I'm at my neighbors having a Beer and Bull$#!Ting when a friend of his comes by and in his truck he has a saw I have never seen before! After asking him if I can have a look I realized this was made in China! He said, oh! It's a compatible parts with a Stihl! He started it up and it seemed to run fine but I just couldn't believe this "Blue Stihl clone"! I have no words... Anyone ever worked with these? I sure don't need or want one but Dam.... www.holzfforma.com
I believe there was a conversation about those saws a couple years back. I've read posts about parts to replace right off the bat.
Yeah I have a Farmertec "MS660"...it looks exactly like the real thing though, no blue. I bought it as a box of parts and assembled it myself...gives a guy the chance to weed out the parts known to be of spotty quality, upgrade as needed. I don't know if the blue ones have had any QC issues or not...probably? I went this way about 3 years ago after spending a year or two looking for a cheap big bore saw to pull a 30" or so bar...couldn't find anything locally that was affordable that wasn't also completely junk...hard for me to justify $5-600 for a saw that gets used 1-3 times per year...I have about $280 in mine (IIRC) all said and done (shipping, upgraded parts, 32" bar/chain) Not sure what I would do now that I've jumped on the "boycott chinesium" train...if I had to make the choice again that is...I thought for sure that cheap big bore saw deals would be everywhere after I built this thing, but no, not that I've seen...
Ok, I guess so... I've only had Stihl for the last 35 years, with a P.O.S. Craftsman as our/my first saw and a Homelite XL, "Which ran like a bat out of hell" till it self destructed many years back. That little saw cut a many of cord! I got my first 021 Stihl right after that died, 1987
For what it's worth, I have "Many" Chinese, Japanese and various other Countries rifles! I understand and what I have was "PRE" Anti-China and was exported here by the masses many years back. One of the "Very few" things Chinese made very well and sad to say Japanese steel was superior during the war, WWII. I cannot speak for them now and won't even try. I will say the things I've had from China in the last 20 years were complete JUNK!!! Now, Stihl is built here in America now, and I do have 3 German made Stihls. They're quality is super quality, and I have to give credit where credit is due, If the Chinese saw is working and running, that's all that matters for now. Many things are far beyond our control and we also have to do things within our budget! Dam, I almost sounded like a politician there huh...
Not to the chainsaw party, to the cheap chinese knock off party. They've been available for a good while.
Just never paid it any mind! I guess i was oblivious to them... Never seen them in stores or went looking for them, that what I'm assuming.
Certainly aren’t missing anything. I’m with many, I avoid buying from there as much as I possibly can. I’d rather buy a used oem for similar money and rebuild. I had $250 into my Husky 394 before sending off for mods.
Ive seen them for sale all over FBM. Husky clones too. Never used or owned one. I think bigfrank has a Stihl 661 (i think) clone. I personally wouldnt buy one.
I have a friend who has a 660 clone that he bought as a complete saw from holzforma. It runs ok. The oiler is complete junk though. It barely oils enough for a 24 inch bar. I don't like China stuff much either, and it would be really hard to not have any household or personal stuff that's not made there. Great reason to not buy Chicom made chainsaws
Just to be clear, I think the way things went was that chinese companys started making saw replacement parts, then once all parts were being made you kit buy a "kit", (what I did) then they got bold and just started making complete knockoff saws...
And just for those that weren't aware, with these kits several guys bought and built, then used 'em. There were a couple things they reported back on that needed addressed to make them more reliable. I can't recall all the details but pretty sure I remember piston pin circlips, some of the main bearings, some carbs... and a well know issue with the cheap chinesium cylinders is the [lack of] plating quality. So definitely buyer beware. If it's one thing there are, it's cheap.
You can send those chicom rifles my way. I'll throw them in the dumpster with some other foreign made rifles I found lying around.
I’m with WeldrDave. I bought my 028 Stihl after my Homelite XL seized up. I used the heck out of it for a few years then mothballed It. When I started using it again I changed the bar and chain spark plug and cleaned the air filter. Filled it up with new gas and oil and it cranked right up and runs as good as it did 30 years ago. All I did was drain the gas and ran it all out of the carb before I stored it. I’m just glad I never sold it. I thought at least the carb diaphragm would need replacing but I was amazed at how easy it was to crank and how good it runs. Like they say you get what you pay for. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
An 028 was my first real saw when i was 17 in 1985. A gift from my late uncle right after hurricane Gloria. Used it for several years and it accidentally run on raw gas and ruined. Last year i bought a used one in his memory. Great saw. Here's a link The Legendary Stihl 028 Chainsaw - HL Supply Blog
