What is the all time best chainsaw

[sean donato]

On MY list there are 3 or 4 Stihls, 2 or 3 Huskies, maybe a Dolkita or two.

The list should be fairly inclusive if you're considering families of saws. Stihl didn't do it quite as much as husqy did, but there were a lot of pro and semi pro saws that shared 90% of the same parts.

 

[farmguywithasaw]

My vote is 066 or 500i Stihl and if you prefer Husqvarna 2101 xp. 372xp non x torque Based off of what I have ran

 

[Sloughfoot]

The list should be fairly inclusive if you're considering families of saws. Stihl didn't do it quite as much as husqy did, but there were a lot of pro and semi pro saws that shared 90% of the same parts.

Gonna have to agree to disagree. My list is exclusive.

 

[FXJenkins]

Agreed. The 400 wasn’t out when I invested in the 362 but it has never let me down. I ran the 500i this past weekend doing storm clean up and was wore out after 4 hrs. Can run the 362 with 25” ES light bar all day. I’ll grab a 461 for hard wood bucking but I Stihl say the 362 is an all around great saw, pre 400 avail.

 

[bwalker]

I just restored one that was straight gassed and thus had no compression. Here is what he brought in.
Before:
View attachment 1179402After my work:
View attachment 1179403
The new owner wanted a 20" bar and a new chain loop. It runs fine now with the new bar and chain loop and without any hesitation. Not an easy job, but I think it was worth saving. I looked at it his way: nothing ventured, nothing gained. These Autotune saws fascinate me.

How did you get all that pine sap off it?

 

[lone wolf]

I would think a STIHL MS 400 would be great for him. It's an all around saw, not too big, not too small.

 

[bwalker]

The 362 went extinct when the ms400 came out and was a turd vs a 562xp. It never once fell into a "best" of anything category.

All stihl 60CC saws were turds until the 400 came out. The best 60cc saw made prior to that was the 361 and it needed alot of help to run right.
In general from the mid eighties until the 400,462,500i,661 were introduced all stihls were turds compared to Huskys.

 

[bwalker]

The 028 is a classic. Built like a tank, and will hold it's own against more modern saws all day long. Same with the Mac 10-10. Both should be on the list of best all- around chainsaws of all time.

The 028 was a heavy, slow, vibrating turd.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I guess I have run about every one other than maybe a 090.

I hate them all.

 

[Wood Doctor]

How did you get all that pine sap off it?

A strong solvent and two toothbrushes. Occasionally I used a steel wool pad. It was not easy and I had to be careful. One of the best inexpensive solvents is mixed fuel that I always seem to have around.

 

[Mad Professor]

A strong solvent and two toothbrushes. Occasionally I used a steel wool pad. It was not easy and I had to be careful. One of the best inexpensive solvents is mixed fuel that I always seem to have around.

Diesel works great on sap

 

[lone wolf]

All stihl 60CC saws were turds until the 400 came out. The best 60cc saw made prior to that was the 361 and it needed alot of help to run right.
In general from the mid eighties until the 400,462,500i,661 were introduced all stihls were turds compared to Huskys.

You aren't saying that a Husky Top handle was better than an MS 200T!

 

[bwalker]

You aren't saying that a Husky Top handle was better than an MS 200T!

I can't tell you anything about top handles. I don't climb trees!

 

[Sprag]

No mention of the Husqvarna 262XP ?

 

[Mad Professor]

All stihl 60CC saws were turds until the 400 came out. The best 60cc saw made prior to that was the 361 and it needed alot of help to run right.
In general from the mid eighties until the 400,462,500i,661 were introduced all stihls were turds compared to Huskys.

I'm Stihl fond of the 036, my favorite firewood saw. 361 was choked to death by the EPA muffler.

 

[bwalker]

I'm Stihl fond of the 036, my favorite firewood saw. 361 was choked to death by the EPA muffler.

In owned a 036 and 2 ms360's. Turds. They were like a generation behind the comparable Husky saws of the time.

 

[daniel chode rider]

Running anything longer on a 500i than 25” is a slog, both on the oiler, balance and lack of power too.

this is nonsense. best length for a 500 is a 28", and they'll pull a 36" just fine. Then if you do some work to them they'll pull a 42"...

 

[Mad Professor]

In owned a 036 and 2 ms360's. Turds. They were like a generation behind the comparable Husky saws of the time.

Specs don't bear You out on this assertion.

 

[Vintage Engine Repairs]

this is nonsense. best length for a 500 is a 28", and they'll pull a 36" just fine. Then if you do some work to them they'll pull a 42"...

You can run a 36” on the 500i, it’s the max stihl USA recommends though, in Australia it 25”

A 25” maintains good balance (which is lost on bar lengths above this), effective oil capability and offers enough power under load for all timber species, especially when the saw is actually worked hard.

Although longer bars may be ok in soft species of wood up to 36” in America, it doesn’t change the premise that it won’t be as balanced or oiled appropriately on anything much longer than 25”. If you want to run 36-42” bars frequently, you’d be better off in every respect with 90+cc’s - a tool that’s designed for that task.

 

[bwalker]

this is nonsense. best length for a 500 is a 28", and they'll pull a 36" just fine. Then if you do some work to them they'll pull a 42"...

That's probably true in western softwoods that cut very easy. Not so much in eastern hardwoods or Australia.