Chainsaw Lemon

[Fergienewbee]

I've had it!!! I bought a Husqvarna 345 about a year ago that has been nothing but a pain in the a## since I bought it. It's in the shop more than out. One day it runs fine, the next barely stays running when I rev it up to cut. Now when I lay it down to fill the gas it runs out the other side from somewhere. I'm going back to Stihl.

Which model gives the most bang for the buck, say in the $500.00 or less range? I'm probably going to get an 18" bar, with maybe enough power to add a 20" for the big stuff. I had a Farmboss many years ago. What's anyone's opinion on a Woodboss? I plan to cut a lot of wood.

Thanks.


Larry in Michigan

 

[Puddles]

Hi Larry.
That is a shame about your saw! Nothing worse than a bad saw!
I’ve had a little Husky 350 for years, no problems at all. At the time I bought it I thought my wood cutting days were about over. Oh was I ever wrong! I just looked in my bookmarks but couldn’t find the information; so don’t hold me to every word of this next statement. Couple years ago I was researching going to a chisel tooth chain for my 350. Just my luck, the 350 is one size to small for a chisel tooth chain. The 350 is 3.2-HP, I think you need at least 4.0-HP to run a chisel tooth. When this saw starts giving me trouble, I won’t make the same mistake twice, I will buy a saw big enough to run a chisel tooth.

 

[Bill Lisbon]

I have a 345 husky, and I never had a problem with it. It has a lot of hours on it. sounds like you got a lemon.

 

[Gun guru]

I have owned a Stihl 029 farmboss for 10 years now and it runs very well, at first I had to have the exhaust fixed because it would not rev high, but after that it ran great. I will buy another Stihl when mine eventually craps out. If I were you get the 18-20" bar like you said and buy spare chains. I also use lots of oil for the bar/chain oil. I use 10w-30 for the bar oil I also put a tablespoon on the bar and let it leak right onto the chain right before running. The amount of trees and logs I have cut up with mine is incredible, 100's of trees of all sizes, scrub trees up to 18" hickorys--60' tall. In fact I should take my tax rebate kickback check from the government and buy a trim saw--maybe a Stihl 14" bar. I love lumberjacking.

 

[Anonymous-0]

That is kind of disappointing, I had a Husqvarna.... what the heck was it rancher or something for a little while, not too bad, not that much of a brand fanatic, just like to know parts/service are close by, seemed like a decent saw, sold it and went with a Stihl MS 390 display model that had scratches on the inside handle from hanging up, was discounted so it followed me home, pretty good saw, 20" bar, says you can go larger, but I think I'd just get a bigger model with more HP if I needed longer bar, that 441 looks tempting !

My friend wore out his poulan and soon after I got mine he grabbed a MS 361, they perform about the same, though his is on the professional grade side supposed to be friendly for rebuilding. We've cut side by side, a lot has to do with your chain being sharp and how you operate etc., after a few years both saws have been pretty good, he's done more wood, I have not even worn a chain out on mine yet, bought in '02. Mine was clogging the fuel filter, bunch of scraps from the injection mold process were in the tank from the factory, I made up a tool from stainless wire to pull the filter out, flushed it, no more starving for fuel, only trouble so far, that 361 might be right for you 16"-25" bar, though I wonder if 4.4 hp would be ok for the longer bar in large dia. wood though, really seem like both are good saws.
Stihl Comparison Chart

 

[Anonymous-0]

I bought a Husq. 40 in 1986. I am using my third bar and I don't know how many chains. . I have always sharpended my chains with a file until they are too small to cut. That gives an idea about how much it has been used. I have cleaned the carburetor once and replaced the fuel tank cap once. This is all I have done to the saw other then a thorough cleaning once every year. I know your flustration, I dealt with it for years with other brands of saws including Stihl.

 

[Hills of TN]

I agree with Bill L. - I also have the 345 and have never had any problem with it in the three years I"ve used it.

 

[WGM]

You all may laugh but my old McCulloch 10-10 will be celebrating it's 30th birthday this year. It's probably been in the shop once in those years and starts with the first or second pull. I don't cut that much wood anymore maybe just a few times per year clearing fence rows but it's never let me down. Wouldn't own a new Mac though.

 

[JT]

Larry, sounds like you need a new dealer instead of a new saw. But if you want a new saw, look at a 5100 or 510 Dolmar. I have sold Echo, Stihl, Poulan, Homelite, McCulloch, and so far, the Dolmar I sell now is 2nd to none of them!
Jim

 

[2x4]

039 woodboss would be a good choice

 

[Anonymous-0]

Ten years on my 044.

 

[jose bagge]

I run the Poulans because they are cheap and pretty damn dependable- I buy 'em a pair at a time off the internet with 18" bars for $139 . So, for less than $300 I have two saws ready to rock- one to cut the other one free if i screw up, or at least one to keep me cutting until I'm done with the job. I've been using my current pair for two years now without problem- With the prior pair, i dropped a tree on one and smashed it (still have it for parts) so I gave the other to my son and bought two more.

 

[onefarmer]

My main saw for 20 yrs is a Stihl 026. Now labeled as a 260. I got a 044 a few years ago I really like for bigger cutting. The chainsaw forums are bragging up the new 361.

 

[Anonymous-0]

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?board=9.0

Look at the tank to carb fuel line .. I've had a problem this year on several saws w/ breaks (rot) in the line .. esp if you have a leak when filling the tank ... also check out Foresty Forum .. Chainsaws

 

[300Randy]

Stihl is the only chainsaw Ive had and I'll swear by them. I bought an 028 back in 1982 I think and it was used then. Ive wore out two 18 inch bars and many chains and its still running strong. By the way what model now is equivalent to the 028?

 

[Nancy Howell]

We bought a cub cadet that was about $400. Sorriest piece of equipment we ever bought. Its stuck in a corner somewhere. Waited over 6 mos to get a new part. Won't ever buy another.

On the other hand, we flat wore out one Stihl 170 and bought another one. We've had very little problem with the Stihls.

We also have a Poulan and a Sears and they just don't run very well.

For big stuff, we get the Mac 850 out. Put a good sharp chain on it and that rascal cuts! It will flat get the job done.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You mention a Mac 850. Some years back I was to my favorite outdoor power equip. place. Happened to see an 800 McCulloch with a 28" bar on the used shelf. It looked like new, the paint was hardly worn at all on the handle. Don't know why someone traded it in. I bought it for $300, new ones were more than twice that. It's worked for me as good as a new one, couldn't be happier with it. I like having 3 sizes, the 20" get used the most.

 

[JT]

Randy, Stihl makes no saw that will compare with an 028 in durability or cutting power. that is precicely the problem, Stihl used to make very good products, but they are not what they used to be.
Jim

 

[JeremyR]

If you decide to toss it the trash, let me know I'll leave the lid off the can.

Jeremy

 

[oldhousehugger25]

By the way Husqvarna is owned by Electrolux Corp. I own 2 of them. An old model 44 which I cannot do without and a 365 which is hard to start but cuts like a bat out of hell when it's going. The 44 I dropped a tree on last year and cracked the gas tank. Found a parts saw on ebay and stole enough parts off that one to get it back in A1 shape. I have found as mentioned earlier that the operator and the mechanic are largely to blame for many saw problems. No matter which brand you have, if you can't fix it yourself, you are dependent on the guy at the back of the shop. They have been told that the most important thing to the boss is selling new saws. So what is their incentive to actually fix your cranky saw?
If you want it done right figure out how to do it yourself.