Hi all,I came across this site while researching a chainsaw purchase. I read some mixed reviews about this saw so I thought I'd throw my experience into the mix. About me, I'm a homeowner who installed a wood stove last winter after the great propane price hike of 2013/14. LOVE the wood heat and am kicking myself for not getting a stove until now. Anyways I bought wood split and delivered last year. This year I came across a pickup load of free wood and got thinking that there might be more out there so I put an ad on kijiji a popular site here in Canada. Long story short, I found an older gent who had many tree tops left from logging and said I could have all I wanted free if I'd cut for him too. I went down to my local small engine guy and he advised a dolmar 6100 with an 18" bar at 6 hundred and some odd dollars! Which is more than I paid for wood last year. Which brings us to the Poulan Pro 5020av on sale for $249 at tractor supply.
I read the manual and followed instructions and the saw started first pull. Seemed to run good and made the rough "four stroking" sound at full throttle. I noodled a hunk of wood I had to break it in and off to the woods I went.
As a noob, there was a learning curve about how and where to cut and I pinched the bar several times. I cut several weekends running the saw all day when I wasn't panting or guzzling water. And several evenings as well. I'd cut a top for the land owner and one for me. I'm still splitting and stacking but I have 16 face cord done so far and best guess is another 5-6 in the pile. So I'm easily over 30 cord cut with this saw and I have never tuned it. Even on the factory chain. I cut until I need a break then hit it a couple licks with the file and a guide and it peels little corn chip looking pieces out. I'm cutting 75% hard maple and the rest ash. Except for a 12" rock elm that would make the odd spark when I cut it! Man that stuff is hard! A couple of the ash were whole trees that were 30"+ and it took like 10 minutes to cut through! I'd fill the tanks after every cut!
I feel this saw was well worth the money and recommend it for any homeowner.
Unfortunately this site has contaminated me with a sickness and all I can think about is chainsaws. I have since bought a $35 craftspoulan 33cc that I muffler modded and learned to tune. It actually screams pretty good for what it is and pulls a 16" carlton bar and chain. And a $50 stihl 032av electronic with 18" bar that ran like crap until I cleaned and tuned it. Now I am scanning the ads for a bigger saw that I can run a 24-25" bar on for some of the bigger wood I come across.
Looks like it's workin out good for ya though.
