Are There Such Things As Poulan Dealers?

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pyromaniac guy

pyromaniac guy

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i am looking for another saw, and i want to make sure i check out all my options before i commit. i have a 260pro that i use for the largest wood i cut (oak, maple, cherry, locust). this, with a 20" bar is more than enough for my needs around here.

now, i am looking to go to the other end of the spectrum. there are a lot of tops lying down (select cutter left them). i have started harvesting these tops. largest diameter of these is 8", most are between 4-6" thick. i want a decent, lightweight saw instead of using the 260 for this.

i want a quality saw, but so far am stuck on the 170 with a 14" bar. dealer price is $170. i have checked the box stores (home depot, lowes) and have found poulans there, but they come with 16" bars. plus, the powerhead on those weighs as much as my 260. by the time i put a 14" bar on one of those, i would be priced over the stihl and would add about 2lbs.

my budget for this saw is $200. the pros for the stihl 170 would be same gas mix, bar oil and quality/warranty as my 260. only con so far is price.

any advice?
 
Rspike

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Just an option .... have you looked into an Echo saw? I'm sure a 170 tho would be fine for what you need. Also ... You can get 40-42 cc Poulans on Ebay for $80-120. You have the right idea tho wanting two saws . I dont know of a perfect saw for everything so two is what i have used for 12+ years doing firewood for myself.
 
pyromaniac guy

pyromaniac guy

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Rspike said:
Just an option .... have you looked into an Echo saw? I'm sure a 170 tho would be fine for what you need. Also ... You can get 40-42 cc Poulans on Ebay for $80-120. You have the right idea tho wanting two saws . I dont know of a perfect saw for everything so two is what i have used for 12+ years doing firewood for myself.


thanks spike. i haven't looked too hard at the echo's yet, only what i saw at the box stores. i would like to avoid ebay, though. i'm sure there are great deals on there, and would love to just buy a "fixer-upper" saw, but my shop is in storage because we are moving and i want a saw i can run right out of the box.
 
Rspike

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Not all saws on Ebay are used I have bought 8 off ebay myself NEW . 2 Huskys and 2 Poulans and the other 4 bought for friends. For what you need whatever saw you get should last a long wile , its the underpowered saw that are bought and over worked or over used for there size that make them get a bad rap for not lasting. I have a Craftsman 38cc chainsaw (Echo made?) i have used for limbing i bought new and its 13 years old but again it is used for the size it it ( limbing )
 
whatsnext

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pyromaniac guy said:
i am looking for another saw, and i want to make sure i check out all my options before i commit. i have a 260pro that i use for the largest wood i cut (oak, maple, cherry, locust). this, with a 20" bar is more than enough for my needs around here.

now, i am looking to go to the other end of the spectrum. there are a lot of tops lying down (select cutter left them). i have started harvesting these tops. largest diameter of these is 8", most are between 4-6" thick. i want a decent, lightweight saw instead of using the 260 for this.

i want a quality saw, but so far am stuck on the 170 with a 14" bar. dealer price is $170. i have checked the box stores (home depot, lowes) and have found poulans there, but they come with 16" bars. plus, the powerhead on those weighs as much as my 260. by the time i put a 14" bar on one of those, i would be priced over the stihl and would add about 2lbs.

my budget for this saw is $200. the pros for the stihl 170 would be same gas mix, bar oil and quality/warranty as my 260. only con so far is price.

any advice?


You already have a nice small saw, the 260, so if you want a shorter saw just get 14" bar and chain for it.
 
Marco

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There are Poulan dealers

I am one, yeah for me. At the time I started the line was pretty decent. I haven't sold a new Poulan in a couple years though. It does get me on the warrantying dealer list so I can adjust carbs and replace oilers on Wildthings. It is a way to get people in the door to look at new Dolmars though.
 
Butch(OH)

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Own a 260 and looking for a lightweight saw:confused: ?? Do some pushups boy, LOL. Yes there are real Poulan dealers, at least one anyway because there is one is south Columbus. Was at a show in January and Redmax was set up. They have a little top handle saw that is amazingly light, must have a plastic piston and crank or something, cant remember the model number.
 
shadetree

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I have been a Poulan Dealer for quiet a while now
I sell a few during the season, and as far as the different companys, that I do service work for, Poulan, in my opinion, treats there service dealers really good, and they want there customers to be happy, so the warrenty is good, unlike alot of different makes.

