Which Chainsaw??

[gypsyman]

I know I'm going to open a can of worms here, and get opinions from every direction. But, I'll do my best, and sort thru them. I have a Poulan 20-22inch bar, that I've been using for the last 6-8 years. It doesn't idle very well, and last year I had it in a shop, and the mechanic said it could need a new carb,one fellow said that there might be a big scratch in the cylinder wall, which would keep it from idleing very well.(it will run when cutting, at almost full throttle) Anyway, I don't think this saw is going to make thru the fall cutting I have to do.(I'll start that when it cools down some) So, am soon to be in the market for a new saw in that size range.(20''-24'' bar) Been looking at Stihl, the professional grade Huskvarna, and possible Johnsred. I have a Husky with a 16'' bar, that has been real dependable, so I'm kinda leaning towards that brand, 'course somebody told me that the Poulan and Huskvarna's are actually made in the same plant. Anybody throw an idea out, I'ld greatly appreciate it. gypsyman

[briarpatch]

If you got 6 or 8 years out of a poulan you are ahead of the game just buy another. They are cheap but will run as good as any that I have found.

[kynardsj]

I agree that much time on a Poulan is great. If you want the best IMHO, go with the Stihl or a Husky. You get what you pay for with chainsaws.

[Old Syko]

I've spent way too many hours behind almost any brand you can name.  Stihl makes a good saw as does Jonsered with Jonsered having the edge due to better vibration dampening.  That being said, Echo offers a much better saw all the way around for about the same money or maybe even a little less in some cases.  My 601 Echo is over 40 years old and although heavy by todays standards, it will perform with any new saw out there.  This 601 was my first Echo and the one that caused me to buy all the others.  Husky has gone to way too much plastic on the outside and cheap internals.  They're not the saw they used to be whereas Echo, Stihl, and Jonsered have maintained quality all along. 


I firmly believe the life of any saw is determined by the way it is maintained.  Quicksilver or Lucas 2 stroke oil properly mixed in quality gas has proven to be very important no matter what saw you choose.
[size=78%]  [/size]

[Empty Quiver]

Have you checked out a Stihl Farm Boss? I think that is what they call it. That rascal is hell for stout as far as power goes. I do not own one but have run my buddies and was very impressed with it.
 
I would suggest exactly that, find a buddy and borrow one now and then for ten years or so.

[Graybeard]

At least around here folks that cut trees for a living use a Husky. I have two Stihl's a small one and a larger one with a 20" bar but I believe it can use up to a 24". They are good saws but if I ever need another I'll buy a Husky.

[charles p]

I'm on my 3rd Poulan saw.  First was actually a Dayton but identical to a Poulan but with a better bar.  My first Poulan got the most use and lasted the longest.  The second one developed starting problems and was very cold natured.  Gave it to my neighbor with one condition - he could never return it.  Haven't done much with the newest one.


I always wanted a Stihl but I don't think my Poulan experiences have been too bad.  Use ethanol free fuel for best results the next season.  I wonder why Honda never made a saw?

[SHOOTALL]

My dad had a sthil he used for 25 + years cutting firewood. It wore out . I had a poulan that my son has that sounds like yours that is 13 years old my son shows it no mercy and its showing its age. I have a com grade sthil 25 -26 inch bar and aone with a 16 inch bar. I got them because there are several places here that repair them .
I have no idea if it is true but have heard all the orange and white saws are from the same factory. I would get a poulan saw again or any of the orange ones if there was a good repair shop for them. Now we use way more gas powered cut off saws which put alot of dust in the air and sthil or homelite handle the abuse as well as any i've seen.
 

[Drilling Man]

  I have several chainsaws here, in fact i take 4 when we go to the woods.
 
  All i buy now are Husqvarna's, and they have been good long lasting saws!  That's what i'll buy next time too.
 
  DM

[hillbill]

ill stick with sthil, ive got 2 maybe 20 yrs old and ive had to work on them but both of my brothers have huskys and they now in the junk.i dont think ive got maybe 50 buks in parts in mine other than chains and 1 bar for the 029. i use them often but prob dont end up cuttin maybe 10 rick a year.sthils just seem easy to work on for me and we have a good dealer who stocks lots of parts if yu need them.

[Drilling Man]

  If you are happy with Stihl then there's no reason to switch to another brand.  The Stihls i had didn't make me that happy, i had too many problems with them.  For instance, i bought an 028 and when it was time for a new bar and sprocket, i went back to my Stihl dealer where i was in formed that the sprocket for that saw was discontinued!  I'd have to buy an $89. update!  I left without it and got rid of the saw..... they should change their name to STEAL!
 
  BUT, the straw that broke the camels back for me was, I use fresh premium gas with Husky oil in my Huskys, my friend uses fresh premium gas with Stihl oil in his Stihl's.  His Stihl was still under warr. when it quit, so back to the dealer he goes to get it fixed.  It had a scored cylinder, as in blown up!  The dealer was nice about it, but Stihl accused him of using old gas and cheap oil and said it didn't have any warr. and handed him a bill for the work.  He pitched a big fit, and Stihl would not warr it until they [Stihl] tested the gas and oil!  Over a month later, Stihl conceded he did use prem. gas and THEIR oil, and did warr. it!
 
  I make money with my saws, cutting tree's like this,
 

 
  This is my oldest Husqvarna, i bought it new more than 30 years ago,
 

 
  To date, the only repair this saw has had is one gas line!  I bought another new Husky saw this spring, and it runs great and works very good..
 
  My saws get a good work out, as i saw out quite a few logs.  Here's some of the logs i've taken out lately,,
 

 

 

 

 
  and i have woodstoves in my shop and house, so i get the firewood too,
 

 
  So, i'd think if the average Husqvarna saw had problems or was expensive to own, it would show up in mine.
 
  DM

[hillbill]

DM, yu obviously have experience with huskys.and i respect that. the ones i have seen that were junk were the smaller ones.not sure if that makes a diff.i think they all have their inherent defects.and the new gas is not helping out at all. i have been lucky with my sthils but then again ive had to work on them just like everything else i own.if they give up i might look into a husky if the price is right.
the best saw i ever owned was a sachs dolmar, but yu dont see a lot of them running around these days!

[redfiddler]

Home depot sells off their used rental saws every so often. Best deal of the bunch (if you can find a store that had one) is the Makita 6401 which is a Dolmar 6400 with blue plastic. Top quality saw for about $200-250 that may have only seen a couple weekends of use. It's a 64cc saw and the only difference between it and the 79cc 7900 is a different piston and cylinder. It may be on the big and heavy side for what you are looking for, but it'll run a 20" bar all day and not break a sweat. And... they sell big bore kits if you feel the need to take it up to 79 or 84cc's just for a laugh. As far as the guys on the arborst forums are concerned, this is the best bang for the buck going unless you find a steal on craigslist or the local classifieds.

[corbanzo]

Stihl.  Definitely. 
 
Husky's are good saws.  They'll keep up usually, but not the quality and durability of a stihl.
 
Jonsered has always been a good saw, but lately have reemerged with a lot of good updates on their saws. - I haven't really used their new saws so can't speak of their durability. 
 
For the guys comparing poulans to stihl and husky it is obvious you have not spent much time behind a saw and you should keep it shut.  Those things are for the people walking through home depot that have never used a saw before.
 
If you are worried about money, buy a used stihl.  A stihl with 15 years on it will outlast a new poulan. 
 
Echo is ok for a person who cuts now and again.  Any volume though... step it up.