357, 361, or Redmax

[Luke]

I would appreciate some advice on a saw purchase. I am not a pro logger, just someone with wooded property doing some clearing, and helping friends with theirs. Been cutting a lot of 6 inch and under, some 12-16 inchers, with a few 30 inchers coming up this winter. I’ve been doing just fine with my 290 until I stumbled upon this site a couple of months ago. You all have given me an inferiority complex with my saw. It seems to have immediately lost power and gotten very slow. The combination of being a gearhead by nature and discovering this new, unrealized world of modified saws has really clicked. I am now enamored with getting small/mid modded saw.
Since all of my outdoor power eq. is Stihl, I was going to get a 260. After learning much on this site, that turned into a 361. Now I have gotten over thinking it must be a Stihl and the 357 and Redmax 5000 are also on my mind.
Again, I'm not a pro, just someone looking for a reasonbably sized, reliable, hotrod saw.

Thanks for your help,

Luke

 

[Toneman]

Tough decision.
I have a 357XP with modified muffler and love it. As you probably have learned here, there is lots of things you can do to get more performance out of a saw, in the right hands of course, just depends on how much you wish to spend.
Try doing a search for your saws and see what the guys have done in the past.
I would also get in touch with the builders on this site, Ed, Dan, etc....


Good Luck

 

[Max]

Hi Luke,

Welcome.

I also had a Stihl 029 for years and it worked for all my firewood chores. But after lurking around here for a year I wanted a new saw with more power and to tinker with. I myself bought a
357xp and really like the saw. I run an 18" on mine and it does everything I need it to do. I am not a pro, nor claim to be...but I feel this is a great all around saw.
Check out the search option hear and you will find boatloads of info on your topic.
Good luck and let us know what you purchase and how you like it.

 

[jokers]

Hi Luke, Welcome to the forum!

Alot depends on your tolerance for risk when it comes to picking a saw from the three that you have listed. I`ll explain.

The Redmax is sure to be a quality product if it is on par with the Redmax blowers that so many landscapers swear by. Their blower is known for out performing the competition and being as tough or tougher, why wouldn`t this carry over to their saws? Now for the caveat. Many Redmax dealers who sell blowers don`t seem to have any interest in the saws, so where do you go for parts or service? Mail order is fine if you can anticipate the need of any parts or have time to wait, but what about actual service? Does the Redmax warranty cover shipping back and forth or will you have to rely on the word of a dealer who tells you that it won`t be an issue?

Another point to ponder is that a stock 5000 is not in the same league as a stock 357 or 361. If you are considering a modified 5000, the 357 and 361 also modify well and will continue to outproduce the smaller 5000, and from what I`ve been told of the prices on the Redmax, won`t cost that much more and will give you superior anti vibe and air filtration in the deal. BTW, the forum resident Redmax dealer also offers competitive pricing on Huskies and possibly Stihl as well.

If you buy a 357, you are buying a saw that has been proven and praised by a boat load of people. The 361 hasn`t had time to get that much positive feedback, but I believe that it will in time. The 5000 has only had it`s praises sung by a few that I know of and I believe that this model has been out for awhile. Maybe there is a reason for this other than that Redmax has poor representation in the saw market or maybe not. Who honestly knows?

Another point for consideration is that the 361 is vastly improved over the ms360/036. It has more power at all ranges, better anti vibe and better air filtration. Don`t let anyone sell you a 360 as the same saw as the 361, it simply isn`t.

It`s probably clear that I would buy the 357 or 361, both of which I already own, or if I wanted to try a new/different 3 cube saw, I`d wait a while longer for the new Dolmar. Dolmar is atleast making an effort at better dealer support and chainsaw technology.

Russ

 

[woodsjunkie]

Hi Luke,
I would also like to welcome you to the forum. I think we have chatted on the phone a few times.
I "think" I am the only owner of a power ported redmax 5000 on the forum. from what time I do have on the 5000 (btw witch isn't a whole lot ) I have no complaints what so ever. Its a real strong runner and real fast for a 50cc saw.
I also own a neigerized 357xpg top notch saw all the way.Keep in mind their is "no replacement for displacement" so if you think you may ever want to run a longer bar you may want to consider a larger saw maybe even a 372 or a 7900 after all their not a whole lot of money different.
Good luck in you hotrod saw adventure but I'm warning you ahead of time, its a never ending battle and you will come addicted. "Welcome to are world"
You can't go wrong with either saw.

 

[bwalker]

If I were cutting the size wood you mentioned I would go with a Husky 372, Dolmar 7900, or Stihl 440. All of these saws will cut 30" wood reather easily and do not weight that much more than a 357.

 

[Busy Beaver]

Luke don't sucker! Buy a Stihl or Husky, you won't go wrong. BB

 

[MacDaddy]

Busy Beaver must have never ran a Mac because if it wont start it is still strong enough te beat the tree up with it, thats a tuff saw (LOL) realy you cant go wrong with husky or sthil maybe even dolmar

 

[ccicora]

I would take the 029 you have and port the muffler then pull the limiter caps out (mod them) And set it to run....
I just did this for a customers saw. That 029 I could start and we could have a convesation over top of the saw it was so quiet. So here is what you do....

