I don't post often on internet forums but I signed up here to tell you guys thanks for all the free info I found searching back on this site. I wish I'd done it before I decided what to buy but it all ended up good.
I'm no pro saw user and don't pretend to be, but I enjoy cutting wood. I cut firewood for my parents and myself and maintain our land & was using a few old "throwaway" saws like you guys call them! A pair of 3yr old Poulan Pros and an old Homelite XL.
Anyway, the old Poulans I had were feeling a little tired and this past year I cut enough that I decided to go buy a new saw. I ended up buying a slightly used 310 from a local Stihl dealer for $275 and had him put a new 20" bar/new chain on there for me. The bigger Poulan I had was a 20" 46cc so I guessed the 310 with the 59cc would be a big difference.
Got it home and I was upset with the performance. It bogged down alot and really didn't seem to cut any easier than the 20" Poulan. Took it back to the shop and picked it up the next day-the tech told me it was running right. I was on the computer looking for info on Stihl 310s and found this site and read some posts about the oilers being subpar on these saws. I got excited, figured I'll run out to the shop & open up the oil bolt and the problem would be solved. Turns out it was open almost all the way. After I cranked it open as far as it would go it bogged down a little less but still irked me.
I whined like a kid about it enough my wife finally said " just go trade it in on a better saw if it'll make you shut up"! She really likes the wood stove which gave me some leverage. So what I did, after reading more of your posts was have my dad sell the 2 Poulans then I went to the shop (a different one) and bought a brand new MS440 with 18" bar. Got it home and swapped the 18" bar to the 310 and put the 20" bar on the 440. I cut up a few standing dead locust trees maybe 16" with the 440 and it cut the way I was looking for and then some!! I can't wait to use it on a couple of big stumps I've been cursing at for a few years but never wanted to tangle with.
Now I have 2 good Stihls, the 310 cuts much easier with the 18" and the 440 should last a long time. It's probably too much saw for my needs but I finally have one that I think will take whatever I throw at it. I kept the old Homelite XL 14" for my wife to use and for cutting brush etc. I like to keep it on my ATV for clearing trails and it's been a reliable little saw for being 8 yrs old and costing under $100.
Thanks again for the information!
I'm no pro saw user and don't pretend to be, but I enjoy cutting wood. I cut firewood for my parents and myself and maintain our land & was using a few old "throwaway" saws like you guys call them! A pair of 3yr old Poulan Pros and an old Homelite XL.
Anyway, the old Poulans I had were feeling a little tired and this past year I cut enough that I decided to go buy a new saw. I ended up buying a slightly used 310 from a local Stihl dealer for $275 and had him put a new 20" bar/new chain on there for me. The bigger Poulan I had was a 20" 46cc so I guessed the 310 with the 59cc would be a big difference.
Got it home and I was upset with the performance. It bogged down alot and really didn't seem to cut any easier than the 20" Poulan. Took it back to the shop and picked it up the next day-the tech told me it was running right. I was on the computer looking for info on Stihl 310s and found this site and read some posts about the oilers being subpar on these saws. I got excited, figured I'll run out to the shop & open up the oil bolt and the problem would be solved. Turns out it was open almost all the way. After I cranked it open as far as it would go it bogged down a little less but still irked me.
I whined like a kid about it enough my wife finally said " just go trade it in on a better saw if it'll make you shut up"! She really likes the wood stove which gave me some leverage. So what I did, after reading more of your posts was have my dad sell the 2 Poulans then I went to the shop (a different one) and bought a brand new MS440 with 18" bar. Got it home and swapped the 18" bar to the 310 and put the 20" bar on the 440. I cut up a few standing dead locust trees maybe 16" with the 440 and it cut the way I was looking for and then some!! I can't wait to use it on a couple of big stumps I've been cursing at for a few years but never wanted to tangle with.
Now I have 2 good Stihls, the 310 cuts much easier with the 18" and the 440 should last a long time. It's probably too much saw for my needs but I finally have one that I think will take whatever I throw at it. I kept the old Homelite XL 14" for my wife to use and for cutting brush etc. I like to keep it on my ATV for clearing trails and it's been a reliable little saw for being 8 yrs old and costing under $100.
Thanks again for the information!
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