Are Stihl saws as good as they were?

[Gologit]

When is were? For some guys that might be five or ten years ago.

I've run just about every big saw Stihl ever made from the early seventies until now. I usually ran the latest and newest of whatever they had to offer at the time. They were a dependable saw then...and they still are. That's what I've always liked the most about them. I made a lot of money running Stihl because I could count on them to run.

Stock, they're not a very exciting saw but with some sensible mods they'll still do a good job.

The smaller Stihls? Most of the problems I hear about involve some degree of operator error and sometimes just plain operator ignorance. The saw shop I do business with, and whose word I trust, tells me that the smaller Stihls are actually better then the old ones. They judge that by the number of returns they get and the type of problems that come through the door. If treated properly they'll last a long time.

And, before somebody runs their mouth and accuses me of pimping for Stihl, I could have just as easily been running Huskys all these years. When my Mac 125 blew up and I needed a saw to work the next day, the Stihl shop was the only one open. :msp_biggrin:

 

[Bigapple]

Stihl VA Beach

Hi
is any components actually manufactured at VA Beach or is it like other item plants that have set up in the Philippines etc where they are just a big assembly line using parts manufactured or bought in from the mother country. I can remember when I was at Uni doing marketing and the lecturer had a large picture on the board of a Ford car and surprisingly little of that car was actually made by Ford. It is always more cost effective to go to a company that is geared up to make that component than set up a plant of your own. Ford cars in Europe were mainly kit car stuff. No big Foundries for engine blocks etc, No machine shops, No sheet metal forming shops, just a big assembly line with people playing meccano sets. So is the quality of VA Beach totally dependent on the skills of the assembler. If so wait a couple of years and see if the guy who bolts on the carb is still as dedicated as he fits his 100,000th carb. Monotony is the downfall of mass assembly.

 

[CATDIESEL]

Easy friend, Randy is a good friend, and well respected around here. Also one of few in here who actually fell real timber. Lets give credit, and respect where it's due.

not discrediting or disrespecting anyone here. as stated, it is all in good fun. sounds like a few here are a little too serious.....about an old chainsaw no less?

 

[timberland ts]

It is for fun but the difference of people on this site are those who use a saw for a living and have for the last how many years that know what there talking about and the arm chair quarterbacks that can read info off a screen or run a saw 20 hrs a year. A little more respect is due for the first!

 

[mountainlake]

Not much to argue here, Stihl pro saw are as good or better. The rest not even close and I think getting cheapend up every year. Steve

 

[Gologit]

not discrediting or disrespecting anyone here. as stated, it is all in good fun. sounds like a few here are a little too serious.....about an old chainsaw no less?

A lot of the guys that run and restore old saws are helping keep history alive. People like RandyMac and a few others here that actually made their living with the heavy iron understand that connection. They put a lot of time and money into what they do.

I don't have the same nostalgia for old saws as they do but, because of their efforts, I can see and hear what things were like when I was a kid. I like to hear those old saws run and I might even pick one up and cut a little wood with it. It's worth beyond measure to be able to do that.

People restore old cars, old airplanes, old locomotives, and old boats...these guys restore old saws. If we can't see our history we might forget where we came from. Every time I catch myself grumbling about having to pack a 660 all day I just stop and remember what it was like to drag a handlebar Mac around the woods. If I really want a comparison I can pick up an old Mac at a GTG and run one. The guys that can tell you every nut and bolt in an old saw and can actually build and run them keep our heritage alive. I appreciate that.

And besides... I think they're having fun. Nothing wrong with fun.

 

[CATDIESEL]

It is for fun but the difference of people on this site are those who use a saw for a living and have for the last how many years that know what there talking about and the arm chair quarterbacks that can read info off a screen or run a saw 20 hrs a year. A little more respect is due for the first!

i run saws 5-6 days a week for a living, have done so for the last 20+ years,had a saw in my hands from about 8yrs, old. both of my crews are on the road for 2 weeks at a time. are we pros, or just armchair QB's????

 

[Mastermind]

Chainsaws should be outlawed. They're dangerous and loud.

 

[stihl sawing]

Chainsaws should be outlawed. They're dangerous and loud.

Shhhh, someone might try to do it.

 

[H 2 H]

It is for fun but the difference of people on this site are those who use a saw for a living and have for the last how many years that know what there talking about and the arm chair quarterbacks that can read info off a screen or run a saw 20 hrs a year. A little more respect is due for the first!

