I bought one back in 84 and have used it exclusively ever since! Husqvarna 61 is the only saw I've ever had. (I was given a poulan last fall but have yet to get it running. Just a small pruning saw.) That 61 has seen some times......heck, even older then some members here!
A well-built saw with good maintenance can last a very long time. I use my 61 for about 1/2 my cutting - it's an '86 - it was my neighbors and he gave it to me several years ago - great saw. I bought my Dolmar PS-510 in 2009 and it has been my main 50cc saw for cutting over the past 8-9 years - I maintain it very well and still is a great runner - no idea how many cord it has cut, but a whole lot. Piston starting to show some wear and compression a little lower now - about 145psi - but still a great runner all in all. When you consider the life of a well-built saw with good maintenance vs. a cheap saw, it is worth spending the extra up front. I think I paid $410 for my PS-510 - so, averaging about $45/year to own the saw - not bad at all! Enjoy that 61! I just picked up a mint '85 model - ate a bit of carbon so I'm going to set aside and save for a top end - looking forward to the project! Cheers!
Newer Poulan Strato....a few hours after the newbie homeowner runs it lean, hot and screaming will a dull chain.
Very few of my running saws are less than 30 years old.Most are 35 to 50 now,some had very hard use when ''younger''.Routine maintenance,some care & common sense,replacing a few standard worn parts when needed helps with longevity.Plus the fact that things were just built stronger back in the day to begin with.They may weigh a bit more ,but that aluminum/magnesium takes the abuse & hard knocks that newer plastic cannot.
Indeed, take care of the saw and it will take care of you. Not sure right now how long I've ever kept saws. Our present saw was bought in 2002. I did have to replace the carb once but that was sort of my fault. I fell backwards once and had the saw so on the way down, I just threw it. Hard to believe but somehow a branch hit the side (or the saw hit the branch and probably pretty hard) and low and behold. The saw quit running and would not start. Looking I could hardly believe it. But after changing the carb it is now one very hard starting saw. My shoulder won't take a lot of pulling on that cord so if it has not been running for more than a day, I have to give it a short shot of starting fluid. Once it starts, from then on it will start with one pull. Aggravating but we put up with it. I have toyed with buying a new saw but so far have not. I would definitely get pro saw the next time though. The one I have is a farm boss and it is good but the pro saws are just better....and lighter.
Pro saws are lighter and when best byukb, but my 029super has run like a champ since new and it's cut hundreds of cords of wood.
Started with one, 12 inch bar. It was all I could afford back then. It cut a lot of wood before I wore it out. Most of the time it was cutting way to big of stuff but it’s all I had. Well a sledge, wedges, and a good back.
We've ever worn out one saw. Dad bought an Echo around 1980-don't remember the mod number but it was around 60cc. He used it almost exclusively for the last 10 years of his life, and my brother and I used for around another 10 years after that. Probably could have been serviced but my brother bought a Stihl 460 because he wanted one. I bought a Husky 66 from a friend in 1993. I used it for everything until 7-8 years ago. Still mange to run in a few hours a year.
That bark is a reason I want a helmet like yours with a face shield. The last big shag I cut, I had my safety glasses on, but a piece of bark flew at 10000 mph and hit my cheek. Yeah, that stung at 5 or 10 degrees out when I was cutting it. I like my 029s my dad bought new about 1999 or 2000. It's really been pull and go. But, the snort my dolkita 6421 has and the magnesium construction of it this me it's going to be tough to want to ever pick that 029s up for use unless I've got a buddy over that wants to help with cutting and use it. It will be good as a just on case saw for pinches as well.
IMHO a decent saw can live indefinitely cutting firewood as long as parts are available, it doesn't get pounded into the dirt, you don't store it in the open bed of your pickup and there are no technological advances so drastic that it makes a old saw not worth having and nothing like that has happened in the last 35 or so years.
I inherited my dads Husky 266XP, it’s from the 80’s. I cut ~4 cords a year with it - only parts it’s needed (besides bars and chain) is a pull rope and last year the clutch.
While using my saw a few years back, the muffler blew right off the engine! Took it in t the shop and they put it back together-the threads for mounting bolts had been stripped out. And I think that was pretty much it for those decades of use. The day I picked it up, I had them upsize the bar from 16" to 18" and have kept it that was throughout the years also.
Chainsaws are one of the best investments a person can make in my opinion. On the very first day of use, they pay for themselves. I think some saws are better than others, like we had 028 Stihls growing up and they were bullet proof until they discontinued them and came out with the 029. I had one, but going from pro to homeowner did not bode well for me. That saw lived a short and fruitless life. A few Husky 272's did as well and turned me off to the brand for over 25 years, the Husky I got now unfortunately has not improved my opinion of them. But other than the 029 Stihl and the 272 Husky's, I don't think I ever wore out a saw to the point of being junk. Even the three chainsaws I have driven over were able to be salvaged if I wanted to spend money on them. It was just not worth it to do so, but they were repairable for sure. As for longevity, the best thing a person can do is keep them super sharp. A dull chain transfers heat to the bar which transfers heat to the lower end of the sawbody...right by the crank bearings where no one wants that heat. A sharp saw...no heat, and this is coming from a guy who never buys bar and chain oil, and often mixes any oil for 2 stroke oil. I should be blowing up saws all the time, but I don't.
I bought a Husky in 1977, went to buy a sthil model excapes me today but the dealer was out. Took a husky 162 SE off the shelf handed it to me and said you will be happy with this saw about the same as the farm boss you want. I hefted it a couple times and he said let me fuel it up and take it out back and cut me some fire wood from the stack. Needless to say I was impressed and bought it. Still runs today but I need my cord less drill to start it as the starter dawgs are shot and I have not bought any new ones for it. I have put countless new sprockets on it, about 4 new bars and so many chains I have know idea how many it could be. Carb has been cleaned and rebuilt I believe 5 times. The J red was bought in 2004 and has been down more than the Husky and cost much more to fix. Next new saw will be a Echo possiable a 490 timber wolf. Al
