caotropheus
ArboristSite Operative
I am not a big chainsaw guru like you fellows around here, but I'll try to do my best to post a review on my CS-341 that worked with me already 50 hours. So here it goes a beginners perspective.
Weight and dimensions:
With 35 cm bar, chain, fueled and oil loaded 4.5 kg. Power head length 26 cm, width 18 cm (does not include side handle) and height 21 cm including top handle. Over all length including 35 cm bar and rear belt ring 59 cm.
Overall aspect:
Compact saw, delivered in a small package, but in an old fashion design.
Construction quality:
All the mechanical parts are wrapped in plastic covering. This plastic cover does not give a sense of solidity but until now the saw did not disintegrated or broke anywhere. I do not like the way the clutch cover fits the main saw body. The fit is not tight and leaves a small gap that allows oil chain to pass on to the top of the power head. This oil works like a magnet to sawdust and debris.
As you can see by the picture, the debris settles by the air entrance and it is sucked into the air filter. This obliges you to clean the air filter every other tank or so. Comparing with my Stihl 270 or past Stihl 009L the way air is channeled into the air filter is not efficient enough to avoid debris.
The chain brake handle is hold by a single pivot (external clutch) to the clutch cover. It gives an aspect of fragility but it is sturdy and solid and preforms its job perfectly. Personally I enjoy more internal clutch saws, which chain brake handles are double pivoted.
I broke already a clutch cover pin, I think they are a bit on the "thin side", probably I am being a bit too spoiled on this issue.
Handling:
Very well planned top handle, allowing you to work single handed with the saw. I've seen the use of top handle saws mainly in orchards and this possibility of single handed operation is a great plus in orchard pruning. When handling the saw above your shoulders height, it is very easy to put the saw in a position that will avoid exhaust gases strait into your face.
Bang for the buck:
One of the best in the market.
Work performance:
Definitely not a Dolmar 7900 in weight/hp ratio! But, because the saw is not so heavy, center of gravity is well located under the top handle I don't complain much about the weight/hp ratio. I would appreciate an extra 0.5 hp or so.
Oh yes, these saws "know" how to oil the bar! Beside that, you can adjust manually the oil flow in this saw.
Nice anti-vibration mechanism, making the saw comfortable to use.
A silencer mod is a must. It arrives from the factory with a net spark arrest that clogs very fast. It requires you brake this net and allow the saw to breath properly.
I tried to stop the saw by blocking the air entrance and did not manage. The saw sucks air from the air filter cover gaps, so, no need to enlarge the air entrances.
I already cut firewood with this saw on both live and dead trees. No problem at all, it can tackle any 30 cm - 40 cm diameter tree. Anyhow, one should take into consideration that this is not a bucking saw. I suggest a pause in work once in a while. Once I had symptoms of the saw warming up when I was cutting 40 cm logs. The saw also did not idle. After I opened the flywheel cover, I had lots of gunk between the cylinder fins. Cleaned all this gunk with a small screw driver and compressed air and the saw preformed as good as new!
I also like the fuel autonomy. Even cutting "big" logs I manage to work for about 40 to 45 min with a single tank of gas.
Once I made the mistake of putting bar oil (4 stroke gas engine oil) in the fuel reservoir instead of the bar reservoir! I was in the field without fuel, so I decided to run the saw without cleaning the fuel tank! The fuel/oil ration was about 10/1. The saw would not idle, it smoked a bit, but it worked. Got home, replaced the "oily" fuel by fresh fuel, fired the saw, twice pressed the throttle for a second or so and here we go, as good as new!
Overall rating
8.5 out of 10 stars.
Weight and dimensions:
With 35 cm bar, chain, fueled and oil loaded 4.5 kg. Power head length 26 cm, width 18 cm (does not include side handle) and height 21 cm including top handle. Over all length including 35 cm bar and rear belt ring 59 cm.
Overall aspect:
Compact saw, delivered in a small package, but in an old fashion design.
Construction quality:
All the mechanical parts are wrapped in plastic covering. This plastic cover does not give a sense of solidity but until now the saw did not disintegrated or broke anywhere. I do not like the way the clutch cover fits the main saw body. The fit is not tight and leaves a small gap that allows oil chain to pass on to the top of the power head. This oil works like a magnet to sawdust and debris.
As you can see by the picture, the debris settles by the air entrance and it is sucked into the air filter. This obliges you to clean the air filter every other tank or so. Comparing with my Stihl 270 or past Stihl 009L the way air is channeled into the air filter is not efficient enough to avoid debris.
The chain brake handle is hold by a single pivot (external clutch) to the clutch cover. It gives an aspect of fragility but it is sturdy and solid and preforms its job perfectly. Personally I enjoy more internal clutch saws, which chain brake handles are double pivoted.
I broke already a clutch cover pin, I think they are a bit on the "thin side", probably I am being a bit too spoiled on this issue.
Handling:
Very well planned top handle, allowing you to work single handed with the saw. I've seen the use of top handle saws mainly in orchards and this possibility of single handed operation is a great plus in orchard pruning. When handling the saw above your shoulders height, it is very easy to put the saw in a position that will avoid exhaust gases strait into your face.
Bang for the buck:
One of the best in the market.
Work performance:
Definitely not a Dolmar 7900 in weight/hp ratio! But, because the saw is not so heavy, center of gravity is well located under the top handle I don't complain much about the weight/hp ratio. I would appreciate an extra 0.5 hp or so.
Oh yes, these saws "know" how to oil the bar! Beside that, you can adjust manually the oil flow in this saw.
Nice anti-vibration mechanism, making the saw comfortable to use.
A silencer mod is a must. It arrives from the factory with a net spark arrest that clogs very fast. It requires you brake this net and allow the saw to breath properly.
I tried to stop the saw by blocking the air entrance and did not manage. The saw sucks air from the air filter cover gaps, so, no need to enlarge the air entrances.
I already cut firewood with this saw on both live and dead trees. No problem at all, it can tackle any 30 cm - 40 cm diameter tree. Anyhow, one should take into consideration that this is not a bucking saw. I suggest a pause in work once in a while. Once I had symptoms of the saw warming up when I was cutting 40 cm logs. The saw also did not idle. After I opened the flywheel cover, I had lots of gunk between the cylinder fins. Cleaned all this gunk with a small screw driver and compressed air and the saw preformed as good as new!
I also like the fuel autonomy. Even cutting "big" logs I manage to work for about 40 to 45 min with a single tank of gas.
Once I made the mistake of putting bar oil (4 stroke gas engine oil) in the fuel reservoir instead of the bar reservoir! I was in the field without fuel, so I decided to run the saw without cleaning the fuel tank! The fuel/oil ration was about 10/1. The saw would not idle, it smoked a bit, but it worked. Got home, replaced the "oily" fuel by fresh fuel, fired the saw, twice pressed the throttle for a second or so and here we go, as good as new!
Overall rating
8.5 out of 10 stars.
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