Cheap competition.

[Four Paws]

I'm always looking for a well built machine at a bargain price. Seems as Efco has a few keepers in their line-up. The 962 and 981 are tough saws that offer quite a bang-for-your-buck. If a guy is looking for a tough 2-saw combo, this is it. These saws are very well made...my only gripe is the air cleaner covers require a scrench to open...a minor inconvenience really.

Any other Oleo-Mac/Efco/Olympyk owners out there? Post some pictures of your saws! The 962 is a little dirty in the picture, but cleaned up nice.

 

[PB]

This should be a pretty short thread. LOL!

I dumped my 950 off to a buddy.

 

[kevlar]

Looks alot like my 264 deluxe I'm a fan!:greenchainsaw:

 

[Gwiz]

I'm with you.

I'm no MVP here obviously, but I'm all for Olympyk saws. Don't have time now, but I'll try for some pics later.
James

 

[sawinredneck]

I handled the Deere saws a while back, seem like nice saws for the money!
My only concern it parts in the future.
But well built indeed!

 

[HUSKYMAN]

I use my 970 Olympyk all the time, I bought it when my 670 started having issues. Its a good saw, I drilled a few holes in the muffler which gave her a little more rpm. I dont have any pics right now but its a great firewood and falling saw.

My dealer still has a brand new 980 (same chassis, 80cc) that I may buy since there would be no weight penalty. These are good dependable saws.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

I handled the Deere saws a while back, seem like nice saws for the money!
My only concern it parts in the future.
But well built indeed!

Parts will always be available from Efco, they have been around a while

 

[Vibes]

I have a 264, and 2 945's Olys. I bought the first 945 and had to get the oiler o-rings replaced. I bought what I thought was going to be a 945 parts saw. I cleaned it up, put a used pull rope and a new plug on it and it runs good. The 264 is a real workhorse. All 3 of these saws have seen alot of action and only the 264 seems to have been taken care of, but they are all good dependable saws that start on the 3rd or 4rth pull. I use one of the 945's as my truck saw. The other 2 are at camp.

I see those 964's on E-bay selling at a real nice price and if I needed a midsize saw I would jump on them at that price. I'm on the hunt for a 181 or a 981 to run a big bar on. If anyone knows of any bargains, shoot me a message.

If these Efco's are anything like my 1998 Moto Guzzi you won't be needing many parts. I have'nt had to buy anything other than a gas cap for that bike in 50 thousand some miles. Those Oly's are overbuilt just like that Guzzi.

 

[Gwiz]

I'm no MVP here obviously, but I'm all for Olympyk saws. Don't have time now, but I'll try for some pics later.
James

I've had a 251 Super Electronic since the mid 80's. I only use it to cut some firewood, hedge posts, and clean up. The thing I like about it is the dependability. Maybe you would say I've neglected it, but the saw starts the same whether I used it an hour ago, or a year ago, hot weather or cold: Couple of pulls with the choke on and it'll fire, either get the choke off quick to keep it running, or one more pull with choke off and it's going. I never have worried about draining the gas out of it when not in use.
I was beaten to death here recently because of my smart as# question about chain brakes. The 251 does not have one and I didn't understand how they worked. Now I do, and have recently purchased a 264f Deluxe with a brake(hopefully a picture appears). In all the years running the 251, I have never had anything resembling a kickback. I think the reason is I often cut (at least the small limbs) with the saw running at mid rpm instead of wot. I only ever run full throttle in the middle of a deep cut. The saw has just as much power at 3/4 throttle as it does at full throttle(needs muffler mod?).
I got to run a Stihl 290 recently and immediately noticed how the saw had no low speed power. The chain has to be screaming for the saw to have the power to cut anything. Seems like this would be more likely to cause a kickback than being able to cut at slower chain speed?
I haven't had a chance to tune the 264 yet. It was running too rich and lacked power. I'll get it going soon. I should buy a Husky 261 on Monday that has been scored. I intend to rebuild it like a 262xp and look forward to a side by side comparison of these two saws! I'll be back researching or asking for help on the rebuild. (**I DO KNOW HOW TO USE THE SEARCH OPTION**)
Thanks guys for your help and I love to hear about the Olympyk/Efcos.
James

