Graham99
ArboristSite Operative
If you go to the Victorian High country then it can be like this most of the time :msp_biggrin:
New chainsaw
- Thread starter Graham99
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If you go to the Victorian High country then it can be like this most of the time :msp_biggrin:
SawTroll
Information Collector
How much more is a 7901?
tdi-rick
Addicted to ArboristSite
Graham, I just had a look online and Norwest Tools have the 7301 for $960.
Sydney Tools are often good value too, and you may be able to deal a little too.
tdi-rick
Addicted to ArboristSite
Another $80-$100, depending on dealer.
Bigdgb
ArboristSite Operative
Yes sometimes up there i have had to cut around a few big ones, look out for the ParksVic Boys, they can get a bit jumpy if you cut to much
Chris J.
Addicted to ArboristSite
A 7901 with the HD filter sounds like a very good choice, judging from the photos posted, & what you fellows Down Under say about the hard woods and the prices you have to pay for chainsaws.
Graham99
ArboristSite Operative
I checked with Sydney tools yesterday, they are the people I am basing my price comparisons upon.
Thanks everybody with the help so far. This has been great.
Graham
splitpost
Nothing but 32:1
A D9,.........D6 would be a better option:hmm3grin2orange:
splitpost
Nothing but 32:1
get some wedges while your at it,they work good for wedging the tension side of your cut while letting you cut right through
Graham99
ArboristSite Operative
get some wedges while your at it,they work good for wedging the tension side of your cut while letting you cut right through
I like the way you think.
My thoughts at the moment are for the DSC7301 with a 20" bar for general stuff, and maybe a 24" bar and chain in the recovery drawer of the 4wd. The Mac 4620 would then get a smaller bar in the 16" to 18" range, which would better suit the saw.
As a separate thought, I think that I can improve the Mac 4620 with some decent chain. The chain on it currently is a Husqvarna chain with a semi chisel tooth. The saw is a fairly lazy 46cc. What would be a good chain for this saw, and which forum sponsors can help me in my part of the world. I would like to start that relationship just in case the 7301 has a rubbish chain on it too.
Lastly (so many questions) I see people mentioning the HD filter kit for the 7301. Where do I get one of these from?
Graham
Hulsty
ArboristSite Operative
Standard dolmar chain on mine was a safety chain, I swapped it out for Carlton chain from MCW. I just fitted my HD filter kit from these guys last week.
Heavy Duty Filter Kit for Dolmar PS-6400, PS-7300, PS-7900 - [957173400] - $69.95 at Edge & Engine
Heavy Duty Filter Kit for Dolmar PS-6400, PS-7300, PS-7900 - [957173400] - $69.95 at Edge & Engine
Bigdgb
ArboristSite Operative
The Husky chain you have on the Mac is most likley Oregon low-kickback chain, not the best for what you are doing, stay with semi chisel chain, it will work better for cutting firewood and 4x4 recovery work where the wood is most likley to be a bit dirty, I am not sure what chain comes with the DSC7301 proberly 3/8, any standed 3/8 semi chisel chain for Stihl, Oregon or Carlton should do the job well, ( would not recomend LP chain or Low kickback stuff) Member MCW sells chains
But another thing to look at before you blaime any chain is how good can you sharpen it? if you are new to this, seach for threds under chain sharping for good tips,
And yes get the HD filter kit.
tdi-rick
Addicted to ArboristSite
The chain that comes standard on Dolmar/Makita saws is Dolmar branded Oregon Vanguard 3/8 full chisel chain which is a full safety chain with bent over rakers. (and I'm guessing it should be .058" gauge on an Australian delivered saw)
As you said, anyone's semi-chisel chain is better for all round use here, and Matt/MCW is the man to talk to on getting some loops spun up.
Graham99
ArboristSite Operative
Does MCW have a website I can go and look at? I am thinking of doing something with the Mac right now and following up with the 7301 when I get it.
