Thoughts on Holzfforma saws

Id buy a used oem saw and rebuild, if needed, before I'd ever buy a chicom counterfeit saw.

 

I wanted a smaller saw but was unsure of how much I’d use it so I grabbed a Neotec 846 (I think) for about $120-$130. Ms250 clone. I replaced the chain tensioner almost right away and just had to order muffler bolts because I didn’t check the torque on the ones that came with. If you get one of these saws check it over closely to make sure everything is tight. I also mix a separate can of 40:1 for this saw.

I went this direction figuring I’d never use it or if I used it enough to wear it out I’d buy a name brand. So far I’m more than 20 tanks of gas in and I like it! It’s definitely made with lower grade parts and plastics but it chews through logs. When I need parts I order MS250 parts and they fit perfectly. For my use it works, if I was a pro I’d probably buy name brand. I doubt I could get a small engine mechanic to work on it if needed.

 

I do not disagree about buying OEM saws (or anything)! I may yet get an Echo CS-7310P.
Wrenching on anything is something that I do not seek to do and is painful & frustrating when I have to. That & being on common social media to search for used stuff is torture. I enjoy FHC & sometimes AS.
For a saw that will get very limited use, buying chinesium makes economic sense to me. Another CAD dilemma!!!

 

I completely understand why some people choose the cheap option. I'm a buy once, cry once type of purchaser anymore. I've learned that, more often than not, going the cheap route ends up costing more in the long run.

 

This is true BUT in today’s throw away society. Added to we have all been young/broke and buy what you can afford.. i understand both sides..


The loggers who are friends and fix own equipment dad is 78, son 45 and grandson 23 using them surprised me.. that’s equivalent to a mechanic using harbor freight not snap on

 

I have a couple nephews that are full time mechanics and they are buying more n more HF ICON series tools, and less stuff from snap on...snap on has priced themselves out of the market, much of their stuff is china sourced now anyways, and at many shops you are lucky to see the tool truck more than a couple times per year.

 

I am a “buy once” guy myself, but when you can get an oe version of a saw that is no longer made, for a fraction of the price, and maybe have to swap a few parts for oem down the road, it’s not a bad deal.

Like I said before, I looked high and low for a minty 372oe, and got lucky to find one stashed under a workbench at a local farm, barely used. If I hadn’t found that saw, I was ready to buy a clone and upgrade a few parts. It would have cost the same either way.

Example:
My wife loves the 67 shelby gt500, but the cost is crazy. You can buy a replica that has modern improvements. It’s not an original 67 shelby, but it’s the same car. I love the look of the shelby but not how the car handles. A replica handles much better and would be safer for my wife to drive.

 

Is the replica made in china? I bet not. Lol

 

I don’t know. But most small engines are, so it’s not that big of a difference with chainsaws. I have ported oem and aftermarket cylinders. They all run well and cut wood. You wouldn’t know what cylinder was in the saw.

 

Im not so sure stihl, Husqvarna, Shindiawa and Echo saws, that are sold here, are made in china. That said, even if they are, the quality difference I've seen working on the counterfeit saws vs oem has been significant in the couple I've had on my bench to fix. Significantly less quality on the counterfeits. But thats a sample of 2. One was one of the Holzforma "pro" 660 versions the guy got to mill with. It didn't last 6 months. And its just a side hustle. He ended up buying the real deal and no issues since.

Im sure they have some decent saws on occasion too. Its not my money so it matters not to me if people go that route. I won't. As I stated, I'll buy a nice used oem first.

 

Snap On guy stops at our shop pretty frequently. Probably way more than he needs to. Man, are you right. Their prices are absolutely insane. Boss does purchase random stuff from them though. Most recent purchase was this kit.

Just under $400. It’s an awesome little drill/driver for our 12v needs but dang..

 

In the clone’s defense, a lot of people who buy a saw to mill with usually kill them in short order. Name brand or not. They don’t tune them, run more oil, or sharpen the chains enough. And they run them against the ground so they get even hotter.

I have worked with good and bad china cylinders and parts. Some are definitely better than others. I like to pick up imported 346/350/353 cylinders when I see them on marketplace. They are usually cheap or free when I find them. Someone tried to fix their saw, did something wrong, blamed the cylinder, and tore it off. I have a small box full of them for 350 projects. They are super easy to port and respond very well. The 350 on my youtube channel has one of those cylinders. There are different combustion chamber sizes in them, so you have to look at em to see what is what. Some have smaller castings for the intake and exhaust also, which limits port size. Otherwise, if you find the better style they work great.

I have a $25 660 cylinder on the bench that is china. It will get some porting and go to work. Oem is WAY too much for what you get on those. I was quoted $1,400 in parts to fix a blown up saw. I saved $1,300 by going aftermarket. That’s enough to buy a whole new saw and still have the other one fixed.

 

To be clear, the counterfeit 660 didn't seize up. It fell apart. Every bolt on the crankcase loosened up and it sucked the crankcase gasket in so much it wouldn't even run. Even the cylinder was loose. Oil leaking everywhere from the case halves being loose. Id never seen anything like it.

 

My coworker bought an MS660 clone for milling about 3 years ago, with the plan of replacing parts as they broke with OEM Stihl. He has yet to replace a single part. His only complaint is that it seemed a little sluggish (I told him to play with the carb, but alas that's not something he's comfortable doing) All he's done with it is put premix and bar oil in it, flip the bar regularly, and swapped/re-tensioned the chain. Normal user stuff. He even started using it for regular firewood duty on the bigger logs too. It just runs and runs. I don't doubt that many clones are turds, but so far (according to this guy) he got his money's worth and then some. Maybe his experience is an outlier; I don't know.

 

I am now considering a 1/2 inch impact (battery)
Looking at price differences
Snap on —- no way $900+
milwaukee $500
Harbor freight 150

uses change over winter/summer tires 2 times year. Carriage bolts on projects very limited

 

Don’t sleep on the DeWalt impacts, they are very respectable for a modest price.

 

Many have this experience and many have the other which is they are junk. That is the gamble, zero quality control, 660’s were by far the very most consistent cylinder/deck height as far as cylinders go, so Randy and Bruce decided to try to get a Chineseum ported cylinder produced. The first batch were spot on, everything produced after the check cleared was all over the map numbers/quality wise.

 

Thanks

 

I have heard good things from a few guys who use the clones. Mostly good. There is a guy who ports and sells piles of them and he said they are generally pretty good.

 

For such a limited use why not consider a corded one?
I've got a a couple I bought close to 40 years ago, rarely used but always work.