 

[tree_beard]

gwiz, i still dont think you fully understand kickback... when the top quarter of the bar tip makes contact with something, the chain grabs the wood and the chains movement is transferred into spinning the saw towards you, pivoting on the top handle bar. at low rpms the saw is more controllable (and in certain cincumstances can be used to walk long bars out of big cuts) but at high rpms is is a spit second, often un-controllable movement. if youre stood in the wrong place it can have fatal consequences. with proper saw control it is almost always avoidable.


on efco, oleo mac, olympyk, ive not run their saws but ive seen them in action (in oleo mac clothing) and ive run some efco hedge/brush trimmers. they seem like solidly built, nice running machines. perhaps a little heavier than some costlier alternatives, but certainly one of the better budget choices.

 

[Gwiz]

I do understand kickback

I do understand kickback, and I'm suggesting it is more likely to happen when you are cutting all the small limbs with your saw screaming. Seems like with the trees I cut I am most likely to get the tip of my saw against and unseen limb while I'm cutting the small stuff. That's when my saw is running slower than one that has no low end torque. When I'm baring down dicing the trunk, I've normally looked on the other side and know the tip of my saw isn't going to hit anything. That's when I open her up to full rpm.
I'm not as dumb as I look.
James

 

[tree_beard]

sorry, i really didnt mean to imply anything about your knowledge or safety practices, just checking really...

its an important thing for everyone to understand, just hammering it home for anyone who might not get it. consider that my safety preach done and dusted for the year, i can sleep soundly now

 

[Four Paws]

I plan on doing some testing on my 981 - see how far I can take it while maintaining its reliability and durability as a work saw. The saw in back is a donor parts saw - isn't missing much except the top cover and carb. I will likely port the jug, mod the muffler, and swap them on my stock 981. Or, I might just start off with the parts saw, put a bigger carb on it, look for a single ring piston to swap in, and create a hybrid. Either way, the 981 is a nice saw, and has some good numbers in it stock.

 

[Andyshine77]

I don't want to say it but that 981 is a nice looking saw, the fit and finish looks as good or better than any pro saw on the market.

 

[KMB]

Wow I knew Josh (Four Paws) was a fan of these saws, but I didn't realize that there were a few fans of these saws. I got my 970 for a bigger saw than my 260...would have wanted a 044, but the price was right for me and I'm very glad that I bought it. It's been a very good saw for me. My 044 project is almost done, and after a few tanks through it, I'll compare it to the 970. I'll throw in a pic of my 970 as I got it 2 years ago. It's still in great shape and running strong.

Kevin

 

[Freakingstang]

They are good saws built like brick **** houses! ST woun't like them for the paper specs though.


Josh, what kind of diameter and pin diameter are we talking on the 981?

 

[Four Paws]

They are good saws built like brick **** houses! ST woun't like them for the paper specs though.


Josh, what kind of diameter and pin diameter are we talking on the 981?

52mm bore - have not popped the top to measure the pin. I would guess 12mm, but may be wrong.

 

[Four Paws]

I got my 970 for a bigger saw than my 260...would have wanted a 044, but the price was right for me and I'm very glad that I bought it. It's been a very good saw for me. Kevin

Yes, the larger saws are competitive and are priced right. The main selling point for me is build quality - right on par with Stihl and Shindaiwa...blows Husky right out of the water. They are a HUGE bargain when compared to the competition.

 

[Vibes]

There are some real bargains out there on those 981's and 181's. I was shopping for something to run a 32'' bar. I ended up getting the 7900. That Amicks deal was hard to turn down.

If anyone would like some sources for real good deals on Efco's PM me and I'll tell you what I found.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

Here is a couple pics of my 970. My dealer has a new 980 on the shelf I was going to buy, but I think I might just put the 80cc p&c on this saw. Notice too that the saws were red until about '99 or 2000, then they went orange.