Favorite Stihl Chainsaw

[Keweenaw4310]

I was loading my burn pile yesterday using logger forks. One big stump fell off the top of the pile and I was driving around to the other side to pick it back up and get it on the pile again.

As I arrived at the other side of the pile, I thought to myself.... Wasn't the chainsaw on the ground around the side of the pile that I just drove past?

Looked over and saw my favorite saw crammed into the dirt. Grounds a little soft there so it was 1/2 buried in the mud. I rolled over it with my 3000 lb machine + 500 lb boxblade + 1000 lb FEL + 300 lb cab + 1200 lb loaded tires and add a couple of hundred more lbs for me and the fuel. Damn! 6200 lbs can make a chainsaw look ugly.

Well I banged it on the FEL to get the mud out of it and bend the handle back to almost where it should be. Choked it and it started. Whew! It's a little bent but it still functions.

[freebird]

Outstanding! Take a beating and Stilh keeps going!

[Argee]

That does speak volumes for the chainsaw brand.


Outstanding! Take a beating and Stilh keeps going!
ROF ROF Good one!!

[chipmaker]

Lucky indeed. I bought a brand new Homelite 330 on a close out, at Kmart one year for $45 brand new in the box. I figured for that price with warranty and being new in box not reconditioned i could not go wrong. It had a 20 inch bar and 3/8 pitch chain....I used it for the first time about 2 weeks later to take down a nice large oak of about 30" diam by the pond. Limbed the branches out that were on the pond side with a rope, so it reduced the weight on that side as the tree had a pretty good lean towards the pond which was kind of iffy to overcome with wedges. Can't pull squat on my land as the sod will pull out quick since its all sand, and you dig a hole quicker than you can move, so I attached a few ropes with comealongs to put a bit of tenison on it, and cut it....It came down just fine. MOved back in with tractor and started to finish delimbing it....Set saw down for a breather, and loaded up a trailer load of wood....emptied trailer and came back for more. I told son to move the saw out of the way. He did, he laid it behind the tire of my tractor. We loaded up another trailer full and i had to back up with the load right over the saw.......I felt a bump and the tractor rose up on that side, and dropped back down. Looked down to see a red homelite in pieces all over the ground....no salvageing that one........but I did get to use it for about 2 tanks of fuel...Anymore I move my saw, and don't ask anyone to move it for me.......odds are though probably another 2 or three tanks of fuel and saw would have been worn out anyhow or impossible to start.

[LEOLAV]

My Stihl 025 is a great saw. Perfect for homeowner work. I use it to take down 5-7 trees a summer and it never misses a beat. A new chain/sharpened chain will make that thing cut super fast through the toughest materials.

[Argee]

My Stihl 025 is a great saw. Perfect for homeowner work. I use it to take down 5-7 trees a summer and it never misses a beat. A new chain/sharpened chain will make that thing cut super fast through the toughest materials.

I've got the same saw and I couldn't agree more!!

[LEOLAV]

I've had mine for around 6-7 yrs. Never have had any issues . The thing still cuts like a champ. My first weekend with the saw, I bucked around 30 large ash trees for firewood. Each tree was around 50 feet and had tons of debris. The thing didn't even flinch. It payed for itself in that 3 day weekend alone.

[draddogs]

i USE AN OLD .029 AT WORK AND IT IMPRESSED ME SO THAT i BOUGHT A 290 FARM BOSS AND ALL i CAN SAY IS THAT THEY NEVER LET ME DOWN.

[Greg]

I've had an MS-250 for a couple of years, and really like it. I almost got the 290 Farm Boss, but settled for the lighter one. Not using a saw on a regular basis, the light weight sure makes a difference, but the 250 makes a mean cut. :fing32:

[jdkubotamurray]

I have had a Stihl 024 since 1985 great machine,, and have an 029 and 017 now.

[glenn27]

Stihl--yes sir!!
1. .038 magnumAV (with bow/ and 36' bar)
2. .029 Farm boss
3. Sd-25 Poulan (Old green metal- cased on)
Fine equipement!! :fing32:

I know a man that has a Stihl .096 G/D model---Two cylinder, gear reduction, with a compression release on top...
No wonder his employees never want to take it on a job....

