New 60cc saw advice

[Deane Hartford]

Back story: Currently on a one saw plan. My father's old 028 super, 16 b&c, that I rebuilt with the help from this great site. Haven't run the saw much since I rebuilt it. That's about to change though. Helping the girlfriend's mom get cheap firewood. All she has to do is feed me and the expense of obtaining the wood comes out of my pocket.

After using the 028 to fell an old dead pine that was 28" at the butt I have decided I need a larger saw. If we are going to supply her with next year's firewood. Should also add I'm currently living out west where most of the available wood is old dead pine on federal land. 028 did an admirable job on that tree, but it was slow cutting not overworking that saw. It was also running rich due to me being paranoid of blowing it up from being to lean.

Now to the questions. My local dealer, Stihl, has 2 non running up 391's that I might be able to aquire cheap and rebuild. going to find out today how cheap and what's wrong. From doing reading I found out about the parts situation for these and depending on what's wrong they will probably need to be really cheap to be worth it. Thinking about used 362 cm for the mtronic as I'm not the best at carb adjusting and tend to run too rich sacrificing power to avoid running lean. I know I could figure it out though.

I know there are other options out there from different brands, but after rebuilding that old 028 I've kind of got a thing for Stihl. Stupid I know but I just keep coming back after reading about other brands.

So after being gone from here for a few years I'm back to use the knowledge here at this site to help me again. Please tell me your thoughts and opinions, what would you all do?

ETA: prices on the new 362 here are north of 700 and used ones don't come around often. although there are a couple here in the trading post.

ETA 2: apparently I was mistaken about a price on what I thought was a ms361.

 

[computeruser]

Invest in the 362 mtronic and go cut wood. It is a good choice for a one-saw-does-all platform. In pine, 16” and 24” bars should do the trick.

If you were in hardwood, or if you are routinely into 24”+ wood, a 70cc or larger machine might make sense. But if not, the 362 should do you fine!

 

[Armbru84]

Ported 361 for sale in the classifieds...lol. I do agree though that a 361/362 would do you well or a similar husky/dolmar. Whatever your preference is.

 

[Conquistador3]

The MS 311/391 series of saws is not much supported with aftermarket parts so you may find yourself spending a whole lot more than you'd like to have a working saw.
It's likely the original owners left them to the dealer for "free" (nudge nudge, wink wink) when they found out how much the repair bill would be and just walked out with a new saw.

I have the greatest and latest MS362C-M and it's an amazing saw. That's the reason there are so few for sale and those few tend to have been "worked on" and/or are fitted with ridiculously long bars. Why people feel the need to stick a 28" bar on a non-logging chainsaw is beyond me. I run an 18" bar and I am yet to find something I cannot tackle.

If you want to save some money, drop by your local Echo/Shindaiwa dealership: their latest 60cc saws are very very good.

 

[Brettl]

I'm a stihl man too. However, if I was to look at something besides a Stihl in the 50-60cc range, I'd look at the Echo Timberwolf. Way less money than the 362 and a very well built saw.

 

[grack]

Back story: Currently on a one saw plan. My father's old 028 super, 16 b&c, that I rebuilt with the help from this great site. Haven't run the saw much since I rebuilt it. That's about to change though. Helping the girlfriend's mom get cheap firewood. All she has to do is feed me and the expense of obtaining the wood comes out of my pocket.

After using the 028 to fell an old dead pine that was 28" at the butt I have decided I need a larger saw. If we are going to supply her with next year's firewood. Should also add I'm currently living out west where most of the available wood is old dead pine on federal land. 028 did an admirable job on that tree, but it was slow cutting not overworking that saw. It was also running rich due to me being paranoid of blowing it up from being to lean.

Now to the questions. My local dealer, Stihl, has 2 non running up 391's that I might be able to aquire cheap and rebuild. going to find out today how cheap and what's wrong. From doing reading I found out about the parts situation for these and depending on what's wrong they will probably need to be really cheap to be worth it. Then there also 361's nos here for 500 plus tax, or thinking about used 362 cm for the mtronic as I'm not the best at carb adjusting and tend to run too rich sacrificing power to avoid running lean. I know I could figure it out though.

I know there are other options out there from different brands, but after rebuilding that old 028 I've kind of got a thing for Stihl. Stupid I know but I just keep coming back after reading about other brands.

So after being gone from here for a few years I'm back to use the knowledge here at this site to help me again. Please tell me your thoughts and opinions, what would you all do?

ETA: prices on the new 362 here are north of 700 and used ones don't come around often. although there are a couple here in the trading post.

If buying new +1 on the echo 590
Over 5 year's on mine and loaned it out to friend's
It's been run hard no issue's
I've ran up to a 24 oils great
Sometimes new 300.00 or so shipped ebay
Lot of saw for the money.
Or a good used pro saw of course lol

 

[Harzack223]

Pick up one of those nos 361s and youll be set.. or hell pick one up for me. Where abouts in maine? I might be up for the drive.

 

[Deane Hartford]

Pick up one of those nos 361s and youll be set.. or hell pick one up for me. Where abouts in maine? I might be up for the drive.

sorry in Utah now, and apparently I misread. could have sworn it was a 361, but somebody here got the phone number from me already and the store said they didn't have any 361's. I'm tempted to go back and look because I swear it was a 361.

