bestest 40cc saw

[holeycow]

let's start with "price is no object"

OP: " what is the lightest, most powerful, best handling (40cc or so) saw out there"

durability figures in pretty big, also.

 

[tallguys]

I was looking at some Poulan Pro's the other day at Canadian Tire, just for the heck of it, and they seemed a little cheaply built to me and kinda heavy for the size, but pretty decent looking for the price. I'd be willing to spend more money for a better saw.

I love Canadian Tire myself. I bought my first chainsaw there, a McCulloch PowerMac35. Great little saw if only it would've started reliably and I learned never to do that again. You don't mention the brand of your larger saws. If you're satisfied with how your dealer treats you I'd suggest you start your search with him.

Personally, I like Dolmars and Stihls. The PS-420 is arguably one of the best 40cc saws you will come across. Mag case and built like a tank. Great power too. If you want to go lighter see if you can find an older PS-401. Or you can try a MS200, only 35cc but it really is a screamer. Its the same as the MS200T most tree surgeons use but with a rear handle. Yes pricey, but you might luck out used. All these are magnesium construction pro quality saws.

I'm not fond of the plastic clamshell saws but for one exception so far and thats another Dolmar, the 3410TH. Good power and great handling, though many will argue against using a tophandle for limbing. Too bad, it works for me. I'd consider a Husky 339XP also, as nmurph mentioned, especially if you're in Husky country. Price wise its about the same as the MS200 though, and not magnesium cased if that matter to you.

Happy hunting!

 

[jus2fat]

let's start with "price is no object"
OP: " what is the lightest, most powerful, best handling (40cc or so) saw out there"
durability figures in pretty big, also.

Easy one if..."price is no object"...!!
Stihl MS 200 (if ya can find one) or the MS 201.. Rear handled model of the awesome MS 200T.
35.2 cc - 8.8 lb. - 2.4 hp.
$659 with 14" bar. Durable as a steel wedge and you're paying for it..!!

J2F

 

[holeycow]

Easy one if..."price is no object"...!!
Stihl MS 200 (if ya can find one) or the MS 201.. Rear handled model of the awesome MS 200T.
35.2 cc - 8.8 lb. - 2.4 hp.
$659 with 14" bar. Durable as a steel wedge and you're paying for it..!!

J2F

OK, now that we've established that price is an object, LOL, what is the closest you can get for around $400.00 that would be as durable as a plastic wedge in the summertime, using a small hatchet in a soft-ish tree with very little back lean and a cooperative breeze?

unless I win the lottery....

 

[jus2fat]

OK...then...for your needs...I would recommend the Stihl MS 250.

MS 250 = 45.4cc - 3.0 hp. - 10.1 lb. - and $299 with 18" bar
(I'd recommend a shorter bar and chain...like 14" or 16" max..!!)

I can't recommend any Huskys...only have one dealer here...and he's also the Stihl dealer.

J2F

 

[Yooperforeman]

Defininately only one saw,The Stihl MS 211!

 

[Joeypole]

Ok here comes the thrashing of the newbie here.


I bought a POS Homelite 38cc 16 inch bar off a guy on CL last year that was brand new. Besides all the crappy plastic stuff on it and the horrible plastic tool less chain tensioner it runs. I bought a couple replacement adjuster wheels for like $.70 each. Anyway the thing runs great and cuts very well. This year I took the muffler off and hollowed it out and opened the exit of the muffler, tuned the carb and it became a monster. For $120 or whatever it is it cuts like a MOFO. The muffler mod and carb retune helped it start in like 4-6 pulls where it used to be about 10 pulls to start it.



But now I scored a 338XPT and did a muffler mod and wow is this thing sweet. So easy to handle and light and it screams and cuts very well. I love it, but they are pricey unless you find a bucket of 338 parts on CL like I did, but I'm still $60+ into it with replacement parts. Still love it as I'm under $110 into it.

 

[JoshF]

ms 192t is really nice if you find yourself cutting a lot of tree tops.

 

[Zombiechopper]

there is a lot of buy this and that goin on most of which ain't helpin you.

In Canada, especially rural Canada, You have hardware store junk (any saw sold at crappy tire is junk, they simply do not carry any quality saws) and you have Stihl and Husqvarna. A little bit of Echo here and there but its hit and miss.

In Canada, Husqvarna is priced way way higher than the competing Stihl models. I have no idea why they do that but as you have already found out it is true.

So, the two good quality available brands to look at are Husky and Stihl. Quality is about the same, but Husky costs 50% more across the board in Canada. So, get a Stihl.

The best of the best small cc pro saw is the Stihl MS200 or newer 201. The next step down is the already mentioned MS211, or MS250 if you can stand a bit more weight. The very best saw shop in Alberta is Timberland in Edmonton. It's right by Princess Auto a couple doors down from Crazy Horse strippers if you know where that is. In the boonies, most every John Deere dealership carries stihl. If you go to Timberland get a cheeseburger at the strip joint. They have great burgers.

 

[JMD425]

EFCO MT4000 $299 Baileys best saw for the money 40cc. Go up to EFCO 147 18"bar 45cc 3.1hp $349.99

 

[jus2fat]

there is a lot of buy this and that goin on most of which ain't helpin you.

