Small chainsaw (real small)

[JDEM]

I am looking for a new, ultra-small and compact gas chainsaw. Makes me feel a little silly since I have over 20 saws. There is a remote area I drive to a lot in the Michigan Upper Peninsula with my family. Near every time we drive there, there are fallen trees in the way. I have plenty of saws at the camp and plenty at home. What I want is something that is as small as possible and takes up little room in the back of a small RV. When I drive my truck, it is not an issue since there is lots of cargo room. But - often we drive a small SUV like a Ford Escape or Pontiac AWD Vibe. Three adults and an old fat dog. Room is of the essence.

Right now - my smallest saw is a 1978 Stihl 015L. It cost $178 new in 1978 which is a lot. Still starts and runs great. Kind of bulky and heavy though, plus at what point will it crap out and parts might not be available?

Up to now, I never had much interest in small saws. I only got this Stihl 015L because it was my wife's grandfather's.

So, I have started to look around and am in kind of in shock. I guess name-brand small saws with top-handles are sold as "professional" and cost a small fortune? I see the lightest saw sold in North America is the Echo CS-2511T. #1 rated for pro tree-climbers. Looks like exactly what I want with 25 cc and 12" bar but near $400?

There are saws being sold from China for $99 shipped to my door. 25 cc and 10" bar, but for all I know - they may be worthless. Keep in mind I do not need for all-day-long pro use. Just sitting in a vehicle most of the time, but MUST work when I need it.

Anybody here actually owned a newer tiny saw for this kind of use?

Right now - as far as name-brands go - I am looking at the Echo CS-2511T, the Stihl MS 150C-E, or Husqvarna T435. Or maybe the $99 Chinese saw?

 

[D beatty]

Take a look at Echo top handle saw. They carry a 5 year warranty to a home owner.I have an older one like it. I have also used the Stihl top handle and find the Echo a better balanced saw.

 

[JDEM]

Yes, I am hoping for an Echo if I can find a bargain. One of my smaller saws I have now is an Echo CS-3450. I got it maybe 15 years ago and it has been flawless. Just too big for carry all the time in a small vehicle.

 

[Hendrik]

Don't know what these saws are called in English but pics are worth a thousand words...
BTW, in Dutch: Beugelzaag or Spanzaag LOL
Saws

 

[Mike M]

I'd stick with the old Sthil 015 !

 

[D beatty]

I bought two of the Echo 3400 used off Ebay 15 years ago. I wore one of them out and still have one that is in great shape yet.I got rid of the 14" bar and went to a 12" bar and like it a whole lot better than the 14"or 16"bars.

 

[Russ from MN]

I have a Jonsered Lil-Jon, (made by Poulan) that I bought new in 1972 to carry on my snowmobile for that same purpose. When I got 10 miles out in the woods I hated turning around because of a tree across the trail. Runs great, I just put a new starter rope in it, $.36!

 

[D beatty]

If I was to buy a new Echo I would buy the the cs 303 top handle 30CC engine 12"bar.

 

[Oliver 500 Wa]

I have used stihl MS150s. Both the top handle "in tree pro user" model and the conventional handle. Both worked really well.

The top handle is quite a bit shorter than the regular one and great for its intended use. For general cutting it makes you bend over further and that gets tough on an old back. For clearing some windfall from a road it would be fine. They are not cheap though.

 

[wrenchere85]

I bought a Tanaka chainsaw, they are owned by Hitachi I believe. I gave about $160 for it. Its a top handle 14inch bar. Good saw.

 

[grizz02]

how about a sthil msa-200 batt. powered saw would not have to worry about gas leaking in the trunk

 

[kcm.MN]

Your post reminds me of a story:

A lumberjack new to the job had trouble meeting his quota. He worked as hard as he could, but still he could only chop down two or three trees in a day. His supervisor noticed this, and asked what was wrong. Maybe his chainsaw was broken. The supervisor turned it on, but it was working fine. The lumberjack looked incredibly startled and asked, "[i:b303056a40]What's that noise?[/i:b303056a40]"

 

[Mutt and Jeff]

I like my echo
own tanaka stuff like them
what happened to a stihl 010?

