Which Stihl to Buy or Build

[1legwoodchopper]

All,
New to the forum and was wanting to throw this out there. I want to get my hands on a Stihl or enough parts to build a good felling saw. I currently have a 028WB and love it. However, when I get the full width of the bar into the wood she wants to bog. Now I am talking about 10" green wood but wither way I don't want to sit there working it as I'd rather just power through. That being said, I am thinking about a 038 or 044. I also think it would be neat to rebuild one. I would love some feedback. Just let me know all of your thoughts.

Cheers,
Jason

 

[Lawn Masters]

I'd personally go for the 038 MAG series. the standard 038 is a smaller displacment, the MAG is 72.2CCs I think, but more torquey than the 044.

 

[tony marks]

something aint rite about the 028 .. as im sure you know.. stock its a good solid stong 47.something saw..i wonder if you have your filing down rite.

 

[Lawn Masters]

Oh BTW Welcome Jason.

 

[klickitatsacket]

Welcome. IF price was no big deal I would go with the 038 mag. However if I was building it or wanted to keep it around for awhile and gave thought to parts availability...I would ssay go witht the 044. These are still in production and there are plenty enough that they are still reasonable. The parts for 038's are starting to get harder to find and with that the price is also going up. This is from a used parts dealers perspective only.

 

[bvaught]

Buy a 460. If you want a MS 440 magnum I have one I will sell you that is almost brand new.

 

[bwalker]

How much?

 

[Chris J.]

Bvaught,

if you're looking to sell a saw (or whatever), please post it in the used equipment forum. This keeps you cool with the site rules, & gives everyone a fair shot at making you an offer. I don't agree with every rule around here, but this one was some merit .

 

[1legwoodchopper]

044 vs. 038 Mag

Guys,
Both of these saws intrigue me but I will say that I am doing this on a budget so that is why I was thinking about rebuilding from parts. Part of me says to spend the money on a great running used saw and part says to build one. THis is the same way I got into hobby gunsmithing and love the process.

So what would be the difference in terms of power, weight, and rpm. My 028 was bought used and had been gone through by a reputable dealer in my area. It starts and runs just awesome but seems to lack a little power. I would not like felling with this saw but for trimming on my place and cutting firewood it works pretty good. Once the bar is all the wa in the wood she starts to loose umph. I mean it is an old saw and all but real sweet for working above my head and topping bigger limbs dropped. Just not enough for cutting up the trunks. I am running an 18" and a new chain. Anyway, back to my project idea.

I like the avaiability of the parts on the 044. I would scrounge up the bits and pieces but probably buy a good running motor. What would be your thoughts for carbs and exhaust? I am not going to be in competition with this thing but working it. I cut 6-8 cords of wood a year, work around the farm, work around the lease, work around the yard. I am looking for a torquey saw with some good rpm to slice right through. I would probably run a 24" bar, no more since i would not really need it. Do they make a 044 Mag?

The 038 sounds cool but if parts are hard to come by and are not real reasonable then that would be less fun. I would love a little more advice and maybe a few sources on where to find some goodies. I have been looking on ebay and have found a good number of 044 stuff.

Lastly, what about the 066, 084, and such. They are bigger saws right? Anyway, I would love all the info help I can get. I will thank you in advance and I appreciate your help and greetings. Take care.

Cheers,
Jason

 

[FishhuntLA]

1 Leg welcome, I too am fairly new. I am in almost the same situation. I have a project 290 saw, getting a few parts and getting a new running saw.

Try Thompson1600. He appears to do several of the 044/440 saws of all three generations. He could likely help you out with parts, old project saw etc.

Good luck

 

[bvaught]

1 leg,
Yes they make a 440 Magnum. Can you actually put together a saw cheaper than one can be bought new or used?

Knot Whole,
Im not really trying to sell the saw, I was just making the comment in an effort to convey my point that the 460 and 660 should be strongly considered. I didnt know that was against the rules, and I wont make that mistake again in the future.

