Last how long?

[Tony Snyder]

Does anyone have any info on hours of life expectancy from properly cared for saws of various classes. By classes, I mean pro vs semi-pro vs howeowner. Or by brand by class.

If I were to make a wild guess based on experience, I would guess that 800 hours would be a lot of hours even for the best of the pro saws. Is that a resonable number?

Coming from an engineering career, I have alot of curiosity about such things. I was hoping that some of you insiders might be aware of some studies or at least some tribal knowledge obout this subject.

 

[eyolf]

While talking to a dealer about Echo saws once, I was told that Echo expects to get at least 400 hrs from thier chain saws when properly maintained. This was about 20 years ago, when I bought a 702.

With even better quality control procedures, one could expect that figure to have improved, and since European saws have to remain competitive, I'm certain more is possible.

Opposing that is the premise that most people will not use most saws that long, so what incentive is there to go for the ultimate, if it means costs will be to high? Another thread touched on this premise recently, but I'm not sure what words to search for

Anybody else?

 

[Stumper]

I don't know if anyone has compiled statistics for average saw life. The exceptions tend to muddle the objectivity of the individual(thus brand x is GREAT or brand Y is junk). As an example I have a Poulan 2000 that was my PRIMARY climbing saw for 7 YEARS of professional use!!!!! I WORE OUT 3 bars on that saw! It was still running when I retired it. The starter ropes had worn a groove over an inch into the case! (Before some one starts the Pullin' Pullin' Pullin' cracks-it wasn't hard to start.) I don't know how many hours that saw or any of my others have run before failure/rebuild time but I do know that I get years of use from all my saws. (And in the case of the Huskys when compression finally falls off it comes right back with nothing more than new rings!)

 

[Newfie]

I'm sure the manufacturers probably have "wear out" specs on their saws just to keep 'em coming back. Probably carefully balanced between price, customer satisfaction and hopes of future sales. They won't be sharing those numbers anytime soon.

As for numbers on the consumer side, I would agree w/ Stumper, there are too many factors involved to get accurate useful lifetime estimates. Maintainence will either prolong or kill. There is the retarded homeowner who thinks the saw is all done when the chain gets so dull they start to burn through the wood. Or the retarded logger for that matter. I know more loggers who have never used a saw to its full potential because they keep driving skidders over them.

Just my thoughts. be good to your saw and if it is a good saw it should be good to you.