HUSQVARNA or Stihl chainsaw poll

[Greatwestcam]

Here is my Husky story, We were logging in the backend of Goat Lake in Powell River BC in early November when a dump of snow shut us down, was April when They went back in plowing snow to get the machines out, the guy running the D8 seen something orange go off the blade in the snow as he was close to the landing. It was the second loaders 2100 husky saw, he pulled it out and thought would it start, gave it two pulls and it started. I've been impressed with them ever since.

 

[IceHole]

I've run either, both have pros and cons.
After I badly bruised some ribs, starting the Husqy 2100 was not fun. That was a saw you HAD to start like you wanted to rip the cord clean out the recoil or it'd bite!
Had a 372 for a while, 480, few others.
Stihl 036, 360, 361, 362, several 460s, 500i, 660, etc... I can't recall them all.
few others over the years.
Currently just have a 460 and 500i. Been buying 25ft logs the last few years so don't use them a ton.
Before we logged and did tree length. Feller buncher and stroke delimber but still some hand cutting and plenty of hand delimbing on the big knarley stuff

 

[Alusium]

Stihl…

 

[KSSS]

I have only bought Stihl. I bought a new one this year, a big one 391 or something like that to help clean up a large number of trees that came down in a Tornado in North Dakota at the family farm in June. Brand new, could not get it to start. Took it to the dealer, he laughed "common issue with a new Stihl". He got it going quickly. There is a process for certain. One thing we have done for years, is I only buy the Stihl fuel in the cans, premixed. It is expensive, kind of, but by far has made life much easier on keeping two cycle machines running well.

 

[HarleyHappy]

I honestly don’t think I have thrown away or had to fix, other than regular maintenance, a 2 stroke, after starting to purchase the premixed fuel in cans.
When I was using a lot of two stroke stuff, I would go to the local airport, which was a 45 minute drive one way, and fill up 10 to 15 gallons of pure gas, to be only used for mixing.
Then they decided to not let just anyone fill up as it was causing delays for preppy plane guys.
Two stroke gas mixed using ethanol works fine if you’re using it everyday but for the average person, it contributes to keeping small mechanics and junk piles busy.

 

[GunnieSacked]

STIHL production years for every STIHL chainsaw. 1926 to Today

STIHL Chainsaw Production Years: All Models From 1950 To 2023

Do you know what era your STIHL chainsaw was made? This list of Stihl Chainsaw production years will let you know how old (or new) your saw is!

fireandsaw.com

 

[Willie B]

STIHL production years for every STIHL chainsaw. 1926 to Today

STIHL Chainsaw Production Years: All Models From 1950 To 2023

Do you know what era your STIHL chainsaw was made? This list of Stihl Chainsaw production years will let you know how old (or new) your saw is!

fireandsaw.com

Dad bought three 031AV over the years. I remember one catching a piece of wood in the chain, threw it back against the oil tank, broke a hole in it. That became a parts saw, he bought another.
Must have been 1976, I bought a two week old 042AV. Two local young men were unemployed, decided selling firewood was a great plan. In two weeks they figured out wood was a LOT of work! I loved that saw, used it until 1992 when it siezed. Dealer blamed me for using mixed gas that had been around too long.

 

[Simon C]

Have a MSi 500 and it is quite powerful if bucking up 30 inch cottonwood trees. Does burn fuel but cuts through 24 inches very fast compared to others I have used.
Simon C

 

[Willie B]

After the Stihl 042AV died, I bought a Johnsered Super 930. We paired it with a Husqvarna 385 on opposite ends of a bar with an Alaskan saw mill. Used them for years. An extra son borrowed them, the Johndered came home melted.
Ten? years ago I bought a pair of Husq. 390. I love those saws! They are heavy for limbing, but the big jobs are finished sooner. Seth studies saws, he has used my accounts to buy several mid size saws. Some were Stihl, most Husq. Last two; he bragged how advanced one was; "Starts second pull every time!" I'd yank till my right arm fell off, not a fart! Days later, he would try. He'd yank several times, it'd start. I'd grab a 390, choke it three yanks, off choke, yank two more, it'd start.
I'm old, I can carry a saw all day. If it takes me 30 pulls to start it I get discouraged.
I think a good saw isn't measured in pounds per tree mile, or however you measure fast cut. A good saw is measured in how spent I am when the day is done, how much did I cut. If I'm exhausted before the saw starts, I won't get much done by day's end.