I'd spring for the $100 Chinese one
just because you can

 

[johnlobb]

I bought one of those Echo top handle saws like Beatty's. I love it. I also love my Dolmar 510, which is larger, but now. most of the time. I pull out the Echo. It's so well balanced.

 

[JDEM]

My dad told me the same joke 60 years ago, but it was a "Polish farmer" and not a lumberjack.

 

[JDEM]

I also have the Dolmar 51 cc and the Dolmar 64 cc saws. Both have been great saws. Just too big for my full time car-carry purpose.

 

[JDEM]

I just came back from the only Echo dealer in this area of northern Michigan. That 303 is the only small top-handle saw he sells. I might go back and buy it. The price irks me a bit and no carry case. But it seems hardly any of the saw companies give cases anymore. Have to have something to prevent oil leaking in the car. I wanted to know how much heavier that 30 cc model is over the 25 cc model I was looking for. The dealer had NO specs which is kind of odd since Echo is the only saw they sell. So I came back home to look it up myself. One other odd thing. I worked for one of the first Echo dealers in the USA back in the 70s. Echo was/is made by Kiortz of Japan. Today when I looked at Echos in Home Depot that are still made by Kiortz in Japan (no top handles though). But the top handle pro models at the dealer? No "made by Kioritz." Different company listed. So now I am wondering - are they all still really Echos?

 

[Moonlite37]

Would you consider electric ?

 

[JDEM]

I don't know what happened on this country where now top handle saws are considered pro only? Maybe someone decided a top handle puts an untrained user too close to the saw somehow?

Lots of homeowner el-cheapo saws used to be top handle. Seems no more.

I just want something compact and Echo seems to make the lightest and most compact top handle saw for sale in the USA.

 

[D beatty]

If he was to buy a Stihl top handle it would cheaper to go to the MS193c which is
almost identical to the MS150 top handle and is about $200.00 cheaper.

 

[D beatty]

I thing they call them a pro saw is because people bought them and not knowing how to use them they got hurt. I think they ( manufacture)think the saw should be used by somebody that knows what they are doing.

 

[kcm.MN]

(quoted from post at 11:04:31 05/16/19) My dad told me the same joke 60 years ago, but it was a "Polish farmer" and not a lumberjack.

When I originally heard it, it was a Texas Aggie (Texas A&M)

 

[kencombs]

Top handle are considered to be prone to kickback. And I guess they are, but at the power level of these little saws that shouldn't be an issue.

I have a little echo top handle that came from a storage auction. Got it for 25 bucks! Great little saw, I think it's a 30cc. don't recall the model, but I've had it for 15 years or so. Only maintenance has been the primer bulb and while I had it apart I did fuel lines too.

 

[oldsarge]

When I heard it OVER 60 years ago. it was a Swede firewood cutter

(by the way,I'm Norwegian).....................................gtm

 

[kcm.MN]

:lol: :lol:

 

[glennster]

heres an odd thought, but i dont always think right anyway. i would not want the gas saw inside the car. my saws always have a gas smell and i think it would get old real fast. how about a small cargo carrier that mounts to a trailer hitch or a clamshell type on the roof. that way you can take one of your own saws and all the fixins.

 

[kcm.MN]

Another idea.....I hear Disston makes a good saw. And better yet, it needs no fuel! *lol*

 

[JayinNY]

Stihl ms 170 with 12 if they have them or 14 inch bar, about $180 bucks or less.

 

[2510Paul]

I guess I would evaluate which saw is more likely to start and run after sitting in your SUV for 1-2 years.
My knee jerk thought when I saw this post was Battery. I don?t know know how long the charge will last on a Lithium battery. And no gas fumes in the car.
Just my thought.
Paul

 

[kcm.MN]

The problem with a battery saw is, the batteries are expensive. If it's only used once in a Blue Moon, would make for very expensive batteries over their lifetime.

