recommend a chainsaw

[terry274]

I plan on buying a chainsaw soon, either a Stihl or a Husqvarna. I will only use it occasionally but I want one that will start easily, run well and with minimal vibration. I currently have a Craftsman and it does none of the above. Thinking about the Husqvarna 445 or the Stihl 290 Farm Boss. The Stihl gets great reviews but some people complain about the difficulty starting the saw. I would like the thoughts and comments from the members of this forum.

http://www.stihldealer.net/productdetails-dealer-_cdnrda-prodid-545-toplvl-2-catid-2-subcat-2-catprods-39.aspx

Thanks,
Terry
Husqvarna 445

 

[hanovertom]

I think either are good saws, though I am prone to Stihl. I have the MS 390 which is the 290's big brother. I also have a 011 and 023- great saws. Starting I think is just using the proper starting procedures. Some of Stihls new saws have many improvements for fuel economy and easier starting

 

[mike delaney]

I like the Stihl, that's what I have and that's all we use at work. And we have 10 of them at work, all sizes. I've never had the opportunity to use a Husqvarna.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Terry, They are both good saws, if your intended use is only occasional I would go with the Husky. The Husky is a better value and the parts are not as pricy. Stihl is a little snoby and it can be difficult to fine parts online. Echo also makes some excellent saws that I would but up aganist either of these saws.

 

[Gun guru]

I have the Farm boss, mine is 14 years old now.
It is the 029 model. I have cut many many trees with my saw. I will be buying another one when my current one pukes out, if it ever does. My saw was $340 all those years ago. That same saw now is $400 I think. Worth every penny.
Get the Stihl.....You wont be disappointed.
I have had friends watch me use my saw cutting trees and firewood and they say.....Wow....it cuts like a hot knife through butter.

 

[ohio]

they're both fine. Why not a Dolmar?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I owen Stihl,Husqvarna and Echo. I use a Stihl MS310-MS250 and Husky Super 50 for large cutting and an Echo 3400 12"bar for limbing. I have had good service out of these manufactures.Also try to buy from a dealer that stands behind his product if you would need work done on saw.

 

[LJD]

I would not intentionally own any saw with a plastic crankcase. But . . . I use saws hard and often all day long. So maybe not an issue with you? I mention since the Husqvarna 445 does have a plastic crankcase. The Stihl is metal. Even your Sears is metal (most likely a Poulan).

For a saw in the 45-56 cc range I love the Domlar, EFCO and Echo saws. Very rugged and easy starting. For the money - Stihl has nothing built as well as a 52 CC Dolmar (or Makita). Makita owns Dolmar USA, so you can buy in Dolmar red or Makita blue.

By the way, technically - Dolmar has been around longer then Stihl. The company never tried very hard though with a USA presence. The Makita DCS510 is probably one of the best buys on the market for a 51 cc saw. Metal crankcase. full ball bearing mains, compression release, full size 3/8" chain (not that low profile junk). You can buy new with a 18" or 20" bar for $350 - not tax and delivered. Try to buy a Stihl that way with that quality (good luck!).

By the way . . I bought an almost new Husqvarna 455 at a remote property I have. $75 at a yard sale. Plastic saw but a good runner and easy to start. I consider it "disposable" but a bargain at $75.

And yeah - I know Stihl lovers get upset hearing anything good about other saws. I was a Stihl dealer mechanic going back to the 60s and still own half-a-dozen. As I see it - Stihl of today is bloated and overpriced. They DO make some great saws - but so do many other companies that give better prices and product support (e.g. on-line free tech and parts manuals, on-line parts, etc.) The USA seized all the Stihl saw patents when the Germans lost WWII and Stihl worked for Hitler. It's amazing they've hung on and done well since then.

 

[Russ from MN]

Jonsered! If you have a dealer! Here in MN L&M sells all 3. I bought a new 45cc 3 years ago and it starts much better than my sons new Stihl, but he wont take it back and get the carb adjusted, he just keeps pulling on it.

 

[Bob - MI]

Good luck with this one. I too have been in the market for a good saw and have posted questions here. One thing that I have discovered is that there is no single right answer on this topic.

I have been thinking about a Stihl as opposed to a Husky due to having a local dealer within 2 miles and the fact that the Husky seems to be a favorite at the big box stores. I have also considered Makita as well as the Jonsered.

One thing I find curious about Stihl is that they sell on Ebay for more than you can buy them new for.

I am at a crossroads on either the MS250 or the MS290. One is lighter and the other has more power. I am replacing my old McCulloch 3516 which is my go-to saw. I have a 20" Poulan Pro that I really have never liked so I am thinking maybe the 290 with an 18" bar will serve all my needs.

But then the MS250 is lighter........

 

[BigTone]

I have the Husqvarna 445 and absolutly love it, it does everything I need around the house and property. as far as brand name, it all depends on who you talk to, my father in law was an avid Husqvarna owner as well as a friend of mine who cuts trees along the road side for power companies....on the other hand my best friends father, who has cut firewood for 30 years, swears by stihl and wont even look at another saw!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Bob the MS 250 is a good saw . I have one but if I had to do it over again I would spring the extra bucks and buy a MS 261. Ms261 is about like the MS250 in size but more power and a little heavier saw. Mn 261 falls into the bottom of Stihls pro line of saws. What you buy depends on how much your going to use the saw.

