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Need Help Please: Buying Chainsaw today

stikman56

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Joined
Jun 12, 2014
Messages
3,127
Bad news for ya... same saw different sticker on it. Husqvarna owns both those brands, among others. Mc Culloch stopped making anything worth owning 20-25 years ago. My go to is a PM610. Nothing you buy these days will compare to the Macs of old, but will compare directly to the Poulan Wild Thing on the low end and the Jonsered/Husqvarna on the Macs high end.


Stihl is against the internet parts/service model for several reasons, but the biggest is liability. You repair the saw yourself with a part you looked up (possibly an incorrect part) and bought from an unauthorised source and then get hurt suing Stihl...Now add the epa regs and the fines for not complying with the limiter caps and carb settings that we all hate...and how about when someone fixes it himself, and doesn't really know how to repair it causing it to run poorly then blames Stihl for making a piece of junk... or worse taking out the cylinder because the left an air leak or tuned the carb wrong. I'm singling Stihl here because you did - same could be applied to any brand, but Stihl is very sensitive to liability issues.
Sthil, I'm told from a reliable source, actively watches the internet for not only stolen units and violating dealers selling parts and units. Now the flip side is, I believe if you call a dealer they could mail you a part without issue just as walking into the building.

BTW, these are NOT the same saw. (hadn't noticed you saying they were the same saw) Not even close. I own both. Only thing they share on the outside is the chain. Everything else is I see is different , even the engine. One's 40 cc, one's 38cc (the smaller one has more power) Then from what you've said here, a Poulan is a Husqvarna from using this logic, so why buy the Husky? They are different grades of saws. Try to point out even one thing on the outside of these saws that's the same, hell even the knobs are different.


Yes, try and rain on my parade all you want, Electrolux owns Husky. My McCulloch is made by Husqvarna, the sticker is on the saw. So they own Poulan.....they're ****** saws. Buy both of them and compare for yourself, don't take my word for it. One saw works excellent,one saw is the biggest POS I have ever seen. It's just the truth. What matters is how they work as far as my concern goes here, and this is my experienced as I have lived it with both saws. I'll stick to what's always worked for me, no reason to change what works, and I should have done that instead of giving in and taking the easy way out and buying that stupid piece of **** saw. Lesson learned. My good saw runs and cuts and works like a good saw should, just like my very old Mac 10 always did. I can show pictures of the work it's already done on my land, it's a lot of work, not homeowner stuff, real big trees dropped and cut up. The Poulan couldn't hack it, that's why I bought a decent saw. It runs inconsistent, the chain falls off whenever it wants , the power isn't as good as it should be, it spews gas on you when you take the gas cap off,every F&%$ing time.... $100.00 wasted is what happened. This is my experience as I have lived it. These pictures are some of the stuff the Poulan just couldn't get done, but was effortless with the CS380. That's all I can tell you. Your mileage may vary.
 

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chris142

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Dec 19, 2011
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apple valley,ca
I have a cs370. It works well except for the carb. If it sits unused a few weeks,with or with out fuel. E10 or e0 true fuel the carb must be rebuilt before it will run.
 

finn

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Joined
Mar 27, 2005
Messages
16,261
Location
The UP, God's country
Electrolux spun off Husqvarna several years ago.

I've got Husky, Stihl, Jonsered, some ancient Homelites and a couple other chainsaws.

The CS300 Echo is my go to saw for yard work as described by the op. It was cheap, light, and starts on the first or second pull after sitting all winter. Go to Bailey's online and get a couple of non-safety chains and it will do everything you need, within reason, for yard cleanup.

You won't be cutting 10 cords of firewood yearly with it, but that doesn't sound like the plan.

Take your wife out to dinner a couple of times with the money you saved by not buying a Stihl pro saw.
 
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ducatiti

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Joined
Feb 28, 2015
Messages
68
I have a cs370. It works well except for the carb. If it sits unused a few weeks,with or with out fuel. E10 or e0 true fuel the carb must be rebuilt before it will run.

Oh noo! Seriously? The main reason I bought these considering that I won't be using them as much and assuming they will start each and every time. I bought two bottles of True Fuel and Echo pre-mixed fuel. Hopefully, that would help.
 
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jar944

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Jul 26, 2010
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Northern VA
Oh noo! Seriously? The main reason I bought these considering that I won't be using them as much and assuming they will start each and every time. I bought two bottles of True Fuel and Echo pre-mixed fuel. Hopefully, that would help.

Something else is off there, sitting for a year should only require fresh gas.
 

kc-steve

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Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
4,240
Location
Kansas City
I guess no one noticed that the OP was March 15th and he was going to buy it back then.

FWIW, I have an Echo CS400es and it starts easier than my Stihl I quit using. I take proper care of it. :D

Steve
 
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ducatiti

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2015
Messages
68
Working on a deal with a local Stihl dealer for a HS 46 and MS 171 for $20 off each.

If so, I may return my Echo equipment. Again, I bought my Echo HC 152 and CS 370 at 15% off each. Initially set my mind on Stilh but couldn't pass on the Echo deal.

Question is now, who has a better homeowner rated saw: Echo or Stihl?

May be returning these sooooon....
9DAF7535-EAC0-412F-9F62-3AB22CCF10E5_zpsdpoakbev.jpg
 

hangfirew8

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
879
Location
Central Maryland
The main thing I don't like about Stihl is you can't download any illustrated parts drawings off the internet and you can't buy a service manual off the internet. They won't let you buy parts off the internet either.

Take a quick look at all the Stihl parts on eBay! Not from dealers, yeah, but plenty of stuff out there. Just ask for manual PDF's at arboristsite forum.

Never buy a chainsaw from a homecenter!!

If it needs service after the return period has expired they'll send you off to an authorized service center.

The service center will usually be an independent dealer. They'll put your repair at the bottom of the stack. Their own customers will get priority treatment and go to the head of the line.

It's really much worse than that. I bought a Homelite, it broke almost immediately. I went to the nearest "authorized service center" and they said "$30 to look at it, goes against repair labor if you decide to fix it." I said "it's under warranty" they said "so" I said "you're an authorized repair center" they said "yes for Stihl."

So I called every Homelite "authorized repair center" in their web page, all the same story, absolutely none would look at it or fix it for free.

A couple years later, a buddy bought an Earthquake... worked for a few weeks... same story. He couldn't find anyone to look at it under warranty.
 
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