Next chainsaw (?)

Hello again.

I bought an MS 261 last year with 18" bar. I bought it mostly for clean-up work and chose the pro quality because I figured I would keep it for a few decades. I've felled/cleaned a few things up to 15" dia.

This year I'm getting serious about burning wood for heat (house has a thermostatically-controlled wood furnace in the furnace room) and I will either take delivery of a load of logs, scavenge for fallen/dead trees on an adjacent lot, or both. While the 261 runs like a raped ape, it's still not a large saw and slows down when the whole bar is engaged. I suspect a bigger saw is essential to processing many cords of wood in a year.

I know the answer: get a fleet of chainsaws. But let's pretend I don't have CAD yet and have to pick just one larger saw for general felling/bucking work. Go!

 

There is a awesome ms362c for sale in the classified section

 

What's your budget? If you already have a 261 I would skip the 60cc class and head toward the 70cc and up. Like possibly a 460 or 461.

That being said I haven't had a 50cc saw for awhile now and have found that a good 60cc saw will cut 90% of what I need to cut but my 460 excels in the big stuff or if you just want to grin everytime you pull the trigger and hear it growl.

 

And It has been masterminded so it's even better than new!

 

I don't necessarily have the cash to buy new/retail, but I think I can get into a lightly used 70cc pro class Husky or Stihl.

I don't have the cash right now, either. But maybe after Christmas time.

A modded saw is ok as long as it's not louder or shoots sparks out the muffler. We have horses so obscenely loud stuff is not going to fly.

 

Keep a eye out on your local CL. Usually some nice saws come up for sale just before and after Xmas. You could probably score a 372xp or ms440 for a good price.

 

Watch the classified ads here on the site. There are usually some good used saws listed.

 

Someone was selling a 576 XP for $450 - is that a bit too cheap?

In any case I'm trying to track down a log source, and get that delivered/paid for. Then I'll worry about how to cut and split it.

 

I also recommend a 70cc saw.

 

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That's a fair price if its in good mechanical condition

 

Look around for a husky 365 XT (x-torq). It is the same saw as the 372, but there are baffles/restrictors on the transfer port covers. 5 minutes of you time can make you a real 372. best deal going right now for a 70cc pro saw. New or used they are a great saw.

Looking used, I'd also look for a 70cc saw, either an older 372/371xp, 365 special, 440/044, 046/460 441 or 461. they are all fantastic saws that can be had for under 400 if you look and know some basics. Another idea is to search Home depot rental stores for the makita DCS6401 they are selling off. (which are Dolmar ChainSaws. Now, they are only 64cc but you can throw a 73 or 79cc piston and cylinderr on them cheap and have an extremely cheap good running big saw. some are extremely beat though, just because they are former rental saws.

the 362/361's are nice saws, if you only have one. since you already have a great 50cc saw, I'd skip these. out of the box both the 365 special and the 365 Xtorq as well as the makita DCS6401 perform much better than a stock 361 or 362 stihl.

 

Just find a used Dolmar 7900... it will blow the doors off a 372 or 440, has great AV... the power of a 461, but a whole lot cheaper.

If you want a new saw, it's tough to beat the value of a 390xp.

 

When AS members were polled 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the ms362 is awesome!!!

 

Did they have any other choice than agree or strongly agree

 

Why would there be any other choices?

http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/i-heard-that.267343/#post-5057909

 

A 390XP? That's a big chunk of machine right there.

I stopped at the local Husky/Stihl place this AM and handled a 372XP and 441 CM. Compared to my 261 those are meaty things. I think 70cc-ish with 24-25" bar is going to be more than enough. (So is the $900+ price tag!)

We'll do a size check based on what logs I can get. When I get to pulling logs from the woods I'll start smaller and work my way up. Who knows, if there are plenty of 20" rounds to pull this year I might let the bigger stuff go till next season. Plus that gives me time to shop around for a good used unit and spring on the right one.

Edit: I did a little research on the 365 (XT) vs. 372 XP. The specs were all very close except for HP and overall weight. HP difference has been explained. I wonder what they did on the 372 XP to drop nearly a pound?

David

 

IMHO if you can request tree diameter when ordering your load you are better off to ask for 18" and under. It seems like the trees stack better on the triaxle and I feel like you get more for your money. Also if you are only talking 20" and up I would highly consider Dex's MS362 that is ported. That is more than enough saw to handle a 20" bar with plenty of authority. Heck my 357XP will handle a 20" bar awesome with nothing more than a muffler mod and you can probably pick up a nice 357XP for under $400.

 

If you want to stick with 1 saw, sell your 261 and get the 362 mentioned. But I think 2 saws is better than 1, so I'd be looking at a 70cc and up companion to your 261. I "managed" for a year with just my Husqvarna 550xp with an 18" bar and did fine handling logs up to 22", but now that I have a Makita 6421 converted to 79cc, I'll never go back!!