Best less than 50cc saw

[treeguy2020]

I have a Stihl CM 261 CM set up with a 18" Bar also a Stihl 211 with a 16" Bar, and for lite branching and getting close to the ground i have a HART 12" 20 Volt battery chainsaw that cost $154 with battery and charger out the door at Walmart.

 

[Dangerous]

As a dedicate Amateur I used an ECHO CS 352 lightweight and high power for its size. I cleared about 1 acre of wild black locust trees here in Pennsylvania with that saw with the following minor mods . Replaced the bar and chain with Oregon equipment more aggressive chain faster cutting , and a third blade that’s much less height brand Unkown.
Bar oil was supplemented with one small can of ENGINE RESTORE To reduce friction . And I acquired a sharpening clamp on with stone also from Oregon. I keep a spare chain in an old plastic coffee container. I file the chain the same old way your are ; being sure to dress the rakes each time. The low friction oil combined with the more aggressive cutting Oregon Chain allows me cut trees down in a precise abet Slow way. I’m 70 and the light weight of the ECHO CS 352 is about as heavy as I want to get. Reducing Friction and keeping the air filter clean makes all the difference . Stronger Chain Saws weigh more and in my humble opinion are not needed unless your are 1. Younger 2. Haven’t hurt your back (yet) 3. Your a Commercial feller/ cutter 4. You need to make a lot of cuts bucking the fallen wood.
High speed about 2 Horsepower it does the job . If you idea of cutting wood is to force the saw through the work get a monster ( Heavy ) Saw and force away.
SAFETY RULES ARE WRITTEN IN BLOOD . This Echo CS352 keeps you safe by making sure you plan your cuts and doesn’t let you make mistakes a high output saw will lead you into.
BTW locust is harder than oak and has more btu per weight.

Additionally all blades have been 16 inches evidently a narrow profile chain that’s standard and reduces Friction because it’s thin. I work by myself so dropping trees is deliberate and ( no profit motive ) slow, no bucket- truck, no climbing pure Old School. My other tools are wedges, a sledge hammer, gravity, and the prevailing wind direction.
Be Safe

 

[MooneyPilot]

Well Dangerous. Throughout the seventies and eighties I did LOTS of clearing and firewood cutting with a Sears 16” saw supplemented with various hand tools like you describe. Sounds like primitive equipment today, but at the time it beat the heck out of myFather in Laws old crosscut saw (which I still have.)

 

[ericm979]

In this size range I have an Echo 352, Stihl 025 and MS241. The Echo is super easy to start and very light. But even with the catcon removed from the muffler and the carb limters removed and retuned, it's not got the power of the other two. I use mine for brush. The 241 smoother and easier to start than the 025 but cuts about as fast. The air filter is much better than the other two. If I could only have one it'd be the 241. It's a shame Stihl stopped selling them in the US but I think they did not sell many. My shop had them priced only $20 less than the 261 and tried hard to sell me one of those. They had to special order the 241.

 

[Wood Doctor]

If you can find one of these around, buy it. They are scarce as hens teeth:

Echo CS-3900

 

[Brufab]

If you can find one of these around, buy it. They are scarce as hens teeth:
View attachment 943821
Echo CS-3900

I will keep my eye out. What's a good price on running non running ones. Are you looking for one wood doctor?

 

[Wood Doctor]

I will keep my eye out. What's a good price on running non running ones. Are you looking for one wood doctor?

No, I already have this one (see signature). New ones ran about $380, but dealers stopped selling them about 16 years ago. A friend bought this one new in '98 and sold it to me for $220 after he lost his right leg. It used to be my go-to saw for limbing and small tree work.

 

[SCHallenger]

I'm quite surprised that no one has mentioned the Dolmar 420 in this whole thread. They are a tad heavier than the 241, but cut very smoothly & efficiently, especially with the cat removed, & they can be pulled over by a 10 yr. old girl. Brad Snelling posted on here a few yrs back with his then 10 yr old Anna starting one!!

 

[holeycow]

Dolmar 420/421/4300 Makita

I have a 420. Awesome little saw, and not so heavy as people are inclined to believe relative to their competition (is there any competition) and the easiest starting piece of equipment I have ever owned.
right now, sadly, mine has a fuel delivery issue. No big deal, I'll get to it...
I also need a new spur clutch drum as mine is worn.

meanwhile I'll run my Jonny 2152 in it's place. : ) , or one of my Jonny 590's which are still the best 50cc saws I've ever run. I just like how they handle and their really nice style of power. Or maybe my 5105, which will fairly easily out-buck them all but doesn't handle as nicely for limbing.

the 420 will do anything the 50's will do. With the lopro chain it will nearly but not quite run equal to them. It's all in the tune of the chain anyway...