:msp_ohmy:

 

[Trx250r180]

stihls are the most popular around here ,i rarely see a husky in someones truck

 

[Isna]

I make a living running chainsaws. So far, Stihl saws are the most reliable saws we have tested. Each pro model runs better than the previous. Nevertheless, I have noticed a decrease in lifespan. As an example, here is a 362 that "died" 2 months ago: the mag case broke near a silent block. After inspection, I noticed the magnesium was much thinner than on previous models.
View attachment 281477
Reducing weight, saving on metal... Newer models seem less reliable to me but that's not only concerning Stihl. On the counterpart, they are lighter, better AV... I collect and love running old saws but, to earn a living, I rely on modern Stihl saws...

 

[roberte]

stihls are the most popular around here ,i rarely see a husky in someones truck

and the ones i do see are farm grade...

every time I try to ask about huskys I get the same answer, and they are not flattering answers. I was trying to ask a straight question, hoping to get a straight answer. In 34 years of saws I have not knowingly used a husky. I picked a couple up at saw shops and IDK it looks to me that some of there plastic parts dont look like they will stand up and yes the sthils have the same plastic parts blah blah.. However there must be something to huskys, guys buy and use them.

 

[H 2 H]

and the ones i do see are farm grade...

every time I try to ask about huskys I get the same answer, and they are not flattering answers. I was trying to ask a straight question, hoping to get a straight answer. In 34 years of saws I have not knowingly used a husky. I picked a couple up at saw shops and IDK it looks to me that some of there plastic parts dont look like they will stand up and yes the sthils have the same plastic parts blah blah.. However there must be something to huskys, guys buy and use them.

When I've bought new saws last year I did try other brands out side by side

When buying new saws I wont buy anything with out trying them first

Wish I was out side right now but this wind and rain stuff the last couple days makes it kinda hard to many things falling out of the sky when I was up there earlier

 

[paccity]

while i have thought about buying the latest and so called greatest stihl and huskies i'll stick with my 90's and earlier saws. they work just as good if not better than what i can get off the shelf today. now if someone would like to donate a variety of the latest pro saws i would love to give my opinion on how they hold up. :msp_tongue:

 

[NORMZILLA44]

Im with you there Frasier, same era I like too. Run both today saws, and the 90 ish ones too at work. 90's ones still are my favorite, and out cut the brand new stock ones. As for the ones who don't know Husky, or don't believe in em I will put my huskies with the series starting with a 2, up against any saw on the planet. If I was going to buy a new saw, it would hands down be a 390xp.

 

[bcorradi]

while i have thought about buying the latest and so called greatest stihl and huskies i'll stick with my 90's and earlier saws. they work just as good if not better than what i can get off the shelf today. now if someone would like to donate a variety of the latest pro saws i would love to give my opinion on how they hold up. :msp_tongue:

Ok understandable...what brands and flavors do u speak of?

 

[hoeyrd2110]

i think stihl is slowly returning to their former glory(pre flippy cap) days. i can only hope for the companies sake the 661 is a hit if not they will be running up a steeper hill than before. and basically everyone is gunning against stihl collectively so they do have quite a bit to prove. the new ones start like an old haunted MAC the older stihls start much easier in my opinion and are way smoother regardless of the A/V type. they went chasing husky's high RPM with the last few generations of saws and missed the boat IMHO. i've heard great things about the 261 and 461 being torquey which is exciting, but the 441 stock is a weezer to me. they need more saws like the 261 and 461 and less 441's

 

[CATDIESEL]

i think stihl is slowly returning to their former glory(pre flippy cap) days. i can only hope for the companies sake the 661 is a hit if not they will be running up a steeper hill than before. and basically everyone is gunning against stihl collectively so they do have quite a bit to prove. the new ones start like an old haunted MAC the older stihls start much easier in my opinion and are way smoother regardless of the A/V type. they went chasing husky's high RPM with the last few generations of saws and missed the boat IMHO. i've heard great things about the 261 and 461 being torquey which is exciting, but the 441 stock is a weezer to me. they need more saws like the 261 and 461 and less 441's

have you ran a 441cm?

 

[hoeyrd2110]

have you ran a 441cm?

More than I wanted to. I've ran the 261 also. Its a nice return to form for stihl.