Recommend me a professional grade chainsaw

[backroad]

I drove a skidder for a logging company for about 4 years. All we used were Husqvarna 372XP's. Those things are just about bulletproof IMO.

 

[west_perf]

I'm looking at Craigslist, but I don't know how to tell the difference between Pro and Homeowner. How do I tell the difference?

Currently on my local CL:
Stihl 009L - $150
MS290 Farm Boss - $240
STIHL 311Y - $100
ms192 - $250

I'm not in a hurry, so I can watch for a few months if there's a particular saw I should be looking for. I don't do any heavy work, but I have a lot of tress on my property that require maintenance.

That's a good price for the 290 Farm boss, if it's in good condition. I have one I use to keep my property clear and it does a great job.

 

[finn]

That's a good price for the 290 Farm boss, if it's in good condition. I have one I use to keep my property clear and it does a great job.

But it's a clamshell design, not a "professional grade" saw.

I have its predecessor, an 029 in my fleet. It's a descent saw, but I prefer Husky'.

 

[AngryBeaver]

I have 2 top handles I'd say their more dangerous in brush cause their very easy to get caught up or kick back. In my experience people have a tendency to underestimate their Power/Size. It small and dangerous with out solid time on a reg saw, I would never recommend or hand someone a top handle for cutting. I do it regularly but Ive used them weekly...for years now climbing and otherwise.

A stihl ms241 or the husky size equivalent is like the perfect brush saw in my OP. Perfect for limbing, brush, trail cleanup, and light bucking... It's approximately the same size as a top handle but with more user friendly rear handle set up...and a little more bar capacity....

I was going to say the same thing about top handles, but it always creates drama on the saw boards which I haven't been on in years. its a bunch of keyboard warriors that run a saw once a year. Ive seen more people hurt with top handles than all over saws combined, and all of them were homeowners that wanted "little" saws.

 

[AngryBeaver]

OP, if you need that saw repaired, box it up and sent it to me. I can put it together for ya and do a mild woods port. it won't be a mastermind but it'll run damn gooder than stock

 

[ive]

Hi everyone.

angry beaver I traded the saw for pressure washer. Thanks for the offer.

Gentleman, what I'm taking away from all your comments is that everyone has a preference from experience which is what I was looking for. I think I'm gonna got with a 440-441 as there's a Stihl dealer close to me where I bought my snowblower that was just great to deal with.

I would like to try a Dolmar but I just can't find a dealer. Are they still sold under the Dolmar name or is it branded Makita?

Thanks for everyone's input. I truly appreciate it.

 

[Jazz1]

I have owned a 009 Stihl and 045AV Stihl for decades. Both great saws and no issues but you say you a big guy and don't mind carrying some weight how bout a nice shiny vintage saw.
I agree on buying from local dealer on new saw. I was looking over the Echo saws as they have longest warranty in the industry I believe and I really like the spring assist recoil they offer.

 

[AngryBeaver]

Hi everyone.

angry beaver I traded the saw for pressure washer. Thanks for the offer.

Gentleman, what I'm taking away from all your comments is that everyone has a preference from experience which is what I was looking for. I think I'm gonna got with a 440-441 as there's a Stihl dealer close to me where I bought my snowblower that was just great to deal with.

I would like to try a Dolmar but I just can't find a dealer. Are they still sold under the Dolmar name or is it branded Makita?

Thanks for everyone's input. I truly appreciate it.

both. Makita's are blue and dolmars are red. made in the same factory...

Another option is to go to a home depot that has a rental tool. often times they sell 6401's after they are rented out. thats the 64cc saw that used the same chassis as the 7301 and 7901.

that is a big saw for only 64cc tho... and you have to watch buying them because often times, being former rentals, they are beat to hell by people that don't own them... thats why they rent them....

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm looking at Craigslist, but I don't know how to tell the difference between Pro and Homeowner. How do I tell the difference?

Currently on my local CL:
Stihl 009L - $150
MS290 Farm Boss - $240
STIHL 311Y - $100
ms192 - $250

I'm not in a hurry, so I can watch for a few months if there's a particular saw I should be looking for. I don't do any heavy work, but I have a lot of tress on my property that require maintenance.

That's a good price for the 290 Farm boss, if it's in good condition. I have one I use to keep my property clear and it does a great job.

I'd agree with West, my MS290 is about 15 years old and has served me well. Mine came with a 16" bar but I have since moved up to a 20" bar. If that saw is in good shape, I'd walk up the guy with two Ben Franklins ....it's on CL so he knows he'll get offers.

Like Finn mentioned, it's not Pro-Grade but what reading what you'll use it for, I think that farm Boss will do you just fine.

 

[Jon_E]

that is a big saw for only 64cc tho...

Yes, but the nice thing about those seemingly underpowered 6400/6401/6421 series saws is that they can be very easily 'upgraded' to a 79-80 cc monster simply by purchasing and installing a kit. Both OEM and aftermarket are available. Once the warranty runs out on my Dolmar 6400, it is going to become a 7900. And I will pick up a 6100 to 'fill the gap' between the small 421 and the 'new' 7900.

 

[ManCave]

I'd never buy another Husqvarna. I had a 562XP that I paid $800 for and here is a list of what broke on it:

1) Stopped oiling the bar. Had to disassemble and clean.
2) The plastic chain brake handle broke 3 times. Baileys was out of stock often because they just break for no reason.
3) Broken anti-vibration spring.
4) Plastic recoil pulley wore out twice.
5) Muffler bolts fell out and burned a hole through the plastic shroud from the hot exhaust gas. I got new bolts and new heat shield and reinstalled the muffler with Blue Loctite. Bolts fell out again and muffler was trashed. Had to buy a new muffler.

Saw cut well when it worked but was always breaking. The saw never was in the woods or taken off the property. It traveled no more than about 100 feet so it never spent any time bouncing around in a vehicle. No excuse for the problems other than poor construction.

My Stihl had those damn flippy caps and a tool-less chain adjuster. Both were horrible. No doubt a Stihl that didn't have the tool-less chain adjuster would have been okay but I got to the point where I wanted a different brand saw and something that just worked and was super reliable. I couldn't be happier with my Dolmar/Makita. Well made german engineered saw and it cuts as well as my 562xp did other than it doesn't rev quite as high.

I could care less about there not being any dealers around. I can fix whatever problems I would have with it.