Mold Mechanic
ArboristSite Member
So I'm in the market for a new saw, I bought an early 80's 041 a couple of months ago for $100 and i'm sorry to say that my little poulan wild thing has been cutting circles around it, had problems with the oiler, the intake bolts fell out, now the fuel tank/starter housing came loose while in a log and ground the ends off the fins on the flywheel. Now, don't get me wrong, when this saw will stay together long enough to cut a couple of cords of wood, I love the way it runs, feels and cuts, but i get tired of bolting it back together. I think it's been taken apart too many times and put back together by people with either too light or strong of feel for a wrench because the bolts will not stay in it, some of them are missing and some some are too long and bottomed out in the holes. Time for new bolts, parts and loctite.
My problem is I can't wait a week or 2 for parts and then take time to put the saw together due to the fact that my burly wood burner (more like a tree incinerator) goes through a minimum of 1 cord a week and I refuse to pay co-op any more money for propane. I figure I'm saving enough money over what I spent on propane last year to afford a new saw. (last years co-op bill was $2700.00) I spent about $700 building my outdoor furnace, so that leaves me with plenty to buy a saw. I about let the local dealer talk me into buying a MS390, but after reading the 361 vs 390 post, I was glad I didn't buy it. I asked her what the closest saw to the 041AV was and she said it was the 361, but didn't have one in stock and the only advantage was the power to weight ratio. "only the power to weight ratio".....
So thanks to this forum for helping me make up my mind and saving me from kicking my own butt for buying the 390. If nobody has a better idea, next week, I'm going to call and order the 361. The price of the 390 was $479 and she said the 361 is about $100 more. I'm looking in the $400-$600 range for a 60 or so CC saw and kinda have my heart set on a Stihl.
My problem is I can't wait a week or 2 for parts and then take time to put the saw together due to the fact that my burly wood burner (more like a tree incinerator) goes through a minimum of 1 cord a week and I refuse to pay co-op any more money for propane. I figure I'm saving enough money over what I spent on propane last year to afford a new saw. (last years co-op bill was $2700.00) I spent about $700 building my outdoor furnace, so that leaves me with plenty to buy a saw. I about let the local dealer talk me into buying a MS390, but after reading the 361 vs 390 post, I was glad I didn't buy it. I asked her what the closest saw to the 041AV was and she said it was the 361, but didn't have one in stock and the only advantage was the power to weight ratio. "only the power to weight ratio".....
So thanks to this forum for helping me make up my mind and saving me from kicking my own butt for buying the 390. If nobody has a better idea, next week, I'm going to call and order the 361. The price of the 390 was $479 and she said the 361 is about $100 more. I'm looking in the $400-$600 range for a 60 or so CC saw and kinda have my heart set on a Stihl.
