New saw recommendations?

[VernonFirewood]

I am looking for a chainsaw that will be light enough to maneuver to buck fallen trees but also have some power. I already have an older husky rancher that is fairly powerful but heavy, so it usually does best making down cuts on large logs to utilize its wieght to your advantage. So i am looking for a more agile, but strong, saw to make the smaller cuts quickly but won't wear me out.

 

[Jack_Shaft]

What diameter are the trees that you are cutting most often?

What length bar are you looking to pull?

 

[TDunk]

It kind of depends on how big the tree are. I'm guessing you mean that you have a 55 rancher. If you want something lighter a Dolmar 5100 is a good choice, i use that saw alot for limbing, and falling smaller trees and it make pretty quick work of it too. Next step up would be a Husky 362 or Stihl 361 wich are both good saws. I've owned them both and you can fell and limb with no problems. The Stihl is probably the most versitile saw you can buy.

 

[VernonFirewood]

I am looking to run about a 16'' bar
I have heard some good stuff about the Dolmar 5100

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Hey Vernon, I see by your name you're likely into firewood. The topic of a good firewood saw comes up quite a bit. Try a search in the chainsaw forum for "firewood saw," and you'll likely see what I mean.

But the typical answers you'll get range from a Stihl 260, to a 361 to a 660. Whatever saw you choose, it should come down to dealer support, and how it feels in your hands. Simple as that.

Jeff

 

[Jack_Shaft]

I am looking to run about a 16'' bar
I have heard some good stuff about the Dolmar 5100

...and size of trees you will likely be cutting?

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

Locally, for firewood saws, a 20" bar is the heat.


What is chosen to run that bar, varies from 60cc saws to 92cc saws.


Ideally, its all about what size of wood you are cutting...


You said a 16" bar, which makes for some small wood... depending on what kind of wood you are in, the suggestions could range from a 35cc saw to 60cc...

 

[NYH1]

A Husky 353 or a Dolmar 5100.

 

[SawTroll]

I am looking to run about a 16'' bar
I have heard some good stuff about the Dolmar 5100

If your old saw is a 55 Rancher, the 5100 weights about the same, but if it a 61 Rancher, the 5100 is a good bit lighter.........

It kind of depends on how big the tree are. I'm guessing you mean that you have a 55 rancher. If you want something lighter a Dolmar 5100 is a good choice, .....

I believe they weight about the same.......

 

[TDunk]

If your old saw is a 55 Rancher, the 5100 weights about the same, but if it a 61 Rancher, the 5100 is a good bit lighter.........



I believe they weight about the same.......

My bad

 

[SawTroll]

A Husky 353 or a Dolmar 5100.

The Husky is a bit lighter and nimbler, the Dolmar has more power - take your pick......

The Dolmar also has an inboard clutch, which many people prefer.

 

[Jack_Shaft]

I will assume that if you're looking to run a 16" bar then the trees you plan to work on will be small.

In that case, you hardly need much power and I would recommend the following:

Dolmar PS-5100 (on the upper end of the power spectrum)
Husky 345/353
Jonsered 2145/2154
Stihl 026/MS260, 025/MS250 or an older 024

I'm sure many people on here will suggest much larger saws, but pulling a 16" bar and chain is really a very light task and either of these low cost saws will fit the bill easily. My PS-5100 runs very strong with an 18" bar and would perhaps be overkill with a 16".

 

[MrGriz]

I'm not sure about the weight comparison, but I'll throw my vote in for the Dolmar 5100s.

I just got mine last Friday and haven't had a chance to really put it to the test yet, but so far it seems like a great saw.

 

[jefeVTtreeman]

im going to say 346xp. I use mine with 18" bar and use it mainly for fire wood. great all around saw look it up here on the site. Then go and have it woods ported.

 

[SawTroll]

Dolmar PS-5100 (on the upper end of the power spectrum)
Husky 345/353
Jonsered 2145/2154
Stihl 026/MS260, 025/MS250 or an older 024
.

Revised your list a bit, most important, removed the 45cc consumer models, and the ol' 024.......

Dolmar PS-5100
Husky 346xp/353
Jonsered 2147/2152
Stihl MS260

 

[Just Mow]

MS260,Ms361 get my vote