Chainsaw suggestions?

Now for the question - what to replace it with? Does Stihl still make the same 028? I looked at a Husky 460 and and a 355. I'm leaning towards the 460 but how do they compare to the 028 & each other? Is 4ccs (.3 cu in) worth $35 more for the 460?

How tough is the Husky? My 028 had been dug out from under one tree that fell on it - at the beach so the soil was sandy & kinda soft. My ex SIL ran over it *twice*. The second time I had to find a totaled 028 to rob parts from but it ran for 4 more years.

The local shop here is a Husky dealer - I'm not going to waste the time to even look at the deals at Lowe's or HD - I want a real saw. Not something made for a homeowner to used ever 4 or 5 years!

If there's any bunch that can offer good suggestions, it's this board. Thanks for any info!

soundguy

I have a 028 and a 026. Both seem to have about the same power but the hp/wt ratio is better on the 026. I run a 20" .325 bar/chain on mine. Works great and I don't bend over so much as with a 16". Just picked up a redone 044 last year and I now use it for anything over 8"dia.

A while back I'da found the parts and rebuilt it myself - nowdays my fingers and eyes just can't deal with all those little parts! I spent my life working on, machining on and welding on power plant equipment until I had to have both hips replaced. Then wound up in the "head shed" planning the jobs for 15 years. I sure enjoyed being "hands on" more - "hands on" with OT paid a lot better, too! At least I'm finally "retarded" now!

Thanks again for all the info and suggestions!

Joing to rest of us retarded.
Guido.

I think in southern speak when you don't work anymore you're "retard". As in, "Is Bud still working?" "No, haze retard."

I think "retarded" means retarded, like mentally retarded, everywhere in the country. I could be wrong, though.

Merry Christmas, Stan

Jeremy just my .02

I bought my first Stihl used in the early 1970s - an 040. I still use it and I cut a lot of wood.
I also have an S10, an 030 along with many newer saws.

I was a Stihl, Sachs, and Homelite mechanic back to the late 60s on to the mid 80s. In my opinion - the 028 was nowhere near the saw many of the older Shihls were. We sold many to loggers as "limbing or topping" saws and they did not hold up well - expecally when compared to older 020s or 031s.

For new stuff? I own, have used, and worked on many newer professoinal grade Huskys and Kioritz (Echo) saws and they are built better than the Stihl 028s, not worse. El Cheapo homeowner saws are a bit different.

There are many saws on the market built every bit as well, and better than the 028. But the market is a little confusing with all the homeowner crap mixed in. Homelite started doing it in the 60s, Stihl followed with the 015 and then the 010/011, and now they all do it.

When I look to buy a saw, I make sure I look at a parts breakdown first - and make sure it' piston ported, has a hard cylinder liner, and full ball-bearing main-bearings.

In regard to new small saws - again you have to weed through the homeowner crap - but the smaller Echo/Kiortiz saws are very well built and every bit as well designed as the 028s. I suspect there are others as well, but the Echo is only one I've got first-hand knowledge of.

In regard to chain pitch and cutting speed? I guess I never gave it much thought - except that I personally hate low-profile 3/8" and hate even more the 1/4" chain Stihl used on the 015. My 031 has had 3/8" full profile chain and .325, and it cuts the same with either. My 040 used to have .404 chain and I changed it over to full profile 3/8" and it seems a little faster. I still have several saws with 1/2" chain, but they are all gear-drives anyway - so speed is not expected. I just keep the rakers low.

As I recall it always ran good, I'm not sure I remember now what the gas oil fuel ratio for those were, had taken apart the carb, cleaned it and reassembled, ran good, maybe 10 years ago, would like to get it running again.

Can you still get parts for these, think just the bar is worn out + sprocket and chain, carb rebuild kit, flush fuel tank etc. should be good to go. My father used it for years around the farm here, heavy but I thought it would make a good back up to the one I've been using, an '02 Stihl model MS-390 which I assume is a homeowner grade, did not know then, seems like a decent saw for moderate use, friend has a slightly newer MS-360 both perform well.

In regard to fuel-mix, we always advised customers to use 25 to 1 which provides extra oil. We've never had a Shihl with a fouling problem from it. My oldest saw - an 040 - built in the late 60s, still runs good and has never been rebuilt. It has no ign-switch - the older Stihls used the choke for a shut-off.