Need new lighter Stihl saws due to continuing and progressive leg & back problems

[Frank Boyer]

I use a 200T for my small light saw. The 201 is the back handled version. These saws are expensive, light, cut very well, and have a great power to weight ratio. How big is the stuff that you are cutting? Make sure to keep the chains sharp. Good luck on your health issues.

 

[fearofpavement]

I know it is tough on a guy to stand by and watch other people do stuff you want to do yourself but there are two important considerations here. One, by your own admission, you are unstable on your feet. In my opinion this would cause running a chainsaw to be a considerably higher risk activity than it already is.

The other issue is that if you are trying to convince a court, judge, or SS admin that you are disabled, they may have a hard time agreeing with you when someone shows some video of you running a chainsaw.

So though it may be difficult, it may be prudent to pursue a light and easy to start saw that your wife can use and you need to spend your time recuperating. Maybe things will get better with time and you can get back at it but for now best lay low.

 

[holeycow]

I can't imagine an easier to start saw than my Dolmar 420. Is there such a thing? Good little saw, but a little heavy for its power. For some one with full mobility it is absolutely insignificant, but it may be for you.

I hate to say it, but maybe you should not be running a powersaw. Or if you do maybe you should just be operating from a fixed position for the most part.

Bummer. I hope your mobility and strength improves. Good Luck!

 

[greg409]

opcorn:

luck,greg

 

[singinwoodwackr]

electric saw and a generator or inverter on the truck?

 

[procarbine2k1]

Hate to hear what you are going through. From what I can tell, I would go with the rear handled MS201 or possibly the Oregon or Stihl battery powered saws. Much cooler than they sound. I actually think either one would be the ticket for you.

 

[Brushwacker]

My Dad ran and started his ms180 easy start until he was 90 or very near. I ran it myself and give it high marks for what it is. The Husky 41 or something like that he had prior was to difficult for him to cold start when he was in his early 80's. I also like the 025-ms250. They just are easy to manage when you feel to tired to keep going with bigger saws. They are significantly slow in comparison to a 361 bucking 15" + hardwood though. Just make yourself comfortable and don't work to long. My Dad would fill his saw up and not take any extra fuel to keep himself from over doing it. He even used the 180 for noodling. That was how he split his wood.

 

[Anthony_Va.]

The best cutting small Stihl is, and always has been the 026/260. Its considerably lighter than the 361 and has good power. More than the ms250 and probably no heavier. Its always been a really good 50cc saw. Theres not another stihl thats lighter and can cut faster.

 

[casual cutter]

OP, have you considered Stihl's model 170's or 180's?

Sure, they are underpowered homeowner "junk" disposable saws, but in your condition, OP, perhaps they'll work just fine for the cutting that you do?

My 170 is nice and light, and it starts very easily... There is no need for an "easy start" feature on this saw.

And with a proper sharp chain, they will cut through more tree than many claim they can once they are broken in and become alive...

MS170 will not break the bank, either. Not sure of your financial status, but sometimes it's better to buy what's needed and what will work, instead of what you want just for the sake of wanting...

 

[deye223]

i gather it's the same for the chainsaw

[video=youtube;4S-uJKVjLkA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S-uJKVjLkA&feature=related[/video]

 

[Naked Arborist]

take it for what it's worth...

Here is some good advice. If you keep over doing it you'll end up with more damage and may be done walking. Been there almost did that. Everything you do now "standing up" as far as physical labor hurts your settlement case in the end. Been there done that. If they get you on film doing any work your case may go south for good. Been there done that. Get off the pain killers THEY DO NOT WORK! Been there done that. Try the natural approach, it helps your appetite A LOT! Been there doing that. If you keep taking all the anti-inflammatories you will end up with a rotten gut. Been there have that. Find something to de-stress or will almost go nuts. Been there done that. Find your own surgeon and tell the insurance Co. to KISS YOUR ASS!!! Been there done that and will be doing it again soon. They say they won't pay, trust me I've heard all there scare tactics and BS. In the end they will pay cause the judge will make them pay and then some. Been there done that. It took four years and way too much BS to get it done so be ready for a long roe. BTDT. If they say the nerve damage is permanent don't believe it. I had more nerve damage from so many different things in more places than I can remember. Most of it heals if the nerves were not cut. It takes a long long time. I had no feeling in my left leg from the knee down for three months and it took two years for it to return to my toes and my foot. That was the worst of it but not all of it. If your told BLA BLA BLA prove them wrong. BTDT. I am fifteen years out from a spinal lamonectomy with complications, five hurinated discs, spinal stenosis and a hyeatal hernia that never healed (bad stomach valve). It is cause by way too many meds. They write um up and you chow them down! They can tell you what ever they want to. The difference between what they know and what your will to endure is sooo much different. I won't say things are great but I can still climb and that is something I was told I would never do again, work for a living. I did have to hang up my wrenches on cars but I never stopped looking up. It was real bad at times but my wife convinced me to just go do what you can and they can stick the disability up their a** Even after all that crap to get it she said I was better off now because I would have drove us all crazy and never made it to where I'm at now.
I need to have a double fusion done at least three to four years ago so I know where your at. Why do think I'm on the AS site at all kinds of weird hours. I sleep when I can or get exhausted. Life never turns out to be what we want but if you have people depending on you than you do what has to be done. Been there and still doing that just like you will. Study, learn, ask questions and go with your gut feeling. Most of the time you'll be spot on and rest ends up all good when the wife chimes in and set you straight. Lay on your side and buck wood if you have to with an electric saw running on an ol gen set. Let the POS insurance companies film that!!! Better yet take some of your own films to court and ask them, the insurance company, to have their expert "analyze this" for the court. When they return and say "your fine IOHO" you can ask the judge for an independent assessment of the film, trust me they always come out looking like an a** every time. That pendulum swings both ways and most of time if you, think ahead, it works in your favor not theirs.


