Chainsaw Advice

[jsoukup]

Anyone using the Stihl MS 170 that they advertise for $179?

I don't have a lot of use for a chainsaw, but occasionally, I need one. I ended up cutting up some big logs last year I scavenged from some tree my neighbors cut down in their yards and were sending to the city dump. All I saw was free fire wood. I used my circular saw, a log splitting wedge, my cold metal chisels, and a 3 pound hammer to split them up. I've seen some other logs out on the curbs during trash day, they're just too big to pickup. A saw would be a plus if I could get them on my trailer.

My dad has a bigger Stihl, but he says he needs to have something rebuilt on it. Of course it's 20 years old and he's abused it quite a bit. He's got some trees to clear too, so more free wood.

They also advertise a MS 192 C-E which is the same size with an ez starter, is it worth it on a small saw. I've got pinched nerves so less yanking is a plus. I've got a Stihl dealer down the street, but I haven't walked in the store yet. I just see the sign for $179.

[PartsMan]

Bought a Stihl a few years ago when I worked at a dealer.
An 025. I love it.
Poulan is fine if you realize it is a throw away.

The very best advice on chain saws is never loan it out.

[oldandslow]

Think that is what mine is. It is the smallest the dealer had and that is about what I paid for it last year. I don't use much but it's been great. Even after it has set for 2 or 3 months it starts right up. Not like the others I've had that you had to clean the carb to get them started after they have set a few months.

[jsoukup]

I stopped Friday at the Stihl dealer. The $179 model was pretty basic, not what I expected from Stihl. But I guess for the "average" homeowner in 2007, it's adequate. The next model up was $239 and it was a better saw. Slightly bigger engine and tool-less bar and chain adjustment. The whole tool-less adjustment was super cool, I just don't know how durable it is. The next model up had the same features with the easy start. Give it a slow pull and halfway through the stroke, the engine turns over. It was neat, but again $259. With a bad back, I think the easy start would be worth it, but I wanted to hear from folks with one of these newer tool-less models.

[corbanzo]

I think the ez start is a little more marketing than anything... it's pretty easy to get a brand new stihl to start.  I have a 210, and it has the power to buck up rounds pretty well, and is great for moving around and limbing... I wouldn't go any smaller though.  I still break out the 028 when I need to buck up larger trees.... it does need a carb cleaning and a new starter reset spring though....

[loknlod]

I bought the Stihl MS230C and have one season of cutting on it.  6 to 8 cord of wood and I couldn't be happier with the saw.  I wasn't sure about the easy start option, but I wanted a saw with the little primer bulb for priming the fuel and the easy start saws had the primer bulbs.  I really like the tool-less chain adjuster, when I'm cutting within a couple miles of my place, I won't even carry any tools along.  I carry gas, bar & chain oil, and a spray bottle with soapy water and a rag.  I use the spray bottle to keep the dirt and debris from getting into the oil and gas fill compartments.  The spray bottle also comes in handy for the air filter.  When the air filter gets full of sawdust, it can be easily removed (no tools needed) and sprayed with the soapy water solution to clean it.  This saw is very "user friendly" and I haven't had any problems with it.  The main reason I bought it is due to local parts and service.  The Stihl dealer here is very highly spoken of, so that was my main reason to choose Stihl.  Customer service should never be overlooked when buying a product, I am learning this and hope it helps you in your choice.  I really do like the easy start system as of now, and I wouldn't change a thing about my saw.  I would appreciate any opinions (good or bad) about chainsaw holders for your ATV's.  I will need one by this Spring and am open to suggestions.  Thanks

[gypsyman]

