & go. There is your difference.

 

[asmski]

I was also looking last weekend and had a similar dilema. I had bought my mother a MS310 (now it's MS311) and I used that cutting for her the past 5 years, it worked good. I recently purchased my own property and so I'm looking for my own. My buddy has the MS391 and I wasn't impressed. It seemed to have the same power as the MS310 but weighed more (both had 18" bars). In talking to the local Stihl retailer, they told me that the Pro level saws (MS 261 and MS362) are built with a solid engine block where as the homeowner/ranch saws (MS311 and MS 391) are made from two pieces that are pressed together. Therefore the Pro saws are set up to run at a higher RPM then the home/ranch saws. He felt that even the MS261 was a better saw than a MS391.

I will be forking out the cash for the MS362.

 

[xf800sp]

I was also looking last weekend and had a similar dilema. I had bought my mother a MS310 (now it's MS311) and I used that cutting for her the past 5 years, it worked good. I recently purchased my own property and so I'm looking for my own. My buddy has the MS391 and I wasn't impressed. It seemed to have the same power as the MS310 but weighed more (both had 18" bars). In talking to the local Stihl retailer, they told me that the Pro level saws (MS 261 and MS362) are built with a solid engine block where as the homeowner/ranch saws (MS311 and MS 391) are made from two pieces that are pressed together. Therefore the Pro saws are set up to run at a higher RPM then the home/ranch saws. He felt that even the MS261 was a better saw than a MS391.

I will be forking out the cash for the MS362.

IIRC, the 391 has a synthetic case whereas the 261 has an aluminum case.

 

[900kingcat162]

well i got the saw repaired at the local dealer. it turns out the carb was way out of adjustment. ironic that the dealer was the last one to touch it. i asked about the piston scoring. they said it is common with every saw; especially on the exhaust side of the piston, as there is most heat on that side. didnt charge must to fix; i didnt want to pay anything as they were the ones at fault in my opinion, but i didnt want to argue anymore and want to get cutting wood.