Homelite XL12 - For sale locally. Should I buy?

[SkySkrape]

There's a local auction with a Homelite XL12 for sale. I want to know what I should pay...and if it's something I should even try to pursue...

I have a MS660 that I use for CSMing and would like an additional all-purpose saw that works the way it should EVERY time...

What should I look for in an XL12, and what are your recommendations?

Thanks for any input!

 

[BC WetCoast]

You will get better advice if you ask in the chainsaw forum

 

[pro94lt]

I feel like this is some sort of scam question for some reason feeling amused...

 

[SkySkrape]

I feel like this is some sort of scam question for some reason feeling amused...

Thanks, "Pro" for a whole lot of....nada

 

[CalTreeEquip]

Boy does that bring back memories. Even when I bought my first one 30 years ago, it was antiquated. No vibration dampers, hard as hell to start and loud.
I wouldn't give them $10 for it.

 

[Jeffsaw]

It may be okay for occasional use but I wouldn't want to work with that every day.

 

[rarefish383]

Hey SkyScrape, I've seen you post over on the milling forum. I'm an old Homelite nut. I've got XL 12s, XL 400, XL700, and XL 923's and 925's. Until a few weeks ago my milling saw was a Super 1050 Auto with a 36" bar. None of my XL's are hard to start, and they run like a Striped Azz Ape, for what the are. In the day they were one of the best, but their day has passed. I sold a bunch of my Dad's XL12's after he passed for about $20 each. As for loud, ours were real loud, because the first thing we did when we bought them was gut the muffler to get a little extra power. The 12 is a popular saw still, in good running condition with good bar and chain I wouldn't go over $50. Actually I wouldn't go over about $20. If I were looking for an old Homey for back up I'd get one of the Xl900 series. They rev higher and will pull any bar from 16 to 30 inches. All that said and done, my 2 go to saws are an Echo 305 14" bar and a Stihl Farm Boss 290 with an 18" bar. I still use the homey's on stuff over 24". But that is soon to change too, I just ordered a new 880 with 28", 42" and 59" bars. I mill too, Joe.

 

[SkySkrape]

Thanks, Joe, for the helpful info. I have enjoyed playing with my MS660 but it seems to be running like crap since I bought it (used). I'm taking it in to the shop for a full tune-up to see if they can get it to run like it should. As for milling, I recently stumbled across a RipSaw XL4 that a dear old friend of mine has owned for 5 years but never so much as took it off the pallet as he injured his back after purchasing and it sat under a tarp for years. I dug it out (literally) the other day and put it together and voila, it fired right up and I was milling logs in about an hour after lubing everything and giving all moving parts a *twice* over.

It was fun stuff. It's a small mill but I enjoyed messing around with it. I'll presumably put a lot of miles on it and make up for lost time sitting around.

Glad you messaged me. I desperately want a second, smaller saw and I think I've decided to go with something more modern than the "Homey."