Forget the Presidental Debate, McCulloch 10-10 vs Homelite Super XL

[leeave96]

Don't want to jam the forum with worthless posts, but.......

How about a debate between two classic chainsaws:

McCulloch 10-10 vs Homelite Super XL?

Great old firewood saws. Back in the day, which was your preference and why?

Thanks!
Bill

 

[hoss]

I have both and in my experience I would say that the 10-10 is the hot-rod but the xl12 is as reliable as dirt. My xl12 has only ever needed a new chain and though I would'nt call the mac unreliable it has needed one or two minor tune up items since I have had it. Both great firewood saws in my opinion.

 

[tomtrees58]

XL 12 HANDS DOWN TOM TREES

 

[infomet]

Isn't the 10-10 the Timber Bear?
I bought a TB from HF, because it was bigger than my others and very cheap.
Seems to be a good engine, starts well and has comp release, BUT it took two years of fixing things and tightening this and that. The brake mechanism falls apart, the bolt holding the oil tank cover was loose and the bar was junk. Once it was together and not vibrating apart, it was fine, but it's a slow engine and HEAVY. Mostly I use it for bucking trunks, when I can work on my knees and not have to hold the thing up very much. Oak larger than 16-18 inches loads it down, but I can always nurse it thriugh.


I had a red XL that was smaller but almost as powerful and bulletproof until someone (not me) put raw gas into it.

WL

 

[Cameljoe73]

Well, I've only owned 2 macs. and one was a 1010. I got a bad taste from the macs, they were both cantankerous SOB's. Ran great in the shop, wouldn't start, or run right in the woods a lot of the time. My dads XL12 hasn't had a new spark plug in at least 15 years. As a matter of fact, the only thing thats changed on that saw in 15+ years is the air filter, and about a dozen chains. I have to lean towards the XL-12 as the saw in this thread.

I will say that my bad experience with macs, was about 15 years ago, so I'm guessing the saws were at least 15-20 years old, or older at the time. And I didn't know 10% about saw maintenance as I do now, so that maybe had a lot to do with my problems.. But on the other hand, the Xl12 lived through my dads learning curve (his first saw), and then mine (also my first saw, thanks dad), and I bet it lives through my son growing up.

 

[Wet1]

While I do own a Mac or two, I've never run the 10-10 so I can't add much here. Although, I do own a very clean SXL and it's a great saw. Gotta love the old school stuff...

 

[leeave96]

What is the difference between a Homelite Super XL and an XL12?

Thanks!
Bill

 

[Wet1]

Bill,
This details them both pretty good:
http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/GasbyManufacturer?OpenView&Start=51.124&Count=30&Expand=51#51

 

[hoss]

Isn't the 10-10 the Timber Bear?


WL

Nope, that would be the 610.

 

[AOD]

haha, my kind of thread!

I picked these up about 3 weeks ago. I paid $24 for the 10-10 and $10 for the SXL-AO. The SXL was seized, but I got it freed up quite easily and running shortly thereafter, it runs and cuts like a real champ, last week it started cold on ONE pull! I've ran about 6 tanks of gas through it, and it cuts up anything I throw at it.

The 10-10, on the other hand, has been a drama queen. It will not start unless I prime it, and when it does run it runs like crap. I am suspecting a crankcase seal. The carb is clean but the tank has evidence of bad gas sitting in it.

 

[16gauge]

haha, my kind of thread!

I picked these up about 3 weeks ago. I paid $24 for the 10-10 and $10 for the SXL-AO. The SXL was seized, but I got it freed up quite easily and running shortly thereafter, it runs and cuts like a real champ, last week it started cold on ONE pull! I've ran about 6 tanks of gas through it, and it cuts up anything I throw at it.

The 10-10, on the other hand, has been a drama queen. It will not start unless I prime it, and when it does run it runs like crap. I am suspecting a crankcase seal. The carb is clean but the tank has evidence of bad gas sitting in it.

These are the saws I learned with. No chain brake on the SXL and the 10-10 was either broken or disabled. Nowadays they are just memories. I think I have a couple of Homie XLs around here....

 

[AOD]

I learned on an old beat up SXL when I was about 13-14. I thought I was king of the woods with that thing. I even dropped some trees over 20" diameter. A nice wide power band and complete lack of safety features gave me a healthy respect for the saw. Picking this one up brought back fond memories.