[dirtyEd]

032AV, since 1978, stihl runs like new, changed the clutch once, the plug once and a pull/ starter cord once, maybe 3 bars since new, couldn't count the number of chains.
It's pretty much earned it's keep.

[daniel419]

A few years ago my dad gave me his old Stihl 023. I was always wanting a little bigger saw and finally my wife let me buy a new Stihl 310. It sure is a smooth running saw. I got the 20" blade on it. I use it for cutting firewood.

[dons640]

We have 10 saws, my favorite by far is the 1972 041 Farmboss. It's been in the family since new and has cut hundreds of cords. It puts the newest one, a Husky 254XP to shame.

Others include 2 Poulans, 2 Mac's 2 Homelites, 2 Sears.

Don

[lt230s]

I got a Stihl 011. It's smaller than what you guys have. Bought used about 12 years ago and it's still running good. A few bolts have vibrated out and broke the teeth on the grabber, but for doing between 1-2 cords of wood a year, I can't complain.
If I remember next time I stop at my mom's, I'll take camera and get a pic of Dad's old Homelite with 24 or 30" bar and handle on the end...a two man chainsaw!!

[Taiser]

Got 3 stihls and 2 husqvarnas and a Jonsered. The stihls are WAYYY more comfortable to use and are tough as hell. The huskies are tanks and a lot more heavy but you can't go wrong with either one. Lumberjacks here tend to use husqvarna's and Jonsered's more, but I think that's just a popular preference. I prefer the Stihls myself (hence the three :))

[706owner]

I've got Sthil farm boss and a Husky 249XP. The husky is lighter and has more power, I haven't used the Sthil for 2 years now. Mainly because I never fixed the choke switch. I have to say husky is made a lot better.

[bontai Joe]

About 10 years ago, all I heard was that Jonsered was THE saw to get, but now don't hear much about them at all. Did they change a lot in the last 10 years?

[Taiser]

Jonsered are still very popular here. Only thing that changed that I know is the weight and that is mostly due to lighter and better materials/alloys used. Don't think that any saws have gone through any major changes in the last decade.

[cobalt246]

I have a Stihl HT-101, I bought it new this year for $640 including an extra chain. I did get a free hat with it. It is an amazing chain saw.

[706owner]

Correction my Husky is a 346XP. I not saying Sthil is a bad saw, I just found mine hard to start and too heavy.
To each his own....

[Drawbar]

My favorite Stihl has got to be my .046. I know, its old, like 12 years old, but the thing will not die. I have bent blades, squatted the handle by hitting it with a skidder, dragged it on the ground and just about everything else imaginable. Oh its been to the dealer a few times, but the darn thing runs so I keep it.

My favorite Stihl model though has to be the 028. We had a dozen of those things over the years and would still be running the last one if it had not melted in my father's house fire. I liked the size to weight ratio and it was rugged. I bought an 029 to replace that saw and man what a mistake that was. I think I gave it away before I purposely drove over it to put it out of its misery!!

Now I got a new pproblem. My Step-father in Law gave me a small Husky saw, a 325 or something like that, so now I am in a predictiment. Everytime he comes over, he will wants to make sure I still have that saw, but there is a problem with that...its a Husquvarna. I have bashed Husky so much that my friends would never forgive me for owning one! Still its nice having a small saw around for the little trim jobs (an 046 is overkill sometimes).

[Dan Lovell]

Iv'e got a Stihl 028. Have had it for at least 15yrs still runs like new. A great saw, a little heavy but the son-in-law doesn't mind a bit. He is a great addition to the family. :fing32:

Dan

[LEOLAV]

I've got a Stihl 025 that is perfect for what I use it for (firewood).

[jlangton]

Sounds like my dad's old 041 AV Farm Boss. It's a tank of a saw, and he's had it since the early 80's. We've cut tons of firewood with it,and it's never had anymore than a carb rebuild (couple of months ago) and a few spark plug changes. There's nothing quite like the sound of that side exit muffler, and the low RPM/long stroke torque. I like that much better than those high RPM saws made now.
JL

[zap]

I've got a Stihl 025 that is perfect for what I use it for (firewood).

