Surprisingly Good, Cheap Chainsaw

[billt460]

I had a palm tree stump in my backyard about 4 ft. high, that was left by the previous owner. It looked like hell, and I wanted rid of it. The landscaper who does most of my trimming and cleanup wanted between $200 and $250 to rake the gravel back, and dig down to cut it off flush with the ground, and haul everything away. I felt that was reasonable, but I held off trying to think of another solution.

I came across several Chinese chainsaws on Wal-Mart's website that were priced very reasonable. One in particular was the 20" bar, 62 CC Salem Master Pro. It was only $160.00 delivered to my door. I watched several You Tube videos on it, and most everyone was quite pleased with the unit, so I ordered one, and figured I'd do the job myself, then basically have the saw for free. I also ordered a 4 pack of air cleaners and a extra chain, along with a 5 pack of spark plugs. (I figured that being a Chinese product parts availability is going to be limited, to nonexistent).

The unit and extra parts all came well packaged, and I assembled the bar and chain, adjusted the chain tension, and gassed and lubed it up. It started on the second pull! The unit requires a 25:1 mix, and they give you a nice gas / oil mixing bottle that will mix about a liter of fuel. I used a 20:1 ratio for the first couple of tankful's to break it in. The chain oiler works very well, and is adjustable from "Low" to "High" with the turn of a screw.

It cut through that 24" palm stump like it was made of paper mache. The actual cutting time was no more than a couple minutes total. (I made a total of 3 cuts through it). The cut wood was very light because it was void of most of it's moisture. It took 3 times as long to clean everything up and put all the tools away, than it did to do the actual cutting. I tossed the leftover wood out with the trash. Afterward I blew off the saw, and wiped it down with some WD-40 and Silicone Spray on all the plastic. And it looks like it just came from the box. After I raked everything back, you can't even tell a stump was ever there.

I wasn't about to pay $400.00 to $500.00+ for a Stihl or Husqvarna saw to do this, because I don't need a saw that often, let alone one that requires that kind of quality. In fact, I don't know when, or even if I'll ever need one again. But for only $160.00 this saw performed amazingly well. It has plenty of power, cuts like butter, and is easy to service and handle. I purchased it through Wal-Mart, so if it should tank within the warranty period, I can easily get a refund.

If anyone is in this situation, where you need a saw for a one time job or occasional use, don't hesitate to buy one of these. They're surprisingly well built, run good, and have good reviews. And for the price, you simply can't beat it.

 

[SeisMec]

If you don't intend to use it again in the next few months. Probably a good idea to drain the fuel. Especially if you used 10% ethanol for the mixture.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Have you priced a smaller stihl? They are remarkably reasonable, and then when you're done you have something. Now you just have a piece of junk that will quickly become worthless the first time you need a part.

 

[qqzj]

Man, you just cut it flush with ground? I am also working on a stump now. I am trying to dig up the roots. After fighting with it 3 times for about 3 hours, I dig half of the roots up. Now when I push it, it starts to move a bit. Cutting it flush is so easy.

I had a palm tree stump in my backyard about 4 ft. high, that was left by the previous owner. It looked like hell, and I wanted rid of it. The landscaper who does most of my trimming and cleanup wanted between $200 and $250 to rake the gravel back, and dig down to cut it off flush with the ground, and haul everything away. I felt that was reasonable, but I held off trying to think of another solution.

I came across several Chinese chainsaws on Wal-Mart's website that were priced very reasonable. One in particular was the 20" bar, 62 CC Salem Master Pro. It was only $160.00 delivered to my door. I watched several You Tube videos on it, and most everyone was quite pleased with the unit, so I ordered one, and figured I'd do the job myself, then basically have the saw for free. I also ordered a 4 pack of air cleaners and a extra chain, along with a 5 pack of spark plugs. (I figured that being a Chinese product parts availability is going to be limited, to nonexistent).

