Need chain saw advice

[bigred44]

Been in the market for a new chain saw since my craftsman took a crap. I am in a toss-up between a like-new Poulan wild thing, 40cc, 18" bar for $80 or a pair of identicle early 80's Partner P55's for $150. These are also 18" bars and 55cc. I dont do any real tough cutting, just small stuff cleaning up trails around the house and some camp fire wood so i am thinking that the poulan would meet my needs but the partner would probably last a lot longer and cut through a lot more. I have read good reviews on each but am just looking for more input.

Thanks,
-Bigred

[thestud25]

I had a Poulan for years. Worked great. I have had a Craftsmen for even longer. My dad still uses the Pouland to this day.

[tri again]

hi

We've been thru a few log truck loads lately.

My choice was a couple poulans but we found factory reconditioned saws at harbor freight with an instore replacement like 90 days. Could be poulan or whatever they get.

The big deal for me is to be able to use some trick chain.

We try to find oregon skip tooth chisel cut. chains.

The anti vibration / anti kickback chains you can buy anywhere also seem to be anti cut.

The saw doesn't really matter to us because of the guarantee.

Those skip tooths will just drop thru a 14" log and make you smile and want to do more.

My choice would be to find the coolest chain the cheapest saw can handle.

We also bought a few stihls, the 260 used for 200 is a screaming racer and a 600$ 361 that never ever ran right, BRAND new POS, impossible to start etc etc.

H freight also has an extended warranty thats pretty cheap.

You can get lucky with used if you're in a small town but I just have no patience for 2 strokes and are the Last things I ever want to have to work on.
especially in the middle of a night storm with trees and powerlines down.

[jeffatc250r]

Poulins are garbage, get the partners, they are decent saws. Had a 70cc partner years ago to buck hitches on the landing and never had much problem with it.

[jeffatc250r]

Also Dr. Joe:
A skip tooth chain is not faster than a full comp chain, think about it, it has half he amount of cutters.
A skip chain is designed to be used on long bars so tje motor wont get bogged down.
If you want a fast chain just get a flat top non safety chain.

[yooperman]

Don't waste your money on that cheap junk go husqvarna cost more then the cheap ones but lots better quality. Stihl is also pretty decent quality.

[fabiodriven]

Craftsman is made by Poulin, and Poulin sucks. The wild thing is a good saw, if you're going to use it as a paper weight or a doorstop or something like that. Do yourself a favor and get a Husquevarna. That's a real saw. I personally have a Stihl that I bought new about four or five years ago. It has always run pretty good, but it goes through bars and chains like I go through underwear. My next saw will be a Husky for sure.

What are these "Partner" things?

[jeffatc250r]

I run these things all day everyday, stihl is a superior saw over husky as far as how they are built. Just my 2 cents

[RodKnockRacing]

I would say buy a Husquevarna they last forever

[bigred44]

Can't exactly afford a new saw at the moment. I'm in the under $150 price range. Thats why ive been looking at used machines. I know that like anything you get what you pay for but if i can get a few years out of a "cheaper" saw then i would be happy and hopefully later on down the road get a better quality one. I think I'm going to sleep on this one but am leaning more towards the Partner as they are well built and if one breaks down i have a spare parts machine. Also upon doing some more research, the Partner brand chain saw became part of the Husqvarna Group in the mid 80's.

[fabiodriven]

I run these things all day everyday, stihl is a superior saw over husky as far as how they are built. Just my 2 cents

Maybe it's just my particular model that sucks. I have an MS250. The bar and chain do not get enough lube and there is no way to adjust it.

[tri again]

Also Dr. Joe:
A skip tooth chain is not faster than a full comp chain, think about it, it has half he amount of cutters.
A skip chain is designed to be used on long bars so tje motor wont get bogged down.
If you want a fast chain just get a flat top non safety chain.

hmm, I hadn't thought about that.

Hadn't really had bogging issues with the stihls.

Flat top non safety even SOUNDS good to me.
I'll ask my new saw guy to get me some.

Peoples lives are dependent on saws in this part of the country.

but this may be my first year without log truck loads.

Too much work and we got cords of fir and maple for 115$ delivered already this summer.

[Mosh]

Maybe it's just my particular model that sucks. I have an MS250. The bar and chain do not get enough lube and there is no way to adjust it.

I have a MS 290..The oil injectors get clogged up.
There is a mixture adjustment on the bottom of the case to, in a screwhole. Sometimes you can increse them by turning the screw.
sometimes, you have to pull the oil pump out and clean them real good and they oil like new.

I had a Poulan Pro..I killed that thing in 3 years.

[HuffieVA]

Husqvarna, I just finally replaced my original Husky 55 after 15 years without as much as a set of new rings (the first two of those it was used actually logging for topping out trees) after the first two it was still used quite a bit as we heat exclusively with wood. Ill drop in a $100 for a cylinder and piston kit and Ill have two good saws for the next 15 years… Sthil is a good saw too, but I would stay clear of the Poulon’s and the Homolites unless you are just trimming hedges or cutting some occasional firewood for camp...

[trikes4life]

i found a Husquevarna 10 years ago lying on the side of the road, still works mint to this day. I have a craftsman, Poulan, and a crapsman they are in need a repairs.

[fabiodriven]

There is a mixture adjustment on the bottom of the case to, in a screwhole. Sometimes you can increse them by turning the screw.
sometimes, you have to pull the oil pump out and clean them real good and they oil like new.

The 290 may have an adjustment, but mine does not. I'm fairly certain there is nothing wrong with the pump itself, the chain seized up on me the very first day I used it when the saw was brand new!

[jason85atc250r]

The 290 may have an adjustment, but mine does not. I'm fairly certain there is nothing wrong with the pump itself, the chain seized up on me the very first day I used it when the saw was brand new!

Your Stihl 250 is one of there homeowner grade saws thats why your having issues. Anything with a odd number is a honeowner one like the 210 250 290.

Get the even number saws like a 260 pro model or a 360 pro. i got a old 044 and a 020t climbing saw that came from tree service guys and have been used hard and still work great.

[dma550]

Don't waste your money on that cheap junk go husqvarna cost more then the cheap ones but lots better quality. Stihl is also pretty decent quality.

So agree. I went through two crap Ryobi's (one went to the dump 1 year old, one went back to Home Depot) and bought a Stihl (would have bought a Husky if dealer support were better). On my third chainsaw when I should be on my first. Don't waste your money.

[300rman]

Poulan is a great saw....my dad has had his small clean-up saw for 20 years or so....still runs like a top.

Husquavarna, Jonesred and Stihl are all you will see any tree service around here own and use though.

[4cylinders]

hey, saw dealer for 15 yrs. buy a stihl, if there is a problem, take it back until it's right. don't use cheap 2 cycle oil, or bar oil. buy your chain from baileys.

[yamahog]

i settled for the poulan because of the price not too long ago. I now have a stihl if that tells you anything about them. Spend the big bucks on the stihl in the beginning and you wont ever have to buy another one. lesson learned.