I'm a big fan of the chain brake on Stihl chainsaws.

[Brian VT]

The guy likes how the Stihl brake works for him. I happened to notice the same thing on my 024 AVS. Someone might find that info. useful when buying a saw.

Why did this thread go to hell ? I love this site, but sometimes I just get disgusted after reading something like this and I call it a night. I just don't understand where some of you guys' heads are at.

 

[anymanusa]

The guy likes how the Stihl brake works for him. I happened to notice the same thing on my 024 AVS. Someone might find that info. useful when buying a saw.

Why did this thread go to hell ? I love this site, but sometimes I just get disgusted after reading something like this and I call it a night. I just don't understand where some of you guys' heads are at.

^this.

I love both my saws, and I'm undecided on which to get as my next 'bigger' saw, but I sure do love the brake on my Stihl!

 

[Rustynutz]

Anytime you have to move, as in "walk", you don't need tone carrying a live chainsaw. Its simply just not safe. Especially if you are walking on anything less than flat stable ground, like on a huge pile of logs or out in he woods.

Sorry still don't get it, can't say I've ever used a chain brake for moving about always made sure chain stops at tick-over though! and if walking usually carry them by the front handle with the bar behind me, so no chance of hitting the throttle or chain if you fall over? is this a new safety recommendation?

 

[brages]

One thing nice about Stihl chain brakes is that they never messed around with the inferior "flag" style brake that is only connected on one side...

 

[Edge & Engine]

You should get a Stihl Q model, the chain brake activates any time your hand is not on the throttle.

 

[Chris J.]

...
Why did this thread go to hell ? I love this site, but sometimes I just get disgusted after reading something like this and I call it a night. I just don't understand where some of you guys' heads are at.

Plus one. Maybe I'm crazy, but I notice a lot more argumentative posts during the winter months. Is it cabin fever that makes normally calm folks grumpy, and/or do the negative folks now have more time on their hands? A combination of both is my guess.

 

[adam32]

Sorry still don't get it, can't say I've ever used a chain brake for moving about always made sure chain stops at tick-over though! and if walking usually carry them by the front handle with the bar behind me, so no chance of hitting the throttle or chain if you fall over? is this a new safety recommendation?

I don't get it either...

I have noticed Fed (USFS) trained guys popping the brake immediately after every cut though...

Seems like a pointless waste of time to me...heck, half the saws I have either didn't come with brakes or I took them off!!

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

I don't get it either...

I have noticed Fed (USFS) trained guys popping the brake immediately after every cut though...

Seems like a pointless waste of time to me...heck, half the saws I have either didn't come with brakes or I took them off!!

Can't find popcorn smiley! So....I'm sitting back waiting for reactions to this statement!

 

[GASoline71]

I will give the sideways balance thing to the Husky though.

E'splain me "sideways balance"...

Gary

 

[Mike Williams]

The guy likes how the Stihl brake works for him. I happened to notice the same thing on my 024 AVS. Someone might find that info. useful when buying a saw.

Why did this thread go to hell ? I love this site, but sometimes I just get disgusted after reading something like this and I call it a night. I just don't understand where some of you guys' heads are at.

:agree2:

Yep and if he likes the CB better on his Stihl then he is right for himself.

 

[Mike Williams]

I don't get it either...

I have noticed Fed (USFS) trained guys popping the brake immediately after every cut though...

Seems like a pointless waste of time to me...heck, half the saws I have either didn't come with brakes or I took them off!!

I always set mine if I'm moving around or need to set the saw on the ground for a minute to move stuff around. Granted it was a hard habit to get into since the saws I grew up using didn't have CBs.

I have had a bad kickback set the brake before and was thankful the saw had one. Although it never got very close to me during the kickback it was still nice to see it work like it's supposed to.

 

[nmurph]

mike and brian, the OP says the "The chain brake on my Stihl is of superior design." that is not his opinion, it was a declarative statement given as fact.

but let's not argue semantics. its a spring day here today.......i feel sorry for those of you dealing with the storm.....it 75°F and mostly sunny.

 

[Mike Williams]

mike and brian, the OP says the "The chain brake on my Stihl is of superior design." that is not his opinion, it was a declarative statement given as fact.

but let's not argue semantics. its a spring day here today.......i feel sorry for those of you dealing with the storm.....it 75°F and mostly sunny.

Yeah guess you got a point Yeah I feel for those in the storm as well. I'm not quite as warm as you around 40 F but no snow and a sunny day.

 

[Bounty Hunter]

I don't get it either...

I have noticed Fed (USFS) trained guys popping the brake immediately after every cut though...

Seems like a pointless waste of time to me...heck, half the saws I have either didn't come with brakes or I took them off!!

Brother, when was the last time a saw kicked back on you? Radial kickback with a small saw or linear kickback with a big one...which can smack yer leg hard or worse, yer "boys"...

I LOOOOOOOOVE chain brakes...saving men from terrible and painful accidents...

 

[adam32]

Brother, when was the last time a saw kicked back on you? Radial kickback with a small saw or linear kickback with a big one...which can smack yer leg hard or worse, yer "boys"...

I LOOOOOOOOVE chain brakes...saving men from terrible and painful accidents...

The work saws have brakes on them, but the brake only gets used for whats its designed for, kickback! The race saws barely have a side cover...

I still see no reason to pop the brake when moving from cut to cut though...keep the brake healthy for when you really need it.

 

[oscar4883]

I love chainbrakes too. Use them all the time. From hanging a running saw from my harness, to limbing a brushy tree. I don't use them between most bucking cuts unless the ground is very poor. However, when changing position when limbing the brake goes on. Not between every cut, but almost always when I have to move. It is so easy to trip limbing out a broad tree I see no reason not to use one when you have to move position. Stihl is a little nicer I suppose, but the Husky brakes are nice also. I don't have enough experience with other brands to comment.

 

[robfromaz1977]

I still see no reason to pop the brake when moving from cut to cut though...keep the brake healthy for when you really need it.

+1

 

[The Count]

I've been using my husky 435 and Stihl ms280 for several months now and I've had a number of hours to play with each and figure out what I like about them. The chain brake on my Stihl is of superior design. I can pop on the brake between every cut and reach one finger up and click it off very easily. The husky is considerably more awkward, the design doesn't allow for such easy manipulation.

This is something that will influence my decision a great amount when I buy a larger saw (a 441, 460, or a 372).

I will give the sideways balance thing to the Husky though.

I didn't start this thread to start anything between the brands, but I think the greatness of the Stihl chain brake deserved it's own thread.:lifter:

Awesome: it doesn`t run but look how great it stops !

lol
j/k
is it 280 plain or 280-I?
the -I was awarded with gold medal for inovation (can`t remember by who or when or what was the inovation)

 

[sachsmo]

E'splain me "sideways balance"...

Gary

"Sideways balance" can only be "splained by Niko.

It seems the 346 has the nod according to him.

 

[Chris J.]

"Sideways balance" can only be "splained by Niko.

It seems the 346 has the nod according to him.

Does Niko/Saw Troll stand the logs on end when bucking, to get the benefit of sideways balance? Wouldn't that be bad for the muffler bearing(s)? :jester: