jrwhitey, I think the odd / even model # thing on stihl started about 15 years ago. do you remember the 031s? they were as close to a bullet proof saw as you could get, we had them dropped from the tops of trees, run over by trucks and about every thing else you can think of and come back for more. Greg

 

ok you guys with these little saws that think they rip wouldnt know what to do when you got your hands on a real saw.....LOL..... Husky's are good saws but I am Stihl all the way have an old 015 limbing saw, 038 magnum, 360 PRO, MS 360, MS 460, and the good old 064 thats had alittle work done to her now that saw will cut. Keep the chain good and sharp, use the proper safety equipment/gear, and take a safety class if you are new to chain saws cause they will hurt you and they will hurt you bad, real bad

 

Why stop with an 064? Go for the 084 w/ a 5' bar! Greg

 

Stihl is my vote!! 026/18" and a MS660 28" both have been very good to me

 

SMALL JOBS or TREE CLIMBIN' - ECHO CS3400 light and easy start
Stihl 009 a bit heavy but lots of power &
mine still starts ok.
Stihl has some high priced climbers though

MED JOBS - Good- ECHO CS4600, Best STIHL 026 This is a proven saw.
BIG JOBS - STIHL MS440 Magnum

LARGER STIHL SAWS ARE GETTING NEW DESIGNS such as 1/2 Twist Oil & Gas caps no more screwdriver hunts.

the old Stihl "on the side" chain tighener is WONDERFUL for your hands and fingers.

 

used to swear by stihl used nothing but for years that is until my cousin [who also used to swear by stihl} switched over to husky and talked me into trying his husky wow what a diff. so much better balanced makes heating my house so much easier. wood is my only source of heat also in a survey with proffesional loggers huskey beat out stihl

 

I'll throw in a vote for the new John Deere's. Got a CS56 with 20" bar and A CS52 with a 16" bar. The CS56 is a flat out running machine, will always start in 3 pulls. The CS52 is light and great for smaller stuff. I have sold firewood the past 3 1/2 years. Sold approx. 500 ricks, along with my buddy, who has a MS 290 Stihl w 18" bar. I have used the CS56 for all of this and it will outcut my buddies stihl. It is louder, but thats about it.

 

I've used stihl but prefer husqvarna.Homelite is junk.

 

Here in southern Louisiana and Mississippi there is a tremendous amount of chainsaw work being done cleaning up after the hurricanes. The chainsaws used most by the professionals are big displacement Stihls. There are also a lot of big displacement (50 cc and up) Husqvarnas. You also see a lot of Echos. Beyond that you will see every brand of chainsaw made being used to a greater or lesser extent. My work has primarily been clearing medium and small trees on my own property and my personal choice is a 50cc Echo with a 24" bar. For what I need to do it has adequate power, runs well, starts easily, has a big enough bar for almost any thing I'll cut, doesn't weigh a ton and is pretty well balanced.

 

As a former full time logger stihl or husky, husky's were always touchy about fuel ( didn't like gas w/alcohol ) and I had a lot of trouble w/chainbrakes snapping sidecases. If the average homeowner took care of a good brand name saw, they would only ever need one, they'll last forever Last 4 saw's I bought --- Stihl 064,064,044,028 --- my $.02

 

They got trees in Maine anymore big enough to use those saws on?

*ducks and flees*

 

Hay ugly yes we still have a few big trees left but I'm plannin on taking care of that. My neighbor bought himself a John Deere saw and I thought it was a giant POS but I guess thats what happens when you are used to using a REAL saw

 

I know that I'll be the minority here but thought I'd chime in.

I have had a Homelite 240 for the last 12 years. I have maintained the saw well, keep it clean and in good repair. I have never had to tear it apart or rebuild it. I use it extensively for firewood for the house and deer camp along with clearing brush and shooting lanes. Overall the saw has more than seen it's fair share of work.

Over the years, I have wore through several bars and chains (after having each one reconditioned a bunch of times), and have yet to change out the original spark plug. The saw just won't quite. I don't know what it is, maybe this particular saw was touched by the hand of God or something, but it truely is amazing. When I picked it up I never would have thought that it would have lasted this long.

Unfortunatly, it is getting close to the end of it's service life and I have my eye on a stihl that they are offering for $225 at the local swap shop.

I think the real key to any saw is to take care of it, rotate your bar, sharpen your chain and the like. Oh yeah, it's not for everyone, but I pretty much file the rakers right down. I keep the teeth super sharp and the saw bites like a rabid beaver.

 

Night_Ranger, I think you hit it right on the head, MAINTAINED the saw!! And I would bet that you are the only one that uses it too. Any saw can be a POS if it is abused and not maintained. Greg

 

I meant what night ranger said, clean bar and chain oil ( not used motor oil/trans fluid/gear lube) clean gas, mixed with quality 2 stroke oil, keep your bars turned and trued, razor sharp name brand chains, and properly filed rakers. and you'll have a saw that will last a long time and run smoothly.