Need advice, want to upgrade my saw.

[GotWood]

On 11/03/2019 at 14:17, Echo said:

Agreed, a lot of people suffered because of the soft cranks in those 261 's with the end of the crank wearing, and internals like bearings going out with very low hours.

I am going to get a new 45cc, but am waiting to hold one of the new 550 mk2 saws, they are advertised as being heavier than the old 550, but if the problems of old are sorted, that should bring back customers, the smaller 45cc which the dealer never mentioned coming in, will probably be my choice though, unless when I see them together the 550 has something that can lure me.

The OP saw question, difficult one, but from using an MS180, I think he would be more than happy with a 50cc Pro saw, unless he is cutting those larger often, for getting a saw big enough to cut them at some speed is going to land him with a saw that will be way too heavy for continuous use on anything under 12 inch, which a 50cc will handle all day long, a jump from a 180 to even a  50 or 60cc saw is no joke, night and day difference and unless you need to cut big wood, hard wood or cut wood fast, its going to tire you out, being tired with a chainsaw in your hands is no place to be, standing in a yard cutting rings may be manageable with a big saw, its essentially resting on the log as you cut, only need to lift it back up for the next cut again, but stumbling and climbing around a forest wood or hill side is going to make life tougher.

 

The Echo 501 is a good saw, especially for firewood type of work, it is light too, small things like the see through tank is hand so you don't run out, its easy started, there is no Auto tune or Mtronic to go wrong, just a carb. As regards bar length, I would stick with 16 inch even on a 60cc saw, thats what I had on my echo 501, the 15 inch that fits that echo is not as deep, it has a smaller radius nose too, both things I avoid, the 16 is ideal.

Makita Dolmar are also good saws, I would avoid the current 50cc Stihls, wouldn't mind a 241, and see what the new Husqvarna's are like, the problems with the older Husqvarna's were sorted as best they could, and many people had no trouble with them, they will probably be a bit cheaper with the new models coming out.

What ever you chose I hope it serves you well.

Thanks Echo.

 

Im getting a shot of a 550xp to see what it's like. The same friend has a MS440 which he's said I can borrow any time for bigger stuff, he never uses it so I may make him an offer.

 

The MS241 is an option I hadn't considered, looks like a capable little saw.

 

I may end up getting two saws! 

[Dan Maynard]

That right there, that's the top of the slippery slope. Two saws sounds plenty, then you get one more, then just one more......

[gary112]

2 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

That right there, that's the top of the slippery slope. Two saws sounds plenty, then you get one more, then just one more......

This is true i was going to have a clear out last year and sell all mine and get a couple new ones,ended up keeping em all AND buying 2 new ones, very slippery slope but cant have too many surely

[Rough Hewn]

This is true i was going to have a clear out last year and sell all mine and get a couple new ones,ended up keeping em all AND buying 2 new ones, very slippery slope but cant have too many surely

I sold my old dinosaw collection.
I really regret it.
[emoji51]

[gary112]

8 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

I sold my old dinosaw collection.
I really regret it.

Yep one of my regrets was i sold a very tidy 076 12mths ago,big mistake i reckon

[Ratman]

Yep one of my regrets was i sold a very tidy 076 12mths ago,big mistake i reckon

[emoji15][emoji33] AV or AV Super!? Either way, you’d prob be looking at a £700 - £800 upwards saw i rekon!

[gary112]

AV it was a great old saw,sold it to someone for a milling saw and he never used it in the end

[Ratman]

AV it was a great old saw,sold it to someone for a milling saw and he never used it in the end

Get it back if hes still willing [emoji6]

[peatff]

1 hour ago, gary112 said:

This is true i was going to have a clear out last year and sell all mine and get a couple new ones,ended up keeping em all AND buying 2 new ones, very slippery slope but cant have too many surely

I read somewhere it's best to keep 6 saws in case 5 break down, sounds reasonable to me.

[gary112]

4 minutes ago, peatff said:

I read somewhere it's best to keep 6 saws in case 5 break down, sounds reasonable to me.

Can,t argue with that