 

[Ax-man]

Here is my two cents. I have had and ran both saws.

The Homlite XL is the better of the two.

As had been said more and better power range than the 10 -10. The XL saw was one of Homlites more popular models as is evidenced by how many are being bought and sold on e-bay and many are still running and in use today. Not all saw models can boast of a track record like this. This model was also the most copied design by other minor manufactures of chainsaws that are out of business. Lombard Comango comes to mind.

I am not really a Homelite fan but I have had a few of these XL's over the years. Used them in the early 80's in my tree biz. Recently started getting a few more because or the bow bars that were put on them. If it wasn't for the bow bars I wouldn't bother with them.

I had a very good running 10-10 that started the way a good saw should even after sitting around for a month or two in shop. I just sold it today at a neighbors garage sale. Glad it is gone.

Out in the wood that 10-10 was the slowest running saw I have ever ran in it's class. I forget how many cc's it has or how many cubes it has without loooking it up. I think it is close to being a more or less a 3 cube saw. This 10-10 also had a like new bar and good chain on it that had only been filed or machined sharpened once. I resharpened the chain it was still a dog. To me it was anyway.

I do have to give the 10-10 some credit. It never quit when I leaned on it in the middle of a cut. For a small saw it did alright but it is just a typical Mac cuts OH SO SLOW. The bigger ones really aren't much better when they are run side by side to other saws of the same era and class like Homelite or my favorite Jonsereds.

Like I said just my opinion on the 10-10. I only took this one in just to round out my saw experience because I kept seeing that model number pop up and talked about in these discussion theads. I'll never take in another one that is for sure.

Larry

 

[E&R_firewood]

the XL hands down . . .i remember my grandpa dropping old growth Engleman spruce on his ranch with his two blue xl-12s in the early 90's. i am convinced you could do about anything to one and have it running again, i found an xl-12 engraved USFS on the side in a riverbed, a few years ago, after the water had dropped . . .it was siezed but looked salvageable squirted the cylinder and piston down with WD-40 and let it sit, checked the spark, rebuilt the carb, put on a fuel line and air filter from . . .runs like a raped ape. too bad homelites are now 3o cc chunks of injection molded plastic.

 

[Brushwacker]

I was broke in with xl 12's and fully agree its a rugged ,reliable, and good running saw of its day. I liked the super best because of the extra power.
I never had a 10-10 if I remember right ,but I thought they were up with the x-l 12's until now. Had a pro mac 55 for a little while that was a strong reliable runner but just run out of gas to fast for me and I am pretty sure that is the only reason I got rid of it.

 

[Modifiedmark]

The super xl gets my vote. Of course its not an exact comparison as the Super XL is 4 cc's bigger.

The 10-10's in my mind are best suited to a 16" bar max to make them good cutters.

A better comparison for the Super XL is the Poulan 306a. There very close to the same displacement and performance and both are better suited to a 20" bar then the 10-10.

 

[AOD]

I ran my SXL yesterday for about 45 min, blocking up some big silver maple for a friend to use on bonfires. That saw still amazes me, runs like a top. Last week I cut up some honey locust about 18" across, that bogged it down a bit but it got through it no problem. Maple doesn't even present a challenge to that saw.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Nope, that would be the 610.

Hoss is correct. The Timber bear is the same as my Mac 610. I fear that I cannot part with this old beast. Too many fond memories surround it, and although I have tried to kill it now and then, it just keeps coming back for more abuse. Still cranks just under 11,000 RPM.

Is that really slow? Perhaps, compared to the Stihl MS 361, but the Mac 610 was made 30 years ago and it laughed at most Homelight models.

 

[lawnmowertech37]

i have to say it would be a close run on the debate both them are side by side actually

that is for the chainsaws mentioned

 

[alpinecrick]

Hmmm........Of course, I'm perfectly biased.

The XL 12 (58cc) is most certainly a long-lived, reliable saw. But I think both the 10-10 (54cc from 1967 to early 80's, 57cc from early 80's thru 98) and my Pro Mac 55 (57cc) have an equal or even a wider power band. The Macs generally do not bog as easily deep into the cut as my XL 12--but I've never checked compression on the XL either.

I will say the XL 12 doesn't seem to need as much tuning every time I change altitudes.

All three of these saws are best with 16 inch bars...........


Casey