Does Anyone Own a SOLO chainsaw or Have Opinions on Them?

[cus_deluxe]

Well the Solo 680, 681, and Super Rex are supposed to be kinda strong, maybe even desirable.

I would say beyond “ maybe even desirable”. The 665 and 681( my main frame of reference) are modern, very well built, strong saws with outstanding power to weight. Allegedly there were some crank issues with some 6xx saws that were pushed far beyond the mfgr expectations in race applications. Super rex is ancient and totally unrelated, tho very desirable for a collector.

 

[Richard L Yough]

My 647 is a nice saw , been heating my house for quite a few years .



Remember every day's a blessing!

 

[Ohioriverrat]

Is this thread dead yet? I resurrected my 654 and I'm pretty happy with it. I needed something between my super xl and my xp1050, and this powerhead was 10 bucks

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[Flintknapper]

The only Solo I own is a 603. It has been an excellent saw. Mine is the 'West Coast' version (Full wrap handle, Free breathing air filter and large dog/spike).

I have 24"...32"....and 43" bars for it. Run it with both 3/8" and 404 pitch chains (depending on the need).

Lots of torque. You can bury it in hardwood and lean on it....it really doesn't care.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

I am about to get a "fixer upper" 633 in the mail shortly.......... be the only Solo I have ever handled, let alone run.
I imagine parts are going to be hard to come by here......

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Well, I now own a Solo 633....... for better or worse!
Faulty kill switch, shows all the classic signs of leaking crank seals, slight scoring visible on piston at the exhaust......... on the plus side everything is there.

 

[North by Northwest]

Let's keep this old thread breathing . Actually much like Husky and Stihl , Solo has consumer grade saws and pro grade saws . They were a solid unit , dealer network was a little sparse though , to bad !

 

[ncfarmboy]

I have a 665 converted to 681 it's an ANIMAL!!!!!!!!
Shep

 

[Flintknapper]

I am about to get a "fixer upper" 633 in the mail shortly.......... be the only Solo I have ever handled, let alone run.
I imagine parts are going to be hard to come by here......

https://store.chainsawr.com/blogs/illustrated-part-lists/1119822-solo-illustrated-part-lists

 

[Deleted member 117362]

The only Solo I own is a 603. It has been an excellent saw. Mine is the 'West Coast' version (Full wrap handle, Free breathing air filter and large dog/spike).

I have 24"...32"....and 43" bars for it. Run it with both 3/8" and 404 pitch chains (depending on the need).

Lots of torque. You can bury it in hardwood and lean on it....it really doesn't care.

Nice looking saw, but come on, do you really use it? That's a beauty.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

https://store.chainsawr.com/blogs/illustrated-part-lists/1119822-solo-illustrated-part-lists

Yep, had found that previously and been in touch with the local "agent" who were not much help. Got on to the national importers of Solo products and they seem more promising- but for a very limited stock of parts. Can probably get seals and bearings, but not piston and ring.
The saw is in line to be pulled down and a full list of needed parts assembled- hopefully the piston and cylinder are savable, or the piston can be swapped out for more commonly found parts here.

 

[Iceboy]

......... 16 years later ............ and we are still alive!!!!!!!

 

[opalxx]

I have had a Solo 636 for about 10 - 15 years. Bought it 2nd hand for AU$90. Love it. Lotsa grunt and really hammers. I go away for 3 or 6 months at a time and it will start up on the 3rd pull. I sold my stihls, huskys and macs and kept this. Still running like new. Looking to upgrade to more cc and will only get another Solo. Not sure who they were manufactured by before but i see they now come out of AL-Ko industries. I wonder if still German and if still so good?

 

[pioneerguy600]

Still running the 690 on a chainsaw mill, its a heavy brute but solid and powerful.

 

[scottr]

I have had a Solo 636 for about 10 - 15 years. Bought it 2nd hand for AU$90. Love it. Lotsa grunt and really hammers. I go away for 3 or 6 months at a time and it will start up on the 3rd pull. I sold my stihls, huskys and macs and kept this. Still running like new. Looking to upgrade to more cc and will only get another Solo. Not sure who they were manufactured by before but i see they now come out of AL-Ko industries. I wonder if still German and if still so good?

Hey opalxx , my Solo 645 is a good step up to my 636 . Both saws are built similar to the Husqvarna 350 with the lower crank case half plastic molded in the chassis with the gas and oil tank .

 

[North by Northwest]

This thread just keeps going . As I mentioned previously briefly owned a Solo 654 . I purchased it from a local shop used (demo) . It performed flawlessly as do most German built units. However the dealer network was really poor unfortunately . I have had a few blowers pass through the shop , saws are scarce lately .

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Someone needs to start a new thread- Solo, the one that slipped through the cracks and got away!

 

[CR888]

A 681 Solo feels a lot stronger than a 461 or 372. The closest saw in power to weight is a 7900/7910 Dolmar (which looks surprisingly similar to a 681...wanna know why? cause Solo designed/engineered the 6400/7300/7900 series Dolmars). My 681 will run closer to my 660 or 390xp. They were at one stage THE best power to weight saw on the market. The 2009 catalogue was much bigger than both Stihl & Husky. They made great sprayers, brushcutters, backpack blowers and saws. Hedge trimmers were excellent too. We're making product in W/Germany since about the same time or earlier than Stihl. The factories were actually pretty close. If they were marketed as well as the major 2 brands Solo would be hands down number 1 in O-P-E.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

A 681 Solo feels a lot stronger than a 461 or 372. The closest saw in power to weight is a 7900/7910 Dolmar (which looks surprisingly similar to a 681...wanna know why? cause Solo designed/engineered the 6400/7300/7900 series Dolmars). My 681 will run closer to my 660 or 390xp. They were at one stage THE best power to weight saw on the market. The 2009 catalogue was much bigger than both Stihl & Husky. They made great sprayers, brushcutters, backpack blowers and saws. Hedge trimmers were excellent too. We're making product in W/Germany since about the same time or earlier than Stihl. The factories were actually pretty close. If they were marketed as well as the major 2 brands Solo would be hands down number 1 in O-P-E.

Yep, think we do a lot better Solo wise than our "neighbours" across the other side of the Pacific. Not sure what it was like on your side of the ditch, but Solo did not manage to bust the Stihl stranglehold on the Pro market here- had they managed that, it could be a whole different story.
Hell even if they had displaced the second runner Husqvarna here, they would have a stronger following, but even with a lower initial price, they still never took hold.
They still have a pretty good service dealership coverage this side of the Tasman.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Solo...or, a company named Solo is still selling concrete saws and i can only advise against them. They are good looking and do run well if you can get them to start...the customer service is a joke...no help at all from them and they list shops on their site as dealers who have never heard of them.

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