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Hello friends, Is anyone else becoming increasingly concerned about the seeming inability to access a decent range of petrol powered 2 stroke chainsaws? When I got into this whole scene I was spoilt for choice. I was a Stihl fanboy on the back of my FS90 being such a nice trimmer. A salesman talked me out of buying a Stihl MS211 (I think) and I bought a Makita DCS4300 which was a great decision. I now have a small collection on my hands, and am seeing the brands I could pick up readily, (often for a song) disappearing as the push for so called ‘green’ alternatives are being pushed. I have nothing against battery powered tools per se, but would like the choice to buy those or a petrol equivalent. Since it seems the likes of Makita (Dolmar),Solo, Efco, Jonsered, Shindaiwa etc have all but disappeared we now have a very sickly choice at the ‘sub pro’ end of the market for decent chainsaws. As a result I’m getting increasingly tempted to snaffle up as much remaining petrol powered inventory as I can before it’s too late! Anyone else feeling somewhat backed into a corner as regards chainsaw power options?

not jesting but its difficult to prove either way unless you can time travel? Lifespan depends on hours of use, style of use, maintenance and a bit of chance. I used to just go for pro saws but even they can fail. Ive recently realised that there is value in having a small cheap saw as part of the collection. I can lend it out and if it fails it doesnt matter as much. I too had a 028 that lasted 20 years until there was an issue with the crank and seals, and an 088 that is still going but I think larger engines always tend to last longer. Im not convinced today’s MS saws are as tough as the 0-somethings , but we’ll see. My piston is already a bit scored after 3 years and Ive had to replace a lot of parts.

I've got a 74 plate Hilux which has got 3k added in a month. Impressed with the mpg out of the box. 29 not towing and 22 towing a 3150kg Ufkes chipper. Pretty well all on the cruise control. Bit agricultural in some ways compared to V6 Ford but it has done the job so far! BTW, 2.8 diesel, 4 banger.

I'm really not the expert. I just start and it happens. From memory, order flexible: Bird on its back. Tear open skin at belly, pull skin off whatever seems easy, eventually rip fully round the waist so there's trouser skin and jumper skin. Guts out. Ideally the arsehole will come out with the rest of the guts if you do it roughly enough. Poke it through with your finger or cut the bone with secateurs and rake it out if necessary. Separate legs section from breast section, spine should break by hand. Axe to chop off feet and wings once you've peeled feathery skin back over them. Someone on youtube can almost certainly do it better.

That was peds Les, been hoping he'd look in on us but I guess he's a lot to deal with after that, sounded bad.

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When I see comments like this I can't help but think you must not really work outside in all weathers... I'm assuming some jackets either fleece ot soft shell will be used and your not just in a t-shirt year round in sleet, rain and wind that would make most hyperthermic? Your not waterproof, your fingers and toes show you that after a good soak in the bath.

Echo felling lines are very indistinct compared to stihl I find.

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Guys who was the irish lad that had a bad fall from a tree a few months ago. I cannot remember his username i wonder how he is doing.

I've been wallowing in a bit of a low recently myself. Self pity revolving around my continued inability to make enough to employ a full time climber without it impacting on my own revenue, buy a house in town and afford a new truck. So Saturday shopping, which annoys me, crossed a 4 lane road in Rennes on a pedestrian crossing, first car stopped in a correct manner, second car didn't, coming to a screeching halt halfway across the lines and causing me to jump out of the way. For a wild few micro seconds before the car stopped I thought 🤔 "Well here is the time off you've been wishing for" and I felt myself embracing my fate. Then it wasn't. Car stopped and I reacted. Just my wife and other members of the public berating the driver for speeding. Ironically, the reason I was crossing the road was to call in to an office supplier to pick up an 'Accident Book' Monday, today, all the worries lifted with decent nights 😴 💤 💤 💤 Those 21st century problems still exist for me but the fog of self pity has lifted despite the rain. The three of us ate in a familiar restaurant in town, 3 courses, 🍺 and my back to a warm radiator. My regular joke with the owner is more for the benefit of other clients "Your finest table with a sea view" Before being waved to a quiet corner with a window looking across to the grey shape of the former local tax office.

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Yep, lots of plastic on them now. Not too many saws in the small sizes now that are not clam and plastic. People say the clam shell design is not as robust as the split case type, but they are dam near as expensive now as a split case saw in Ireland.

What ever gave you that idea. I worked a mechanic and welder most of my life, am wll used to cleaning up things. I just hate bad designs.

That was a bargain. I had two of the makita version / EA4300, liked them big time.

Had various pro range stihl saws ms 260/240/361 would recommend any of these. Don't go for ms181 or domestic range saw even from a good brand, they're Chinese rubbish. If its just round the garden go battery unless you're jumping to a pro range stihl or equivalent

Hehehe, heard that one as well, I do hope it is true.

To me it looks like he possibly fell the tree by grinding the stem🤔

not as good as the motorhome owner who,, tired of thieves stealing his fuel, damaging the locked caps and cutting fuel lines to gain access to the fuel decided to put a petrol decal on the toilet waste tank cap and leave it without any lock, a week later comes out and finds the cap lying on the ground, a piece of hose hanging from the tank and a trail of blue vomit and elsan fluid 200 yards long. never had a problem after that.

depends what type your after if its a 4x4 id go hilux all day ,if you want a bigger van then get the grafter

Can anyone let me know what they reccomend with these newer trucks as it’s a bit of a minefield and am looking at purchasing one very soon.

Nicely done Rich. Did the owner think his tree was going to get better? I hope twat tax was applied.

I may have told this story before... A guy I know had an old motorhome, think it was his first time going away in it, he was heading up north somewhere. He stopped at the garage and filled it right up, think it was a petrol engine in this thing. He keeps heading north, fuel gauge is showing empty, thinks it must be faulty gauge/sender. The bloody thing runs out of fuel and cuts out on him going across the Dornoch Bridge!! https://maps.app.goo.gl/RY5kY1VWNWtx2tTa8 So he thinks wow this thing has terrible mpg, he's not long filled it up. He decides to thumb a lift to a garage. Gets 5L of petrol and thumbs his way back. Takes him all day, he looks pretty dodgy stood at the side of the road thumb out, jerry can in the other hand. Finally he gets back to the van and pours in the petrol. Just as the last drop goes in, he spots a sticker next to the filler cap saying "water". He had been filling the camper water tank up with petrol!! In the end he phones up a family member to give him a lift to get more petrol!

Coppiceing some over size hazel in a garden last one had some back leaners so rather than turn truck around snatch block setup. You do what you have to when no one to pull on rope,

Whaaat? I sincerely hope you are jesting! Why, my 038 in the shed will still fire up and do a day's work, and it's nearly 40 years old, I think. Surely a Pro saw will outlast a Farm saw? 😉 Mind you, even if it only does a couple more years, it might outlast me! 😂😂 OK, whimsy over, it's big money, but a 261 is small enough to handle, and big enough to pull an 18" bar if needed.