Posted: 5/4/2009 10:12:22 AM EDT
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OK, I have several trees that need to go away. In the past, I've used my old electric chainsaw which is a POS, but functional for small jobs. I do have an old gas saw that I haven't cranked in 5+ years.
I would like to either get the old gas guy running or buy a new gas saw in the $100 to $150 range. Oh, and I'm not overly handy. Questions: 1. How easy/cheap is it to get an old gas chainsaw running? 2. I don't have tons of time. Should I just buy a new saw? 3. Any recommendations for which gas saw to buy? None of the trees are over 15". I saw this: reconditioned Poulon. Thanks |
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Quoted:
New stihl saw about $300. You'll be glad you did. ETA: For the love of god stay away from the Mickey mouse saws like Poulon, craftsman, etc Stihl and Husqavarna are great. Echo is ok I don't have that big of a lot and might only use it once or twice a year. Don't you think that's overkill? |
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bills at the repair shop can add up fast on old saws. spend the extra money and get a husqvarna 455 rancher (349.95) and it comes with a whole bunch of stuff. or get a sthil farm boss for around the same price. that way you will have a nice new saw that will last you a lifetime. |
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Quoted:
Have you tried to fire up the old gas saw? Get some fresh gas/oil mix, put in a new plug, adjust the chain tension, fill up the bar oil reservoir and give it a try. If it was running when it was put up, chances are that you can get it to run now. Good luck! Do this first! Before you put the new plug in put a few drops of gas in the spark plug hole, put the plug in and then try to start it. This will do two things: 1 it'll let you know you have spark and 2 it helps get it running quicker if the fuel system is working. |
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For the love of god stay away from the Mickey mouse saws like Poulon, craftsman, etc Stihl and Husqavarna are great. This. Not overkill. The two times per year you need it, you want it to run. Get a decent saw and treat it properly and you'll never have to buy another. It'll be cheaper in the long run than the three or four $100 saws you buy in its place plus their repair bills, and you'll cuss a lot less and be frustrated a lot less and you'll have a saw when you need one. BUT you do have to do the maintenance on any chainsaw. You can't mistreat them forever––not even a good one. My husqvarna has been going strong for seventeen years. I can bring it out cold and it still starts on the second pull every time, even when it hasn't run for six months. It was $400 then, and worth every penny. You don't need one that big though. Get a decent saw and only buy it once. Kitties |
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Quoted:
bills at the repair shop can add up fast on old saws. spend the extra money and get a husqvarna 455 rancher (349.95) and it comes with a whole bunch of stuff. or get a sthil farm boss for around the same price. that way you will have a nice new saw that will last you a lifetime. I was going to get a Stihl Farmboss today but the local dealer was dicking around and didn't impress me too much. Other Stihl dealers are farther away and I wanted someone close. I stopped at a Husqvarna dealer a few miles from my home and picked up a 455 Rancher with the 20" bar, 55.5cc. Didn't come with much of anything and ran $395.95 but I did get the dealer to cut me a break on the price of some protective chaps and got some wedges for free which would have cost about $10.00. In the end the price between the Husky and the Stihl with the 20" bar came out within $20.00. The Stihl had a one year warranty the Husqvarna a two year warranty. It is a bit larger than my Jonsered 2149 Turbo which is a 49.4cc powerhead. My Jonsered is used about twice a year since 2002 and always starts. The saws will be getting much more use now in Michigan. OP, get one of these before wasting money on a Poulan |
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If I were you, I'd look for a used Stihl in the local paper. Guy has one locally listed for 200 bucks. It'll probably outlast any Poulan, Homelite, or Craftsman that is bought new. FWIW, I have my dad's old 028 AV Wood Boss that I'm running, that thing is older than me I think (22 years).
ETA: Saw you had an old gas saw, might as well get that sucker running first. |