gmax
Addicted to ArboristSite
No he's too poor to have a website, just send him a PM, Matt is a good guy to deal with :msp_smile:
Last edited:
Stihlman441
Addicted to ArboristSite
Graham99
ArboristSite Operative
Already done
Bigdgb
ArboristSite Operative
Graham, a few things to think about before buying a Makita chainsaw,
I am not sure of you level of expertese in chainsaws so I will look at it a couple of ways,
First, Makita chainsaws are not overly common in Australia, chainsaw dealers that sell them are few and far between, parts cost and avlability not very good,
you can get them from tool shops like Sydney Tools for good price on some models better than you can buy the same size in Stihl or Husky, but places like Sydney Tools and the like mostly never have spare parts for them, Makita Australia are not fast with the parts and do not stock a big range of parts, chainsaws are less then 1/4 of 1% of biz for Makita in Australia,
So lets say you know a lot about chainsaws and can do all the work on them, you still have to get parts, so you will have to find a dealer who has parts (someone on this site may know some) and get them(most likely they will not be close to where you live) you can get parts for them online, some in Australia but mostly in the US,( one Ozzie AS member who runs Makita chainsaws said the most cost effctive and quickest way he can get parts is a line from the US and that takes 3-4 weeks to come,
On the other hand say you do not know much about chainsaws and like to take it chainsaw shop to get work done or parts, well good luck finding one, ( if you do get one well and good!) but say you just take it to a Chainsaw shop near you, (most likley it will not be a makita dealer) the shop then has to find the parts and fix it, service will not be quick or cost effctive because its not a brand they support or have to back up and if never go back to them i do not think they would lose any sleep over it,
the point I just made is that very few chainsaw Brand Shops care much for work on other brands that they do not sell,
And one other thing to think about if you do a lot of 4x4 and a cutting a lot on tracks when out and about, if you break something on the Makita (other then bar and chain) you most likley will not be able to get parts for it when you are on the go, but if you have a Stihl or Husky there are dealers of one or the other in most towns with a pop of more then 2000 and some smaller or not far away any how,
I am not baging the Makita saw its self, i hope this helps its JMHO
I am not sure of you level of expertese in chainsaws so I will look at it a couple of ways,
First, Makita chainsaws are not overly common in Australia, chainsaw dealers that sell them are few and far between, parts cost and avlability not very good,
you can get them from tool shops like Sydney Tools for good price on some models better than you can buy the same size in Stihl or Husky, but places like Sydney Tools and the like mostly never have spare parts for them, Makita Australia are not fast with the parts and do not stock a big range of parts, chainsaws are less then 1/4 of 1% of biz for Makita in Australia,
So lets say you know a lot about chainsaws and can do all the work on them, you still have to get parts, so you will have to find a dealer who has parts (someone on this site may know some) and get them(most likely they will not be close to where you live) you can get parts for them online, some in Australia but mostly in the US,( one Ozzie AS member who runs Makita chainsaws said the most cost effctive and quickest way he can get parts is a line from the US and that takes 3-4 weeks to come,
On the other hand say you do not know much about chainsaws and like to take it chainsaw shop to get work done or parts, well good luck finding one, ( if you do get one well and good!) but say you just take it to a Chainsaw shop near you, (most likley it will not be a makita dealer) the shop then has to find the parts and fix it, service will not be quick or cost effctive because its not a brand they support or have to back up and if never go back to them i do not think they would lose any sleep over it,
the point I just made is that very few chainsaw Brand Shops care much for work on other brands that they do not sell,
And one other thing to think about if you do a lot of 4x4 and a cutting a lot on tracks when out and about, if you break something on the Makita (other then bar and chain) you most likley will not be able to get parts for it when you are on the go, but if you have a Stihl or Husky there are dealers of one or the other in most towns with a pop of more then 2000 and some smaller or not far away any how,
I am not baging the Makita saw its self, i hope this helps its JMHO
tdi-rick
Addicted to ArboristSite
AFAIK Makita Australia have all spares of current models in stock ?
My local Dolmar dealer gets weekly deliveries from the Makita warehouse in Sydney, they've been selling Dolmar for well over thirty years and I've never heard of parts being an issue, a mate of mine is a fencing contractor and has run Dolmar saws since the late eighties.
Prices vary, some bits are OK, some are stupidly expensive, much like Stihl, eg. the HD filter kit 's RRP is up around $250 and P&C kits aren't cheap compared to the US (but cheaper than Husky)
Parts from Edge and Engine in the US average 7-10 days.
My local Dolmar dealer gets weekly deliveries from the Makita warehouse in Sydney, they've been selling Dolmar for well over thirty years and I've never heard of parts being an issue, a mate of mine is a fencing contractor and has run Dolmar saws since the late eighties.
Prices vary, some bits are OK, some are stupidly expensive, much like Stihl, eg. the HD filter kit 's RRP is up around $250 and P&C kits aren't cheap compared to the US (but cheaper than Husky)
Parts from Edge and Engine in the US average 7-10 days.
Chris J.
Addicted to ArboristSite
Makita is Dolmar, and I'm under the impression that Dolmar is a well-established brand with a good dealer network in Auz.