 

[Bob - MI]

Occasional use but a bit above the standard homeowner. I live on 10 acres and there's lots of trees. I burn wood in my fireplace occasionally but for the most part I cut trees to keep the property from becoming overgrown.

Winter takes a toll on the trees and I usually have a fair amount of dead fall to clean up as well.

What size bar do you have on your 250?

 

[Goose]

I have an MS250 with EasyStart, and I love it. Easiest starting saw I've ever owned.

The EasyStart feature is $40 extra, but well worth it.

Whatever you do, though, stay with a local dealer that has a parts and service department. Having parts and brand service nearby is probably more important than the make of saw.

 

[WAYNE-N-TX]

The MS250 with EasyStart is the best I've used. I don't use one often, but with a back that don't want to bend very much this is the one for me. I cut my fire wood with it, approx. 3 cords a year, work one day, take the next day off . Cranks so easy. Just MO.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Bob my MS250 came with a 18"bar and didn't like it. Went down to a 16"bar and did away with the anti kick chain.Also had trouble with bar getting to hot so we put a higher output oiler on it. I have a Stihl MS 310 20"bar, Husky Super 50 Special with 18" bar, Ms 250-16"bar, MS 170 with 14" Micro chain bar,and an Echo 3400 with a 12". When go to woods I take two big saws and one small saw so if I have trouble I grabe another saw and keep on sawing. The saw that gave trouble gets worked on at night( doesn't happen very often).

 

[JDseller]

I have two Stihl 038 magnums that I bought new in 1983. I was burning all wood then to heat my house and shop. I would cut twenty cord each year. I had some old wore out Homelite saws and got tired of working on saws more then I was cutting wood. All I have ever done on these two saws is replace chains, sprocket, and bars. The one has the original spark plug. ( I have left it in just to see how long it will last) I keep them under the bench in my shop fueled up and ready to go. They may set for six months or more and still will usually start with just a few pulls.

My Grand father had a smaller Stihl 015 ( I think) it was a piece of junk. It was under powered and very hard to start. He worked on small engines as a side line and he could not get it to start better.

I have used Husky saws and they seen fine too. I have a Echo saw that I bought on close out ten years ago. I have had issues with it. The coil went bad and it has leaked bar oil from day one when it is not being used. I will not own many more Echo products. Then again I don't have any good local dealers either.

The two saws you are looking at will do what you state you want to do. I would decide based on which one has a better local dealer.

 

[bill mart]

regardless of which saw you choose it wouldnt hurt to run ethanol free fuel if you can find it.We have a station 40 miles from me that I buy 5 gallons at a time of premium grade ethanol free gas to mix up with 2 cycle oil,stabil and seafoam. may be overkill but compared to the cost of a new saw its pretty cheap piece of mind.Suppposedly the premium fuel stays fresher longer.Lots of horror stories of two cycle engines being ruined from sitting with ethanol blend fuel in them.I know that lots of people will say that they dont have problems with the new fuels but for what it costs me to do it the way I do it I still feel better. Bill

 

[Awlknottedup]

I have a Jonsered CS2250 that I bought used. It was nearly new but the owner had a hankering for more power. It is a good saw, starts easy even after sitting for months, and cuts faster than anything I put it against. I have a Husky, a small one I picked up at a shop where the owner was given the saw as an xmas present. He changed the chain to a junk chain and sold the saw to me at about half new. Good little saw I use for trimming, starts easy. I have a Polun Pro, POS.

 

[Az peapicker]

What ever you buy just make sure that you don t buy a saw thats too small. Most people think that a smaller saw will work , but soon find out that its too small to do what they want.

John

 

[Paul from MI]

I bought a slightly used Dolmar that was about 10 years old a few years ago. Been a great saw, starts easy, lots of power, and no problems in three years. I think I could start it in the barn and it'd be sitting in the trailer idling when I got to the woods. Dolmar doesn't have a lot of dealers, so look into that first, but I like mine.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I work for a dealer that sells Husqvarna. The 445 is a good saw.

Like the other guy said, you might consider a 455 or a 460 as they are a bit larger/more powerful and not that much extra weight.

As far as quality goes, the Husqvarna saws are made to the same quality in the box stores as we sell, with the exception that every one we sell we hear it run and know its right before it leaves the store. We are also the place to get it fixed if you do have a problem.

 

[BrianJasper co. Ia]

Interesting. You drive 40 miles to get fuel with no alcohol in it only to add it yourself (seafoam)...

 

[bill mart]

sea foam contains isopropyl alcohol,different animal than ethanol. Bill

 

[PeteTheRookie]

Echo 600P
All ECHO Chain. Saws are backed by a 5-year consumer and 1-year commercial warranty ...
60cc, Made in Japan.
2-3 pulls when cold, 1 pull once warmed up.

My Uncle Fred(Old Mainer) felled a leaning Red Oak for me a couple of months ago.
"That felt good." He says, looks at me and says "nice saw".

