need a chain saw recomendation

headzilla97

My father and I need a new chainsaw to clean up our farm a bit. over the summer we had a big wind storm come in and drop a bunch of big trees. our little homelite with a 20 inch bar isnt getting the job done. We need somthing in the 24 inch catagory any suggestions


My old man's backhand used to land,
Hard on the side of my head.
I just learned to stay out of his way.
There's been streetfights, blue lights,
Long nights with the world sittin' on my chest:
It just showed me how much I could take.
Hard times, bad luck.
Sometimes, life sucks.
That's all right, I'm ok.
It ain't nothin' but another day.

rimfire72

Huskie.

Beeramid

Poulan and Sthil. Either one will get it done.

Ray B

A Stihl 054 or Poulan of equivalent size will do most anything that you'll encounter. If you happen to come across a Stihl 090 (discontinued several years ago), let me know. Unlike firearms, I could buy it & have it shipped across state lines.

MVP

I have owned several brands including Sthil, Husqvarna, Echo, Homelite.
I loved my Husky but it lacked the lowend power of a Sthil, so it required a very sharp chain and high rpm's to keep up with a comparable sized Sthil.
I curently own a Sthil 028WB 20" And echo evx500 20" (among about five other various saws)with the winner going to the Sthil. Even If your not a profesional cutter I would still recomend the Sthil.
keep the chain sharp and you shouldn't have any trouble with trees up to around 36" in diameter.

Nwcid

Well in my former life I use to run an outdoor shop. We sold Stihl and Husky. I personaly never own anything but a Stihl. You have to go to a dealer to get one and they cost a few bucks more then the rest. What you get for the difference is a profesiona who can help get you what you need, also you will be able to get parts to fix it if you break anything. A dealer should have most common wear parts in stock. One of the bigest problems with hardware store/dept store saws (poulan, homelite, echo, ect) is if you need parts good luck getting them or if they break they cost more to fix then they are worth. We had to turn down many repairs because the parts are not aviable in the cheep saws. That being said in the Stihl I personaly use a 036P which I belive has been changed to a 360P. They cost arround $500, it is resonably lite and small but easily runs a 24" bar. another good choice is the 390 which runs aobut $400, it is a couple of pounds heavier. If you are looking for one a bit cheaper the 290 runs aobut $300, it will run a 20" bar good but a 24" is pushing it. Like I said let the dealer know what you want and he will give you your best options. You will pay more up front for one, but it will pay off in the long run.

John

Alpine

Stihl.

Your mileage may vary.



"If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."

nord

Stihl, Husky, Johnsred... In that order.

Nord

newshooter

husqavarna

2-barrel

Nwcid gave you some good adise. If you are going to use a 24 inch bar make sure you have the power to handle it.

2-barrel

BOBBYWINS

Stihl.

BW

IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.

easygo6

STILH or HUSKY. You pay a little more up front but have a longer useable life (parts & svc available anywhere) and fewer problems.

A 24 inch bar is a fair-sized saw. As Nwcid noted, if you go with a saw that can pull a 24 inch bar as its UPPER END (as in the 290), keep the blade sharp and extra blades on hand.

One more thing my Stihl dealer has mentioned to me. This goes for saws, lawnmowers,, stringtrimmers, most small motors. Use mid-grade or premium gas as a fuel. I have had zilch problems starting motors in the last three years since heeding this advice. Also, purge your fuel tanks/lines/carbuerator or use premium fuel and stabilizor if they sit for a while prior to the next use.



"They're in front of us, they're behind us, they're to our left and to our right...they can't get away now." Chesty Puller

SEMPER FI

HUNT WALKERS

When I was living in Kansas,I cut alot of hedge for posts and fire wood,and also cut alot of locust,ash,hackberry,and oak for fire wood. I've had Echo's, Stihl's,and Huskvarna's. Echo isn't near the saw that the others are. The Stihl is a very nice saw,but you have to get into the pro series in order to get the viberation dampeners and they are a little heavy, but once again they are a good saw. The husky is my personal favorite, they are light but very sturdy with very little viberation and even the biggest piece of twisted up knotty hedge won't slow em' down and they will run forever.

salzo

I see a few have mentioned Huskys. I have seen Husky chainsaws in the Depots(Lowes, homedepot, etc). Are these the same "professional" type you would find in a professional store-or does Husky run a "lessthan professional" series for the depots?
I have to get a new chainsaw because my homelite died after a season. I have come to the realization that I have to spend more, butbut do not want to spend more than I have to. Will the Huskys sold in the depots do the job?

"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man

Nighthawk

I bought a Homelite to cut wood for the cabin because it has two wood stoves,and our fireplace can burn wood I just have to un hook the gas and take out the gas log.It is messy if you use the fireplace here at home so we are depending on the gas.But my homelite works great for my needs.Good Luck!!




Best!!

Rugster




"Toujours Pret"

TOOLS1

Any saw will do. As long as it says Stihl on it[;)][:D][:D]
TOOLS

General TOOLS RRG

Don't go blaming the beer. Hank Hill

So much Ice, So much Beer. So little time. Shooter4

I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill

When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now that I am grown, I just wish I could act like a child and get away with it.

CHGOTHNDER

STIHL...Period

PJ


If nobody seen you do it, how could you have done it. NRA Endowment Member, AF&AM, Shriner Life Member, A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois "Chicago Chapter" Founding Member & Board Member

muggster

I have an old Remmington(70's model) that I bought used,has a 24" bar...I love it.Some parts are hard to find though.

