Best Bang for my buck on limbing saw

[mountainlake]

You didn't ask for the best saw, just the best bang for your buck.... so the lowest buck item that can limb a tree comes to mind.

If you want new I'd say the cheapest tanaka / poulan / craftsman / whatever around 40cc's will do the job... try craigslist or if you are really daring go for one of those chinese clone types that don't even have a known brand name

if you want used the same brands above apply, but you can also usually score a husky, echo, or something better for less than $200. A used poulan wildthing would be great bang / buck.

Now you if you asked for the best quality for your dollar or best saw for full time use or other criteria the "quality brands" Stihl, husky, dolmar, etc might be up your alley

Don't lump all Stihl and Husky saw together Keep in mind Husky and Stihl homeowner saws have way less quality the Dolmar , Echo and Efco saws. Steve

 

[mountainlake]

Because they sell them by the boatload at the box stores. Rent-a-saw for a day, return it and get your money back when you are finished with it.

I'd guess that's where a lot come from but the rufurb ones get a lot of bad reviews mostly for not running right very long. A Echo CS400 or Dolmar 40cc is a lot better built saw than a Husky 435. I wonder what they do with all the Echo saws returned for the same reason, never see any refurb ones. Steve

 

[Steve NW WI]

If a top handle interests you at all, find a Poulan S25DA or CVA, or their Craftsman counterparts, often $50 or less on CL, fuel lines and a carb kit are often all thats needed to make em sing.

Put the other hondo back in your wallet for the next time CAD strikes.

 

[o8f150]

the little echo 310 is a sweet saw when it is MM'd and retuned,, also the ms 170 is a great light weight saw too

 

[heyduke]

Efco 3500 new on clearance at Menards $164 minus %11 this week=$146 If I didn't have a pile if 38cc earthquakes I wouldn't be able to resist the little Efco. I have 2 larger Efco's and am very happy with the build quality and performance.

Bailey's had them for about the same price a little while ago. I haven't checked lately.

I tried to find the efco on menards.com but failed. could you supply a url?

the price for the efco top handle at:

Bailey's - Efco Model 132S Chainsaw with 12" Bar and Chain

is $290?!

thanks

 

[nomad_archer]

Efco 3500 new on clearance at Menards $164 minus %11 this week=$146 If I didn't have a pile if 38cc earthquakes I wouldn't be able to resist the little Efco. I have 2 larger Efco's and am very happy with the build quality and performance.

Bailey's had them for about the same price a little while ago. I haven't checked lately.

Its a shame there isn't a menards around here. I am also looking at a stihl ms 180 and ms 170 now since my wife wants to help out and wants something she can run.

 

[Mike from Maine]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the ms200.

 

[lesorubcheek]

If a top handle interests you at all, find a Poulan S25DA or CVA, or their Craftsman counterparts, often $50 or less on CL, fuel lines and a carb kit are often all thats needed to make em sing.

Put the other hondo back in your wallet for the next time CAD strikes.

Here's a second for this reccomendation. The 25DA and related saws were top notch arborist saws in their day. High quality and the only down side I can think of is the auto oiler diaphragms have at times been hard to come by.

Dan

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Here's a second for this reccomendation. The 25DA and related saws were top notch arborist saws in their day. High quality and the only down side I can think of is the auto oiler diaphragms have at times been hard to come by.

Dan

Exactly. If I had $200 to spend on a limbing saw I would get a poulan Super 25DA (which I have) and spend a little on a steak dinner with the wife and still have money left...If you're worried about reliability buy two of them.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the ms200.

I had one of them and quite honestly didn't care for it. Hard to work on in my opinion and didn't cut much better than the Poulan 25DA. Oh, and much pricier.

 

[Brushwacker]

If your ready for the purchase and zippy fast isn't a big deal I would go to your favorite nearby stihl dealer and get an ms 170 while they are on sale for $179. You likely could run it for a year or more mostly under warranty and if you don't wreck it likely would net you 2/3's its original price, little more or less back on resale value. In the the mean time take your time shopping for a deal on something between that and your bigger saw that ultimately fits what you want and when that happens cash in the 170 if you don't like it well enough to keep.

 

[josh1981]

Echo cs400 adjustable oiler starts in 4 pulls light weight heavy duty air filter... last for years.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[josh1981]

Set carb once forgey it

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[TreePointer]

Sell 271. Buy NE346XP/16". Zip and smile.

 

[mountainlake]

Echo cs400 adjustable oiler starts in 4 pulls light weight heavy duty air filter... last for years.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

3 or 4 pulls cold, after started they can sit for 2 hours and start on the first pull with no choke.. Steve

 

[mountainlake]

Sell 271. Buy NE346XP/16". Zip and smile.

The 346ne would sure be a improvement over a MS271 but it still weighs about 2# more than a Echo CS400 ready to cut. When you get to be a old fart 2# is a lot of difference. I'd guess if he got a CS400 muff modded and tuned that 271 would sit a lot. Steve

 

[rmotoman]

I'd guess if he got a CS400 muff modded and tuned that 271 would sit a lot. Steve

Yup that what happened to me. All the other chainsaws just sit there.

 

[MasterMech]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the ms200.

Actually Mike, I was thinking a back-handled MS192 might fit his desires quite nicely. Very light, comfy and a clean used example should easy be found for $200.

 

[mountainlake]

Actually Mike, I was thinking a back-handled MS192 might fit his desires quite nicely. Very light, comfy and a clean used example should easy be found for $200.

A 192 is gutless, you would never run a 192 if you had a CS400. Steve

 

[Rockjock]

If your ready for the purchase and zippy fast isn't a big deal I would go to your favorite nearby stihl dealer and get an ms 170 while they are on sale for $179. You likely could run it for a year or more mostly under warranty and if you don't wreck it likely would net you 2/3's its original price, little more or less back on resale value. In the the mean time take your time shopping for a deal on something between that and your bigger saw that ultimately fits what you want and when that happens cash in the 170 if you don't like it well enough to keep.

I have to agree the 017/MS170are a great saw for delimbing light weight and more then able to do the job.