As for how well they hold a charge, mine hold a charge a ridiculously long time! Went over a year, with that winter being very cold and the battery was in an unheated building. Was still showing full charge after sitting about 18 months. Granted, there are only 3 LED lights to show charge on my saw, so I'm assuming it could have been topped off. However, it still works fine. Is nearly 10 years old and still comes close to doing the work of a much newer battery.

 

[Check Break]

(quoted from post at 08:21:07 05/16/19) If I was to buy a new Echo I would buy the the cs 303 top handle 30CC engine 12"bar.

<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto23259.jpg">

This is the same saw as the 3450. I bought one for a spare last year to avoid being forced into a newer design. As you already know, the 3450 is no slouch. The CS303T will eliminate the "crap out" factor and preserve your familiarity with the 3450.

 

[2x4]

Stihl used that in a radio ad in 1980. They had 30 sec. ads on tape that the DJ played. I heard the DJ laugh when that ad ended.

 

[JDEM]

The CS-3450 is one of the best small saws I have ever owned. It is what I have used for climbing in the past, but I am all done with
hanging from tree-tops. The saw is just a big too big for what I want to carry in a vehicle all the time. I am tempted to cut the back
handle off and put a 12" bar on it to replace the 16".

But - I looked at the CS303T and am very tempted to just buy it. If it came with a gas and oil tight case, it would be home already.
Oddly the only Echo dealer in my area has the saw, but no carry case specific for the saw.

Echo makes two smaller saws, but none at the dealership. I was hoping to hold one in my hand. CS2511T and the CS271T are both near 2 lbs.
lighter then the CS303T. I am not sure though if they are physically any smaller or not. I might head back to that dealer today. I priced
out a new shorter bar and chain for my CS-3450, and it complicated. Mine has no chain adjuster built into the saw. It is part of the bar.
To get a new 12" bar and chain to work, I am out near $60.

I am kind of surprised that some company does not make a saw just for vehicle carry purpose. That being small, and a case this fits tight
around it and does not take up much room. Echo sells a generic case that fits a saw with a 18" bar, to use with the little top-handle saw.
Makes no sense to me.

 

[Clarence Slydell]

 

[SteveC1031]

Arborist saws can be dangerous based on the grip layout. I use a good quality battery saw-zaw with quality 6 inch pruning blades. They cut 4" and below very well. Blades do not dull when you cut stump at dirt level. Light weight and farily quiet.

 

[Married2Allis]

Stihl MS170 new for $179 on ebay, spend the extra $$ for one that will last and has resale value.

 

[jacksun65]

Was that Sven or Olie LOL

 

[K Effective]

Coworker used to work at a Stihl dealer, really knows his saws. His take on the high prices of the top-handle saws is the manufacturers are trying to weed out the homeowner buying the cute little saw that is much more difficult to use safely and even encourages one-handed use-to cut down on lawsuit expenses.. The pros can afford the top of the line and teach how to use them (hopefully)

I have the Stihl 193, the amateur version of the 201 top handle, and am not impressed by its power.

I also have an older Stihl 011AVN, the last time it got bounced out of the loader bucket and the handle snapped off, my local dealer swapped on a handle assembly from an 009, kind of an early top handle style, and I still have the screaming power of the 011 engine and short bar.

Sound like you have a case of the wants and would like us to help justify ANOTHER saw. Who am I to judge? Go for it!!! Let us know how it works out for you!

 

[K Effective]

Coworker used to work at a Stihl dealer, really knows his saws. His take on the high prices of the top-handle saws is the manufacturers are trying to weed out the homeowner buying the cute little saw that is much more difficult to use safely and even encourages one-handed use-to cut down on lawsuit expenses.. The pros can afford the top of the line and teach how to use them (hopefully)

I have the Stihl 193, the amateur version of the 201 top handle, and am not impressed by its power.

