Solo 694

[eyolf]

RBtree, I remember when you broughtthe 7900 to our attention many moons ago...I had just noticed the blurbs on the website myself and was a little disappointed that I wasn't first with a juicy bit of gossip.

I can't buy one either, here in Central MN. We have a Dolmar dealer, one of those little anachronistic hardware stores that still cut glass and can sharpen reel mowers...although it would take an hour to unbury his bedknife grinder...but he's not very interested in selling any of them. He has to get new units from Makita USA in Texas, and they are supposedly not very dealer friendly. He also sells EFCO, Tanaka, Shinny, etc. and would be more than happy to get me onto an EFCO...I couldn't even get a price on the 7900.

At the time I was really hoping to get a 385-class competitor at a competitive price. Now I have a 395XP. It will be a while before I can justify another new saw.

 

[johncinco]

Dolmar vs makita?

From what I can understand, or mis understand, they are basicly the same except for color and dealer relations. I am looking at the 540 for a new saw. Why does the dolmar dealer list it at $349, and on the makita site it lists at $249? does PS vs DCS make the price diff or maybe red paint costs more that blue? Or have I missed something. Manufacture direct vs through a dealer? Thanks, John Brooks

 

[jsikkema1]

Hi again
We should have started a new thread ???

Somebody brings up a good point... MAKITA !!

The parts breakdown- see below for link (exploded views of entire saw)- From the shape of the cylinder base gasket its looks "open loop" ported but hard to tell what the inside of the cylinder looks like from the outside. You can make out some of the air filtration technique too by the pictures. And oh yeah- a German saw with one piston ring??? maybe the Swedes are on to something LOL
<p><a href="http://home.insightbb.com/~ss/DCS7900Makita.pdf">
click here for the MAKITA DCS7900 parts list .pdf file</a></p>


<img src=http://www.makita.com/res_tools/images/ope/dcs7900_l.jpg>

Now I have to get back to work- and so do you guys lol

 

[Dennis]

ok..ok...I will order a 7900 Makita this morning, and build it late next week...should be up for sale next Friday..with any luck...will post pics and thoughts in a new thread...

I have a hard time thinking that it has the same power as a 394....the same as a 460 seems right...at 79cc...should be interesting...

 

[tundraotto]

cool, i knew you coulnd not resist Dennis - I am really interested in the 6 ports like yourself and like Russ said about how much potential is still left in there. Looks like a good saw but like i always say - they need a good internet dealer just like everyone else. Madsens is a very good example.

 

[Tony Snyder]

Do you guys think Solo is buying the saw from Dolmar?

That may be an inaccurate conclusion.

Someone may come on here that knows more, if he is at liberty to divulge?

 

[sawnut]

Hey Jeff,

It must have been plenty hot out when fixin your well. I see that you weren't left high and dry. Is that a empty bottle of Grolsch beer in the grass?

Next time, cover your tracks......Sawnut

http://www.arboristsite.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=41530

 

[jsikkema1]

That would be fitting since I am of Dutch descent but...

Actually its a Yuengling Lager bottle- brewed in Pottsville PA
http://www.yuengling.com/beers.htm#
Claim Americas oldest brewery...
http://www.yuengling.com/
Great beer... I can't buy it here locally in IN- Got to get it from out east but I buy all I can when I get over that way...
Jeff
In fact- I'm gonna need to plan a trip soon... lol
<img src=http://www.yuengling.com/images/beer1x4_swap.jpg>
<img src=http://www.yuengling.com/images/eagle.jpg>

 

[rbtree]

If we raced saws, Russ, the more yours won by, the happier we would both be---cause I want a KD saw-or three....too!!!


Dennis, be sure to post before/after times,and along with a comparable saw. Good results will mean you can offer her up for bids!!!

 

[Saw Man]

Joker,
Always am suspious of the weights in sales lit. We picked up(held) a new dry 372 & Dolmar 7900, both without b&c. Dolmar felt a little lighter. Didn't look like it, but it fakes you out.

Put them on a scale. 7900 weighed what the sales lit showed.
372 weighed what was in the sales lit only after we removed the clutch cover, and , and, the bucking spike, and front spring!
Sure fooled us.

As to the 'hot rodding', the Dolmar man told me they try to get more of a flatter torque curve, thru better muffler designs, increased air flow across the cylinders ( don't split it like Husky/J-Reds) which cools the saw better, more cylinder fins-cooling area, and the potential to use higher oil/fuel ratios.
There was more about cylinder/pistons but for now...

The different saw chains really was surprising. We we're running Dolmar 6800, 7900, a J-Reds 2085, and a Poulan Pro 505 (a Red 2085 undercover which I'm told a lot cheaper).
All had 24" b&c. Most everyone agreed the "V' chain was smoother, just didn't feel as fast.

Now, that's what was surprising, what we felt wasn't what was happening regarding cutting speed.

I'm not saying throw out LP, and yes,...the "V" chain looks different, but many, many years ago I thought girls were weird, and didn't want to kiss much less do anything else with them.

I'm always trying something new. Dear wife just told me to buy a shed, because the spot in the barn that was "her's" for her flower, garden tools & toys has been over run. I'm supposed to stay out of "her space".

