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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

New chain saws

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Harley

02-20-2004 17:09:03




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Hello, I�m looking to buy a new chainsaw to replace a John Deere (yellow) 55ev 20� that died. I burn wood (10 f.c year) and have a small 16� poulan saw for the small stuff. But I need some input on 18� 40-50cc saws. I went out looking today and seen 3 that I liked a Poulan Pro 295 46cc 20� bar for $200.00, a Homelite Timberman 45cc 20�-18��bar for $200.00-$179.00 and a Craftsman (Poulan) mod. 36018 42cc 18�bar for $159.00.
I know that a lot of people here like the Stihl and other high end saws, but after working on the Deere and trying to get parts to fix ($100.00) I would still have a 20 year old saw. The John Deere dealer is a real pain in the a$$ and I will not be back (Lower Michigan). Then I started to think that if I buy a cheaper saw ($150.00-$200.00) around hear that�s 4 f.c. of wood and it�s paid for. If it last 10 years I would be happy to replace it.
Thanks for your time and input, Harley

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Mike

02-21-2004 14:23:14




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
If you want 10-15 years out of a saw,buy a high end commercial saw (Stihl,Jonsered,Husquvarna. That works out to $50-$60/year.One of the new $200 saws might last you 2 years tops with alot of luck and real good maintenance. They are joe homeowner friendly,mostly plastic junk. If you change out the chain to a full chisel pro chain they won't have enough power to run it. Go with a big saw,short bar and pro chain,you would be surprised what you can cut in a day.

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fixerupper

02-21-2004 08:23:14




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
I have observed, through some chainsaw shopping of my own, that some of the old main brands are selling 'consumer' (meaning cheap) grade saws now in addition to their commercial ones. The consumer ones are probably good enough for the homeowner who trims his apple trees but I question the generous use the plastic used to build them. I burn a lot of wood too and I fix my own saws, but I have had to do the most work on my five year old Husqvarna. It's a smaller one I use for trimming, and it cuts like crazy plus it is smooth and well balanced. I didn't pay much for it and have been rewarded with the opportunity to work with cheaply made parts that don't seem to last, plus I have had to learn how to hold my tongue right when I put it back together.

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jim

02-21-2004 06:32:06




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
If you want a real real good saw, look at a Redmax saw, they are made by Komatsu-Zenoah. They are by far the best unknown saw, they are the best little saw I have ever had my hands on. you think you have trouble getting parts for your old Deer, try to get parts for a Poulan or Craftsman saw, they are all the same saw, different name. I service both and once I sell a Redmax, the only time I see them are if the bar or chain needs replaced. They ar not cheap, but a G5000 with a 20" bar sells for $429.99. it is a 3.4CI saw. Once you run one you would be impressed with it, and it is a true commercail saw, but remember the equipment is only as good as the person servicing it for you.

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Wayne

02-21-2004 06:24:55




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
Replace it with a new John Deere CS56 with an 16, 18, or 20 inch bar.



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Harley

02-22-2004 04:27:04




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 Re: Re: New chain saws in reply to Wayne, 02-21-2004 06:24:55  
Not to offend you, but the way the John Deere dealers are around here they only want people that are looking to spend $10,000 or more. That is to bad because they also carry the stihl saws. I will not go back (my choice) I�m sure most people are very happy with them, but I�m not one of them. I ride a Harley and like JD they are starting to sell a name. Thanks again for the post. Harley



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Wayne

02-23-2004 05:49:29




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 Re: Re: Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-22-2004 04:27:04  
Too bad we are not closer. I'm a John Deere dealer and I WON'T treat you that way. I guess I don't kn ow where you are really but probably too far. Thank You Wayne



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Paul Janke

02-21-2004 04:00:45




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
I still like to use the tractor with the flat belt running the buzz saw. For $200, I might get a saw and a bale elevator to carry away the wood. I know, you still need a chain saw to go with it.



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keith

02-21-2004 03:24:10




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
I have a Husquavarva 55 Rancher also. I bought it about 5 years ago. I clean the air filter once a year and that is the only pm I have done to it. It has been an awesome saw. I cut about as much wood as you do and I have never had any trouble with it. It has an 18" bar and I am not sure of the ccs but it handles very well. I paid $330 which included the case then. I didn't want to pay that much at the time, but now I am glad I did.

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jeff

02-20-2004 23:19:11




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
Her is my $.02 on new saws. Also check Jonsered I think that is how you spell it. I have a whole bunch of older McCulloch 610 saws that I have repaired and have sold a couple to cover the cost of this hobby. LOL !! If you do a lot of firewood you should look at a saw with a 20" bar and around 60cc engine. This is not over kill, it is when you and the saw have enough power to work together and with ease. Also get buck spikes on the saw. They make life sooooo much easier! Sthil, and Husky are the two top units. All saws today are made of plastic and it makes them a whole lot easy on the arms after lots of cuttin. Cheaper saws will not be built to take a beatin like stuff from even 10 years ago.They are for the weekend wairror crowd. DON"T let the price fool ya. Look for chrome "jug or cylinders". Some saws in this size range have compression release and BOY does that help. Glad to answer questions for you, but buy as big and as much as you can handle. You learn how to use a big saw correctly and IT does the cuttin, not you tryin to push it around! P.S. me and my neighbor did 1/2 acres of South Jersey oak cut down and diced in about four hours with 20" 4hp saws. Most of the trees were about 18". Jeff

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Michael

02-20-2004 22:37:55




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
I have a Husquavarna Rancher with 18" bar. It was kind of spendy and was my first saw. So far I've been happy with it.

As for your old saw, why not repair it? Otherwise you're left with nothing more than a doorstop.

If it were me, I'd buy a new saw and fix my existing saw and use it as a backup.



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Harley

02-21-2004 05:37:26




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 Re: Re: New chain saws in reply to Michael, 02-20-2004 22:37:55  
The old saw (55ev) was made by echo for John Deere, they change brands now and don�t want to order parts for the old ones. They like to run you over to the new saws when you walk in the door. I�t like pulling teeth to get them to work with you. I pulled it apart and found what I thought was a piece of a ring that went through pushing the rings into the piston. I replaced the rings and saved the piston, started it up and ran it about 10 min. when it died. Pulling it apart again, same thing replaced 1 ring and put it back together and ran another 10 min. Now pulling it apart I find that the crank bearing is falling apart and sending peaces through the cylinder. $20.00 down the drain. I�m not going to waste any more time or money on it. My brother said he was going to play with it. Thanks to all for the posts, Harley

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Michael

02-21-2004 12:47:33




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 Re: Re: Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-21-2004 05:37:26  
Wow, sounds like it has really reached the end of its lifespan.



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RJ-AZ

02-20-2004 18:25:24




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 Re: New chain saws in reply to Harley, 02-20-2004 17:09:03  
I too had to replace my22 year old John Deere 55EV saw this year. Our local saw shop carries Stihl, Husqvarna and Echo saws. I was able to take em' for a spin out back on a big log and liked the heft and feel of the Stihl MS310 the best. I got it for $270.00 and figure it oughta last me another 20+ years. Go with the saw you can get serviced reularly. I got my JD saw when I was working as a mechanic in the local dealership shop and we had an area for working on saws and other landscape tools. The place changed hands and no one knows where all the stuff went.

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knock knock az

02-26-2004 20:29:15




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 Re: Re: New chain saws in reply to RJ-AZ, 02-20-2004 18:25:24  
regularly



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