DUMP THE MEDS
ask a friend
Be Smart
Decide for yourself what is "right"
Good Luck

 

[RCR 3 EVER]

I use a 200T for my small light saw. The 201 is the back handled version. These saws are expensive, light, cut very well, and have a great power to weight ratio. How big is the stuff that you are cutting? Make sure to keep the chains sharp. Good luck on your health issues.

THe trees are max of 16-20 inch diam. at most. If we get the some of the trees harvested we will have lots of tops to cut for firewood. All our trees to cut are Hardwood mostly Maple, Cherry, Ash and Beech with some Ironwood.

I won't be standing up leaning forward and cutting that will not work. The tree will be on the ground and I will have to kneel next to it. Before I got hit with shopping carts I would also kneel but I would get up between cuts or have someone shove log along for next cut. Now I will have to have someone shove the log or I will have to crawl between cuts.

 

[RCR 3 EVER]

I know it is tough on a guy to stand by and watch other people do stuff you want to do yourself but there are two important considerations here. One, by your own admission, you are unstable on your feet. In my opinion this would cause running a chainsaw to be a considerably higher risk activity than it already is.

The other issue is that if you are trying to convince a court, judge, or SS admin that you are disabled, they may have a hard time agreeing with you when someone shows some video of you running a chainsaw.

So though it may be difficult, it may be prudent to pursue a light and easy to start saw that your wife can use and you need to spend your time recuperating. Maybe things will get better with time and you can get back at it but for now best lay low.

You are probably right.
But as far as proving disability I am unable to provide a living doing things on a consistent basis like at a job.

We have 120 acres I am not worried about someone filming me "working" . Let them film me crawling along the ground with a small chainsaw trying to gather 3 cords of wood for my woodstove compared to a normal person cutting a tree down and splitting it in a few hours.
Before the incident it would take my wife and I a weekend to cut and split an 10-12" average tree up. A couple of fellow arborists came over and helped cut 4 very large trees down we could not handle and then cut logs to size. All this was done in about 3 hours. Judging from other posts splitting several cords of logs can usually take 8 hrs at max. The rate I would have been able to go before was split/stack 1 face cord per weekend per week.

Now I hope,I hope I will get to cut 1 log a week and maybe work the controls for the splitter for 20 minutes/day. Is that work, NO
I can't use any of the tractors - 1 is 3 ft off the ground and other has left foot brake controls. I can't stand on 1 leg to climb onto the farm tractor. My walker is worthless in the woods as is my future wheelchair.

It probably is a :censoredipe dream to think of me using a chainsaw when I can't even get to the property in the first place. The cabin is need of chair lifts just so I can get to main level.

 

[RCR 3 EVER]

electric saw and a generator or inverter on the truck?

My dad would say great another tool (generator and inverter) to take care of, dewinterize or find a place to store.
The Massey does not have a generator, it just runs off the battery. Our trails are not wide enough for truck/trailer combo
so a generator would need to be put in the trailer and that would cut down on wood brought back from cuttings.
I thought of that for use of a electric winch in earlier years.

 

[griffonks]

God bless you, and keep fighting for independence. I'm glad you are not giving up yet.

 

[RCR 3 EVER]

