chainsaws repaired

[Opelman]

A pair of customer saws in yesterday. The Stihl 880 was reassembled with a new oil pump drive spring and test cut. The Echo 280e was a no start diagnosis, repair and test cut. It needs a little more attention but is repairable. Talk about one extreme to the other.

 

[MountainManDan]

Big Tree's Coming Down or Just Spring Bikini Trim

 

[D1dad]

I did tree work many many years ago, cutting about as big as anything you can cut in Ohio. We had an 066 on each truck and it rarely was ran. Anything over a 046/460 was simply back breaking for not much gain. Of course, out west taking down 8ft wide redwoods may be a different story. I’ve got a neighbor who has a 660 and runs a 24” bar but he’s also 20 yrs younger than I am. I get my old as the hills, 372xp out on very rare occasions but did use it to take down a 39” maple in my yard that was hit by lightning.

 

[wavinwayne]

Is that little saw for a climbing arborist?

 

[maineiac]

I did tree work many many years ago, cutting about as big as anything you can cut in Ohio. We had an 066 on each truck and it rarely was ran. Anything over a 046/460 was simply back breaking for not much gain. Of course, out west taking down 8ft wide redwoods may be a different story. I’ve got a neighbor who has a 660 and runs a 24” bar but he’s also 20 yrs younger than I am. I get my old as the hills, 372xp out on very rare occasions but did use it to take down a 39” maple in my yard that was hit by lightning.

LOL, I’ve got that same old school 372XP which I swear is indestructible! It was my only saw for many years (following a 266SE). It comes out once in a while when I have a big tree (rare) or when I want to buck up some firewood quickly. I love the way it sounds and it’s never given me a ounce of trouble - last of the great non-emissions saws and a contender for the chainsaw GOAT . The vast majority of the time I am using a 50cc-class saw (MS261 or 550XP) - they’re both great saws and for an afternoon of cutting are my go-tos.

 

[fantastic]

Is that little saw for a climbing arborist?

I know which one you're NOT referring to.
Couldn't imagine trying to bring up the big saw without an articulating boom lift.

 

[D1dad]

LOL, I’ve got that same old school 372XP which I swear is indestructible! It was my only saw for many years (following a 266SE). It comes out once in a while when I have a big tree (rare) or when I want to buck up some firewood quickly. I love the way it sounds and it’s never given me a ounce of trouble - last of the great non-emissions saws and a contender for the chainsaw GOAT . The vast majority of the time I am using a 50cc-class saw (MS261 or 550XP) - they’re both great saws and for an afternoon of cutting are my go-tos.

We had the husqvarna rep give us a 346xp to try out and that thing was straight up insane for the weight to power. Then one of the new guys straight gassed it. I went off for my last year of college and never went back to see if the owner had invested in a hand full of them. Pretty much why he would buy a half dozen ms250s every year. If memory serves, they were around $199 back then and the stihl dealer always gave him a better deal. My son in law recently bought one and they’ve doubled in price, yet are the exact same saw I used 25 yrs ago. My 372 has a 24” bar and there’s nothing in my area I can’t cut with it. Sometimes I have to make 2 cuts lol. I only did tree work for about 7yrs and my body is cooked from it. Started out as a ground guy, graduated to a climber when we couldn’t get in with a bucket truck, then ran my own crew the last year. Good times and taught the meaning of an honest days work. I was helping my 25 yr old son cut firewood this winter and he’s still amazed how quick I am with a saw. Although I could barely move for a few days after. What’s crazy, is back then you didn’t wear a hard hat and chaps would get you beat up lol.

 

[Opelman]

Is that little saw for a climbing arborist?

Pretty much yes. The top handle and light weight make it easy to operate one handed. This one is sentimental to the owner, I enjoy repairing older units like this.

 

[Opelman]

I know which one you're NOT referring to.
Couldn't imagine trying to bring up the big saw without an articulating boom lift.

Yes, that one was heavy just carrying it out to the log to test cut with it. Even with the compression release it takes a stout pull to get it started but wow does it sound good.

 

[D1dad]

Unless somethings changed with echo, you’d never see a tree service using them. Smooth saws that will run forever but absolutely gutless. We muffler modded one back in the day and it still lagged behind by a wide margin of any comparable stihl or husky we used. Now lawncare, absolutely. Run a stihl weed whacker for an hour and then an echo and see which one makes it easier to drink a beer.

 

[Opelman]

Unless somethings changed with echo, you’d never see a tree service using them. Smooth saws that will run forever but absolutely gutless. We muffler modded one back in the day and it still lagged behind by a wide margin of any comparable stihl or husky we used. Now lawncare, absolutely. Run a stihl weed whacker for an hour and then an echo and see which one makes it easier to drink a beer.

Very true with the old ones like that. I will admit to being an Echo fanboy but those early little ones weren't a ball of fire in the cutting department. Well made, solid, and reliable though. Echo has really stepped up on their saws and are a great value for the money compared to the Europeans now. You are spot on with the your string trimmer observation. Tis the season for those.