For I know close to 20 years, I ran a Mac 610. Really liked that saw. Couldn't tell you how hundreds of hours I put on that saw. 5-6 cords at least a year for me, and alot of work party's for the gun club I belong to. When she finally gave up the ghost 3 years ago, tried to find a Stihl dealer, but I was in a hurry to finish a pretty big, so ended up at the local TSC store and bought a Poulan 330 Pro, with a 22'' bar. Luckily, the 20 bar off of the Mac fit. So now I have 2 bars for one saw. And about 5 chains that fit. Last year had another big project going, so I went out and bought a Husky 142, since the local hardware store started to handle them. Best medium size saw on the market, as far as I'm concerned. I'm seriously thinking of selling the Poulan, and getting the 20'' or 22'' Husky. Not sure of the model number, think they call it the ''farm hand''. I have a Homelite with a 14'', and with both chains being sharp, that Husky cuts rings around the Homelite. I believe it's because the actual chain on the Husky is just a bit thinner, so it doesn't cut as wide. I'm sold on Husky's. And they also make riding lawnmowers. My present mower, is a 22+ year old Allis-Chalmers, with a Kohler engine. If that baby ever give's it up, will look at the Husky brand there too.  gypsyman

[SHOOTALL]

for under $200.00 its a throw away saw these days , we had a sthil since about 69 it died this year ! got another . Have a Poland saw it has been good for the last 6 years !
Every one has a pet saw but all the orange one come from the same place i was told . hey they all work good !

[Horsefeathers]

I bought a Stihl Farm Boss last year and had trouble starting it. The dealer said it was defective out of the box.He opened up another one and that too was defective. The third one was OK but I decided to get a smaller Self Starting version. Pull up the slack on the cord.
,let it go and it starts. Its a great little saw.  The dealer said he never heard of two defective saws right out of the box before. I guess any brand cand make a lemon. Horsefeathers.

[jsoukup]

Well, Friday my father and I headed out to the deer lease and stopped by the Stihl dealer nearest his house and plunked down the bucks for a new MS 180 c-be. They were $10 cheaper than the dealer nearest my house. I did give a yank on the ms-210, about 3 times the effort of the easy start 180, so it was an easy choice.

Saturday, I shot nice 7pt whitetail and a spike, so Sunday afternoon, we had a little free time before heading home. My dad wanted to cut another shooting lane and I wanted to cut a few limbs just so I could watch a feeder that's 700 yards away. Out came the saw.

I was worried about the saw having enough power, but that all went away with my first cut. It cuts like butter. Granted we didn't cut down anything bigger than 6 inches, it took ZERO effort. Even had some thorny scrub brush and it ran through it in one swipe like it wasn't there.

I knocked some bigger limbs off a mesquite tree and cut them up into small logs that were easy for me to carry. Talk about fast and light, I love it and don't regret my choice. Friday I'll cut up some bigger stuff and I know it won't be as easy, but 90% of my cutting will be on stuff less than 8 inches.

Bring on the cold weather!

[Buckskin]

I was worried about the saw having enough power, but that all went away with my first cut. It cuts like butter. Granted we didn't cut down anything bigger than 6 inches, it took ZERO effort. Even had some thorny scrub brush and it ran through it in one swipe like it wasn't there.

Well if it didn't go through a 6" tree like butter, then you have a hand saw.

[jsoukup]

Ok, thanks for the advice. Cut some 18 inch stuff over the weekend, still cut like butter, even with the plunge cuts.

[gypsyman]

Maybe one of you can help me out. Not a big problem, but a problem none the less. On the Poulan 330 I have, now that it's a few years old, and some hours on it, it does something that it didn't do when it was brand new.
As I'm cutting, the bar and motor seem to twist, from the handle. Kind of hard to explain. If I set it down on the ground while it's running, it flops over on it's side, like the guy on the tricycle in the old Laugh-In show. I turn it over, and there seems to be a rubber bumper(?) on the bottom that appears to part of the vibration dampening system. It's right where the handle goes under the saw. I'll push the two back into alignment, and it sits just fine. Wouldn't be that big of a problem, except when I set the saw down to move a log, it rolls over and usually quits.
All the nuts and bolts look tight, but I'm sure something is out of adjustment, or broke. When I took it back to the Tractor Supply store where I bought it, the guy there said it was ok, and that was just the way it worked. That was over a year ago. I've been living with it ever since, used it 5-6 times, and just put up with the damn thing rolling over and playing dead on me. Maybe one of you can figure out what I'm talking about, and tell me what needs to be done. (beside's sell it and get a Stihl)  Thanks--gypsyman

[Drilling Man]

  Here is easily the best chainsaw forum on the net...  http://www.arboristsite.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=9

  It's a good forum with guys that can answer any chainsaw question you will ever have...

  DM