Me to. The 025 is perfect for my uses. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

[RED-85-Z51]

Ive used 044's, 066's, an 08S, and a larger one, I beleive was an 088. I didnt like any of them.

I got a pair of McCulloch Saws, a Timber Bear, and a ProMac 610. 1 with a 20" and 1 with a 22", both with 3/8 Full Chisel Chains, and Roller Tips.

Ive got a Tanaka ECS415 with .325 chain, with the guides filed down for bigger bite, 18" bar.

Ive got a Poulan 306A, with no bar or chain, needing a muffler, but it runs.

hmm...

Ive got a Wizard B0-8..big old heavy SOB of a saw..very finiky...but with the thick 16" bar..its unstoppable once it gets going.

Got a Poulan Wild Thing that I use for small things, its an 18" safety bar, safety chain. Light, easy to start, has a nice case.

Got a Poulan XXV...I use it to cut things that usually shouldnt be cut... :hide:

[DYT4000]

Did someone say Stihl???
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/dos0711/Big%20Smilies/th15_4_1251a.gif

[jdkubotamurray]

Did someone say Stihl???
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/dos0711/Big%20Smilies/th15_4_1251a.gif
YEP!
Got 3 of em! Oldest just turned 22, that one is an 024. Have 029 and 017 also

[draddogs]

I have a farm boss 290 with a 20" bar and just love the little devourer of large trees.

[jdkubotamurray]

I have a farm boss 290 with a 20" bar and just love the little devourer of large trees.
The farm boss 290 is a little marketing on the original 029 model I think

[draddogs]

Sure is. We used the 029s at work which made me get one but the numbers were just moved around. Same saw mavbe a wee bit heavier but same none the less :fing32:

[bobo]

Ive used 044's, 066's, an 08S, and a larger one, I beleive was an 088. I didnt like any of them.

I got a pair of McCulloch Saws, a Timber Bear, and a ProMac 610. 1 with a 20" and 1 with a 22", both with 3/8 Full Chisel Chains, and Roller Tips.

Ive got a Tanaka ECS415 with .325 chain, with the guides filed down for bigger bite, 18" bar.

Ive got a Poulan 306A, with no bar or chain, needing a muffler, but it runs.

hmm...

Ive got a Wizard B0-8..big old heavy SOB of a saw..very finiky...but with the thick 16" bar..its unstoppable once it gets going.

Got a Poulan Wild Thing that I use for small things, its an 18" safety bar, safety chain. Light, easy to start, has a nice case.

Got a Poulan XXV...I use it to cut things that usually shouldnt be cut... :hide:

You sure have a lot of equipment . So what didn't you like about the Stihl saws you used? If you used a 088 you sure would remember it.The 066/MS 660 is a great saw that is the favorite of west coast loggers . From the posts that I'm reading ,how old might you be?

[Keweenaw4310]

This reply is sort of bringing this thread back to it's original topic - I drove my 6000 lb tractor over my Stihl, crushing it into the dirt and it lives on to cut more trees.

Last night I got my Solo 60 cc saw stuck in a birtch hanger. Trying to get it loose, I used the Stihl to get a cut close to the pinch cut and push the tree away from my saw. As bad luck would have it, the Solo fell straight down and the multi-thousand pound tree crushed the bar and chain into a twisted mess. Could have been worse. If it hit the saw body & engine it would have been totalled. I get away this time with only a new bar and chain purchase.

[tractortrev]

I've used many saws over the years, and my friend Danny and I still argue over Husky vs Stihl.... I have a stihl 026 for 99% of my work, nice truly professional mid-sized saw and an MS 650 with a 36" bar. I really do feel that the stihls are finesse machines with enormous power for their weight, and the Husky's are really heavy, incredibly long lasting machines, with scads of torque.

That being said, I'll take the machine I can work day in day out for a very long lifespan, not forever, that's light and refined.....

I'll take stihl.

Oh yeah, has anyone seen the new jonsered's? All that plastic cowling, good luck chaging parts in the field on top of a stump.