The unit and extra parts all came well packaged, and I assembled the bar and chain, adjusted the chain tension, and gassed and lubed it up. It started on the second pull! The unit requires a 25:1 mix, and they give you a nice gas / oil mixing bottle that will mix about a liter of fuel. I used a 20:1 ratio for the first couple of tankful's to break it in. The chain oiler works very well, and is adjustable from "Low" to "High" with the turn of a screw.

It cut through that 24" palm stump like it was made of paper mache. The actual cutting time was no more than a couple minutes total. (I made a total of 3 cuts through it). The cut wood was very light because it was void of most of it's moisture. It took 3 times as long to clean everything up and put all the tools away, than it did to do the actual cutting. I tossed the leftover wood out with the trash. Afterward I blew off the saw, and wiped it down with some WD-40 and Silicone Spray on all the plastic. And it looks like it just came from the box. After I raked everything back, you can't even tell a stump was ever there.

I wasn't about to pay $400.00 to $500.00+ for a Stihl or Husqvarna saw to do this, because I don't need a saw that often, let alone one that requires that kind of quality. In fact, I don't know when, or even if I'll ever need one again. But for only $160.00 this saw performed amazingly well. It has plenty of power, cuts like butter, and is easy to service and handle. I purchased it through Wal-Mart, so if it should tank within the warranty period, I can easily get a refund.

If anyone is in this situation, where you need a saw for a one time job or occasional use, don't hesitate to buy one of these. They're surprisingly well built, run good, and have good reviews. And for the price, you simply can't beat it.

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Terra Nova]

IMHO the 20" Poulan Pro is a hard value to beat. Poulan is owned by Husqvarna and many of the parts on the Poulan saw wear the Husqvarna logo (i.e. are husky parts). They are ≈$200 around here if you catch them on sale. It's a cheap saw but has some name recognition so you have half a chance selling it if you ever wanted to and parts and chains are readily available.

 

[Treeman]

I don't know when, or even if I'll ever need one again.

Renting one would have cost less than $35.

 

[toddmorr]

I use a saw once a year and have no issue buying tools for anything, but in this case I just rent it for 35 bucks and they always include a new chain and fuel. Can't beat that deal

Sent from my SM-G970U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bwringer]

I'm in much the same "very occasional" use category. A $40 plug in electric saw and a 100' extension cord have thus far done everything I need and more.

Thus far I haven't been overwhelmed with chainsaw shame.

 

[billt460]

Man, you just cut it flush with ground? I am also working on a stump now. I am trying to dig up the roots. After fighting with it 3 times for about 3 hours, I dig half of the roots up. Now when I push it, it starts to move a bit. Cutting it flush is so easy.

After I cut it flush, I made several plunge cuts into the face of the stump in a criss cross pattern, several inches deep. This allows water and soil to seep deep into the stump, and helps to induce decomposition. After a couple of years it will simply rot away, and decompose into compost.

 

[billt460]

If you don't intend to use it again in the next few months. Probably a good idea to drain the fuel. Especially if you used 10% ethanol for the mixture.

I get Non Ethanol 93 octane in town. They use it in the race boats here. I then mix it with a healthy dose of PRI-G. I've never had a unit fail to start after sitting. I generally fire them up once a month or so, just to run fuel through them. PRI-G is much better than Sta-Bil.

 

[billt460]

Have you priced a smaller stihl? They are remarkably reasonable, and then when you're done you have something. Now you just have a piece of junk that will quickly become worthless the first time you need a part.

A 20" bar Stihl with a 60+ CC engine is well north of $400.00. No way I was spending that. For as much use as that saw will see, I'll be dead and buried, and it will still be running.

 

[tdkkart]

So do like a lot of people do, just take it back to Walmart with some lame reason for returning it, for a full refund. Next time you need one, go buy another.

 

[slowtwitch73]

There's a lot of good saws out there now. I bought a Portland for 40$ that has done several thousands dollars worth of work for me had I had a tree guy come out.