 

[r black]

my 543xp is turning into a nice little saw the more I use it. I actually like it a lot now after a dozen or so tanks. When I first got it it was way low on power but it’s breaking in really nicely and it’s super light.

think ill be ordering one of these from ..@spike60. soon unless i find a new ms241 ... come spring ... i have owned the 420 and 421 dolmars they are nice i liked the 420 better they are nla....

 

[lone wolf]

Dolmar 420/421/4300 Makita

I have a 420. Awesome little saw, and not so heavy as people are inclined to believe relative to their competition (is there any competition) and the easiest starting piece of equipment I have ever owned.
right now, sadly, mine has a fuel delivery issue. No big deal, I'll get to it...
I also need a new spur clutch drum as mine is worn.

meanwhile I'll run my Jonny 2152 in it's place. : ) , or one of my Jonny 590's which are still the best 50cc saws I've ever run. I just like how they handle and their really nice style of power. Or maybe my 5105, which will fairly easily out-buck them all but doesn't handle as nicely for limbing.

the 420 will do anything the 50's will do. With the lopro chain it will nearly but not quite run equal to them. It's all in the tune of the chain anyway...

Can you run Stihl 63 PS on it? Like the Stihl 241's run?

 

[SCHallenger]

Can you run Stihl 63 PS on it? Like the Stihl 241's run?

Yes, you can. It will also handle .325 if that is your preference. It is a very solid machine. My 241 will outrun it, but it is ported & the 420 only has the cat removed.

 

[Franny K]

Can you run Stihl 63 PS on it? Like the Stihl 241's run?

You can use a six tooth spur sprocket. Only Stihl has rim sprocket with 7 teeth designed for the 63PS type chain.
The rim drive set up for the 50cc dolmar will fit on with just a thin washer as has been discussed much on here. Have you tried the new 23RSpro .325 stuff?

 

[Franny K]

Dolmar 420/421/4300 Makita

I have a 420. Awesome little saw, and not so heavy as people are inclined to believe relative to their competition (is there any competition) and the easiest starting piece of equipment I have ever owned.
right now, sadly, mine has a fuel delivery issue. No big deal, I'll get to it...
I also need a new spur clutch drum as mine is worn.

That is a fair answer to the title of the thread here but as has often been discussed a MS261 claims a pho weight of 10.8 pounds just like the Dolmar 421. So what is the competition is a relevant issue.

My fuel line came off right where it comes out of the tank this year maybe that is your issue as well.

 

[lone wolf]

You can use a six tooth spur sprocket. Only Stihl has rim sprocket with 7 teeth designed for the 63PS type chain.
The rim drive set up for the 50cc dolmar will fit on with just a thin washer as has been discussed much on here. Have you tried the new 23RSpro .325 stuff?

Too happy with what I have on it to try that. The Dolmar is interesting how's it cut next to a 241?

 

[holeycow]

That is a fair answer to the title of the thread here but as has often been discussed a MS261 claims a pho weight of 10.8 pounds just like the Dolmar 421. So what is the competition is a relevant issue.

My fuel line came off right where it comes out of the tank this year maybe that is your issue as well.

I will check that. Thanks!

 

[holeycow]

Can you run Stihl 63 PS on it? Like the Stihl 241's run?

Hmmm. I Don't know.

 

[holeycow]

You can use a six tooth spur sprocket. Only Stihl has rim sprocket with 7 teeth designed for the 63PS type chain.
The rim drive set up for the 50cc dolmar will fit on with just a thin washer as has been discussed much on here. Have you tried the new 23RSpro .325 stuff?

Can the 420/421 be converted to rim drive while keeping the lopro setup?

just to clarify your comment in my little brain.. thanks!

 

[Franny K]

Can the 420/421 be converted to rim drive while keeping the lopro setup?

just to clarify your comment in my little brain.. thanks!

The owner/operator can easily mount a generic small spline 3/8 sprocket intended for full size 3/8. It is kind of hard on the drive links in my experience. Easy to cut fingers pushing chain testing tension as it can kind of hang up. The mini spline Stihl 3/8 sprocket as in code 6 in 63PS larger in diameter. There are specialty expensive small spline sprockets from Danzco I believe but they have a round pin that pushes on the drive Link. Not sure if the need is still there with the 3690 code Stihl 23RS.

 

[holeycow]

Thanks for that information.