Educate me on chainsaws!

My go to is a Stihl 241 with a 16 inch bar. I've cut trees with it that you would struggle to put your arms around.

To me, lighter is better. I cut enough to keep up with 3 guys hauling decent size sleighs behind snowmobiles. I am waiting for the Stihl 500i tho. Just can't resist that power.
 
My older school Husqvarna 272XP with 24" bar is a old school go to tough as nails chain saw . But if you ever run across a Husqvarna 288XP buy it ! You can thank me later .
 
View attachment 433370
Nuff said..
The Big Guy is a Stihl Forestry rated MS441 Magnum with a fully polished and ported,
decked head and dual port tuned muffler, electronic ignition and electronic
carb, heated full wrap handle, double dawgs, 25" replaceable nose bar,
fully German made - state of the art machine, 75cc's, all modified by
a Stihl guy with over 30 years in the business.
She puuuullllss.s....

What models are the other two ?
 
Is it pine or hardwoods? Id go more cc with hardwood
bout 3weeks ago i was into 3ft old oak...glad i had my 461
..both stihl n husky are good.. i like stihl
Get a full wrap handle bar.. and long bar 25 and up .. why ? So u can buck wood and not stoop over all day and end up with a sore back.
 
I have a 461 with a 30 inch IIRC, bar on it. It and about any saw of similar size, seems to be a sweet spot for the fallers around here. Powerful enough but still light enough to haul up to the top of the cut block...

GREAT saw, but it sure is nice to put it down and run the old 026 with a 16 inch bar on it!

24 inch trees, all day long? How many days? Hardwood softwood? Want to wear skinny gloves or you OK with a pair of insulated ones? Heavy gloves will make the extra money on a heated saw pretty much wasted...

A decent commercial grade saw from any outfit's lines that is worth owning, is the better part of $2K by the time you put a few spares away for it. Chains, a spare bar (so you can unbolt your powerhead and install the spares, to get your pinched bar loose), filters, etc.

I have a Husky 288XP that was given to me. The guy that gave it to me said it runs but the chain won't move. He knew not one thing about chain brakes....

Was just given a 661 that ran but poorly. Scuffed cylinder, seized rings. Have a Meteor cylinder/piston kit for it, but not installed yet.

In a general sense, there is a lot of wisdom in telling folks to get what they can get serviced and parts supplied locally. So around here, that rules out Echo, Dolmar, and Jonsered.
 
To the OP ! Lots of good info posted here but I don’t know much . I do know this have a look at ArboristSite.com
If those guys don’t know no one does ! I’m surprised a fella I know from ArboristSite has not posted in this thread as he is on CGN .
Leavenworth
 
If you have any type of nerve damage or circulation problems a G husky or arctlc Stihl are worth it. Not sure what the winters are like or what your willingness to work in ####ty weather. In the cold leave your saw outside like a rifle to avoid frustrating condensation freezing problems.
 
20 years ago I went into a garage sale and found a 24" McCullough and a Canadian tire fiberglass handled axe. Fellow said his son serviced the saw so I asked what was his best price,$60.00 he said, I said done.
Still use them to this day, normal maintenance on the saw every year and I figure it was the best $60.00 I ever spent.
The old McCullough saw's are good.
 
What models are the other two ?

A 270 and a 271. Was so impressed by the 270 (weight, low fuel usage, power - cutting 12+ cords annually) that when our local dealer had a sale on the 271 back in '14 I jumped on it. I always pack two saws when driving for a load in the bush...!
 
I’m still running a 1990’s Husqvarna 262xp. With a .325 pitch chain and 15” bar, I can run through 24” anything all day without hiccup. Newer husky saws with computerized carbs are crap, at least according to professional loggers that I know. They are going to Stihl, that’s indication enough for me as far as brand. Keep with the pro-grade stuff. Pick a saw with the right power to weight ratio you need. No sense in lugging around more weight, you will only tire quicker. An MS261 or bigger gets my vote.
 
My Stihl 034 has always performed well, other than replacing a couple of bars, and a few chains over the past thirty years it never quits. The only little problem is that it seeps some bar oil when left sitting between uses.
 
Stihl MS170...............toy thing
Two Stihl 028
Stihl 038
Echo MS 302

The 028's are by far the ones I use most and like best.

170 with a 12" bar on my quad never go anywhere without it. Nicknamed the tomato slicer.
38 is a all day saw. Large fuel tank, cuts & cuts ..... and cuts.
 
My Stihl 034 has always performed well.....The only little problem is that it seeps some bar oil when left sitting between uses.

Yes, one of mine does that as well, my 270 I think....never taken it in to have it looked at...often wondered what the issue is....my 271 leaks nothing...
 
Yes, one of mine does that as well, my 270 I think....never taken it in to have it looked at...often wondered what the issue is....my 271 leaks nothing...

The two main causes of this are oil draining off the bar after use or pressure in the oil tank forcing oil out through the oiler, which usually means the tank vent isn’t venting properly.
 
Stihl guy myself. Not saying the others aren't good just have always had the Stihl saws. Currently have a MS230 for my small saw for limbing and smaller stuff, 40cc, lightweight with a 16" bar .325 pitch chain. My big saw is a MS460 with a 25" bar, 77cc of raw power, that saw is an animal!

Also have a MS362C that I picked up in pieces for $100. Have the new piston in it just have to put the rest of it back together and get a bar and chain
Will likely run an 18" bar on it. It's the 59cc commercial grade saw.

For what you're doing, if buying new I'd either get a 462C or 500i.
 
If you like Mc Culloughs. Mr E Moose Check out Buckin Billy Ray on YouTube. He loves them ! He’s got some great videos ! Vancouver Island fella !
Leavenworth
20 years ago I went into a garage sale and found a 24" McCullough and a Canadian tire fiberglass handled axe. Fellow said his son serviced the saw so I asked what was his best price,$60.00 he said, I said done.
Still use them to this day, normal maintenance on the saw every year and I figure it was the best $60.00 I ever spent.
The old McCullough saw's are good.
 
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