Here is some good advice. If you keep over doing it you'll end up with more damage and may be done walking. Been there almost did that. Everything you do now "standing up" as far as physical labor hurts your settlement case in the end. Been there done that. If they get you on film doing any work your case may go south for good. Been there done that. Get off the pain killers THEY DO NOT WORK! Been there done that. Try the natural approach, it helps your appetite A LOT! Been there doing that. If you keep taking all the anti-inflammatories you will end up with a rotten gut. Been there have that. Find something to de-stress or will almost go nuts. Been there done that. Find your own surgeon and tell the insurance Co. to KISS YOUR ASS!!! Been there done that and will be doing it again soon. They say they won't pay, trust me I've heard all there scare tactics and BS. In the end they will pay cause the judge will make them pay and then some. Been there done that. It took four years and way too much BS to get it done so be ready for a long roe. BTDT. If they say the nerve damage is permanent don't believe it. I had more nerve damage from so many different things in more places than I can remember. Most of it heals if the nerves were not cut. It takes a long long time. I had no feeling in my left leg from the knee down for three months and it took two years for it to return to my toes and my foot. That was the worst of it but not all of it. If your told BLA BLA BLA prove them wrong. BTDT. I am fifteen years out from a spinal lamonectomy with complications, five hurinated discs, spinal stenosis and a hyeatal hernia that never healed (bad stomach valve). It is cause by way too many meds. They write um up and you chow them down! They can tell you what ever they want to. The difference between what they know and what your will to endure is sooo much different. I won't say things are great but I can still climb and that is something I was told I would never do again, work for a living. I did have to hang up my wrenches on cars but I never stopped looking up. It was real bad at times but my wife convinced me to just go do what you can and they can stick the disability up their a** Even after all that crap to get it she said I was better off now because I would have drove us all crazy and never made it to where I'm at now.
I need to have a double fusion done at least three to four years ago so I know where your at. Why do think I'm on the AS site at all kinds of weird hours. I sleep when I can or get exhausted. Life never turns out to be what we want but if you have people depending on you than you do what has to be done. Been there and still doing that just like you will. Study, learn, ask questions and go with your gut feeling. Most of the time you'll be spot on and rest ends up all good when the wife chimes in and set you straight. Lay on your side and buck wood if you have to with an electric saw running on an ol gen set. Let the POS insurance companies film that!!! Better yet take some of your own films to court and ask them, the insurance company, to have their expert "analyze this" for the court. When they return and say "your fine IOHO" you can ask the judge for an independent assessment of the film, trust me they always come out looking like an a** every time. That pendulum swings both ways and most of time if you, think ahead, it works in your favor not theirs.


DUMP THE MEDS
ask a friend
Be Smart
Decide for yourself what is "right"
Good Luck

For someone with back problems you are assuming everybody has the same issues to deal with. Your case is much different, I am glad things have gotten better for you and you are able to function to some extent.Family support is a great uplifter. Some of which you say may be right but like you say go with gut feeling in my vast research on diagnosis.

 

[fearofpavement]

RCR 3 EVER, where exactly in MI are you and where is your property?

Is this chainsaw thing because you need the wood or cause you feel a need to cut? Why I'm asking, there are a lot of people on here that have saws and maybe a mini GTG could take place on your property generating a season's worth of firewood in a day. I am a long ways away but there are a number of MI people on here... I think it would be feasible for someone to put something together if that would be helpful to you and your family.

 

[sefh3]

Sorry to hear about your condition. I see you are in MI. Well so am I. I'm down by Ohio. I also have an MS250. PM me where your at. If your close by, I don't mine bringing the saw over for you to try out. If you like it, then go buy a new one or buy mine.

I'm stihl here waiting for your where abouts also. I can help you with your saws needs or even firewood too. PM me to what area you are in.

 

[RCR 3 EVER]

RCR 3 EVER, where exactly in MI are you and where is your property?

Is this chainsaw thing because you need the wood or cause you feel a need to cut? Why I'm asking, there are a lot of people on here that have saws and maybe a mini GTG could take place on your property generating a season's worth of firewood in a day. I am a long ways away but there are a number of MI people on here... I think it would be feasible for someone to put something together if that would be helpful to you and your family.

It is back of our minds to have a GTG sometime when we can get things sorted out at home and at property. I heat our house with wood using the Lennox fireplace it is extremely efficient instead of the old 1980 furnace. We need a little over 2 cords per season and 1.5 cords for cabin. Both fireplace have limits on size of logs at 16-18 inches so we mark all the logs prior to cutting. so we would mark the logs on ground prior to any GTG.
With only a farm tractor available trees are scattered throughout the property and can't be dragged-we don't want furrows. I have not been up there for almost a year so I do not know what is available. Maybe next year, not sure with renovations that are needed all over. In next few years our family will be having some of the hardwoods harvested so then there will be tops galore on the ground that would have to be cut.

I am in SE Mich, North of Detroit, Property is on West side of state in Oceana county.

 

[Trailtrimmer]

It is back of our minds to have a GTG sometime when we can get things sorted out at home and at property. I heat our house with wood using the Lennox fireplace it is extremely efficient instead of the old 1980 furnace. We need a little over 2 cords per season and 1.5 cords for cabin. Both fireplace have limits on size of logs at 16-18 inches so we mark all the logs prior to cutting. so we would mark the logs on ground prior to any GTG.
With only a farm tractor available trees are scattered throughout the property and can't be dragged-we don't want furrows. I have not been up there for almost a year so I do not know what is available. Maybe next year, not sure with renovations that are needed all over. In next few years our family will be having some of the hardwoods harvested so then there will be tops galore on the ground that would have to be cut.

I am in SE Mich, North of Detroit, Property is on West side of state in Oceana county.

Would it be a bad thing if a few guys with more saws than any mentally healthy person needs happened to show up and cut and split enough wood for you and your family to burn for a couple years?