Shadetree
 
skwerl

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the pros for the stihl 170 would be same gas mix, bar oil
WTF? Any and every saw sold today can use the exact same mix. Only idiots have a separate can of mix for every separate piece of 2 stroke equipment in the shed.

And someone please tell me how a different brand of bar oil can have any bearing whatsoever on what brand saw to buy?
 
Lawn Masters

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If you need a lighter saw than a 260, you need to go eat your wheaties. I'm only 5'2" and 120pounds wet, and I call a Mac 10-10 light(also favorite saw in my posession)

just get the 14" bar as someone else mentioned, and you're good to go.

bar oil is pretty much bar oil, though on this site, people argue over that alot(I'm NOT going there). there is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED for multiple cans of mixed gas to run different machines. Skwerl is right in what he said. quite blunt, but he's right.
 
Newfie

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skwerl said:
WTF? Any and every saw sold today can use the exact same mix. Only idiots have a separate can of mix for every separate piece of 2 stroke equipment in the shed.

And someone please tell me how a different brand of bar oil can have any bearing whatsoever on what brand saw to buy?

Anything goes in this thread! I've seen Poulan, an 017 and a quality saw under $200 proposed as possiblities.:greenchainsaw:
 
computeruser

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skwerl said:
WTF? Any and every saw sold today can use the exact same mix. Only idiots have a separate can of mix for every separate piece of 2 stroke equipment in the shed.

And someone please tell me how a different brand of bar oil can have any bearing whatsoever on what brand saw to buy?

I was thinking the same thing.

Here's my take: you already own a Stihl. You will need to go to the Stihl dealer periodically for Stihl parts anyway, might as well keep the number and type of dealers you have to deal with to a minimum. So buy another Stihl.
 
timberwolf

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Get a 460 or 660, then the 260 will be just the right size for limbing.

The 2lb saved with a smaller (non pro) saw than the 260 would be paid for big time when it takes you twice as long to cut branches.

Get a 14" bar with .325 RS and an 8t sprocket if you want to do a bunch of limbing with the 260.
 
Patrick62

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Echo is cool.

I also agree that a 260 isn't outragous to limb with. If I was working a slash pile I would probably pull out my 3400 top handle Echo. Excellent for the application. For some odd reason I would not consider a Poulan. :confused:

-Pat
 
Elmore

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Makita... the first name in Japanese names

I'd check out tha Dolmar ps-401, if I weren't boycotting them that is. Very light saw with a good power to weight ratio. If your boycotting Dolmar though you might want to hunt down a Makita DCS 401. A similar saw but in this rare case I find it easier to pronounce this Japanese name than the German name "Dolmar". Find a seller or dealer who will work with you on the specific bar that you want and get an aggressive chain. Go find one, pick it up, look at the specs, run one if you are afforded that option and do a search on AS in regard to this little saw.

<img src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/tpa0023l.jpg">
 
timberwolf

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Used the 180 once, I was surprised how well it cut for a small saw. But it is only a little over a 1 lb lighter than the 260 and has a lot less power!

Just cant see needing a smaller saw than a 260 if you had a 260 unless you were doing tree work or a lot of brushing.
 
pyromaniac guy

pyromaniac guy

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timberwolf said:
Used the 180 once, I was surprised how well it cut for a small saw. But it is only a little over a 1 lb lighter than the 260 and has a lot less power!

Just cant see needing a smaller saw than a 260 if you had a 260 unless you were doing tree work or a lot of brushing.

ok, let me try to clarify myself a little here before i take more of an a$$ whuppin' from you guys:

1. the largest tree around here that i would ever cut might be 36" diameter. i don't have large trees on my property like you guys do. i am just a weekender, not a pro.
2. i run my 260 with a 20" bar on it, but could put the 16" back on.
3. do i need another saw? nope. i am 6'1" 260 lbs, not fat but not built like a brick craphouse either. i just have some extra money, and since i'm a toy junkie, wanted to look for another saw.
4. i will never run a 440 or 660 or even a 300 series for that matter.
5. i said about the fuel mix and oil because i was just parroting what all the manufactures say "use our oil and mix or your legs will rot and fall off"

sorry if you guys wasted your time in replying...
 
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