In Canada, especially rural Canada, You have hardware store junk (any saw sold at crappy tire is junk, they simply do not carry any quality saws) and you have Stihl and Husqvarna. A little bit of Echo here and there but its hit and miss.

In Canada, Husqvarna is priced way way higher than the competing Stihl models. I have no idea why they do that but as you have already found out it is true.

So, the two good quality available brands to look at are Husky and Stihl. Quality is about the same, but Husky costs 50% more across the board in Canada. So, get a Stihl.

The best of the best small cc pro saw is the Stihl MS200 or newer 201. The next step down is the already mentioned MS211, or MS250 if you can stand a bit more weight.

Great post..!! There's nothing better than local knowledge..!!

There really isn't but TWO choices as I read it...The Stihl 211 or the Stihl 250.

Stihl 211 = 35.2cc - 2.3 hp. - 9.5 lb. - $279 (US dollars)
Stihl 250 = 45 cc - 3.0 hp. - 10.1 lb - $299 (US dollars)

The Husky 445 would be right in there except for the Massive Mark-Up you mentioned..!!

J2F

 

[blsnelling]

Import a Redmax from the US. No clamshell engine. No sheet metal connecting rod!

 

[jus2fat]

Import a Redmax from the US. No clamshell engine. No sheet metal connecting rod!

So where is he supposed to get parts and service and warranty work if needed..??
Import them..??

J2F

 

[SawTroll]

let's start with "price is no object"

OP: " what is the lightest, most powerful, best handling (40cc or so) saw out there"

durability figures in pretty big, also.

OK, but around 40cc it is not possible to combine lightest with most powerful even with pro saws, as the differences are too large in both regards. The most powerful ones weights close to some 50cc pro saws - and the really light ones (that are based on top-handle models) have far less power, as well as weight.

The Redmax GZ4500 is an interesting compromise regarding power and weigh, but I haven't even seen one here, and know little about it except specs....

I chose the 339xp, when I wanted a saw that was lighter than the 50cc 346xp, mostly because it felt better in my hands than the MS200 did, and also have a slight power advantage - and have no need for a 10 lbs+ "40cc" saw.

If price was more of a concern, I would have recommended that you compared the Husky 435/440 to the MS211.

 

[blsnelling]

I did a lot of comparisons on this size saw. 9.5 lbs was the max I'd consider for a powerhead. The MS200 couldn't compete. It's a powerhouse of a tophandle saw, but the Redmax 3800 and 400 were much stronger. Stihl just leaves nothing in the 200 cylinder to work with. There's not much you can do in there. It is what it is. The Shindaiwa 377 was by far the best built, but couldn't hang with the 3800. Then along came the little Ryobi for $100 which was a Redmax GZ400. It bested the 3800. My only complaint with them is their plasticy exterior. I'm hoping a GZ4500 is a little better in those reguards. The engine in these is made by Zenoah and is very high quality. One of these days, I may finally buy a 4500. The best price I've found on one is $350, and I've never seen a used one for sale.

 

[holeycow]

Well, then. Thanks for all the info. Now you's got me wondering something.
I have a jonsered 590. I bought it pretty much new in about '88 or '89. It still runs good.
I weighed it a while back with some gas and oil and a 16" bar & chain on. It weighed 13lbs.
How will a new saw like the Redmax or the Dolmar in the 40cc size compare to the old 590?

 

[tallguys]

Well, then. Thanks for all the info. Now you's got me wondering something.
I have a jonsered 590.... still runs good... with some gas and oil and a 16" bar & chain on. It weighed 13lbs.
How will a new saw like the Redmax or the Dolmar in the 40cc size compare to the old 590?

The Dolmar PS-420 will weigh in about the same and will last easily as long as your 590 as its built like a pro saw. Are you close to Edmonton because there is a dealer call The Lawnmower Hospital that carries Dolmar, Husqvarna and Jonsered. It would be a good place to go and compare the PS-420 against the current Jred offerings.

You will find that for dollar value, nothing beats Dolmar construction. :msp_smile: As zombiechomper mentioned, for some reason Husky prices its pro class saws out to lunch here in Canada. Their homeowner saws price well though, like the 435 or 445.

 

[holeycow]

7hrs north of Edmonton.

When you live in a place like this, the immediate "neighborhood" is about 2hrs radius. So Edmonton is just a little field trip.

I'll call those guys in Edmonton to check it out. Thanks!

 

[holeycow]

Import a Redmax from the US. No clamshell engine. No sheet metal connecting rod!

sheetmetal connecting rod! I had no idea. Kinda sad, really.

 

[blsnelling]

sheetmetal connecting rod! I had no idea. Kinda sad, really.

Not sure I should call it sheet metal, but it's just a flat piece of steel. It is not a forged beam as found in a pro saw. The 250, or 230, and up do not have these cheasey rods. I suppose they'll stand up fine with normal use, but I expect better than that in my saws. Great care must be taken to simply remove the clutch on these. Otherwise, you're liable to have a rod that looks like this.

Use the wrong kind of piston stop, and you're liable to poke a hole right through the piston crown. Admittedly, both of these failures were caused by not using the proper Stihl piston stop. Reguardless, the parts in these saw are not robust at all.