So I recently started CSM’ing a bit of lumber for myself. My largest saw is a 372xp and it’s quickly becoming apparent that something with a bit more oomph might come in handy. So I’ll most likely be looking after Christmas passes. Not looking to spend 1500 on a brand new saw. Been keeping a eye out for used 395’s, 3120’s, ms660, 066 etc. I’ve been a Husky guy but am not opposed to any brand really. I’m no saw expert and definitely know very little about vintage saws which may be able to be found used. What should I look at and for once I’ve found something? More modern saw, something with some age on it? Thanks.
My advice, definitely get a used saw, get as many cc's as you can afford, run plenty of oil in your mix, run the carb rich. Good luck.
If you're not planning on doing massive amounts of milling, used is the way to go. A couple years back I picked up an old 90cc Stihl 051AV for $100 Canadian off a buy and sell site. It was pretty rough, but running. I had to replace the oil pump and a few odds and sods. I made the isolation rubber for the bottom of the handle from a shock absorber washer. The choke linkage is a piece of thin welding rod with the flux knocked off...lovingly bent to fit. I put a 36" Chinese bar on it and bought 3 chains. Total cost for the saw and parts (besides the elbow grease) was under $300. If you can find something on your local buy and sell, and fix it up yourself, that's the way to go.
Hello I run super 1050 homelite on each end of a 66"bar for milling one heavy combo a 395 is a good choice for milling most of my customers that run mills use at least 90cc saws for milling at 25to 1 fuel mix and aux. oilers I also run a 395 on a 36" mill and have a customer that runs a o76 on a 48" mill that works good Good luck!!
Runnings? And isn’t that around a $2000 saw? Unless that good price is 50% or more off retail that ain’t happening.
Good lawd, I ran Chuck's MMWS880 on a CSM. Holy heavy batman! You better eat your Wheaties before every go round. Yes it chugged through the wood like crazy but like Kevin mentioned, unless you plan to run over 5' bar, it's overkill. And if you're going to be cutting wood that big, csm will be a very slow go. I'd highly recommend the 394/5 for millin. I've used mine a ton. They oil like a hoss and are not stupid heavy. Plenty of parts for the 5.
+1 on the 394/5 A base gasket delete and muffler mod ups the power noticeably as well. The muffler mod helps get heat out of the saw also.
Agreed. I did the same to mine, prior to full port job. Would be nice to have a little snorkel to direct the fumes! While milling into the evening one time, the front of my muffler had a deep red glow.
Thank you everybody. There is a 395 on fleabay that looks pretty decent. Ends tomorrow evening so I’ll let y’all know if I end up snagging it.
dammit! Even set a reminder on my phone for 30 minutes prior to end of auction. I did look when reminder went off but then forgot again. Saw went for 15 dollars less than my max bid would of been. Was out with a group of friends at the bar, guess I got caught up with dominating at bubble hockey.
