Jack_Shaft
ArboristSite Operative
I have been following this forum for some time now and I have to say that the advice and recommendations are usually neutral and very informative.
It is for this reason that I am interested in hearing your opinions on my next purchase.
I currently own:
Stihl MS170
Stihl MS260
Stihl 08 (mint!)
Dolmar 111
Makita DCS-6401
Husqvarna Special 50
Jonsered 2154
My father was a logger and I was bred to carry on the tradition (on my own time) thus the big collection.
I have to say that I am very disappointed with a lot of the saws that I have! The MS170 is a great little saw but it does not start very well at all in the cold which makes it semi-useless at my latitude. The MS260 is a decent saw but it just seems to lack the serious cutting power that I need at times. The Dolmar 111 has been pretty good and certainly stronger than the MS260, but it has a tendency to break little things like the chintzy choke lever and old fashioned metal kill switch. That gets very frustrating in the field.
I recently purchased the big Makita 6401 in order to work a little less hard when knocking down some 24-30 white spruce and fir but that hasn't worked out either since it doesn't appear to start worth a crap. Considering that it starts on prime and I changed out the carb with a brand new one a few weeks back, I can only assume that the fuel intake line is clogged. Another job for me to tackle. It was a used Home Depot saw, so I should have figured that it would have some problems.
The Husqvarna Special 50 has been a pretty good saw overall. The starter is finicky in the way that it kicks back sometimes when you try to start it. Man that really hurts when it's -30*C. I put a newer starter on it from a 51 and it seems to be a little better now, but not perfect.
Of all of these saws, the most hated of them all, the Jonsered 2154 has been stone cold reliable. I leave it at my cabin and only touch it when all the others crap out. Wouldn't you know it that I had to use that saw to cut fire wood this past weekend? It worked flawlessly and I have to say that I liked it, but it was really too small for the trees I was working on. Too bad the local dealer is a douchebag.
I have been looking at an MS361 or perhaps even a Husqvarna 357XP or 359 as a good, reliable saw that I could use for many things. If I can score one of these in good condition I will unload some of my other saws and keep a small one for limbing.
Any suggestions?
It is for this reason that I am interested in hearing your opinions on my next purchase.
I currently own:
Stihl MS170
Stihl MS260
Stihl 08 (mint!)
Dolmar 111
Makita DCS-6401
Husqvarna Special 50
Jonsered 2154
My father was a logger and I was bred to carry on the tradition (on my own time) thus the big collection.
I have to say that I am very disappointed with a lot of the saws that I have! The MS170 is a great little saw but it does not start very well at all in the cold which makes it semi-useless at my latitude. The MS260 is a decent saw but it just seems to lack the serious cutting power that I need at times. The Dolmar 111 has been pretty good and certainly stronger than the MS260, but it has a tendency to break little things like the chintzy choke lever and old fashioned metal kill switch. That gets very frustrating in the field.
I recently purchased the big Makita 6401 in order to work a little less hard when knocking down some 24-30 white spruce and fir but that hasn't worked out either since it doesn't appear to start worth a crap. Considering that it starts on prime and I changed out the carb with a brand new one a few weeks back, I can only assume that the fuel intake line is clogged. Another job for me to tackle. It was a used Home Depot saw, so I should have figured that it would have some problems.
The Husqvarna Special 50 has been a pretty good saw overall. The starter is finicky in the way that it kicks back sometimes when you try to start it. Man that really hurts when it's -30*C. I put a newer starter on it from a 51 and it seems to be a little better now, but not perfect.
Of all of these saws, the most hated of them all, the Jonsered 2154 has been stone cold reliable. I leave it at my cabin and only touch it when all the others crap out. Wouldn't you know it that I had to use that saw to cut fire wood this past weekend? It worked flawlessly and I have to say that I liked it, but it was really too small for the trees I was working on. Too bad the local dealer is a douchebag.
I have been looking at an MS361 or perhaps even a Husqvarna 357XP or 359 as a good, reliable saw that I could use for many things. If I can score one of these in good condition I will unload some of my other saws and keep a small one for limbing.
Any suggestions?
