craftsman chain saw

[snapper]

Iknow yall hate them, but please help. I need a chainsaw t ouse a couple times a month to do some cutting with. I had a craftsman for several years till the cylinder galled, so i went to a 12" homelit which is druving me nuts. So whatch think about a 18" 42cc chain saw for 143$$ It has a case extra chain and a few extra goodies. First is this a good price?? And secondly is this a decent saw? I aint got much to spend but my homelite is driving me nutty, and i need sumthin. So Whats your thoughts??

Thanks snapper

 

[eyolf]

Most of us stay away from these light duty models, because they wouldn't hold up well in steady use. If you really only need to use the saw on an occasional basis, you're probably going to be OK...the carb will get full of varnish from sitting unused before the motor goes. In that case even a pro model would have troubles.

The major chain stores will have the similar light green Poulan model available as well, and may even be offering a sale price as part of "fall fix-up"; maybe you can save a few shekels.

 

[tony marks]

u be alrite with that saw. if u want u can go to lowes an get the chrome cylinder
on it.... its pretty much all the same saw ... but the poulan pros ,have held up well,, for the type of use u talkin about...
if u get it.. try an get a 16 bar rather than the 18,, that comes on most of those saws, ive seen. long bars sell saws to the gp in the box stores... but lessen the effectiveness of u saw. jmo

 

[snapper]

I don't know about you all, but i have seen alot of poulans that just won't die. For a home owner, or light duty the craftsman are fine. How many poulans you see homeowners kill from old age? Nort many, what kills these poulans is homeowners using the wrong mix, not keeping chain sharp, not using bar oil, or just not keeping the air filter clean. For a homeowner these machines are great. Now for someone that uses one alot, yea your money is better spent on a pro model. So how many home owner saws being used at home do you see die from being worn out?? How many are dead because of neglect and no maintenence? i seee more of the second one. And two, with sears if ya get it and don't like it, they take it back no questions ask. So, since i cant justify the pro model i am going with what i can afford and with proper maintenence oght to last a good long time..

Thanks guys!!

 

[tony marks]

they takum back at lowes here also.
i know,, i was trying to get by when my saws were stolen ,,and tried 2 of the green version. after the first ,i thot i just got a bad saw. after the second ,i decided the problem was something else. the current version of green plastic ,,i guess.
u seem to know how important good mix is ,so u probably be alrite.
ps find somebody who can actually get the chain rite. it aint easy . but that saws
life depends on it. good luck.

 

[WRW]

Snapper,
All good points you've given, but you overlooked old fuel mix and running all the fuel out before storing. Leave fuel in the tank or carb and the repairs will cost more than a new (homeowner) saw.

 

[snapper]

Yea true, but for me repairs are not a concern, because i can do them myself, so my only cost is for the parts. Say a gummed up carb for example, i got a friend i can get fuel line from for a dollar or two, carb kits for seven dollars. So for me since i can do the repairs it really don't matter much on the cost of carb rebuilds or what not. So since i can do all the tuning and tweaking i don;t really need a dealer. Like i say i have seen people have good luck out oif poulans, and that is all i have used is cheaper stuff, so it will do me fine for what little cutting i do. here is the one i am looking at saw

Thanks guys!!

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Snapper, sounds like you made your decision!

 

[eyolf]

Yo, snapper...methinks our starter cords have been pulled here.

If you're smart enough to do your own repairs, and you're smart enough to insert a little basic HTML in your post, then you're smart enough to pick your own chain saw. Why play so coy with us at the first?

gettin' a laugh on us?

 

[glens]

Probably just looking for some confirmation and when it didn't arrive, the hand got played.  I've been nicely entertained by the thread even if (s?)he hasn't.

The link didn't work for me until I removed the "<font face="fixed">BV_SessionID=@@@@0718332077.1059880446@@@@&</font>" from the URI.&nbsp; In fact, the best result for me comes from dropping all but the "<font face="fixed">?prod_id=07136017000</font>", resulting in <a href="http://www.sears.com/sr/product/details/productdetails.jsp?prod_id=07136017000">http://www.sears.com/sr/product/details/productdetails.jsp?prod_id=07136017000</a>, which is probably the best way to use that saw... but there's no telling what happens with allowing javascript and/or cookies from that site; since I don't do either I may be in the great minority that way.

What I'm wondering about is what caused the cylinder to get galled and why the Homelite don't run good.&nbsp; Maybe like the HTML, the wrenching is just a little off.

I'd spend a few more bucks and get an 018 or maybe the Jonsey equivalent, whatever it currently is.

Glen

 

[tony marks]

no glens ,u just confirmed ,that they aint no saw in the picture,,,,for me... after brian
had to tell me to scroll dn to see franks cutters,i wus a little gun shy.... instead o saying anything ,i wus scrolling all over the place. i finally decided somebody done stole snappers saw before i ever got there ....
snapper,lighten up a bit bud. these fellas just trying to help u. no offense intended . just what i think,, might help u reap the benefits of this forum a bit better....theres not another place ,,i know of,, where u can tap into the mechanical and chainsaw use knowledge,as there is here....stick around bud,, u might learn a lot more than u thot possible.

 

[Newfie]

Snapper,

How much money are you willing to continue to sink into crappy saws? I'd say your next purchase will put you over the dollar threshold of where you could have bought a quality "non pro" Husky or Stihl (or another brand if you prefer) and be done with your problems. But then again as Stihltech says " a saw is only as good as the maintainence it recieves"

How many Yugos did you buy before you bought a real car?

 

[snapper]

both old saws were given to me used, the homelite was about gone when i got it. it was just too small and i have used it to cut some big stuff. So this saw i figure will last till i can afford a good one. So this is proably the one and only cheap saw i will buy. And guys, not trying to get a laugh just trying to see if anybody was ever happy with a cheaper saw.

Thanks guys!!

 

[WRW]

Snapper,
You missed my point. If you empty the tank and carb before storing, you don't have to spend the $7.00 on a carb kit and your time on the re-build.
I had a Poulan string trimmer that lasted 21 years, then I gave it away. I only mixed enough fuel for each tankfull then ran it dry when I was done. Never owned a cheaper saw, though.

 

[eyolf]

Snapper sez: <i> "not trying to get a laugh just trying to see if anybody was ever happy with a cheaper saw."</i>

This will be a while back, but during my second year of school I rented from a widow; she needed a tree taken down, but couldn't afford an arborist. I got a buddy to "borrow" some rock-climbing stuff from a PE storeroom, and used her deceased hubby's Homelite 330. Her brother allowed the use of his PU truck and a little labor if I'd help him reshingle his garage roof. In the end I got the saw, a free month's rent, and undying gratitude, plus I got to learn how to put on shingles on somebody else's roof!

I used that 330 for years, and still have it. It still runs, although it only has about 90# of compression. It just sits as a memento now; I won't even loan it to an enemy without a chain brake. While I was using it I sometimes cursed it, often wished I could afford better, but I'm happy now

 

[arborman]

The craftsman 42 cc is the same saw as the poulan wild thing. Its a 7 hour saw. .. And the chain flys off of em.. my neighbor has one.. i was out running it with him one day to see why the chain kept flying off and it almost vibrated my hands off. you would be better off to buy a small husky , stihl, or echo then to buy a craftsman. even if you only use it a couple times a year , atleast you will have something of good quality that is going to start , run and do the job everytime.. i would recomend the husqvarna 141 .. its about 70 more then the craftsman.. but a much much better quality saw.. good luck with what ever you decide on.