 

[rbtree]

Sawman,

All the more reason why I want a 7900!! Light is nice.

But the advanced designs the Dolmar guy describes may preclude the typical large gains made when saws are modified. Without knowing anything about the 7900, Ken Dunn surmised as much in a recent conversation.

Thanks again!!

 

[Dennis]

Sawman...you must mean the 2083 Jonsered, and yes, i think the 505 is a Poulan version of the Jonsered..but I am not sure if its the 83cc...I had a Poulan 515 (I think) and its only 60 something cc's...cant remember offhand as I gave the saw to my brother...

Time will tell how the cylinder is designed, once we degree it ..as far as the cooling aspect goes to gain performance....I agree to disagree...run 32:1 maxima 927.(uh oh not the oil debate again)..the performance is inside..but I would be interested to see their muffler...and see how they can get better flow while still meeting epa standards...

 

[jokers]

Hi Saw Man, my apologies, I somehow read your post yesterday to say VP, not VG, different animal entirely. Was the 372 that you guys weighed a halfwrap like the 7900, or was it a full? You know that I`m not going to be able to resist trying this myself if you tell me they were both halfwraps, LOL. At any rate, the 7900 does appear to be a real nice saw, whether it weighs a hair more or a hair less isn`t significant, still ain`t no 394 though. 460, yeah. I`m still waiting to see if the whole line can get established before I start investing in them. Russ

 

[bwalker]

established before I start investing in them. Russ

Im with Russ on this one. They may be great saws, but there is zero dealers in my area. Same for Solo.

 

[jsikkema1]

Oregon 73V chain

Thats the Oregon Vanguard chain- is listed as meeting the ANSI standard for kickback potential. It has the "L" shaped raker otherwise same cutter profile as the 73LG chain. I stock it in 3/8 .058 (73V) but I don't sell much of it. Comes on the newer Husqvarna saws such as the 55 Rancher and the 359.

As far as cutting performance ?? should be simular to 73LG but maybe the raker would detract from the performance some. Takes more time to file or gring down the rakers- I do know that...

<img src=http://www.oregonchain.com/images/Product/Chain/detail/38_72v_thmb.jpg>\

http://www.oregonchain.com/pdf/chain/72V FB-90.pdf

Jeff

 

[eyolf]

Sawman and Dennis, regarding the Jonnyred 2085...man, my heart skipped a beat, thinkin' Jonsered was sellin' a version of the Husky 385 a couple of years before "big orange" was. And I missed it!

I believe that the poulan 415 was a 65cc version of the 2077 Jonsered, and the 475 was the same saw with the full displacement of the 2077. There may have been a later model series that corresponded to the big 2083, but I'm not familiar with it.

Regarding the "V" chain...I've tried exactly one loop of it. Was told that it was a safety chain that actually cuts. Counter guy showed me the little circular marks to file to on the depth rakers as the cutters are filed back, but I haven't used it enough to really form an opinion. 1 tank of gas in oak; I thought it seemed to cut a little slower.

 

[Saw Man]

Dennis,
I think you're right that it's an 2083. Thank's for the heads up.
Friend bought a bunch of the Poulan Pro 505 's(2083) for only $499 ! They run J-reds, and say they're exactly the same except for color, and price almost $250 less that a J-red.
They are discontinued by Poulan. I have one, runs good, when I use it. Especially for what he traded it to me for.
Guns for saws anyday!

Eyolf,
When talking with the Oregon rep, he said they had introduced the "V" with the rakers set high. But had enough interest by some logging/insurance companies that they lowered them for a better bite.
Didn't think of asking how to tell them apart. But, the stuff I fooled around with, cut real smooth. Took a file to the 'dogs', and it really moved then. Still smoother than LP.
Seems like they aren't interested in making a real pro version, but with those big av mounts, and the chain that 7900 fooled alot of us regarding cutting speed.
One cutter said, "If it don't feel like it's cuttin like a 'raped ape', it ain't cuttin". Don't know what a raped ape feels like, don't want be around one that is/was, but when I look at his chain, it had hooks big enough to put on the end of a drag chain. Scarry.

 

[Dennis]

Saw man..that is a great price on that 2083...my poulan is a 415..not 515...and we dont sell the 2083 here anymore, due to epa...it says 2083 but its a 2077 piston and cylinder...I have actual factory "tuning" specs for that saw, I talked out of one of the guys in Sweden over several beer....I still own 1 2077...and my brother has the poulan...

 

[Saw Man]

What kind of beer fuel were you loggin em down with???

Goofy, one piece of lit shows 83cc, and another 85 for the PP505.

There also is a 405. But doesn't show a 415. Looks like, specs same as tthe 505, it's a 70cc saw, but doesn't have a d-com valve.
Ought to be fun to start on a cold day.

 

[Dennis]

Decomps are for babies...(hehe that oughta start something)...I guess I am a baby though, as I use mine all the time...the 415 is supposed to be a mid 60cc range...never paid much attention to it actually..it showed up in a truck full of old saws, that was given to me...waiting for my next truck load...

Did you get my last email Sawman?

I forget what beer we were drinking..everything is a blur for that week...beer for breakfast, beer for lunch....hell, they gave us vodka shooters Monday morning at 9am....gotta love them Swedes....