stihl no doubt. cleared 12 acres with it to build the house...

 

I have two Stihs and a Poulan...the Poulan I use for little jobs---never has failed me, though. I would say,though, that while a Stihl is excellent, if you are only going to use it a few times a year, it maybe overkill...too expensive for what you are using it for. I heat my house with wood, so all spring and summer I am using all three of my saws, but for a few times a year---isn't there something a littlecheaper for the man?

Tim C.

 

stihl is obviously the best... and you pay for it. I have had my poulan for 9 years... not a bit of trouble. It is a 20" 2.8ci... so it is larger than most poulans you see... that may be a factor. But if you can afford a stihl... then get it.

 

MY Poulan is a 20" as well, but since it is so new, may be a different model.

 

I thank all of you for the input. Stihl certainly gets a lot of votes. Yes, maybe a little overkill. But, I want something that will start and run, dependability. May have to overkill to get that. When I bought this place about 16 years ago, there were about 200 oak trees on it. Many have died over the years,as there has been a disease through the oak forrest. I have taken down most of the dead ones myself, but hire it done if it's too close to the house to be comfortable or if it's really leaning the wrong way. I rent a stump grinder every couple of years to get the stumps. Again, thanks!

 

Stihl or Husqvarna.

 

Stihl all the way.

FYI if you get a Husqvarna be sure to use their oils. If you do not its voids the warranty. They know when you don't because the oils they have put a dye on the engine internals, and when you run a none Husqvarna oil it removes the dye.

 

one more vote for Stihl. I have the 029 & it's plenty powerful for my limited use. I have a small McCollugh for little stuff.

 

Yeah Stihl is the staple mark of chainsaws, but Dolmar saws are every bit as good a a Stihl.

 

I own a echo and it works great.

 

You can't go wrong on either a Stihl or Husqvarna... I have a Stihl 025 for small jobs, an 044 for most things, and a Husqvarna 395 for the big stuff. Use them almost every day, and if maintained, they'll last forever. Just make sure you keep the chain sharpened. Thats the one thing I see people doing all the time is only sharpening once a season or so. I either sharpen or change the chain out after every hour or so of use.

 

I agree. For small jobs I have a 16"(I think it's 16, it's small)Poulan. It's graet for those small jobs, light weight, compact size, dependable, and affordaqble.

 

depends on your budget.

the Husquavarna 455 rancher is top of the line as far as homeowner stuff goes. 56CC 20" bar. Now if you wanna go extreme get a Husquavarna 359, its the entry level professional grade saw. 59CC and a 20" bar (it can handle a 24" bar easily) adjustable oilers, larger fuel tank, overall an awesome saw. go for a Husquavarna whatver you buy, these things are awesome. If your looking for good prices on saws check out your local Tractor Supply Co.

 

I would vote for either Echo, Stihl, or Husky, they are all good saws. My dad is a Echo dealer and usually once they leave the door they rarely come back. We have converted a couple local tree trimmers to them, and even the local fire dept got one for venting roofs. Whatever you do get it from a good dealer though rather than a box store, so if you do have a problem they can actually fix themselves it rather than send it off and wait to be sent back. IMO between those three saws the dealer support would probably be the deal breaker/maker for me.

Poulen owning Husky is kind of a moot point. Stanley also owns Mac tools but there is more than a slight difference between the two...

Personally me being the tightwad that I am I would be seeing why the saw you have isn't getting gas, that would be ALOT cheaper/simpler than any other option. It is probably something really simple.

 

Good advice, thanks. I was going to take a look at it yesterday, but it started raining. I just hate having something new that you expect to be trouble free and it won't perform. Following on the heals of the leaf blower, just really irritated me.