Sorry I previously said it was a Pittsburg.

 

[Los_Control]

I usually dig down around them and cut the roots and pull the stump. A little extra work but now can replace another tree there.
One house I rented had a 3' tall, 18" diameter stump sitting in a bad place and in the way. I dug it up used my sawzall to cut the roots and worked at it til it was out. Maybe 45 min total. Then I dug another hole near the patio and buried it there and used it as a outdoor table base.

My current house has a large stump in the front yard I want to remove and replace with a new tree.

Thus far I haven't been overwhelmed with chainsaw shame.

I also bought a small electric saw from a estate sale. Keep the chain sharp & oiled and works great.

 

[rancherbill]

...The unit requires a 25:1 mix, and they give you a nice gas / oil mixing bottle that will mix about a liter of fuel. I used a 20:1 ratio for the first couple of tankful's to break it in....

I thought you could only sell 50:1 machines

 

[Jswain]

Agreed. Drain the fuel, start the saw let it run til it dies, if it has a primer bulb pump it 10x then drain any remnants out of the fuel tank again, mayswell drain the bar oil too.

It's a little more work but it will keep the startup procedure the same everytime

 

[billt460]

I thought you could only sell 50:1 machines

 

[Rabid Badger]

I picked up a corded Worx chainsaw with pole attachment on clearance at Lowes for $27. I have no desire to mess with a carb and 2-stroke oil when I need it every 2 years or so.

 

[m151]

Another way is a stihl or husky clone from Farmertec. Just as cheap and parts are available from the non cloned manufacturer.

 

[billt460]

This is the saw. It's gone up $10 bucks since I bought it.

Robot or human?

 

[Kev442]

I was surprised by the 20" Poulan too. Feels like it is two levels above those 18" wildthings. Got mine for well under $200, thought I would only be using it for tree bases a couple times a year, but am using it for more.

 

[James-W]

I just bought a corded 14 inch chainsaw from harbor freight. I have not used it yet, but this weekend I plan of trimming some brush from the backyard by the fence. I seldom need a chainsaw and this electric one should work out just fine for my limited usage. I have another corded chainsaw but the container for the chain oiler leaks and runs all over the place. I could maybe take the saw apart and repair the oil holder container, but the new saw was only $47 and the one I have is probably 25 years old, or more, so I figured it doesn't owe me anything.

 

[mikegt4]

Another vote for Poulan as a value saw. I bought one cheap at a swap meet, it wouldn't run more than a few minutes. Found that the fuel cap vent was not working. Put on a new cap and it's been running dependably for about 10 years and I use it frequently.

 

[Jswain]

The problem with most poulans are the owners. **** fuel or mixed incorrectly at the wrong ratio, left sitting for years, never clean the air filter or sharpen/tension the chain etc. Just simply from the price point they are used by probably mostly people who don't know what the heck theyre doing and just need to cut a couple trees.

If you had one since new, and treated it good it would run good and last a long time.

 

[wafrederick]

What kills them is people pouring straight gas not using the correctly mixed gas too.

 

[rick carpenter]

OP, drop some fertilizer in the plunge cuts. That is supposed to help accelerate the decomp.

 

[billt460]

The problem with most poulans are the owners. **** fuel or mixed incorrectly at the wrong ratio, left sitting for years, never clean the air filter or sharpen/tension the chain etc. Just simply from the price point they are used by probably mostly people who don't know what the heck theyre doing and just need to cut a couple trees.

If you had one since new, and treated it good it would run good and last a long time.

That's true with most 2-Stroke engine products, regardless of their quality, price, or where they are manufactured. You would be surprised at the amount of people who can't figure out how to correctly mix fuel / oil ratios. That, along with mechanical legends who think they know better than the factory, what ratio the engine should run on. If you talk to most small engine mechanics who make their living repairing small 2-strokes, they'll tell you they see more ruined 2-strokes from running improper, (too lean) oil / fuel ratios, than everything else combined.

