Cs3000, MS200, Husky 336

[Hotwheels]

Hello,
Been browsing here for awhile. I have some acreage with trees, brush, and weeds. Blue oaks, manzanita, black oaks, maples, etc... and they need trimming occassionally, I have a Husky 51 that I want to supplement with a smaller chain saw. It needs to be a light weight saw that both me and my spouse can use. A good power to weight ratio is important as are easy starting. I am not getting any younger and I would like this saw to last me a while. The choices seem to be the Echo cs3000, the Stihl MS200, and the Husky 336. Some folks seem to complain about Stihl being hard to start -- that is an issue for me. As I age, light weight, easy to start, and durable are what will help me out. Any thoughts?

ps I have an arborist who does the hard work.

 

[lovetheoutdoors]

Hello,
Been browsing here for awhile. I have some acreage with trees, brush, and weeds. Blue oaks, manzanita, black oaks, maples, etc... and they need trimming occassionally, I have a Husky 51 that I want to supplement with a smaller chain saw. It needs to be a light weight saw that both me and my spouse can use. A good power to weight ratio is important as are easy starting. I am not getting any younger and I would like this saw to last me a while. The choices seem to be the Echo cs3000, the Stihl MS200, and the Husky 336. Some folks seem to complain about Stihl being hard to start -- that is an issue for me. As I age, light weight, easy to start, and durable are what will help me out. Any thoughts?

ps I have an arborist who does the hard work.

did you mean the husky 338xp, i would say you would be happy with any of them, i would choose the stihl or husky over the echo. But dont buy a top handle saw for everday use, they kick back because of less leverage.wouldnt be a good saw for the wife.

welcome to AS

 

[rbtree]

The best cheap, light saw for you would be the Echo 3450 if it is still available. It's been discontinued, but I've seen it at Home Depot and on ebay.....a very good saw. You do not need a top handled saw, as they are best suited for use by us professional arborists. The 3450 is a tad bit heavier than the 3000 but is more powerful, maybe a bit less than the 336, which is the rear handled version of the 334 Husky. It would be your best choice but is costlier. If you could find a Redmax dealer, I'd check out a couple of their rear handled saws that are fairly light. I'll bet this one is inexpensive, well built like all their saws, and plenty peppy: http://www.redmax.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=2&idproduct=66

dealer locator:
http://www.redmax.com/cgi-bin/dealers.cgi

 

[lovetheoutdoors]

The best cheap, light saw for you would be the Echo 3450 if it is still available. It's been discontinued, but I've seen it at Home depot and on ebay.....very good saw. You do not need a top handled saw, as they are best suited for use by us professional arborists. The 3450 is a tad heavier than the 3000 but is more powerful, maybe a bit less than the 336, which is the rear handled version of the 334 Husky. It would be your best choice but is costlier. If you could find a Redmax dealer, I'd check out a couple of their rear handled saws that are fairly light. I'll bet this one is inexpensive, well built like all their saws, and plenty peppy: http://www.redmax.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=2&idproduct=66

some links:
http://www.redmax.com/cgi-bin/dealers.cgi

Thanks rbtree , that refreshed my memory on the 336. There are to many of them.

 

[retoocs555]

I have an Efco 940 that I like a LOT. Light, and better constructed than most other inexpensive small saws.

 

[Hotwheels]

Looks as if the echo models have changed: I think the current model is a CS 305. I am not so much worried about cost, but durability, easy start, and power to weight. I end up doing lots of prunning and cutting of small limbs off the oaks, maples, and other small trees. My wife is not averse to a chainsaw, but she is not fond of the Husky 51. She would like something light and powerful. So, whatever will fill the bill. Unfortunately, there is no Redmax dealer nearby. Huisy, Echo, Stihil, and Shindawa are my dealer choices.
Thanks,
JR

 

[rbtree]

Ahhh, well then, get the 360, or the 377. Those two Shinny's are excellent, relatively light saws! Buy one, you won't be disappointed. I love my 488. They are a bit heavier at 8.8 and 9 lb. I like my 488.