 

[Deane Hartford]

View attachment 624111
If buying new +1 on the echo 590
Over 5 year's on mine and loaned it out to friend's
It's been run hard no issue's
I've ran up to a 24 oils great
Sometimes new 300.00 or so shipped ebay
Lot of saw for the money.
Or a good used pro saw of course lol

no echo dealers around me to go look at them. do they limiters on the carb adjuster? I ask because I currently live around 4k elevation and sometimes cut around 7k. I'll also probably be moving back to the east coast in a year where my cutting will all be below 2k.

 

[alabama xl]

I have used the makita/dolmar 6400, and liked it enough. I haven't done any work on one, so I don't know if there is anything messy about that aspect of them. Started nice and cut well. I wouldn't mind having one, but the only place around me that has them is the local home depot tool rental. Someone I know needed some wood cut and had rented the saw already, but wasn't capable of using it. We rip cut a relatively large piece of oak log with it, and it cut like a champ. The saw is kinda heavy, but i basically let gravity do the work. the 6100 is almost a pound lighter if that is an issue.

 

[Icedogs28]

Fixing up a plastic 391 is not worth the money, IMO. Invest in a 362 and you will have a great saw for many years. I had one and it RIPPED! I would keep a 20" on it most of the time, then bust out the 25" when needed

 

[Deleted member 149229]

For the money brand new, +2 Echo 590 Timberwolf.
Awesome saw for $400. Do a muffler mod and retune and it will run at the front of the pack.

 

[Deane Hartford]

I have used the makita/dolmar 6400, and liked it enough. I haven't done any work on one, so I don't know if there is anything messy about that aspect of them. Started nice and cut well. I wouldn't mind having one, but the only place around me that has them is the local home depot tool rental. Someone I know needed some wood cut and had rented the saw already, but wasn't capable of using it. We rip cut a relatively large piece of oak log with it, and it cut like a champ. The saw is kinda heavy, but i basically let gravity do the work. the 6100 is almost a pound lighter if that is an issue.

I was watching a 6100 on eBay over the weekend. with something like eight hours left the bidding hit three fifty or eighty. Should have tried for it, but didn't want to spend more and figured I wouldn't get it.

 

[Deane Hartford]

View attachment 624118 For the money brand new, +2 Echo 590 Timberwolf.
Awesome saw for $400. Do a muffler mod and retune and it will run at the front of the pack.

for the echo guys. how about a 620 or 680. still cheaper than the ms362 and others, but way more saw by stats. are they as good as the 590? looked at the dry weights and the 028 super weighs more loaded and ready to cut. weight doesn't bother me. it's going to be maybe a five day a week saw for a few weeks a year. I just look at the property models for the repairability factor and I can use equipment hard at times.

 

[Icedogs28]

I'm not saying the echo is bad. But there is a reason the Stihl costs more. It's a better saw. Add in that your local dealer is Stihl, and that would seal the deal for me

 

[Deane Hartford]

I'm not saying the echo is bad. But there is a reason the Stihl costs more. It's a better saw. Add in that your local dealer is Stihl, and that would seal the deal for me

I completely understand that, and I'm really leaning towards that because I'd like to have whichever saw I buy still be serviceable in 30 years like the one I got from my father. Dealer support I don't worry about too much. with the service manuals and ipl's these saws don't seem all that complicated to fix. But I do really want something that will be around for a while.

 

[Brian72]

for the echo guys. how about a 620 or 680. still cheaper than the ms362 and others, but way more saw by stats. are they as good as the 590? looked at the dry weights and the 028 super weighs more loaded and ready to cut. weight doesn't bother me. it's going to be maybe a five day a week saw for a few weeks a year. I just look at the property models for the repairability factor and I can use equipment hard at times.

I have the 590 and 680. Both are very good saws. I do recommend pulling the limiter caps and re-tuning. I hear good things about the 620 but haven't run one. The 680 is more of a torque saw. Pulls really well. If you're considering used, check the for sale section. I think I saw a husky 372XP for sale. Another very good saw.

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[Andyshine77]

I'm not saying the echo is bad. But there is a reason the Stihl costs more. It's a better saw. Add in that your local dealer is Stihl, and that would seal the deal for me

If I had to guess based on how the 362 and 590 are designed, I'd put my money on the 590 being the one still running in 30 years. The Echo is just a simple well thought out saw.

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[Flint Mitch]

I have used the makita/dolmar 6400, and liked it enough. I haven't done any work on one, so I don't know if there is anything messy about that aspect of them. Started nice and cut well. I wouldn't mind having one, but the only place around me that has them is the local home depot tool rental. Someone I know needed some wood cut and had rented the saw already, but wasn't capable of using it. We rip cut a relatively large piece of oak log with it, and it cut like a champ. The saw is kinda heavy, but i basically let gravity do the work. the 6100 is almost a pound lighter if that is an issue.

You can always buy a used rental from Depot for around $300(if you can find one) and put a 7900 p&c on it! I know a few people on here than can supply the parts!..
I love my 6421 with just the cat removed and opened up sporting a 20" bar. It pairs well with my 028 super wearing a 16" that I also got from my father

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[Daniel Haglund]

The Stihl MS 361 is a great saw with a 20 inch bar! It will handle longer but if you need that frequently get a bigger saw also.

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