Bit of advice - I have been gradually reducing my number of saws - this year I added a great Dolmar 7300 (my largest saw) and a mint MS 290, looks like owner used it 5 times bought a new chain each time, barely a scratch on the bar - came from a very affluent area of my town. I have sold: Jonsered 630 (in very very used condition), Echo 55EVL, Husq36, Husq350, Stihl 039. My main question is i have a few older model saws that run really great, then I have some more modern saws. I'm thinking that going forward parts/repairs on the older saws will become more difficult and its time to break away from them - even though i really like them. Any advice? Older: Husq 61 white top, Stihl 026 , Stihl 025 , Husq 55 ... all run perfect, the 61 was as shelf queen by prior owner. Newer: Stihls: 280,290,310,390 Echo 590 timberwolf, Husq 460, little echo 306 I'd like to eventually get to 4-6 saws (Keeping the big Dolmar)...
IMO, the old ones are worth the effort and money to keep them going if.. they will serve you well hoarding OR they have sentimental value. I got CAD and soon realized quality is more valuable than quantity. Sell some of the ones that won't get much use and fund a port job on your favorite. It completely changes the game. I thinned the heard and have 4 that were heavily modified. They get 99.5% of the use. The others get occasional run time at GTG's or the yearly dust-off. Now, when I see a real good deal on a saw, I can pass it up. A $200+ buy-in isn't too far from getting another one hot-rodded, which I would much rather do.
That's a nice spread of saws. Out of those options, here is what I would keep or sell with reasons based on my experience and observations. My general thinking would be to keep a good range of sizes, reduce redundant saws, prioritize pro/pro style saws (easier to work on/hold value) and sell saws that will bring relatively good prices Keep - Echo 306 (30cc), Nice lightweight saw for brush and trimming Keep - Stihl 026 (49cc), Pro saw, it was a popular saw and lots of parts interchange with Stihl 260 so less concern about parts availability Keep - Echo 590 (59cc), Pro style saw, low MSRP so more valuable to keep and use rather than sell (in my opinion) Keep - Dolmar 7300 (73cc) Pro saw (one thing to keep in mind, Dolmar/Makita is getting out of gas saws so if parts/repair is consideration, may want to keep eye out for opportunities to swap for a 70cc Stihl or Husq) Keep - one of the Stihls in the 55-60 range as a backup saw Keep - Husq 55 (53 cc) Pro style, easy to work on, aftermarket parts cheap and plentiful, low cost back up and loaner Maybe Keep Husq 61, with the 026, echo 590, and dolmar 7300, this saw may not see much use. If that's the case, sell it later (value shouldn't really drop from what it is now) or keep as a shelf queen. Sell Stihl 025 (45cc), 026 (49cc, similar weight, more power) makes it redundant. At least around my area this time of year, homeowner stihls go for good prices so the 025 should bring a good price Stihl 280 (55 cc)/Stihl 290 (56 cc)/Stihl 310 (59cc)/Stihl 390 (64 cc) - These are all basically the same range. List for sale at prices on the higher end, keep the one that doesn't sell as a backup saw Husq 460 (60cc) - Redundant. Not needed with 590 and a Stihl in 55-64 range I don't have anything against Stihl saws, but at least in my area, used homeowner Stihls command better prices than comparable other saws, that is why I have so many of them on the sell pile. So many people just buy based on the Stihl name and bar length and don't even know there is a difference between homeowner and pro saws.
Agree with both of above posts, really like Monkeysocks logic sounds good without seeing saws conditions
monkeysocks - thanks for taking so much time with such a thorough and well thought out response. Certainly, gives me a lot to consider.
I went the route of mostly pro model saws with a wide range of CC's. A couple i have are my nostaglia saws that i run now and then for fun. If you really like them, keep them. If they are always breaking and you are jumping through a million hoops to get parts than maybe not worth the stress. Honestly looking at what you own, i would sell the Stihls and upgrade to a Stihl MS261 & 362 (pro models) while keeping the old saws. Maybe selling one or two to fund new saws. With mine its a revolving door as ill sell one and get another. Has to be a killer deal of course. Where in CT are you located?
Should have kept the 350 and had it ported... the 345/350/346 is a great saw when ported and I use mine most of the time now.
I'd keep a bunch of saws. With the way things are going they very well be worth more money come next spring or next fall.
I’d keep an 026, the 55, and the 390. For whatever reason, those three saws almost always run when you need them. If the 590 has always been dependable, I’d keep that also or in place of the 55 or 390. 290’s are great sellers around here. No one wants the 390 because everyone thinks it’s too heavy lol
The 390 is heavy, but it always runs when you need it. They're much better with a muffler mod/ported.
Heavy, yes. But the same saw and same weight as an 029, 290, 310…. An 039/390 is actually a decent running saw
