It's time to replace my Crapsman. Once bitten, six or eight times shy.
While I want better then homeowner-grade, I don't need professional-forester grade, either. I'm thinking Husqvarna, but I'm open to suggestions. A couple of things it gots to have:
-- Variable chain oiling. My Crapsman's oiling system consisted of a compartment which dropped oil onto the chain. And when the chain wasn't moving, and went the saw wasn't running, the oil continued to run out. All over the case, all over everything. Piece of shit.
-- User-adjustable carbureutor. I don't want to have to take it to
*&^%ing Sears to make simple adjustments. Piece of shit.-- Decent chain-tensioning mechanism. The Crapsman consisted of two bolts which could never be tightened enough to keep the bar from moving and loosening the chain. Piece of shit.
-- Upgraded crankshaft. I'll be honest with you, I'm not even completely sure what this means, but I was told to get it! My sharpening guy said "You gotta have a ball-bearing crankshaft. Most don't." Umm...I'm not sure how a crankshaft could *not* have ball bearings, but then again, my Crapsman probably didn't. Piece of shit.
Price range: $300 - $400.
Bar length: 18". If 18" isn't long enough to cut through it, then I'm not man enough to do it myself. Professional time at that point.
Thoughts, comments, and yes, flames welcome.