Dan Maynard

The Stihl cuts well, I also use Panther chain from chainsawbars.co.uk - if you get the unguarded then no bumper links to make filing the depth gauge difficult. Not tried Oregon, didn't know they did 1/4.

I renewed with Trust so they still have my CS38 cert, no further questions. Looking at HSE news roofers keep falling off roofs, but there was a tree bloke recently who fell trying to get down from a stuck mewp so falls from height are a hot topic.

Had to check it out on Honeys, must be good if it's a game changer... "The Samson Zing-It 1.75mm Throwline is a game-changer for professional arborists, ..." but then it goes on "easy to handle and maneuver, reducing fatigue during long hours of use. " Something definitely wrong if you're at the throwline for hours, get a ladder instead. It's out of stock anyway so I'll have to make do with something else.

I was thinking he could swap flywheel, starter, cover, the whole shooting match and convert back to normal C type of saw.

Think @Mick Dempsey 's tip to use a 4mm file, works ok at the start and much easier than the recommended 3.2 which is really bendy.

Seems like there would have been so many scrapped 261 for crankshaft around a few years ago, maybe there's still one under a bench somewhere you could swap all the bits? My 261 still running so you can't have my starter yet.

I see you're also asking about work having done CS30/31. Get either a Husqvarna 550 or Stihl 261 depending on which dealer is near you and you get on with. My advice would be don't buy secondhand, and don't buy online, you need somewhere you can walk in and ask for help. That'll probably cost a little over £600, don't buy something cheaper as you'll end up wishing you hadn't wasted that money. But if you get work as a groundie you shouldn't immediately need a saw, I'd start with boots, chainsaw trousers and helmet first.

Two Faltheimer cubes. You definitely need at least 2 line and 3 or 4 bags for when the bastard things get stuck.

You haven't mentioned piston and cylinder condition, easy to check and if fubar then no point buying a carb.

Yep. Think it was in Berry's Book of Cunning Contraptions along with Go karts and candle powered boats.

That's good to know. Maybe I'll wait for next year's black Friday deal on a vertec then.

That's true on the M500 too, agreed it really helps with Y forks as the hopper sides go down parallel to the blade. Blades are expensive though.

Or just get spare saw out of the van ...

Thing is, I only have one RRP and would like another SRT system, so might have bought one. Vertec plus pulley is getting pretty pricey though, I'm looking at that Freexion again. The reflex has promise but hate the guinea pig feeling.

... or, I guess playing the Sherlock Holmes what if the bores were scored before being put away, but kept running as started up nice and regular? We don't actually know they were good when put away, a blower a bit down on power still blows for example.