Recommend a small/medium upgrade saw from a stihl 009

[Remington92]

Hey all new to the forum and looking to pick some brains on what I should do for a saw to replace my trusty old stihl 009. I know for sure I'll be picking up a top handle m18 milwaukee to throw in the sxs and for small tasks but would still like a gas for backup. My preference is something in the 14-18" possibly 20" range. Cut a lot of firewood over the years to heat the house on the farm and 14" did 90% of what I needed. Now I live in town so not cutting near as much though.

Are there any of the newer saws that are worth a darn? I used to work in a farm supply store in the later 2000s and at the time the epa had ruined most of the good saws. Googling and searching it seems 021,024,025,026 etc still bring good money for clean examples. Open to other brands stihl is just what I'm accustomed to. Also would prefer not to waste the money on a disposable "homeowner" saw. This 009 was used when my dad bought it in the mid-late 90s and is just now finally showing her age.

I do have a question on the 009. Im having trouble maintaining consistent chain tension and I believe its due to the rear of the bar not being adequately supported any more by the case. The tip of the bar is able to move up and down close to an inch. Is there anything that can be done to fix or tighten that up?

 

[Remington92]

Sorry to bump this but if I can get a brand new echo 501p for 375 is there anything else I’ll get to compete in that ballpark?

 

[Wood Doctor]

Two years ago I bought a fine-running Stihl 025 for $120 and it's a keeper. It came with an 18" bar that it pulls fine. I have a Stihl 026 PRO that is terrific:

A used 026 PRO is hard to find. Owners tend to keep them. I believe I paid $230 for this one five years ago and added the outer spoke.

I would also look for either a Husqvarna 350 or 353 as fine upgrades to that Stihl 009. They are out there.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

You’re mostly going to get pro saw recommendations here. The 501p would be a huge upgrade for you.

 

[Remington92]

Two years ago I bought a fine-running Stihl 025 for $120 and it's a keeper. It came with an 18" bar that it pulls fine. I have a Stihl 026 PRO that is terrific:
View attachment 1217841
A used 026 PRO is hard to find. Owners tend to keep them. I believe I paid $230 for this one five years ago and added the outer spoke.

I would also look for either a Husqvarna 350 or 353 as fine upgrades to that Stihl 009. They are out there.

That’s a clean old girl. The pawn shop that had the echo also had a 025 for $150 and a 028 for $350. My farm supply store also had husky 450 ranchers down to $400 I noticed

 

[dandan111]

I’d buy new. And buy what you really want. Stihl, husky and echo all
have some nice saws.

 

[Remington92]

Any recommendations on what a package deal 009L 026 in clean running shape would be worth?

 

[pioneerguy600]

Any recommendations on what a package deal 009L 026 in clean running shape would be worth?

The guys on here want to see pics before giving out prices on used saws, from pics we can pick out many details of condition and use. I myself love to run the 026`s for light duty use, my 009 sees little to no use, more of a shelf queen. I can get $300. anyday for a running 026, most of them get ported if they stay any amount of time, usually between 7 and 10 of them around the place most times.

 

[Remington92]

Here’s the pair. Fella said he’d go 525 if I bought together which I thought was high and hoped for round 450 for them.

 

[Mad Professor]

A 50cc Stihl or Husky pro saw is my suggestion.

026s turn up once in while for not too much $.

My first one was a filthy but good running one with extra chains, $125. It cleaned up nice, needed a new rim and air filter.


The second one was a farm auction saw $100. Took a chance didn't hear it run but 150 psi compression and needed nothing.

 

[pioneerguy600]

$450. is about all I would shell out for those two, good looking saws though. I can wait for the right deal to come my way, as I have an excess of saws here but if you are really interested in those two then $500. would be reasonable.

 

[Wood Doctor]

FWIW, I just sold a Husky 350 in excellent condition for $220, but the guy who bought it also brought his wife to the sale and she was a doll. So, I discounted the price about $40.

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

An 009l is basically a 41 cc saw. Current Stihl 201 is 35 cc. The 009 series are are great line for a limb saw.

 

[pioneerguy600]

The 009 is bad for vibration getting to your hands, I am starting to mind that .

 

[Remington92]

The 009 is bad for vibration getting to your hands, I am starting to mind that .

I’ve never had an antivibe so I guess I don’t know what I’m missing but I’ve never noticed my hands tingling too bad after a day of run my 009.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I’ve never had an antivibe so I guess I don’t know what I’m missing but I’ve never noticed my hands tingling too bad after a day of run my 009.

I have the 009 and 015 they both give my hands the tingle so they mostly stay on the shelf, I have dozens of other saws with AV to choose from, therefore I am likely to be a bit more choosy about what I run for any given situation. I put in many ,many years running chainsaws that had no AV on them.

 

[Mad Professor]

I have the 009 and 015 they both give my hands the tingle so they mostly stay on the shelf, I have dozens of other saws with AV to choose from, therefore I am likely to be a bit more choosy about what I run for any given situation. I put in many ,many years running chainsaws that had no AV on them.

Growing up I worked on a farm and also sold cordwood.

Put a lot of hours in running Homelite XLs. Didn't want to run those much without a good pair of gloves on. Still have the XL that was my dads.

Glad the most saws I'm using now have AV, albiet not as good as the newest saws.

I do have a 009 but that just gets used for pruning the orchard.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Growing up I worked on a farm and also sold cordwood.

Put a lot of hours in running Homelite XLs. Didn't want to run those much without a good pair of gloves on. Still have the XL that was my dads.

Glad the most saws I'm using now have AV, albiet not as good as the newest saws.

I do have a 009 but that just gets used for pruning the orchard.

Yes, I have owned and run plenty of Homelite XL12 s and SuperXL`S the vibes were bad on them and a lot of the solid mount Pioneers especially with .404 chain on them. I am starting to really like the spring AV saws now. The MS362 gets used more and more lately. My FIL ran Homelite XL12`s in the woods for close to 45 years, he wore each of them out every couple of years, there is a half ton truckload of his old cast off`s in one of our storage sheds but I still have one of his last bought ones still running in my collection as well as his XL925.

 

[Remington92]

Had a chance to look over a 501p closer today. I wanted to like it for the nib $375 they were asking but it just didn’t feel like quality. Very light switch off/ on throttle, flexible creaky clicky thin plastics. Guess I’ll keep my eye out for a nice used stihl or husky.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Don't forget Echo chainsaws. Several good models are available at reasonable prices. I used to like their slogan: "The one that lasts." And, they seem to. I still have several models that are 20+ years old.