Poll for the Pros!

[tony marks]

il second that .. different strokes [and back conditions..] ive heard negatives about the
260..[no personal experience tho.. my 026 is an very good saw for its size..
especially after dan got thru with it..but i do keep bigger saws for when the work calls for it..the onlynegative to that is you sometimes dont get to the point that the saw is just an exstension of your arm,due to changing around..when i was an one saw man,,i never had to think cause the saw operating was more natural and i knew the saw better..somethin to be said for that..jmo.and just applies to me..good luck

 

[Moze]

Ray, thanks for your input. Truth be told - I don't even NEED a saw. Logic would be to rent one. But I would rather just buy one and have it for anytime I may need it in the future. I was more looking for people that have used the Makita and what their thoughts were on it. I'm not concerned about the weight. I realize the 260 is smaller and would be much less tiring to use. But again, I'm not afraid of the weight. THe 044 never bothered me. And hey, it never hurts to work out - even if it's by means of a 14 pound chainsaw.

I guess my main concern is whether there have been any significant changes since Makita started putting their name on the saw, or if it's essentially still the same reliable Dolmar saw...

 

[premix]

Not enough information on reconditioned done by who factory or dealer? What was done when it was reconditioned. Full warranty's from factory or dealer? The reason I say is rental saws can have a very hard life real fast. Many years ago for a 2nd job I worked at a tool rental place part time. And was amazed what I seen done to equipment many times. Chainsaws were one of the worst.

 

[Moze]

These aren't rentals - they're salespersons demo's or floor models.I don't know who the warranty is through.

DirtTroll, I'm curious, how is it that you can say the Makita's (essentially Dolmar's) are "WAY underpowered poorly designed / made" ??? Any facts & firgures to back that up? I find it odd that a company that has been making chainsaws since 1927 makes a poorly designed saw.

 

[Lobo]

DirtTroll, I'm curious, how is it that you can say the Makita's (essentially Dolmar's) are "WAY underpowered poorly designed / made" ??? Any facts & firgures to back that up? I find it odd that a company that has been making chainsaws since 1927 makes a poorly designed saw.

Probly because its doesn't say Husky on it !

 

[bwalker]

Moze; If you are going to buy a MS 260, make sure that you get a 2004 model (or earlier), as the power rating in the US catalog is down .2 kw for 2005 -and I do not think it is a misprint. It may be EPA- related...... .....wonder when its successor arrives!

I wouldnt put too much faith in HP figures from the MFG's. After all a 372 will beat a 460 from what I have been told and the 460 is rated at a much higher HP.

 

[Justin Garrison]

More rpms mean faster cut, an old Iron clad 120cc Mac would probably lose to a 372. I have really never run anything but stihl and husky, but I hear the dolmars are even better than them. Although most of us would be ashamed of a saw that nobody has ever heard of beating our stihls!

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I am a big Dolmar fan. But in this comparision my vote goes for the 260. The 6401 is a little porky for it's displacement.

 

[bwalker]

I would be a little suspicious of a recon saw.

 

[bwalker]

Justin, i think its safe to say a 7900 will beat any stihl in its class, but so will a husky 372....Stihl need to get their butts in gear and come out with some newer saws.

 

[Justin Garrison]

I belive it the 044 has been out for around 10years?? It is still basicly the same saw, they came out with the magnum,is there any dirrerence besides the dual port muffler,then they came out with the ms series,I know they added a decomp,anything else?? They are running basicly the same thing for 10 years and try to act like they have been really doing something,besides make all these new homeowner saws and features. I know, "361",lets see a little more than that. The 372 is not even made anymore and it is more modern than a 440. Although I heard the 575 isn't all there yet.

 

[bwalker]

I belive it the 044 has been out for around 10years??

Its been out a lot longer than that. My dad had one when I was a kid.

 

[Justin Garrison]

Regardless it is virtually unchanged.

 

[SawTroll]

............I have not voted in your poll. As others have stated, the 260 and 6401 is not comparable saws and shouldn't be staked against each other.
Add to that - I am by no means a PRO!

Well, now I have voted anyway, as I see a lot of other non-pros have.

My vote goes to the 260, as it is a truly nimble saw for it's power.

6400/6401 suffers from being the smallest (cc's) saw on its frame, and is both big and heavy for it's power. ........sort of 262xp in reverse!