 

[BC Placer gold]

Have a MSi 500 and it is quite powerful if bucking up 30 inch cottonwood trees. Does burn fuel but cuts through 24 inches very fast compared to others I have used.
Simon C

Fuel injection right?

Yes I imagine that's a real beast!

 

[DDoug]

I honestly don’t think I have thrown away or had to fix, other than regular maintenance, a 2 stroke, after starting to purchase the premixed fuel in cans.
When I was using a lot of two stroke stuff, I would go to the local airport, which was a 45 minute drive one way, and fill up 10 to 15 gallons of pure gas, to be only used for mixing.
Then they decided to not let just anyone fill up as it was causing delays for preppy plane guys.
Two stroke gas mixed using ethanol works fine if you’re using it everyday but for the average person, it contributes to keeping small mechanics and junk piles busy.

You can get plain alcohol free gas all over the place now.

If you were buying air-o-plane gas it was probably 100ll.
The EPA cracked down hard on non airplane fuel sales of 100ll.

 

[Simon C]

Fuel injection right?

Yes I imagine that's a real beast!

It is fuel injected. I have a 28 inch bar , but some have 32, or 36 inch bar on same saw.
Simon C

 

[BC Placer gold]

Found this MS 260 yesterday used for $450. Still has the vinyl sticker intact below the muffler. Barely used (2004) model. Pretty happy to replace mine that was stolen last summer. Has the adjustable carb, and is completely stock.

I do a fair bit of slashing and trail clearing on steep slopes so this will be a lot nicer than the 290 I was using last fall (heavy/cumbersome/not well balanced for that kind of work)

Will use the 290 mainly for firewood cutting now; it seems pretty decent for that use….

 

[Simon C]

Found this MS 260 yesterday used for $450. Still has the vinyl sticker intact below the muffler. Barely used (2004) model. Pretty happy to replace mine that was stolen last summer. Has the adjustable carb, and is completely stock.

I do a fair bit of slashing and trail clearing on steep slopes so this will be a lot nicer than the 290 I was using last fall (heavy/cumbersome/not well balanced for that kind of work)

Will use the 290 mainly for firewood cutting now; it seems pretty decent for that use….

I have the new MS261C and it is very nice to operate for limbing and small stuff. I had your exact same saw for 19 years and had an oops with it. It was a good saw.
Simon C

 

[BC Placer gold]

I have the new MS261C and it is very nice to operate for limbing and small stuff. I had your exact same saw for 19 years and had an oops with it. It was a good saw.
Simon C

Nice, that 261 surely is a nice saw! I checked those out in our local saw shop.

Other budget priorities (like our bricked Godwin water pump lol!) had me in the used category!

I think I had the first 260 for around 14 years or so. Nice and light for limbing and such.

 

[Mr. Wrench]

Found this MS 260 yesterday used for $450. Still has the vinyl sticker intact below the muffler. Barely used (2004) model. Pretty happy to replace mine that was stolen last summer. Has the adjustable carb, and is completely stock.

I do a fair bit of slashing and trail clearing on steep slopes so this will be a lot nicer than the 290 I was using last fall (heavy/cumbersome/not well balanced for that kind of work)

Will use the 290 mainly for firewood cutting now; it seems pretty decent for that use….

Nice buy, that is my favorite saw.

 

[ianjoub]

I have 2 T435i top handle saws and a 576xp I did a muffler mod, base gasket delete, and mild porting on. They all start easily and run well. I usually run the 576 with a 24" bar, but have 20", 36", and 62" for it.

 

[HarleyHappy]

I don’t have enough ass to run a 24” bar, never mind anything larger.
I can run a 20” for about 1/2 hour, then I start dirt digging and stumbling around like a drunk.

 

[ianjoub]

I don’t have enough ass to run a 24” bar, never mind anything larger.
I can run a 20” for about 1/2 hour, then I start dirt digging and stumbling around like a drunk.

The 24" has better balance than the 20" and a 30" would likely be better. Bigger than that and all bets are off. The big ones only come out when necessary and removed as soon as practical.

 

[BC Placer gold]

I don’t have enough ass to run a 24” bar, never mind anything larger.
I can run a 20” for about 1/2 hour, then I start dirt digging and stumbling around like a drunk.

Same!