what small chainsaw to carry on the ATV ?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Small is nice. Cheap is nice. But you need a saw that will cut what you need it to.
Small branches can be easily cut with a sharp folding saw or compound, anvil pruners. 'Blow downs' come in all sizes.
And a saw that is not used a lot, especially a gas chainsaw, is often not a happy chainsaw.
So maybe think about a saw that you might have other uses for, and which you can maybe justify spending a little more on.

Philbert
 
The Ryobi 3714 is a decent saw and can be bought for less than 150 u.s. dollars. Its easy to work on, adjustable carburetor, and a good number of bar and chain choices for it.
How much have you used the Ryobi? I bought one and wore it out in 5 days felling with a big saw but limming and cutting up 6 to 10 inch trees clearing land. I loved that saw at first. Then the motor was so weak it bogged on stove wood. New chain didn't help. Store gave me a refund and I bought a cs490. Then wanted a lighter saw and bought a cs352. That's my ATV saw. How long have you had the Ryobi? It was great for a few days but didn't look as well built as the Echo. If I wanted used I find a refurbished echo. I sold a nearly new cs310 for 130 bucks just to clear my shop. Good day.
 
I've put about 80 hours on it doing about the same thing you did with yours.
 
If you want to spend 100-150 Canadian you will have to watch Kijiji or other sites all the time, good saws pop up once and a while but are gone fast.
I didn't have any luck finding a good used saw so I bought a Chinese 58cc saw. They're about 200 bucks but way more capable than any 200 dollar saw from a hardware store.
I have a 25cc Chinese top handle too which is ok for the atv but sucks if there's a big tree down so I drag the 58 around most of the time.
 
I bought the black version of a Ryobi 3714 (aka Techtronics Zenoah G3800) 6 months ago.
Gets used every 2 or 3 weeks for whatever comes up. Run from new on 30+ year old Husqvarna 50:1 oil and 91 octane non-ethanol petrol.
Apart from the clutch cover, only had the starter and top cover off for cleaning but everywhere I look it seems well made.
Starts on second pull, even on first once or twice when I was quick to pop the choke in after it burbled. Doesn't leak oil.
Air filter not perfect. (Latest Ryobis have a foam filter.)
Ruixing carb is good (which can't be said of all Chinese Walbro-copy carbs). Does require 1-tooth driver to tune but once adjusted, tune is stable.

It's by no means a pro saw but for me so far, it's never failed to satisfy.

Btw, picture taken when new.
IMG_20190319_185940.jpg
 
I bought the black version of a Ryobi 3714 (aka Techtronics Zenoah G3800) 6 months ago.
Gets used every 2 or 3 weeks for whatever comes up. Run from new on 30+ year old Husqvarna 50:1 oil and 91 octane non-ethanol petrol.
Apart from the clutch cover, only had the starter and top cover off for cleaning but everywhere I look it seems well made.
Starts on second pull, even on first once or twice when I was quick to pop the choke in after it burbled. Doesn't leak oil.
Air filter not perfect. (Latest Ryobis have a foam filter.)
Ruixing carb is good (which can't be said of all Chinese Walbro-copy carbs). Does require 1-tooth driver to tune but once adjusted, tune is stable.

It's by no means a pro saw but for me so far, it's never failed to satisfy.

Btw, picture taken when new.
View attachment 759409
Where did you get it. Looks nothing like the junk I had.
 
Where did you get it. Looks nothing like the junk I had.
I know. None of the Homelite range sold in the US is available in Australia and New Zealand.
Here Homelite & Ryobi are exclusive to "Bunnings" (our Lowes equivalent) and Homelite's entire product "range" is 3 versions of the same Zenoah design, marketed like an entry-level, lower specification Ryobi.

Anyway, surely all you guys in Louisiana only ever use Shreveport's famous Poulan products, right?:D
 
We're you able to adjust the carb? Running 50:1 or 40:1?
Ethanol or High Octane pure gas?

I retuned the carburetor after putting a muffler with no catalytic converter on it, plus opened up the muffler a little. I run 40:1 regular pump gas with ethanol.
 
I have the MS 180 wrenchless adjust. It lives on the ATV. 10+ yrs now. It is rear handle, not top. I cut one handed with it, it's so light. I paid around 200-220 USD. I also use star tron in its gas. I've put one carburetor on it. And 2 bars. Some 10 chains. It will need a sprocket soon.
I've been happy.
N
 
My daughter bought one of the $100 Ryobi saws at either Lowe's or Home Depot a year ago April. I filled it with 89 octane 10% Ethanol and Echo bar oil. Started the second pull, and it's been running great ever since. She doesn't use it a lot, but she has had several small trees blow down, and it has been up to the task of disposing of them.
 
My ATV saw is a used Husqvarna 55 Rancher. I run .325 18in on the saw. It rips and is very reliable. Spent just over $100 US on it. Was a great deal. After seeing and hearing it run many others have tried to buy it off me and I repeatedly say no not for sale.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Back
Top