I always run a quality synthetic 2-stroke oil, and mix it slightly on the richer side. I've never had a 2-stroke damaged from improper lubrication. Spark plugs are a lot cheaper and easier to replace than seized bearings, and scored cylinder walls, pistons, and piston rings.

Another thing people have to remember, is that most all 2-stroke powered equipment runs constantly at full throttle. Chain saws, weed eaters, and power blowers. Proper, quality lubrication is an absolute MUST.... Not a luxury.

 

[Super Mech]

I just bought a corded 14 inch chainsaw from harbor freight. I have not used it yet, but this weekend I plan of trimming some brush from the backyard by the fence. I seldom need a chainsaw and this electric one should work out just fine for my limited usage. I have another corded chainsaw but the container for the chain oiler leaks and runs all over the place. I could maybe take the saw apart and repair the oil holder container, but the new saw was only $47 and the one I have is probably 25 years old, or more, so I figured it doesn't owe me anything.

I’m actually purchasing the same saw this weekend. I only need a chainsaw maybe once every two years to do so trimming. I have their brand of electric pole saw and it has been very good.

 

[Forgottonia]

I wonder if chainsaw manufacturing is like computer manufacturing where many of the different consumer brands are built at the same manufacturing facility?

 

[Jswain]

I wonder if chainsaw manufacturing is like computer manufacturing where many of the different consumer brands are built at the same manufacturing facility?

Not sure about the newer poulans but I put a new cylinder & piston kit in a probably 5 year old(when they were still yellow however many years that's been) poulan and the cylinder and a few other parts had the Husqvarna logo right on it.

Doesn't mean I think they are as good as Husqvarna as the build quality is quite a bit different but I'm sure they are comparable with the low end Husqvarna. You can tell many other saws of the same era were made in the same plant with different colors as well some of the craftsman's I believe etc.

 

[billt460]

I wonder if chainsaw manufacturing is like computer manufacturing where many of the different consumer brands are built at the same manufacturing facility?

I know it is with the Chinese built generators. You can tell by looking at them. They are alike in many ways, regardless of brand they're sold under. The engines and dynamos are all the same. I'm guessing they are all manufactured in some big Chinese industrial center. Then they're branded and featured per customer request. Be it Westinghouse, Duro Max, Champion, Pulsar, or whoever.

 

[Joebklyn]

I had a palm tree stump in my backyard about 4 ft. high, that was left by the previous owner. It looked like hell, and I wanted rid of it. The landscaper who does most of my trimming and cleanup wanted between $200 and $250 to rake the gravel back, and dig down to cut it off flush with the ground, and haul everything away. I felt that was reasonable, but I held off trying to think of another solution.

I came across several Chinese chainsaws on Wal-Mart's website that were priced very reasonable. One in particular was the 20" bar, 62 CC Salem Master Pro. It was only $160.00 delivered to my door. I watched several You Tube videos on it, and most everyone was quite pleased with the unit, so I ordered one, and figured I'd do the job myself, then basically have the saw for free. I also ordered a 4 pack of air cleaners and a extra chain, along with a 5 pack of spark plugs. (I figured that being a Chinese product parts availability is going to be limited, to nonexistent).

The unit and extra parts all came well packaged, and I assembled the bar and chain, adjusted the chain tension, and gassed and lubed it up. It started on the second pull! The unit requires a 25:1 mix, and they give you a nice gas / oil mixing bottle that will mix about a liter of fuel. I used a 20:1 ratio for the first couple of tankful's to break it in. The chain oiler works very well, and is adjustable from "Low" to "High" with the turn of a screw.

It cut through that 24" palm stump like it was made of paper mache. The actual cutting time was no more than a couple minutes total. (I made a total of 3 cuts through it). The cut wood was very light because it was void of most of it's moisture. It took 3 times as long to clean everything up and put all the tools away, than it did to do the actual cutting. I tossed the leftover wood out with the trash. Afterward I blew off the saw, and wiped it down with some WD-40 and Silicone Spray on all the plastic. And it looks like it just came from the box. After I raked everything back, you can't even tell a stump was ever there.

