Best Chainsaws

I have a Homelite 360 pro that I traded for with the Homelite rep back in 1977 (41 years young :rolleyes:).
Had always been a good runner until ethanol came along. Then I couldn't find carburetor parts anymore, so it sat in my shop for years.
It became vintage art and a conversation piece. Moved on to Stihls. Then low and behold, I found a guy on the internet that is reproducing parts.
Replaced the diaphragm, clean fuel, two pulls and she fired up.
I could use a few new parts :D and maybe I 'd run as well.
 
Georgecatl said:
I have a Homelite 360 pro that I traded for with the Homelite rep back in 1977 (41 years young :rolleyes:).
Had always been a good runner until ethanol came along. Then I couldn't find carburetor parts anymore, so it sat in my shop for years.
It became vintage art and a conversation piece. Moved on to Stihls. Then low and behold, I found a guy on the internet that is reproducing parts.
Replaced the diaphragm, clean fuel, two pulls and she fired up.
I could use a few new parts :D and maybe I 'd run as well.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure if you get the pre-canned fuel at a woods supply store it won't have ethanol. Also there are websites that list stations that sell pure fuel so you can look there too. I took a course a few years ago and the instructor there treated his saws like they were classic race cars and really paid a lot of attention to what went in them.
 
I haven't had any problems with ethanol fuel in my homelite xl12 (knock on wood). I love that old saw due to the torque it puts out. Same reason I disliked the stihl 026 - it was all high end, gutless unless rev the crap out of it. I'm still convinced any new saw I buy now will be a dolmar. I suppose if I where a professional I'd look into a stihl or husy xp.
 
Danke42 said:
Pretty sure if you get the pre-canned fuel at a woods supply store it won't have ethanol. Also there are websites that list stations that sell pure fuel so you can look there too. I took a course a few years ago and the instructor there treated his saws like they were classic race cars and really paid a lot of attention to what went in them.
Click to expand...
I quit using ethanol laced gas in all my small engines long ago. When that stuff first came along, no one really knew the damage it would cause. I live near a large lake and have plenty of sources for non-ethanol gas. I have an old Boston Whaler with a '65 40hp Evinrude that I had to learn the hard way on.....its back up and running well as well.
 
I just posted about chainsaws above . Stihl is hard to beat. Jonsonred says are beast but the ones being sold at TSC Rural king stores now are Jonsonred in name only I think poulan is making them . I just bought an echo CS490
 
There are some hard and fast rules in life and in tools & tooling. My Grandfather imparted these words of wisdom on me as a young man and it stuck...For your consumption or refulsal...

#1 Buy the best of whatever it is, it will only hurt once...Buying and then using sub-standard tools and tooling keeps on hurting till you get it right..

#2 It is a poor workman who blames his tools.

#3 On chainsaws, buy the biggest you can hold for second or two in your hand with arm extended..That's for a "All Around" General purpose working saw. Not a limbing or arborist saw. Learn how to sharpen and tune it. I think Husqvarna (Pro saws only) are some if not the best money can buy, be prepared to spend a thousand dollars for a very good saw. You aren't going to be happy with ANYTHING that Home Depot sells for long...
IE: Get one that has at least a 70CC engine and will run chain around a 24-30" bar without breathing hard...

If you cant afford a GOOD saw buy a BIG saw....The chinese over at farmertec sell knock-offs of the pro husky's and Stihl's. They arent bad for the money.....But you may also want to refer to rule number 1. before jumping in...
 
I've had a couple Echo, husky, stihl and makitas, performance wise they were all pretty well matched for their size. I was most comfortable with the Makita 6401 so thats the one I've kept. They all started fine and ran good, the echos seemed a little slower than the other saws but nothing unacceptable. I also kept a Echo top handle.
 
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