5100S dolmar saga

[w8ye]

You forgot to add "for me" because just as no two people are built exactly alike, you cannot with a straight face say that what fits one man to a "T" will fit the next man the same way.

Nothing works like that, not cars seats nor rifle stocks, pistol grips, etc...

And that, my friends, is why there are different brands of saws and even Dolmar and Husqvarna make many different models of similar 50cc saws

 

[ECHO-Echo-echo]

I have the answer.......to the question .....which saw is best!!!!!!

It is the one that you have with you at the time you need it. My 420 is better than any 50cc saw that I have!......I don't have one.
But the 420 out cut it every time.

If I had a 5100 it would be the best saw....
If I had a 346 xp it would be the best....
If I had a still 260 it would be the best...

I wouldn't have more than one 50cc saw, or more than one 40cc saw or more than one 65cc somthing saw.

I cut some 18 inch oak two days ago with an Echo 310, 14 inch B/C. It did better than any saw I have.....It was the one I had with me at the time. I wasn't expecting to run into any big oak when I left the house.

Now back to the DP43725 problem....My Dolmar takes 3 to 5 pulls to start after sitting for several day. 2 with the choke on, then 1, 2 or 3 after choke off. Once warm 1 pull without choke will do it.

 

[J.W Younger]

Ok now that everyone is done bashing each others saws,, LOL What would make my 5100 hard to start after it sits a few day,, once ,,it starts and run its one pull,, no mater how many times ya shut it off.. Any ideas on this would be helpfull. Now in all fairness I havent had the saw very long ,,bought it used so dont know how it was treated in its life ,,its an 05 model.. O by the way had to put a new P@C on it,,was scorched.

If it had a primer bulb like a wildthang you wouldn't be havin this starting problem...

 

[CentaurG2]

The 5100 must vary a little cuz mine is noticeably stronger than either my OE or NE 346xp. It is actually closer to my anemic ms361 in performance and (unfortunately) weight and handling. Unreliable?? Mine is coming up on 4 years of hard work and has never missed a single beat. I am still waiting for it to blow up like all the millions of others I see all over ebay. Starting, 5 or 6 pulls on choke and one on run.

 

[Tim Carroll]

What I think that the whole 5100 saga comes down to is that there are people that are very satified with them. If you like your 346XP better or your MS 261 that's fine, you have a right to your opinion. Understand however, that 5100 owners do not need to think like you or even care if our saw is better. We will just be happy and ignorant using something that works for us. Mine has been very reliable and I estimate that I have cut 100 full cords of firewood with it since May of 2008. I am sure there have been failures out there but all I can report is my own experience, just an averge Joe six pack happily cutting some firewood. I make no comparisons to any other 50cc saw, just that I like my 5100. Cheers.

 

[SawTroll]

If it had a primer bulb like a wildthang you wouldn't be havin this starting problem...

Yep, but I wouldn't call the starting a real issue eiter, but my impression is that the 5100S is more fuzzy about the carb setting vs. conditions than most other saws.

A small difference in setting can mean a lot of difference otherwise.......

Accelleration/throttle responce is not a strong point on these saws either.

 

[ancy]

Yep, but I wouldn't call the starting a real issue eiter, but my impression is that the 5100S is more fuzzy about the carb setting vs. conditions than most other saws.

A small difference in setting can mean a lot of difference otherwise.......

Accelleration/throttle responce is not a strong point on these saws either.

Oh I got it now, your carb is set wrong on your 5100, that makes all the sense now. Get it tuned right and try again.

 

[SawTroll]

Oh I got it now, your carb is set wrong on your 5100, that makes all the sense now. Get it tuned right and try again.

:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

 

[DB43725]

Yep, but I wouldn't call the starting a real issue eiter, but my impression is that the 5100S is more fuzzy about the carb setting vs. conditions than most other saws.

A small difference in setting can mean a lot of difference otherwise.......

Accelleration/throttle responce is not a strong point on these saws either.

Hmmm,, I must be close on the carb adj then,, on mine you just fart on the trigger and it screamssss....

 

[Eecho]

+1 on the scream. Mine is full throttle or idle . Theres very little in between

 

[J.W Younger]

Yep, but I wouldn't call the starting a real issue eiter, but my impression is that the 5100S is more fuzzy about the carb setting vs. conditions than most other saws.