I wasn't about to pay $400.00 to $500.00+ for a Stihl or Husqvarna saw to do this, because I don't need a saw that often, let alone one that requires that kind of quality. In fact, I don't know when, or even if I'll ever need one again. But for only $160.00 this saw performed amazingly well. It has plenty of power, cuts like butter, and is easy to service and handle. I purchased it through Wal-Mart, so if it should tank within the warranty period, I can easily get a refund.

If anyone is in this situation, where you need a saw for a one time job or occasional use, don't hesitate to buy one of these. They're surprisingly well built, run good, and have good reviews. And for the price, you simply can't beat it.

Keep the manual handy and see if you can get another carb for it. They're cheap as hell on Amazon and easy to replace.

 

[Jazz1]

I see you ordered extra air filters. are they not washable? As long as you remove fuel should not have any issues starting if it sits for long period.

 

[billt460]

I see you ordered extra air filters. are they not washable? As long as you remove fuel should not have any issues starting if it sits for long period.

No they're not foam, they are paper pleated. You can blow them out with a air nozzle. I did that after completing my palm tree job. They blow out pretty clean. Should be able to do it several times before a change is needed.

 

[bassJAM]

Man, you just cut it flush with ground? I am also working on a stump now. I am trying to dig up the roots. After fighting with it 3 times for about 3 hours, I dig half of the roots up. Now when I push it, it starts to move a bit. Cutting it flush is so easy.

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using The Garage Journal mobile app

If you have a reciprocating saw I've found a tree pruning blade works wonders on underground roots. You don't even need to dig all the way around the root, just find where it is, shove the blade in the dirt and start cutting. A single blade will make a lot of cuts through dirt like that before it's toast. Unless you bend it of course.

 

[jives]

I would never go gas for any occasional use tool. After a year of sitting you can never rely on it working. My $49 Remington 14" chainsaw has been working every few years for 10 years and runs perfectly every time. It has been used mostly to cut storm downed trees and flush cuts at dirt level. Never hesitates. Electric motors are nearly indestructible, but yes, the cord is a pain, particularly if I need to bring out the generator to run it.

Alternately, use a Diablo pruning blade in a cordless recip saw. Cut roots, limbs, anything about 6" and under. Awesome.

 

[Kev442]

The Remington I bought let the smoke out with only about 3 hours on it.

 

[bwringer]

Alternately, use a Diablo pruning blade in a cordless recip saw. Cut roots, limbs, anything about 6" and under. Awesome.

Yep, this is my go-to. Except I use a cheapo corded recip from HF. My 100' extension cord will reach anywhere on my little property, and IDGAF about sticking a $20 saw into the dirt if I need to.

An expensive blade on a cheap saw will do a hell of a lot of cutting!

 

[Packard V8]

I would never go gas for any occasional use tool. After a year of sitting you can never rely on it working.

FWIW, problems with gas-powered equipment seems to be directly correlated to humidity. The 10% ethanol absorbs water from the air and east of the Rockies gets progressively worse. Out here in the dry intermountain west, I have a dozen ICE-powered vehicles and small machines and have never had any problems I could blame on pump gas. A snowblower, a rototiller, a weedwhacker and two lawnmowers are stored for six months of the year. Each of them starts instantly when called back into service. The two chainsaws often sit for years between chores. Your opinions and results may vary.

jack vines

 

[billt460]

I would never go gas for any occasional use tool. After a year of sitting you can never rely on it working.

I purchaed this Homelite XL back in the mid 70's. It's run every time I've ever needed it to. It's very important to use stabilized non Ethanol fuel whenever possible. Or else buy the premix Tru-Fuel at Home Depot or Lowe's. It has 93 octane, no Ethanol, and will last for years.