small stihl firewood saw - old vs new

[BC40]

Hi guys, been doing a lot of searching and reading since joining (lurking?) and now I'm looking for some advice. We're moving to a rural home that will be heated primarily with wood heat. I have a crummy old hand me down mcculloch that I don't have a lot of confidence in, but it runs and will be a back up saw for firewood nonetheless. There is decent support there for stihl so that is what I intend to purchase. The area has mostly softwood and I intend to do most of my cutting on smaller dbh trees so I won't need to do as much splitting, but likely some occasional bigger stuff. Don't know yet how many cords/year I'll be cutting, bit of a newbie to this...

What I'm looking at: I won't be doing tons of cutting but I am wanting quality of build, reasonable weight, and a saw that I can work on in years to come (I like to spend time in the shop anyways). I'm thinking a pro model stihl even though I am far from proffessional user. I don't necessarily mind spending a bit more to get something that will last in my use another 20-30 years.

There are some really nice older saws on CL that I'm considering. One is a mint 034 for $350. Another is a really clean 026pro for about $300. There are also some clean looking 028supers for cheaper $200-250. While I know the 028 were great firewood saws, I think I might be better served with the bigger/same weight 034. I like the older saws because they are simple, easy to repair/rebuild in the future. If I get one that has had very little use and take care of it it should last. The other option is to just spend the extra money now on a new 261 with 18" bar. New saw, mostly great reviews, less regular (filter) maintenance, expect parts availability will be very good in the future. Just not certain the new saws will be so easy to work on if needed as were the older ones.

The other thing, in the future I intend to get another bigger saw for occassional milling and cutting bigger trees (perhaps an 046, 064, 066). But for now, I'd be on a short term one saw plan. Given the softwood around here, I'm thinking a 50 + cc saw would serve me well.

Any advice on whats better for an acreage homeowner that wants to keep a good saw lonterm, older model vrs new? Going to look at some saws this weekend...

 

[fearofpavement]

Of what you listed, hands down I would put a check mark next to the 026. It would be perfect for your needs as given.

The 028 would also be an excellent choice, especially if it is a little later version that has the chain brake, etc.

The 034, not so much.

 

[snowdingo]

Since you're moving to a home with wood heat, you will be relying on this saw to keep you warm for years to come. So you can justify a new saw purchase. The benefit of new is that a pro grade saw will last a long time if taken care of.

If you are considering used, all of the models you listed would suit your needs just fine. If you are wanting to run it for 20 years or so, the 026 might be a better bet as spare parts will be available longer than 028 parts.

 

[D&B Mack]

The 261 is not hard to work on. If you got the bills, I would go this route, you will not be disappointed.

 

[Adirondackstihl]

The 261 is not hard to work on.

I sorta disagree. While no saw is really hard to work, under the hood of the 261 is a freaken mess in the carb area. :bang:
This is my opinion.
Gimme an ole 026 any day. If you want the torque, get the 034/036. You want speed, get the 026/260.
Again, this is my opinion

Happy Craig List Hunting

Jeremy

 

[Evanrude]

I'm not sure if I would be looking too closely at the 028. As an only saw, you need something with easily available parts and the 028 is not getting younger. The 026 is a good little saw, not as torquey as the 028 but not as heavy either. The 026 shares many, many parts with the MS260, so you'll be seeing parts around for a long time. The 034/036 saws are nice for the single saw owner. Due to their power to weight ratio, 60cc saws can cut a broad range of trees and don't wear you out too quickly. 034/036's are basically the same saw, only difference is the piston and cylinder (cc's). If the 034 is a 'Super', it'll have the same 61.5cc the 036 does, otherwise its 56cc.

 

[tallguys]

Since you like Stihl my suggestion would be to find a nice MS260 as opposed to the 026 as parts availability will become an issue at some time. The 260 is a good solid pro saw. Lightweight with more than adequate power for what you've described. You see a lot of the hydro crews and tree services running them around here.

 

[Chris-PA]

What model McCulloch do you have?

Don't forget to consider your health, and that any older saw that is non-strato will have you breathing a lot more exhaust fumes. I can certainly feel it on those days where I do a lot of cutting when there is no breeze, and I find that my small strato engined saw is a lot better in that regard.

 

[TonyRumore]

So you can justify a new saw purchase.

Uhhh.....there is no justification required to go buy a new saw.:msp_smile:

 

[cmsmoke]

260 actually has a bigger [email protected] than a 028@47cc. 260 less torque? I doubt it.

 

[bikesandcars]

step 1: want a better chainsaw
step 2: find this site
step 3: post about the cool new saw(s) you are considering
step 4: buy a cool new saw
step 5: continue to surf this site because it's cool
step 6: realize your old saw is cool
step 7: Post about how to fix / tune your old saw
step 8: realize your old saw cuts 95% as good as your new saw (if not better)
step 9: wonder why you didn't just fix your old saw
step 10: admit you love your new saw and your old saw, have CAD, and buy a saw to rebuild for fun

OK... not sure if you'll take it to step 10... but maybe post a pic of your McCulloch and what it needs and the folks here can possibly get you going with your older saw. I ran that cycle here, have a couple cool saws and love it, but could have been served by just fixing / muffler modding my older saw.