A small difference in setting can mean a lot of difference otherwise.......

Accelleration/throttle responce is not a strong point on these saws either.

I haven't noticed the caeb adj being the least bit tricky and the reason its not got the throttle response of the 346 is a heavier flywheel.

 

[ECHO-Echo-echo]

A small difference in setting can mean a lot of difference otherwise.......

Accelleration/throttle responce is not a strong point on these saws either.

No....But the strong point is TORQUE in the cut, IN THE WOOD......:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Andyshine77]

We've been over this time and time again, Nik even had a small 50cc saw shootout gtg. Both my 346 and a well used OE 346 were stronger than the 5100, I've seen these results more than once, so lets put the power thing to rest.


Your opinion,

I'll keep mine.

The testing results I have, gave me pretty hard evidence which 50cc was the strongest, it has nothing to do with opinion. If the results were different I would say so, why wouldn't I.

Can I ask why it is unreliable? As far as over hyped it is what it is and it is the lowest $ to HP out there. In my case it was a pro class 50cc saw for the price of a Husky 450 Rancher. So do I need to start a thread about which saw to buy "Dolmar 5100S vs. Husqvarna 450", I think we know the answer there. We just keep saying it is the best saw for the money, at least around here.

I can list all of the issues if you like. The search here on AS doesn't work so well these days so I understand if you haven't seen my old posts with the issues outlined.

I agree for the money the later 5100's were a great deal and they do run well, and yes they are what the are.

 

[DB43725]

so I got my new saw today 5105 just has my old bar and chain the dolmar dealer in Zanesville Ohio did me right . He is just starting so his shop is a little rough around the edges .He got me a new saw no hassles no crap .If you are in the the Newark Zanesville area and looking for a dolmar give Greg on rt 40 a chance .

Well as i like 5100s I went to Zanesville today and came home with your old saw,,in a box(LOL) anyway Im going to see if ican make it live,,, needed a new project and i gota few spare parts laying around ,, atleast I wont have to cash in to many pop cans to fix it,,, :msp_wink:

 

[ECHO-Echo-echo]

Yes that's what I said in my previous post.

We've been over this time and time again, Nik even had a small 50cc saw shootout gtg. Both my 346 and a well used OE 346 were stronger than the 5100, I've seen these results more than once, so lets put the power thing to rest.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wESfuvkGFqU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Interesting video....I don't see what it tells you though. Were any saws modified? I saw different bar lengths. What type of chain on each saw (were they the same or different) who sharpened them, were they new or used . I saw some rough cut marks on the wood which indicates dull chain. Muffler mods? which saw had what 6, 7, 8 or 9 pin drive?

If you put the same drive, bar and chain on different power heads then you might be able to tell something.
Using the same powerhead, bar and chain just changing the drive pin number will affect the cut time. Now change the chains and again the times will change.

 

[J.W Younger]

I've not run a stock 346 but the ported ones(mastermind and tree slingler units) were nasty. I am a big fan of light strong saws any brand. My 5100 will be 3 yrs old in a couple of months and so far i'm well pleased with it. My nephew has a 359 and I have a 257, the 5100 out cuts my 257 and will hang with the 359 in wood under 18". I guess the main question is will the 5100 still be cuttin 25 yrs from now like my 028?

 

[Sabertooth]

Yes that's what I said in my previous post.

We've been over this time and time again, Nik even had a small 50cc saw shootout gtg. Both my 346 and a well used OE 346 were stronger than the 5100, I've seen these results more than once, so lets put the power thing to rest.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wESfuvkGFqU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Completely bias. A bunch of different bars and chains. 7900 had like a 24' bar and the 372xp had like a 16' bar.

Try again. Theres so much wrong about that video tbh.

 

[sachsmo]

In that video, how much run time did that 5100 have?


It looked a little anemic, Too many variables fo' sure.

 

[Eecho]

Try putting the 3/8 chain on both at 20" bars and see which one commands the authority then .mine outruns my 036 both with 20" bars . My dolmar is stock and the 036 has a gutted muffler so whats the reasoning behind that. It isnt the chain I have put new rsc on both .

 

[nmurph]

...so whats the reasoning behind that...

Something is very wrong with your 036 unless you are comparing cuts in twiddle sticks.