Duncan R

Not got vernier but it appears this is the chain in question... 73LPX064E I will count links to make sure but I'm pretty sure that's the one..pleased I checked it out being 'Assumption' is the mother of all f**k ups

and I thought it was 64DL (18"/45cm bar) maybe best I count links physically? some sites suggest 1.3mm gauge others 1.5mm however it states 1.5mm gauge, pitch 3/8" on bar. Thanks for the info' on chain types......

I don't follow his racing career too closely but know enough to realise he deserves a win....I've rode large capacity bikes for more years than I care to remember but some of that onboard TT footage makes my toes curl, it really does.

Thanks for that Scotty......good stuff

Hi NFG, Already realising the little Stihl has it's uses.....the smaller/lighter, less aggressive nature of it (and chain type) has it's place i've found.

Guys, I appreciate the details of the chain are stamped on the bar...it is a 3/8" pitch, when ordering a replacement what would the best options be reference manufacturer/type and is there any advantage in using a .325 chain/bar bearing in mind the saw is primarily used for occasional tree felling but mostly preparing firewood? Having only ever used the MS181 in recent years all I have ever ordered chain-wise are the Stihl Picco Micro chains by part number.

The boat that Guy built........another great watch if you haven't already

My Mum had one in her garden that started leaning towards the house years back, we took it down and seasoned it for about 18 months if memory serves....it was some of the nicest wood we've had on our woodburner, lovely stuff.

Our little Spinger 'Roob' on the foreshore with me and 'Bree' my lovely GSP paddling in the channel.

Yes, very pleased with my 5121.....plenty of power/torque and has a very solid feel to it, I was a little unsure stepping up from a 30cc saw to 50cc would make much of a difference but it sure does. The Stihl MS181 is a lovely light little unit but the Makita is much more of a saw, lovely quick throttle response and sounds good too. I just finished logging up a reasonable size (bloody huge for me) Ash ready for burning and splitting and it took no time at all...if you are near Bristol you are welcome to come and try mine out.

I have to take down some good size Leylandi in our garden sometime soon, hate the damn stuff with a vengeance as the sap is so sticky but found it burns well/hot with a good flame if seasoned in the open air for less than a year without issues, some that's been left to season in the open for more than two years dissappears in no time on the stove being as it's gone over/too dry. It's lovely stuff for the fire but for kindling it has to be too much effort?

That's similar diameter to the section of trunk that still lays where it fell in my garden...I'd prefer to get it into the horse but I'll need help with that! looking forward to trying out the 5121 on it the saw is blasting through the smaller stuff with ease.

Thanks Stubby.......what pro's/cons would there be in changing to .325 assuming that it's 3/8 currently?

Without wanting to appear outwardly thick ....The replacement chain listed in the owners manual is 513 496 664 (3/8" chain)....looking on the Makita web site that part number relates to different saw models...the stated chain on the Makita website for the 5121 suggests 2 x variations of a .325" pitch chain?! What should I be looking for when ordering a spare chain for the standard 18" bar please?

Hi Wyk, Off out shortly to walk dogs for an hour or so then back to finish the Ash..

It does feel quite a bit heavier in a reassuring way, not sure of actual difference? but it 'feels' significant, the general build quality/fasteners/switchgear are impressive and it was suprisingly effortless to start, I like the way it picks up/warms up/idles, sounds good too. It flew through some 14" Ash . I intend to get properly stuck in tomorrow, very pleased so far but not really done too much with it yet.

Yes wyk.......turned up today, will have more time to use it tomorrow but very pleased on initial try out earlier today. Very nice saw it seems and plenty of guts in comparison.

Really?..., incredible. I tend to stay away from e bay if I can help it, hopefully this guy that wants it will have it. If he does I will meet him half way or he'll come over here and try it out before parting with cash.

Average price for an MS181 seems to be around the £220 mark...take into account if you find one cheaper somewhere you'll almost certainly have to travel more often than not to the dealer to collect, £135 for a low hours/very decent looking saw is nowhere near new price in the grand scheme of things, it's approx' 60% 'ish. I don't think I'll use it much now but if it doesn't sell without too much effort I'll hang on to it, the interested party is from a forum....I wouldn't sell it through e bay, period....just used the site to gauge current prices. You guys who have been around chain saws all your life might well be right in not wanting to pay more than £70 for a pipsqueek of a saw , I'd be the same with certain things shooting/fishing to be honest, but it's worth more than that to someone wanting an honest unit in 1st class condition who's wanting to save a bit of cash along the way. If it was a scraped up, beat up old dog of a thing full of burrs, scratches and gouges that ran uneven and had little compression £70 might make sense.

Feels quite pokey as is, revs/picks up very well for a new saw...such a (relatively) small increase in cc's/bhp but the hike in torque is tangible

Funnily enough, I have someone interested in the saw only at £135, there is one on e bay at the minute for £125 and it looks a right old dog of a mess, another was up to £109 with a while to run...mine is nigh on mint in comparison. If it sells I'll be very happy knowing someone has got a decent saw with very few hours on it in as new condition while significantly cheaper than new. If it sells it sells, if not i'll hang on to it. Hopefully I can get the powersharp kit returned.

Saw arrived....assembled it, put in fuel and oil and it fired up within a few pulls....first impression is one of quite a step in power and heft, the 18" bar and heavier guage chain certainly makes it feel more of a saw compared to the little Stihl, seems really well made and nice in the hand.....picks up on the throttle very nicely too. Cutting some of the larger sections of Ash was impressive, no bogging down as before so I think the hike in power is plenty for now...it sort of blitzed it by comparison.

On a serious note and only until our dodgy garage/shed has been rebuilt, (the main reason for my current lack of storage space)......what would the consensus be to partitioning off a shelf in the pantry where the carrier bags and containers are usually kept, say about boxed chainsaw size? surely the smell of petrol wouldn't linger too badly

Me neither........my Mrs saves carrier bags like her life depended on it, saves every re-sealable container known to man, cannot throw out pens even if obviously out of ink, we have a collection of odd plates dating back many years, 'that (4 for 50 pence) lighter might work again'..the list goes on and she'll have the neck to moan when a red 'Makita' box turns up tomorrow and I wander around the house trying to find a home for 'more crap'

Thanks guys, a bit high then......I was thinking the saw in 'as new' condition approx' £130-140 without the new chain/bar, (had in mind they were about £220 new). I really can't work out if I have owned it 3 or 4 years, either way it's not been abused, it's honest, low hours and cleans up like new. Seen a few on e bay for the £130-150 mark that look really ratty. Thinking on I may well be able to send the new chain/bar kit back for a refund TW....I am looking forward to the 5121, will report back.