Posted by jdemaris on September 06, 2008 at 10:00:58 from (67.142.130.27):
Looking for opinions with newer chain saws that really get used hard - with cutting hard woods - sometimes all day long.
I just had my first problem with my Stihl 045 Super. It's been a fantastic saw. Even with a 30" bar in hard maple - it cuts fast. I bought it early 1980s and have never so much as put a spark plug into it. I cut a lot of wood since I heat my barn and farmhouse with wood heat - 100 %. Saw was running fine - but shut it down and it never started again. Found the rings stuck in the piston. I just ordered an aftermarket piston and rings set - but decided I need a large "backup" saw. I'm using my 041 Super right now - but it's getting kind of old and never was a fast cutter.
I was a Stihl and Homelite mechanic starting from the late 1960s up to early 80s - so I'm not new to saws. I am not up on the current stuff however. I still have a few 1960s Stihl saws - 040, 030, and an S10. But, they're not what I call big. Alos have a few old Homelites - a Buz, Super Wiz, 4/20, XL12, etc.
So - buying a modern saw is a big learning curve for me. I went down the Stihl store and almost fainted at the prices for a saw with over 70 ccs. My 045 Super is 87 ccs. I'd like to get something close in power and/or size. I then went down to a Husqvarna dealer - and was again - in shock over prices. He has a 385XP which looks like what I want - with a $950 price tag. I also noticed that many of the cheaper Huskys have plastic crankcases - which I will never buy.
Now I'm thinking about saws like some bigger Echos, or Solos, or Dolmars under the Makita name - or maybe the Efco Italian saws? I think that's what Deere is selling now - instead of the former "green" Echos or Remingtons.
I also started looking around for a used saw - and was again in shock over prices. I'm finding non-running older but large saws on Ebay selling for over $400. I'm debating if it's worth buying an older Stihl 056 and repairing it.
I went down and spoke to my farmer-neigbor who cuts a lot of wood. He's using mostly Huskys now. He told me the cheaper ones sold at Central Tractor, Tractor Supply, etc. are crap. Especially the Rancher 55s. And, the bigger professional models are good but getting cheapened and priced higher. So - I'm looking for input from others that use their saws hard. Stihl has had me turned off since they got involved in making many cheap "homeowner" type saws like the 015, 009, 011 - and whatever they sell now. I did look at a MS 441 Magnum yesterday. 70 ccs. and $895. Seems like a lot of money for maybe, not very much saw.
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