Wortown Mick
Addicted to ArboristSite
Well ive got about 6 tanks through my 7900 and feel like I've used it enough to review it.
I'm running a 20 inch bar and sharp stihl full chisel through alot of 20 - 40 inch logs, mix of hardwood & pine.
Right off the bat its a different saw than the 6401, the vibration at idle is drasticly reduced. No deco starts you can definitely tell its a fullsize saw.
The saw is renowned for its class leading low weight and high horsepower.
Well, I might be the first to say the weight difference isnt all that appreciable in big wood. Limbing on the other hand is made slightly easier with low weight.
I'm a big guy so I could really care less about a few lbs. The feel and balance of the saw is slightly different than most stihls and huskies ive ran. With a 20 inch bar its nose heavy like its got a 24 . It seems easy to cut crooked with if youre not paying attention to your front hand position, like if its off center the saw drifts toward an uneven cut. This is with a uniform chain and it seems to occur in both directions. Very minor, and most likely a result of myself but the feel of the saw may contribute.
Maybe how easily the saw cuts contributes as well. With a 20 inch bar to keep the engine in the meat of the torque im dogged in pulling up on the back handle with an easy 15 lbs, bar buried in pine. Red oak slowed it a bit more but cutting speed is still acceptable in hardwood. Im not entirely sure what to compare it to. If the saws fully broken in, it cuts like a 460 with more balls - only appreciable with big wood or a buried bar.
Its definitely torquier and more powerful than 440/460's
I think a 394 outshines it considerably , as it should. Especially weight set aside. Except for that outboard clutch.
Some design features I liked are that inboard clutch, a good oiler..
Stihls as ive noticed oil kinda poorly even adjusted all the way up, no gripes with the system on this saw. The clip off cover works well and gives easy access to plug and filter. The anti vibe system seems simple and is definitely effective. I pinched the bar in a thick maple today and wrestled the saw out without straining them too too bad. Heh, or so I think.
I like the oversized dogs.. They look funky but work well, kinda like the saw in general. Ive gotten comments on the blue dress from almost everyone whos seen it that knows saws. The choke & half throttle lever and linkage works flawlessly. Argueably easier to use than the monolever.
Some things I wasnt happy with is the junk air filter. The stock air filter with the gills on the bottoms junk. Yes it removes easy and blows out easy, but it also lets in far too much fine sawdust particles. I dont know if the leakage is from the oval fitting, the seam to split the filter open, or if all of its being sucked through the white mesh. I know some is from looking at it.
Ive heard of a functional air filter and would be interested in a part number to order set filter.
The fuel and oil caps are dissatisfactory as well. Just like any other cap asides from stihl toolless caps they are easy to overtighten. Ok, thats par for the course. But the sideways notch to use a scrench as a lever sucks. Using the screwdriver like old stihl caps is most definitely the best system for screw off caps.
Im considering modifying the dolmar caps, or finding some stihl caps that fit or somethin.
I needa do a muffler and carb cover mod to get it breathing a lil better too.
Final word
The 7900 isnt a lightsaber. Hower it is a damn good saw, its hella strong and will hang with any saw in its class. Just dont expect it to cut like a 90+ cc saw. Theyre the best bang for the buck availiable. I paid 120 for the 6401 and 190 or 200 for the 7900 jug & piston. for 320$ it cuts like a saw worth well over twice what I have into it. I built the saw on the hood of my truck in a parking lot.. Theyre SIMPLE to wrench. You litterally need a chainsaw tool and a # 27 torx I think to take the whole saw apart. & with a good dealer any given part can be there the next day which is awesome. Better than stihl or husky.
Speaking of torx drivers, anyone know where to get a nice torx t handle for saws? Or a slightly oversized one for stripped torx fasteners?
I'm running a 20 inch bar and sharp stihl full chisel through alot of 20 - 40 inch logs, mix of hardwood & pine.
Right off the bat its a different saw than the 6401, the vibration at idle is drasticly reduced. No deco starts you can definitely tell its a fullsize saw.
The saw is renowned for its class leading low weight and high horsepower.
Well, I might be the first to say the weight difference isnt all that appreciable in big wood. Limbing on the other hand is made slightly easier with low weight.
I'm a big guy so I could really care less about a few lbs. The feel and balance of the saw is slightly different than most stihls and huskies ive ran. With a 20 inch bar its nose heavy like its got a 24 . It seems easy to cut crooked with if youre not paying attention to your front hand position, like if its off center the saw drifts toward an uneven cut. This is with a uniform chain and it seems to occur in both directions. Very minor, and most likely a result of myself but the feel of the saw may contribute.
Maybe how easily the saw cuts contributes as well. With a 20 inch bar to keep the engine in the meat of the torque im dogged in pulling up on the back handle with an easy 15 lbs, bar buried in pine. Red oak slowed it a bit more but cutting speed is still acceptable in hardwood. Im not entirely sure what to compare it to. If the saws fully broken in, it cuts like a 460 with more balls - only appreciable with big wood or a buried bar.
Its definitely torquier and more powerful than 440/460's
I think a 394 outshines it considerably , as it should. Especially weight set aside. Except for that outboard clutch.
Some design features I liked are that inboard clutch, a good oiler..
Stihls as ive noticed oil kinda poorly even adjusted all the way up, no gripes with the system on this saw. The clip off cover works well and gives easy access to plug and filter. The anti vibe system seems simple and is definitely effective. I pinched the bar in a thick maple today and wrestled the saw out without straining them too too bad. Heh, or so I think.
I like the oversized dogs.. They look funky but work well, kinda like the saw in general. Ive gotten comments on the blue dress from almost everyone whos seen it that knows saws. The choke & half throttle lever and linkage works flawlessly. Argueably easier to use than the monolever.
Some things I wasnt happy with is the junk air filter. The stock air filter with the gills on the bottoms junk. Yes it removes easy and blows out easy, but it also lets in far too much fine sawdust particles. I dont know if the leakage is from the oval fitting, the seam to split the filter open, or if all of its being sucked through the white mesh. I know some is from looking at it.
Ive heard of a functional air filter and would be interested in a part number to order set filter.
The fuel and oil caps are dissatisfactory as well. Just like any other cap asides from stihl toolless caps they are easy to overtighten. Ok, thats par for the course. But the sideways notch to use a scrench as a lever sucks. Using the screwdriver like old stihl caps is most definitely the best system for screw off caps.
Im considering modifying the dolmar caps, or finding some stihl caps that fit or somethin.
I needa do a muffler and carb cover mod to get it breathing a lil better too.
Final word
The 7900 isnt a lightsaber. Hower it is a damn good saw, its hella strong and will hang with any saw in its class. Just dont expect it to cut like a 90+ cc saw. Theyre the best bang for the buck availiable. I paid 120 for the 6401 and 190 or 200 for the 7900 jug & piston. for 320$ it cuts like a saw worth well over twice what I have into it. I built the saw on the hood of my truck in a parking lot.. Theyre SIMPLE to wrench. You litterally need a chainsaw tool and a # 27 torx I think to take the whole saw apart. & with a good dealer any given part can be there the next day which is awesome. Better than stihl or husky.
Speaking of torx drivers, anyone know where to get a nice torx t handle for saws? Or a slightly oversized one for stripped torx fasteners?