 

[1legwoodchopper]

bvaught and others,
THanks for the replies. As for the money aspect. I can buy $30 -$50 worth of parts over several months to accomplish my goal. However, my budget at present (remodeling the house) would preclude me from buying a $400 saw all at once. See, my missus would look at the parts for $30 and say "you men" while she would look at the whole saw and say "this instead of a new bathroom sink and fixture!" I hate to say it that nickel and diming myself on this project will be just part of it. Besides, I think I want to rebuild a saw from bits and pieces. It should be fun.

THe 038 Super is intriguing me the more I think about it. Is it a better saw than the 044 Mag? I want a tank when done and have see the thread where they talk about the best saws. It was mentioned along with the 044. The 031 got a few nods and they are cheap from what I can tell. Also old and not overly powerful from what I can tell. Anyhoo, I appreciate the feedback and if there are any little differences in the 038 vs. 044 that would make me lean one way or the other it would be cool to know. The parts thing on the 038 sounds like a bump in the road but I would always love to know more.

Cheers,
Jason

 

[thompson1600]

I have lots of 038 stuff. I have been able to buy just about anything I want for my 038 through my dealer. I like the 038 Magnum, but the 038 Super is nice too. For the weight I don't really like the 038 AVE. The 038 Magnum has a 52mm piston (just like the 046). The 038 Super has a 50mm piston (just like the 044). The 038 AVE has a 48mm piston.

The 038 is still being made in other countries as the MS380 now. So parts should still be readily available. Maybe on backorder here in the US, but still available.

Differences between the 038 and the 044 aren't that great. Both are time proven saws with good reputations. I have found that the 038 has more torque in the cut and the 044 has a higher chain RPM speed. For me that means the 038 bogs down less in a big cut, but the 044 cuts faster if I keep the chain sharp and don't push it too hard in the cut. If I push the 044 in a cut and it bogs down, then the 038 will out cut my 044. Both are good saws.

But, on a budget 044 stuff is cheaper to get since it is still in production and there are lots of 044 parts available on this site and on eBay.

Tom

 

[thompson1600]

Can you actually put together a saw cheaper than one can be bought new or used?

That depends on a lot of factors. If you have the tools and are willing to look around and dig through a bunch of parts saws, maybe. Once you get started and get a stockpile of part saws, Yes. But is it really cheaper? In money maybe, but it takes a lot of time and you have a lot of work into the saw. On the plus side, you know the saw inside and out, anytime something isn't just right you know it. I find it satisfying to work on the saws and get them running like new again. But..........



Tom

 

[spacemule]

I've been to many auctions and have noticed a trend--on Ebay too. A saw advertised as nothing wrong with it, great saw etc. will bring less money than saws with problems. I got a well-running 034 on Ebay for a $150, and less than a week later someone paid $250 for the same model that needed a cylinder. Lots of people think they'll save money by rebuilding, and it seems to artificially inflate the prices of parts. JMO

 

[Justin Garrison]

I bought an 046 to rebuild cheap, I ordered a woodsman pro piston/cylinder kit from bailys like 3 months ago. I called and they said the company that they buy the kits from screwed up so I can wait untill june or buy the official stihl kit ant their cost which is like $100 dollars more. I know it is not their fault for the mess up, but it sucks.

 

[Al Smith]

The e-bay stuff,is a crap shoot.Some times you win,sometimes you lose.I've seen 038's go for upwards of $300,a pig in a poke,so to speak.I recently picked up an 038 super,with a broken handle,from a dealer for $45.Sometimes you get lucky,sometimes not.I've had about 90 percent luck with e-bay,but have had to work on all of them .Another example is an 048,I got from a Stihl dealer masked as an e-bay seller,he was honest and said it had a spun main.I had about $80 getting it here from Oregon.After about another $150,I had a hot running saw,but I had a lot of time in a major rebuild.Still,however cheaper than an 046,which is the same cubic inchs and HP.Then on the other hand,I got a Super Pro 125 McCulloch for $125,that all I did was give a paint job .Like I said,it's a crap shoot.

 

[clearance]

In 1988 I bought a new Stihl 038 magnum. A few weeks later I bought a Husky 266xp, that 038 put me off Stihl for years. The start/choke setup is bunk, very frustrating when it broke repeatedly. Other than that its a good saw, but when you have to depend on something and it lets you down brand new, that can make you look for something better.