I also have an older Stihl 011AVN, the last time it got bounced out of the loader bucket and the handle snapped off, my local dealer swapped on a handle assembly from an 009, kind of an early top handle style, and I still have the screaming power of the 011 engine and short bar.

Sound like you have a case of the wants and would like us to help justify ANOTHER saw. Who am I to judge? Go for it!!! Let us know how it works out for you!

 

[Check Break]

(quoted from post at 06:10:18 05/17/19) The CS-3450 is one of the best small saws I have ever owned. The saw is just a big too big for what I want to carry in a vehicle all the time. I am tempted to cut the back
handle off and put a 12" bar on it to replace the 16".

But - I looked at the CS303T and am very tempted to just buy it. If it came with a gas and oil tight case, it would be home already. Oddly the only Echo dealer in my area has the saw, but no carry case specific for the saw.

Echo sells a generic case that fits a saw with a 18" bar, to use with the little top-handle saw.
Makes no sense to me.

From what I see, the only thing close to an oil tight case is one like the old clamshell design. Echo still makes one in black. I believe that is the 18" case you're referring to but it does take up a bit of room.

Echo makes a 10" bar, but I don't know if it is compatible with the CS series. The saw shop should have the specs. Still doesn't solve your problem unless you can find a smaller case. Perhaps a plastic tool box sans top tray would suffice. The new style rectangular case may be smaller but I don't see how that bottom hinge will stop leaks.

For years I put a large rag or wad of paper towel in the bottom of my saw cases to suck up bar oil that leaked out after I drained the oil and fuel tanks. Last year I switched to Schaeffer 2stroke oil and it worked miracles on my carbs so I asked for some bar/chain oil. None was available in small quantity from my rep so he suggested I use 75-90W gear oil. The first thing I noticed is one CS quit leaking and the other barely leaked when I put them on the shop floor overnight without draining the tanks. Now, there's little or no mess in the saw case. A 303T in a quality plastic tool box won't go unnoticed but maybe you will get used to it riding around in the back of your SUV. If you want to try a bar oil that discourages leaks, let me know and I'll post the info.

 

[Ralph, Ohio]

This sounds like a very good application for a simple 120 volt chain saw & inverter. Stash them away for a year or two with no attention or maintenance & when needed just plug in & go to work. No fumes, no fuel. You'll probably find other uses for the inverter & wonder how you got along without it.

 

[D beatty]

I have a older Stihl case for a top handle Stihl saw that works great for a Echo
3400 with 14"or 12" bar and would work on a 303.

 

[JDEM]

I have five different vehicles. To have an inverter would mean I'd have one in every vehicle? Plus an extension cord and if I was smart - an extra battery to run it? Sounds like it defeats my desire for something small and portable.

Small gas chainsaw is what has always worked fine. I just would like to get something more compact then the smallest saw I have now.

 

[K Effective]

I would think the inverter would be in the box with the electric saw and extension cord, then you lift the hood and clip it on the battery of whichever of the five vehicles you drove up to the cabin in, leaving the vehicle running to supply power, run the cord and cut away.

Or, just go buy the new saw and be done with this.

 

[Ken(Ark)]

This sounds like a very good application for a simple 120 volt chain saw & inverter.

I have a pole saw that has a small 8" bar and chain . The telescopic handle has a curly extension cord built inside . The saw is small and light weight and can be used w/ or without the pole . Yesterday I had to get the 24' extension ladder out and cut a small 8" limb that was blocking the satellite . It did not bog down .

I use the pole saw a few times a year and just the chainsaw a dozen times a year .

A power inverter with jumper cable leads would be versatile . My saw is a Remington - 120v @ 8 amps ( 960 watts )

 

[Bret4207]

JD, I would give a serious look at the little Echo top handles, they are either 335 or 355's I forget which . You can find them new on Ebay for a couple hundred sometimes.

 

[D beatty]

Go with the 303T it is a better balanced saw than the new design 335 or 355 saws.