I think you'd love any of those Stihl models, if you really want a newer saw buy the best one you can afford in the class you need. If you aren't burying the bar in 16" hardwood a 40CC or less saw would be great. If you can't wrench find the best dealer in your area and go with what they sell / recommend...

 

[jughead500]

The 028 Supers are nice saws.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

step 1: want a better chainsaw
step 2: find this site
step 3: post about the cool new saw(s) you are considering
step 4: buy a cool new saw
step 5: continue to surf this site because it's cool
step 6: realize your old saw is cool
step 7: Post about how to fix / tune your old saw
step 8: realize your old saw cuts 95% as good as your new saw (if not better)
step 9: wonder why you didn't just fix your old saw
step 10: admit you love your new saw and your old saw, have CAD, and buy a saw to rebuild for fun

For the love of god, you sound just like my shrink! I hate being so transparent that everyone can see through my thought process

I'm all in. All ten DW

 

[fearofpavement]

Regarding the 026, I don't think parts availability is going to be an issue for three reasons.

1.
They made a ton of these saws so the aftermarket manufacturers are producing the majority of required maintenance components including plastics, recoils, cylinder/piston kits, and so forth. So even if the saw isn't supported by Stihl, there will still be a parts supply.

2.
They made a ton of these saws so there are a lot of them on the used market that can be parts donors.

3.
These are a very well built saw and in reality they don't require a lot of parts support to keep them going. In the past 20 years on my Stihl 026 I have replaced the sprocket, air filter, one isolator, bar and chain and spark plug. It's not a shelf queen, it has cut a lot of wood. (and no flippy caps)

 

[BC40]

Thanks for the input guys. Seems like I'm on the right track. I'll look at some of the older saws and see if any of them really stand out. I'll add the 260 to the list of saws to watch for. I do know that I'd rather buy a nice old pro saw than a new consumer saw. But I'm still on the fence about a new higher end saw.

The McCulloch I haven't had in hand since last summer while camping so a bit embarrased I couldn't tell you what model off hand. It runs ok but seems slow in the cut and is quite heavy. Knowing my father in law he wouldn't have used it that much, but he does not maintain his gear. He probably wasn't original owner either, so history is a bit unknown. I do like that it has very little plastic parts, even if it is a bit chunky. So bikesandcars, you're probably right about fixing it. But I still think I will be 'better' served with a nice smallish pro stihl as my main saw.

Not much for hardwood where I'm moving to. Mostly mixed variety conifers. There is some birch, small diameter Douglas maple, aspen and cottonwood as well.

Cheers

 

[tbow388]

I have a crummy old hand me down mcculloch that I don't have a lot of confidence in, but it runs.

Them there are fighting words!!!

I was going to suggest one of the best saws ever made a Mac10-10.

 

[msvold]

Hi guys, been doing a lot of searching and reading since joining (lurking?) and now I'm looking for some advice. We're moving to a rural home that will be heated primarily with wood heat. I have a crummy old hand me down mcculloch that I don't have a lot of confidence in, but it runs and will be a back up saw for firewood nonetheless. There is decent support there for stihl so that is what I intend to purchase. The area has mostly softwood and I intend to do most of my cutting on smaller dbh trees so I won't need to do as much splitting, but likely some occasional bigger stuff. Don't know yet how many cords/year I'll be cutting, bit of a newbie to this...

Any advice on whats better for an acreage homeowner that wants to keep a good saw lonterm, older model vrs new? Going to look at some saws this weekend...

My opinion for what it's worth - I live over 1000 miles south of you and live in a rural home that is supplemented by a woodstove. If you are heating primarily with wood, I think you ought to be looking at a 50 & 70 cc combination now and focused on the 70cc first with a short (18-20 inch) bar. I cut 4-6 cords a year of hardwoods, and although many saws can do that with relative ease - I prefer to use my 372 (20 or 24 inch bar for felling and bucking depending on the tree) and break out one of the 50cc saws for limbing and clean up when required. Reminder - I supplement with heat for relatively short winters of KS, not primarily heat with wood winters of BC.

 

[T0RN4D0]

If we're talking mostly soft wood, and mostly smaller wood then 026/260 for sure. When you get to the tree that's too big time to step it up a notch with your second bigger saw.

 

[Chris-PA]

I heat primarily with wood, cut entirely with cheap homeowner class saws. I expect with regular maintenance they will last for many more years, as they have already. If you want an expensive mag cased saw then get one, but it is not required for cutting your own firewood. For me the main requirements would be A/V and a strato engine. I could cut everything I need with my 18" 42cc Craftsman from 1998 (basically a Wild Thing with A/V), but if I was starting now I would get a strato engined saw.

 

[BC40]

Them there are fighting words!!!

I was going to suggest one of the best saws ever made a Mac10-10.

haha, yeah didn't mean for it to read like that. It's in crummy condition from when the FIL was dragging it around construction sites through the 80's. The thing probably didn't do much cutting but it was abused in other ways. Looking at the pics of a Mac10-10, that might actually be what I have. If I don't find a saw worth replacing it with, maybe I'll clean/fix it up enough to run it for the first season, at least then I'll know exactly what my cutting needs are :msp_thumbup:.