Looking for a good electric chain saw

[** Frank **]

Sooner or later I have problems starting a 2 cycle engine. Yes fresh fuel, right oil/fuel mixture, etc. I'm ordering a carburetor rebuild kit for the chain saw and hope that solve the problem. Funny thing I have over half dozen of 2 cycle engines from cheap units to top of the line, from small to a 80cc engines and the only one that I never had problems starting or running is the Echo, even with old fuel that the other 2 cycles couldn't run on.

Anyway, I'm looking for a good electric chain saw. Milwaukee, Makita or the Poulan Pro.

Milwaukee:

Makita: Poulan Pro:

I didn't have much luck with the Poulan Pro gas saw but the electric model is with good reviews and at less than half the price is tempting. All my trees now are within 100' for the electric cord so distance is not a problem. Has anyone used any of those saws above and care to comment.

[ransley]

Milwaukee:

Pro:

For no problems on starting gas I empty the tank, but your problem could be the ignition circuit. Sthil might have the best electric, but Milwaukee or makita should be very good.

[Max]

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:06:28 -0700, "** Frank **" graced this newsgroup with:

I've owned several electrics throught the years and quite honestly, they're all junk. The hassle of dragging a cord around is a pain and the electric motors almost always jam on wet wood.

If you're having constant problems with your 2 cycles, I'd recommend going to a small engine repair shop and having them look at your saws and see if there's a common denominator that's causing your problems.

My 2 cycle motors on my leaf blowers, lawn mower, trimmer and chain saws are all extremely reliable.

[terry]

Just a thought. Are those Poulan saws based on the Macullock(sp) design. If so nobody here had much success with those. So much so that some individuals and shops refused to work on them! We have an older Pioneer 1074, (no chain brake) no longer made which is not too bad although I'm no expert! Stihl and Husquevarna (both Scandinavian?) get good name here. Electrics except for a bit of light tree 'trimming' not so sure! Seem to lack power and rather rapidly go the way of electric lawn mowers which don't last long here either. Just an opinion.

[Tony Hwang]

Huh? My old Poulan Pro after more than a year sitting in a tool shed started with less than 5 pulls. I had to cut some trees down at my cabin. In my book all electric ones are frustration builder unless you want to use it only to prune little branches off trees.

[Tony Hwang]

Hmmm, Ditto. I don't have any gripe against any 2 cycle stuff I own. Including motor cycle. Using BEST quality mix oil in proper ratio is a must I think.

[Dan Espen]

I use my electric very rarely, maybe once a year. It's a 30 year old Craftsman and is still going strong.

For *really* occasional use, an electric can't be beat.

[hallerb]

I buy electric chainsaws at flea markets and garage sales. Average cost 10 bucks.

When a chain gets dull or other trouble occurs I just switch saws:) Having 3 or 4 identical saws bought over time I can canibalized one for parts, did this after dropping one out of a tree.

If I need a gas saw its better to rent it for day, since I dont need it often. That way it always works:)

I avoid all 2 cycle engines like the OP my only experiences have been bad...........

[Eric in North TX]

I've worn out one Remington and am starting on a second one, that over the course of 10 years. I'm not a city dweller, we have 5 acres with lots of trees, and do a lot of cutting. I bought the first one $29.95 at a home improvement store because we were selling live Christmas trees and my wife couldn't start the Husqvarna to sell any while I was away. After having it for a month I sold the 2 stroke and won't go back. I take a 3 pronged approach to trimming at this point; Small stuff hand shears, up to 4" cordless sawzall with a tree blade, then out comes the electric chainsaw. I bought a few 50' 12 ga extension cords, and have an attachment for the tractor, a motor generator that makes working in the field easier. You do tend to bury the cord when you get carried away trimming, but just unplug it and pull it out, no worry. I really don't bother sharpening blades, I just got to a big box store, and buy an Oregon bar and chain for less than $20 and go right on cutting. Oh, and buy a 16" it will run it and the bigger bar makes the saw more versatile.

Milwaukee:

Pro:

[Bob]

I sympathize with you gas 2 cycle problems. Over the years, I have found that after using any 2 cycle, it is best to pour out the gas/oil mixture (back into the gas can) and then run the device until it stops from fuel starvation. Keeps gas from gumming up in the carb.

I have an old Poulan (which brand I don't necessarily recommend) and last year it wouldn't start good or run right. After checking plug etc. it still was the same. I ended up replacing the primer bulb and all the plastic hoses involved in the gasoline system. It was a heck of a job, but it has run great since then.

Perhaps what you have could be fixed if you are patient and halfway good at DYI projects, but count on a half day to replace all the plastic hoses.

As for electric saws, I have purchased three or four and have discarded them all. They have little power and are a real pain to use with all the cord.

Anyway, that's my experience.

Bob-tx

[** Frank **]

Is this with more than a year old gas too?

From one extreme my Echo doesn't care if the gas is over a year old (two to three pulls!) to my 80cc Husqvarna that won't start if gas is over 60 days old.

I think the Poulan Pro share some parts with Husqvarna.

[** Frank **]

I've been dumping out the gas on all the 2 cycles - over a gallon so far. I'm also cleaning the carbs. Seems like lacquer thinner/ultrasonic cleaner combo does a good job. Just remove the gasket and rubber parts as the lacquer thinner will eat it up.

I'm getting a carb rebuild and gasket kits for the Poulan Pro.

What is so frustrating is that one week the 2 cycles run great and than the next week it won't run at all. I ended up taking down couple of 25' trees with my Milwaukee super sawzall - roots and all.

[Marina]

"Bob" wrote in news:5QdLi.333505$ [e-mail]:

I bought a Remington chain saw with a pole a few years ago. You can detatch the pole. The one I have it was kind of a pain to separate the pole. It wasn't hard to do, but it was just not a quick thing. Perhaps thses days they could have upgraded it, I don't know. I used it mostly a couple of years to cut down 9 dwarf fruit trees. Also I removed some large trees branches with it.

[alvinamorey]

I think you are an exception to the rule...... I wont even own a 2 cycle (anything) anymore. All they do is piss me off. I'd rather haul a cord than fight with a 2 cycle engine. I have an electric weed whacker that is as powerful if not more than any gas one I ever used. I will admit that I have not had the best of luck with electric chain saws. The motors tend to burn out on large trees, but then I have never had anything but cheap ones.

[alvinamorey]

I think that's the problem with the gas ones. They are things we use once or twice a year, and by that time they are gummed up or the points are corroded or something else occurs. Even if you dump the gas after using it, there is still some gas in it. For someone in the logging business that uses it each day, it's different. Yet, at the same time, 2cycle engines are not the best design. It would be nice if they could make 4 cycle engines on these tools.

[hallerb]

4 cycles weigh much more.

TODAY gasoline goes bad after a month because they refirmulated gas removing much of the volatiles and costing us more.

2 cycle anything to me has a skull and cross bones on it. to be avoided at all costs!