Pull the muffler. Find the square indent Cut it all out smooth off all the burs. Then just below it make those two holes touch. Make it as wide as the widest hole. Now the little cover piece. Put your finger over where the exhaust comes out. Now slide your finger up that little slope to where it flattens out. Cut out that section.

OK the Carb....You will need a small flashlight, razor blade, screw driver. Now turn the low setting until you see plastic in the littler notch. Stihl makes a small left thread tool the size of their screw driver to take these out. Be a little creative and you can get them out. When you get that littler piece of plastic out cut the little nobs off then just reline them up and push in. Do this for both High and low. Adjust the carb. The last one I did was 2 1/4 H and 2 1/2 low and it runs nice......

So save your money for you next saw and run this one till she drops.

Later,
Chris

 

[bwalker]

I did thew same thing as stihlman mentioned above to a 039 this summer. It picked up some power.

 

[glens]

Yeah, if it's loud, it <i>must</i> be powerful!

For kicks, I'd try just the carb adjustments first and see if that makes any appreciable difference.&nbsp; If that leaves you unsatisfied, then open up the muffler a little.&nbsp; Be sure and do all this within a very short timeframe within one day and measure cuts in the same log with the same bar and chain so you can <i>know</i> what caused benefits and what didn't.

I find the 029 and kin to be slightly anemic, but they're quite satisfactory in stock form for their intended use.&nbsp; Sure as hell better than a hand saw.

Glen

 

[Luke]

Thanks for the thoughts, particulary like the comment about using the mac as an ax. Got a buddy that has a eager beaver, he calls it his "little digger" because how he uses sometimes borders on that of a shovel.
Thanks for the tips Stihlman036, if my saw isn't already sold, I might try that. A friend has it, says he wants it, but hasn't paid yet.
As for the 372, I saw them on a website for less than 356's run around here. Went to see one yesterday. Physically doesn't seem much bigger if at all than my 290, and probably doesn't weigh that much more, especially if I put a 16" bar on it for little stuff. Do they put two diffent filter covers on 372's?? Never really considered a 372 before because I thought is would be overkill (sorry,,, that doesn't seem to be something posted much on this site, you might ban me on my first thread) and the local dealer prices.
Anybody run modded 361's? I know DNeiger has one, but Dan says he hasn't done one yet.
Woodjunkie, if it has an internal combusion engine and can be modified, I'm in! Maybe there will be an aftemarket "speed parts" industry for saws someday.

 

[glens]

Luke,

For a point of reference, the 372 weighs the same in real life as the MS460, as does the Dolmar PS7900 regardless those makers' claims otherwise.&nbsp; If you think you want one of the 372s then you probably should get one sooner rather than later since they're being replaced by an even heavier (by 1&frac12;# according to their own specs) saw which has all the earmarks of not being so easy to modify.

Myself, I'd recommend an MS440.&nbsp; It does weigh the same as what you're used to.&nbsp; If you really feel you need it, you can get the 046 Magnum muffler front cover with its extra outlet for decreased backpressure / more noise.

Modifying these saws to wring everything out of them that can be gotten will surely decrease the lifespan of the crankcases and/or the cranks/bearings.&nbsp; That's fine for a weekend racing saw that you might use for a couple of seasons but if you even think you might want to put your investment to work for an appreciable time it might be wise to think further about modifying it much.&nbsp; Those engineers aren't dummies.&nbsp; They might have their hands tied regarding emission of gases and noise, but rest assured that they make the saws as light for the developed power as they see fit.

Glen

 

[bwalker]

Glens, I am sure you are aware that a 7900 can be had for the same price as a 440 and it will absolutley crush it or a 460 for that matter. As for the weight. I cant comment as I have never weighed my 372 or my 7900. I can say that the 7900 feels lighter to me and that the only Stihl I ever weighed can in at slightly under the factory weight spec.

 

[MacDaddy]

I have a 372 ,046,and 044 I would pick the 372 any day over the others your hands dont go numb on huskys the filter stays clean longer on the husky also the sound of the saws with stock can is easier on your ears with the husky also handle bar spacing on the husky seems better but I do like the color of the sthil better and for the finaly the price is better on the husky:Eye:

 

[Javelin]

On the Redmax saws have you looked at the 621? At 3.8cid it is very strong and just a few dollars more than the 5000! I sold one to a guy running a 359. He now uses the Redmax and the 359 is the backup saw.

 

[jokers]

Sounds interesting Javelin but I don`t know where I could see one around here.

Russ

 

[Javelin]

You might contact Redmax and see if they have a local dealer near you!

 

[bwalker]

He might have a dealer near by, but the odds of them having saws is slim to none.

 

[Javelin]

You are probably right. I have two dealers close to me and neither one of them stocks the saws.