Muggster

easygo6

STIHL

"They're in front of us, they're behind us, they're to our left and to our right...they can't get away now." Chesty Puller

SEMPER FI

eastwood44mag

I've got an old (I can't spell the name, starts with an M, is similar to a Poulan) that works great. McCull-something or other

O Lord,
grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can,
and the supreme firepower to make the difference.

gogolen

If you want to keep it buy a Stihl, if you want to use it and then throw it away buy a McCullough (sp)

Varmintmist

All of the saw companies have a less than pro line or two. You are looking at over 500.00 to get into a pro saw. I was told Poulan pro made most of the non pro saws for Husky and Stihl. Look at where they ar manufactured. My little Husky is made in USA, the big one in Sweden.

Preferance for me is Husky, I have 2 and they have preformed outstanding for me. If you want to run a 24 in bar then you want to look at the 359 and up. I have a 359 with a 20 in bar, its a animal. I think that it would handle a 24 without a problem, I have not run into anything I cant drop with the 20 though.

What are you cutting that you need a 24 in bar?? Thats a lot of bar for farm work.

As was posted before, high test fuel always. I also run OEM oils in it. I can get Husky bar oil 40 cents cheaper at the dealer than at a box store. Mix oil, I could get a off brand cheaper, but why??

Box stores.
You can buy Huskys at Lowes and other box stores, however, I found that for the same money, the dealer offered the same saw and some goodies. And I wouldnt feel like a fatlady bringing it in for service if needed.

Those people who see nothing but grey areas, no black and white, are lost in the fog.

richbug

What varmintmist said, all huskies 3.65 cu and smaller are poulan pro's. The Poulan pros aren't bad saws for the money. about $300 gets you a 365 with a 24" bar.

My border collie is smarter than your honor student.

n/a

Stihl...hands down. I've got two and they're great saws.

Eric

All American Arms Company

www.galleryofguns.com
VIP Code: AAAC

Veteran Owned and Operated

ZERODIN

"Do not use on genitals."

(Actual warning from a chainsaw somewhere. The recommendation is sound.)

Big Sky Redneck

I hear Mosin Nagant M44s do a number on trees[:D]

____________________________________________________
I'm not apologizing, I am what I am
There is no compromising, I don't give a damn
Ozzy Osbourne - Lightning Strikes

headzilla97

quote:Preferance for me is Husky, I have 2 and they have preformed outstanding for me. If you want to run a 24 in bar then you want to look at the 359 and up. I have a 359 with a 20 in bar, its a animal. I think that it would handle a 24 without a problem, I have not run into anything I cant drop with the 20 though.


thats the saw ive been looking at its baout 450 or so in my area


My old man's backhand used to land,
Hard on the side of my head.
I just learned to stay out of his way.
There's been streetfights, blue lights,
Long nights with the world sittin' on my chest:
It just showed me how much I could take.
Hard times, bad luck.
Sometimes, life sucks.
That's all right, I'm ok.
It ain't nothin' but another day.

andersk

STIHL or an old Mac 2-10 with compression release![:D]

ameriskin

i think the answer here is pretty clear. i just rebuilt a stihl for a guy who's had it for over 25 years, needed new rings. great saws, you can't go wrong with them.

cody

RUGERGUNZ

I just had the chainsaw dilema myself and this is how I came out



I wanted a lighter saw than the Husky 254XP I was using. I find that this saw has just as good power at about 2lbs less weight.

I do most of my work with a 16" bar and find there isnt much I cant do with it. I cleared about 2 acres last year and plan to clear about 7-10 more this year, and I will only use a 16" bar.

What others have said sounds about right, Husky or Stihl are the best.

Husky - better weight to power, better vibration system, better warranty coverage

Stihl - better 2 ring piston system

DO NOT USE outboard 2-cycle oil in the saw, they are a liquid cooled engine, and the saw is air-cooled, the oils are different.



Whichever you get spend the extra couple bucks and buy a professional model, both husky and stihl have them. They are built better.

BUT..........my vote goes to Husky in the end.





"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced Patriots to prevent its ruin." Samuel Adams

RUGERGUNZ

Forgot to mention, I bought mine online and got a much better deal.

I bought it here

http://www.alamia.com/


You cannot buy a Stihl unless you go to a dealer, but Huskies can be bought online and therefore cheaper.



Here is another link that will line-up Husky, Stihl and Jonsered saw according to weight and power and links to the manufacturers description of each saw.

http://www.southwestfastener.net/productsStihlMain.htm


PS - Jonsered is made by parent company Electrolux, who is also the parent company of Husqvarna, Poulan, and Mcculloch.




"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced Patriots to prevent its ruin." Samuel Adams

headzilla97

RUGERGUNZ thanks for the links, they are much cheaper than what i would pay at home by about a 100 bucks, and fee shipping ya cant go wrong with that

My old man's backhand used to land,
Hard on the side of my head.
I just learned to stay out of his way.
There's been streetfights, blue lights,
Long nights with the world sittin' on my chest:
It just showed me how much I could take.
Hard times, bad luck.
Sometimes, life sucks.
That's all right, I'm ok.
It ain't nothin' but another day.

Cutiegirlracing

Husqvarna 375xp. Best Husky ever made. Even the harecore Stihl guys will admit it's a great saw.