Talk him down to ...?

Yes, exactly.

I looked at several saws. The ex rental dolkita was very clean, and a known quantity. Nearly all Makita/ Dolmars are made in Germany, and I know the 6400-7900 series are made in Germany. Most stihls are not made in Germany anymore.

Not every HD rents saws, or even has any rental department. My local HD doesn't rent, but I work 30 miles from home, and drive by a couple HD stores.

They go FAST when they are put up for sale. I nearly didn't get mine.

Yes, even stock the 6400 series Dolmar is a powerful saw. It's a little heavy for a 64cc saw, but put a 79 -84 cc top end on it and they are a very good power to weight ratio.

I've used my buddy's ms460, it's a great saw, but I know my 6421 can be even better than that saw than that with a top end kit.

361 = 4.4 HP, 12.3 lbs, 59 cc
6421= 4.7hp, 14.2 lbs, 64cc
029s = 3.8 hp , 13 lbs, 56.5 cc
460 = 6hp, 14.6 lbs 76.cc
7900= 6.3 HP, 14.2lbs, 78.5 cc

 

That one i just posted was for 250 but not sure if that person has the saw anymore

 

Yes, they sometimes sell for 250 after being used a few years after bought from HD rentals for a couple years. If it was an ex rental that is. IME at least. I did see an ex rental 6401 that had a lot of years of homeowner abuse after being a rental go for 175. My 17 yr old 029s looked mint compared to that particular 6401. My old 029s stihl has cut a lot of cords over the year, so it's no shelf queen, but I treat it well.

 

Looks like I'll shop a bit more. I just dont know who can mod a saw around here. Im actually kinda still new around here

 

Sorry guys, haven't been on much, been in MN battling the dreaded C word, just seeing this. Looks like you're looking into a 361/362 or 038, my first choice would be a 361, one of the best 60cc class saws Stihl ever made in my opinion. The 038 is a tank for sure, but if its not an 038 Magnum, the power to weight ratio has a pretty big disadvantage. If I were in the market for a 60cc class saw, it would be a 361, like others have said, the 6421 is a nice saw, I know a lot of people have had good luck with the Home Depot ex-rental saws, I have not had that same luck. I have bought two of them, the first one let go of the big end rod bearing on the first tank of fuel, the second one had a clutch side crank bearing failure on the third tank of fuel. That was enough to turn me away from them, you may buy one and run it for 100 years, no way to know. I just understand how most people take care of things that don't belong to them. For instance, when is the last time you saw someone check oil, coolant, trans fluid, or tire pressure in a rental car? There are a few saws that I feel like Stihl just did it right, then the next generation comes out and it falls short of it predecessor. Again, these are only my opinions, but I feel like the 044/440 was superior to the 441, the same with the 200T and 201T. I feel the same way about the 362, not that it's a bad saw, but if I could choose between a new 361 or new 362, the 361 would be an easy choice. Back to the 038, there were 3 models, the 038, the 038 Super, and the 038 magnum. The Magnum was a beast, but then again, it's a 72cc saw, so when you get up in that class you can compare to an 044, which I think it falls short there as well. A lot of guys seem to like the idea that you can buy a $300 saw from Home Depot and make it a larger saw by just buying a top end kit, in my opinion, I would still prefer the Stihl or Husky counterpart. I really like the 5100 Dolmar, and the 9010 as well, everything in between, I have just not been overly impressed with. I think for the $400 you'll have in that saw, there are better options. Just my $.02.

 

HaHa...Great Point!!

 

I would take a stock MS361 over any other saw in that size range, it is about the best design Stihl ever released and of course went downhill with the MS362.
I dont run stock saws or do work with them any more but i did professionally for a decent amount of time and the 361 was grabbed first by anyone needing that size saw on a particular day.
I'm a Stihl fan-boy, but honestly a great saw and all OEM worth $250-300 all day long.
I would snag up a new in box MS361 in a heartbeat if I came across one.
Dave

 

C word? Cancer?

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Yep, that be the one.

 

I totally agree. My MS361 is a great saw. My local arborist friend also loves his. He uses the MS361 for everything between his top handled MS200T an his stumping MS660.

 

I'm sorry to hear that. I'll pray for you and your family.

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