Brand new 044/440 to buy or not to buy

[joeblacky]

Basically I need some help, I've been offered an 044/440 hybrid, built out of almost entirely brand new and all genuine Stihl parts. Here's the list:

-Brand new 440 crank case, bearings, crankshaft and seals
-Brand new 12mm non decomp 044 Stihl piston and cylinder
-Brand new starter housing
-Brand new 044 clutch cover
-Brand new 440 fuel tank, HD filter setup, hoses, intake boot and wrap handle
-Brand new 440 carb
-Brand new 440 plastics with 044 name plate
-Brand new clutch and rim sprocket
-Brand new 25" Stihl bar and chain never touched wood
-Brand new bolts all round


The used parts are:

-flywheel
-coil
-wiring harness
-exhaust

Pics below

Let me know what you guys think it's worth?

I'd be tempted to swap out the top end for a brand new 440 top end as it has the plastics ready for a decomp. Thoughts?

 

[joeblacky]

More pics

 

[blsnelling]

What's the price?

 

[joeblacky]

Oops missed that bit, £400

 

[Ozhoo]

I'd be all over it, a fair price for a fair product.

 

[blsnelling]

It would likely cost $2,000 USD to build that saw.

 

[joeblacky]

That was my thinking. Do you have any idea what the retail was on a 440 when they came out? That's essentially what it is. I'll snap it up and get a few more pics up this week, the seller still has all the Stihl boxes the parts came in

 

[blsnelling]

Retail on a new saw like that would be in the $900 ballpark.

 

[joeblacky]

Well with the price of the pound at the minute this is coming in at around $530, so it'll be joining my collection!

 

[nstueve]

Leave the top end alone. No point in adding a decomp cylinder unless you need it. Decomps are just another point for the saw to leak.

 

[joeblacky]

True, i don't use the decomp on the 090 let alone a little 440, I just thought about making it a true 440 that's never been in wood rather than a mashup of the two

 

[nstueve]

Technically I think the 044 which is how its marked on the top badge could be a decomp or non-decomp saw depending on how the dealer ordered it or how it came from factory. I'm thinking this based on experience with the 026, 036, 066 series saws. Wait I see the flippy caps now... So you were thinking change the top badge and the top end...? Sounds like a lot of extra cash for a 440 restore. I might think about it for a mint 044 10mm but if you do go down that path... You need to get rid of the Rollomatic E bar and replace with a NOS Rollomatic ES wide tip 25" bar.

You can see a narrow tip and wide tip in this pic

 

[joeblacky]

Thanks for the extra info, it does seem like a lot of extra work for no real gain on second thoughts. May just leave it as is, other than selling the brand new Stihl bar and chain and sticking a sugihara on there or something similar.

If I could bring myself to do it I'd probably double my money parting the saw out, but I don't think I have it in me

 

[blsnelling]

This saw is a straight up MS440, not a 044, as evidenced by the flippy caps. An 044 would have screw in caps.

 

[joeblacky]

Agreed bit it's wearing a non decomp cylinder, about the only thing that's 044 on it aside from the name tag

 

[blsnelling]

The case dictates what it is.

 

[rd35]

I'd leave it just like it is....because in the famous words of Johnny Cash....You'll have the only one there is arouwwwwwd! That is one GOOOOD looking saw! Don't let it get away!!!

 

[joeblacky]

Yeah I'm going to get it tomorrow if the seller will answer his phone. Brad, okay I get the point I'll say no more so as not to wind anyone else up

 

[SawTroll]

This saw is a straight up MS440, not a 044, as evidenced by the flippy caps. An 044 would have screw in caps.

Frankensaw - and what is known about the parts that aren't new? Also, the quality of the work is unknown.

 

[joeblacky]

I'll give the saw a going over when I get it in the shop. As for the used parts, there's only the coil that would ever cause me any worry, so I could always swap it out for a new one if need be