Gasoline engine driven chain saw recommendation

[Pointer]

Need a gasoline engine driven chain saw around 22-24 inches. Any first hand recommendations?

Thanks

[Steve B]

Three, in order of their quality

1. Stihl
2. Johnserand (mostly European)
3. Husqvarna

HTH, and good luck. Don't cheap out on a cheap saw. You can fix and maintain Stihl and Husky's from a common supplier. So long as you don't screw up the gas mix and run it without enough oil, the other problems are nuts and bolts. When you do go buy a good saw, you will have a $200 boat anchor. Don't listen to those who tell you Echo and Poulan and such are good saws. If you use it at all, you will burn it up, and be in the market for a REAL saw.

Learn how to take the bar off regularly, and clean it with a blowgun and parts washer to keep the bar oiler working, and "stuff" out of the centrifugal clutch. Keep your blades sharp, getting them professionally sharpened, or buy a good Oregon sharpener. It will make all the difference in the world.

If you start off with a cheapie off brand saw .................... Happy boating.

Steve

[pseudonym]

Thats because the saws sold at lowes depot are chinasaws not chainsaws.

[Caesar Romano]

On Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:49:30 -0400, Pointer wrote Re Gasoline engine driven chain saw recommendation:

StihL

Been using mine for 20 years now.

Make sure you buy if from a dealer that also services the saws. You probably won't need any service, but it's a good idea to support dealers that can provide it.

[Michael Angelo]

Remington Chainsaws were made by Desa International prior to

2009.

In December of 2008 Desa International filed bankruptcy and has since gone out of business. During the spring of 2009 MTD purchased the Remington Chainsaw assets from Desa.

I don't think the new ones will sound so vicious:

[Frank]

I'm agreeing too. My current saw is a Poulan Wild Thing which worked great at first but oil pump went out. I had it repaired under warranty and now out of warranty, I have to tie down the trigger to start it as catch does not hold. My son bought one too and it failed after a few months so he returned it to HD for refund (only good thing you can say about box store products).

I'll never buy another product which says, "for occasional use only".

[jamesgangnc]

a damn either.

I've had a mac for 30+ years now but I think the stihls are the best these days.

[Steve Barker]

there really is only ONE chain saw manufacturer. Stihl.

[Pointer]

The clear winner is Stihl and the loser is Poulan for neighbor has two one cuts well if you can get it started, the other never wants to start.

Thanks

[Ron]

Hmmmm....my Poulan has been working fine since I bought it in 2004.

Guess I got a lemon.

[Ron]

a damn either.

Same saw I have...no problems for 7 years.

[clare]

Sadly, anything with the MTD or Yardworks name tag is pretty poor stuff today. I used to buy there stuff when it was made here in Kitchener Ontario - but if they can't make it here, I'll buy whatever I like.

[clare]

There ARE different levels of Poulan product. I believe one is "poulan pro" - which is a HALF decent product. There cutesy mass market CRAP isn't anywhere close to decent.

[Ron]

Poulan Wood Shark from Home Depot.

[Ron]

th a damn either.

Oops, mine is a "Wood Shark".

[gregz]

I tried to sharpen with a file. I guess I just don't have the knack. My brother used a harbor freight sharpener and it came out sharp. I always get in trouble cutting stumps. I got a Husqvarna. Easiest starting thing I have. Sharpness sure makes a difference. I got the supplied extra chain so I can keep one sharp.

Greg

[Steve Barker]

has it cut 20 to 40 cords of hedge (osage orange) per year? or just pruned redbuds in the fall?

[Ted]

I'm guessing that poulan has got cobwebs on it.

[Ron]

I bought it to cut up 2 oak trees that fell when Hurricane Charley came through in '04. I bought a Home Depot brand (Homelite) at first that crapped out halfway through the first tree. So returned it for the Poulan.

Since then it has been used to cut up 2 more fallen oak trees (neighbors trees) from storms.

It gets used once a year to prune 4 trees.

I used it a few months ago to cut up a LOT of 2x6s and 4x4s for a friend of mine. He was removing a "gazebo" and a pool deck that was built around an above ground pool.

AFA as hedges, I use a hedge cutter for those. And I have no clue what "osage orange" is.

[Ron]

Nope. Gets used when I need it and works fine. And I've cut shit that I really shouldn't have with only a 14" bar. I EXPECTED it to crap out by now, but it hasn't.