Ah, I see Echo does still make the 30 cc 300 in a rear handled version, now called the 305. That saw is all you need. It is low on power, but will be plenty fine and serve you well for years. I'd guess the Shin 360 would have about 20-25% more power.

http://www.shindaiwa.com/products/chain_saws/ch360.html

 

[Hotwheels]

I have a couple of Shindaiwa line trimmers and they are well maade machines. The Husy dealer calls them "overbuilt." The 360 looks as if it has a good power to weight ratio for less than nine pounds. It is now on the list. Thanks

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Did you guys notice he mentioned the 200, and not the 200T. I agree that a top handle saw is likely not what you want. There's more to them than their maneuverability, which can be as much of a deterant as a benefit. If price is not that much of an issue, go with the MS 200. It's a superb engine design, and properly tuned, it should start just fine for you. The 200/200T has a large following here (myself included). It's a good saw, and for good reason.

Welcome to AS.

Jeff

 

[Hotwheels]

Thanks for the suggestion. I read enough here to understand the top handle saw is something I don't need and the back handle style should work fine for me.

Price is always an issue, I just don't want it to be the determining issue. I am not ruling out anything because of price. Power to weight ratio, durability, and ease of starting are the high items on my list. The MS200 and the Shindaiwa 360 seem to have almost the same specifications in terms of power and weight.

Do you find the Stihl to be easy to start?

Thanks

 

[rbtree]

Most 200T's that I've used and seen used start easily. Echos as well. The new small Huskys have a primer bulb which helped solve their starting issues.

 

[NorthWoods]

I was looking for the same thing about 3 months ago. I looked them all over (~40cc) and ended up getting a new Dolmar PS401 (16" x 3/8 x .050 LP) for less than half of what the MS200 would have cost me. That includes the 10% discount the Stihl dealer allows me. So far, very happy with the little Dolmar.

Dave

 

[Hotwheels]

Unfortunately there isn't a Dolmar dealer nearby. For others looking for a small and powerful saw, they seem to offer good value. Thier model 401 looks comparable, although they list weight without bar and chain!

Engine displacement:
2.4 cu. in.

Power Rating:
1.7 kW

Power rating:
2.27 bHP

Net weight without bar and chain:
8.0 lbs

 

[coveredinsap]

Take a look at the Husky 137. Lightweight, with a spring-assisted starter. Strong running saw for 36cc and around $200. Or the 142 at 40cc and a few dollars more.

 

[rbtree]

Actually, the 137/142 are not lightweight, at 10.1 pwr head weight, relative to the saws being discussed here. That's prolly why Hotwheels didn't inquire about them. The Stihl MS 170 is, but it is also way underpowered.

 

[rbtree]

That's the way most mfr's show their saws.

Based on pwr head weight, here's how your choices look. I'm going from memory here;

1 Echo
2 Husky 336
3 Stihl MS 200
4 Dolmar
5 Redmax
6 Shindaiwa

Power:
1 Dolmar
2Redmax/Shindaiwa
4Stihl
5 Husky
6 echo

Price:

1Echo
2 Dolmar
3 Redmax or shindawia
5 Husky
6 Stihl

IMO, you can't go wrong with any of them, and the Echo will last just fine....sure it is low on power, but for your needs, that's fine....You can gain 10-15% in power by spending 10 minutes with a dremel on the muffler. But the saw might need some carb adjusting then, and it'll be louder.

 

[manual]

Wonder if you can get the 336 in cal. some reason there book says (Not available in Cal.)

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Wonder if you can get the 336 in cal. some reason there book says (Not available in Cal.)

They made the 338 Cali with an extra 10 cc's just for that reason, to my knowledge.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Do you find the Stihl to be easy to start?

Never had a problem starting it. First or second pull...even when up a tree.

Jeff

 

[Hotwheels]

Unfortunately, the 336 is not availabel in California! I missed that on the husky web site. I visited one of the local dealers who sellss Husy and Stihl. He thought the 345 was the best bet, but it is heavier than I would like.

The Stihl 200 feels fine and so did the 180. The salesperson said he thought the 200 is hard to start because of the high compression engine. I don't know since others here seem not to have a problem.

I am going to look at the Echos this afternoon, the 305 and the 346. That is the plan, thanks for the information.