Pete

 

[dieselade]

I m dissapointed in the way the fill caps are positioned on the new stihl farm boss. in my opinion, both the fuel and the bar oil caps are recessed to collect dirt.

 

[RMinVa]

Step up to a 7900 Dolmar. Best saw I ever put my hands on. Ran a 120 super for 27 years. Back then it was Sachs Dolmar. I've tried other brands and wound up selling them.

 

[Bill in IL]

I think you should look at the MS260. A freind of mine recently got a new 290 farm boss and its much heavier and clumsly with negligble power increase vs the 260. I think for what you are already spending its worth the extra 100 for the benefits of a nicer saw.

 

[chevdud97]

I just bought the 455 rancher. So far I really like it. Starts much easier then my old stihl saws. Much smoother running to ( personal opinion ) seems i can run the husqvarna for longer periods without my hands hurting.

 

[cd1]

+1 mine is even better once I modified the muffler and tuned it.

 

[gordy from Iowa]

Don't remember what the brand name was, but the dealer said I could cut a cord or two a day with no trouble. I sweat my head off for 4 hours and had cut only a few chunks. Took it back to the dealer. He said "let me see" .

He pulled on a rope attached to the saw. I said " what the heck is all that noise?"

 

[FC Andy]

I've got A Husqvarna 445. I like it, seems to have good power, and it isn't too heavy. It runs my 18" bar no problem. It starts good too- better than the few Stihls I've used. My only complaint about my saw is that it leaks bar oil pretty bad it seems. I'll fill it up, use it, and there might be half left in the reservoir. That bar oil WILL be on whatever it sets on or the inside of the case in a day or two. Haven't expirenced other saws leaking bar oil the way mine does. It's done that since new. Otherwise, I really like mine. -Andy

 

[cd1]

Just remember to always compare apples to apples. A 455 Rancher is not a pro saw and a stihl has to be an even number to be a pro saw, which used to be easy but think 260 is pro, 290 is not. I opt for pro saws just for longevity.

 

[Don-Wi]

I just used Dad's 026 w 16" bar tonight to do some major pruning on a pear tree. It sat since last november and fired right up. Never gives any issue and runs great. When I can, I think I'm gonna find one about the same size as Dad's.

My brother has a Stihl that's a little smaller, more of a home owners saw, and his is just a dog. Just had $90 of work done to it, most of it was carb work. Go with a higher end saw, no matter what you do.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[Dean Olson]

I bought a Stihl 290 about 10 years ago. No issues. I do some property development so it doesn't get used often. But when I do use it it may run daily for weeks. It has stood up against the ravages of employees who don't care with nothing more than routine maintenance,

 

[LJD]

When did Stihl adopt an offical numbering system? I don't think so. I've got many Stihl pro saws with odd and even numbers. 040, 08S, 050, 051, 045 Super, 041 Super, O41G, 075, and an 090. All pro saws.

Stihl also had or has versions sold both ways. The "homeowner" grade 020 sold in the 70 evolved into several modern pro climbing sawss. 020T, MS 192T and MS 201T.

Right now on the Stihl USA Website for pro saws - they show a 192, 201, 261, 362, 441,460,660, 880, etc. All pro saws with odd and even numbers.

 

[LJD]

455 has a plastic crankcase with little steel plates riveted to the plastic to hold the main bearings. If run too long and hard the rivets get loose in the plastic. OK for part-time use but what I regard as a throw-away saw.

Now adays it's very hard to tell what the main parts of a saw are made of without looking at a parts breakdown. They all have plastic on the outside, so it's hard to tell. Even the cheap Poulans sold at Home Depot have metal crankcases with ball bearings on the mains - wherease many of the Husqvarnas have plastic.

Last I checked, all Sthil and Dolmar have metal crankcases. 2/3 the Husqvarnas sold do not - even though they come from the same company as Poulan Pro (Electrolux of Sweden).

 

[foxtrapper]

Both saws are fine, and can go for a long time without incident. There are others as well.

Between the two, dealer support and my ability to get parts would be the decider. Husky is a Home Depot type saw here, and if I break it, I"d have to mail order parts and wait. With a Stihl, I"ve several dealerships less than 20 miles away, so I can get a new tensioner or whatever quickly, and keep on working.

 

[cd1]

apparently they aren't any more, it was supposed to be that way in the era of 024, 025, 066 etc.

 

[Mark6005]

Have a stihl 028 wood boss bought new march 1985 still using it runs great. Couple plugs and clean the filters thru the years and always ran the fuel out in the spring. As I recall it was $350 new back then with a case , they don't make em as they used to. Obviously I recommend stihl

 

[hd6gtom]

Terry I bought a Echo 20 years ago, had the carb rebuilt 3 years ago and a new plug put in. I am not good at carbs. Outside of some new chains, gas and oil. this is all I have spent on the saw. I burn wood. If I ever need to buy another saw, it will be another Echo.

 

[Anonymous-0]

seafoam contains naptha and mineral oil.Naptha is a poor motor fuel.Snake oils cost 80 bucks a gallon.