Guy around the corner from me has a McCulloch PM610. Saw appears almost new and is said to start and run well. Been keeping an eye out for a >50cc saw for occasional bigger stuff. Guessing saw is 25 yrs old or more. Are these vintage McCullochs any good or keep moving? Fair price? Thistle?
Positives: Good torque and parts are plentiful and affordable. Negatives: Heavier and bulkier than it needed to be at the time. Replaced saws that were smaller and lighter. Oil pump can be wonky, but easy enough to fix. Nice, clean runners generally sell in the $110 - $120 range ...
Thanks for the reply. I see they made the saw for a number of years. Trying to figure out exactly what it is before I waste my time meeting up with the guy. Has yellow pull start cover with black body whereas others it's reversed. Maybe a newer version (Timberbear?) not so sure that's a good thing.
Around here, a PM610 would fetch $50 if running good. I had one I was gonna rebuild due to worn thin rings (2). But best price I found was $30 for 2 NOS thin rings. Couldn't rationalize spending that when the resale price is so low. There is a piston with 1 thick ring that fits and supposedly gives better compression but it costs the same. And weight of saw is significant. Pick up your push mower and play like the handle is the bar. Well, maybe not that bad....BUT
1978 - 85 - first version with wraparound hand guard/chain brake.This is said to have the thin rings,though I never checked mine. 1985-94 2nd version with more normally seen ''flag'' style chain brake. I owned/used this version from 1992 to 2000,then it sat under bench until March 2011 and still run good but looked rough & was sold as a parts saw. Would you believe only $40 for this? Very high compression,it couldn't have had more than 5-6 hours of use,then it was put away in a garage for over 25 years! I used it more in the 24 hours after purchase than it seen in the past 30 years! Nicest one I've seen that wasn't New Old Stock in the box with paperwork....
My dad bought a barely used pm610 that looks like thistle's in the early 80's. Iirc, 81 or 82. It's heavy, but that saw still runs great. Mom actually still uses it as a back up saw to the ms211c they got new last fall. It starts easily, and that's a big plus for her.
Heavy seems to come up every time someones talks about these saws. My needs aren't great and I have the little Husky in my sig for light work. Got that as a factory refurb. Carb was so far out of adjustment it was spitting half burned mix out the muffler. Got the carb adjust tool and it runs pretty good now. Back to the issue at hand. Really don't expect to use it too often just want something that has the grunt to run a bigger bar now and then. Here's a pic... Said to have a 20" B&C.
That's a nice one,better shape than lots I see on Feebay. If needed,it'll pull 24" bar buried in hardwoods.My old one did quite often. Was my first milling saw infact.Anything over 18-20" was slow going when ripping however.Normal crosscutting it was no problem.
