Common man looking for a chainsaw on a budget

[Brianlol]

I think the stihl (61cc) 036 is the perfect midrange saw for u. It rips a 24" bar and has more power than the ms260. U can find them for $300 all day long. Ive used a 036 a lot and a lot of guys will agree they r a great saw.
Good luck

 

[grizz55chev]

The 034-036 is one of the most reliable all purpose saws I've owned. Traded mine for a brand new 270 marlin a while back, I got more use out of the 036. At least it went to a good home, my oldest and dearest friends son is the proud owner and uses it regularly and loves it.

 

[LittleLebowski]

I think the stihl (61cc) 036 is the perfect midrange saw for u. It rips a 24" bar and has more power than the ms260. U can find them for $300 all day long. Ive used a 036 a lot and a lot of guys will agree they r a great saw.
Good luck

I'm gathering that you didn't read the thread

 

[LittleLebowski]

***If you're just catching up on this thread, I bought a Poulan 5020AV***


Inspected the air filter (not for the first time) and was horrified to see the amount of sawdust that made it through the seal yesterday. For now, I sealed the gap with a bit of gun grease. I'll prolly use something more permanent later but I have work to do today after I finish hanging curtain rods for Herself.

 

[LittleLebowski]

Is there a cheap but functional chainsaw case source for this Poulan 5020AV? I would prefer locking but that can be fixed later on.

 

[zogger]

Is there a cheap but functional chainsaw case source for this Poulan 5020AV? I would prefer locking but that can be fixed later on.

New ones are sold with a case.

 

[LittleLebowski]

New ones are sold with a case.

Clearly I don't have a case and am searching for one.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Mark, I have a pouch of 5.5mm Stihl files hanging in the barn (and 5.2mm too), got them at the local hardware store.

As for file guides, they're fine if you need them. But one can't assume the level of proficiency with tools just because someone's new to chainsaws. By the time I filed my first chain I'd been sharpening knives, chisels, planes, any kind of blade for many years, and once I knew what the edge was supposed to look like it was no big deal. Good light, a solid surface and an angle reference helps.

As for angle, I'm not sure that 25 vs. 30 degrees matters much compared to dull.

Leave it to you to come back with metric file sizes. Geeesshh...

BTW the correct metric measurement for 7/32" is 5.563mm

As for angles, I would think that a guide that has the angles the same as the witness marks on the chain would be a good thing for someone learning how to file.

You have to remember not everyone is as smart as you are.

 

[zogger]

Clearly I don't have a case and am searching for one.

Well, new for something that fits 40-50 bucks, I guess anyplace that carries new poulan stuff or online where I just looked like at amazon. the big Husky square box might fit it, don't know. I would think better perhaps to find a used case from the junk pile at a local saw shop when you get the chance, if you want to save some loot. Just have the saw with you to check fitment of course.

There's always the cobjob your own from an old plastic ice cooler as well, little cutting etc, perhaps a 5 buck yard sale big cooler.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Well, new for something that fits 40-50 bucks, I guess anyplace that carries new poulan stuff or online where I just looked like at amazon. the big Husky square box might fit it, don't know. I would think better perhaps to find a used case from the junk pile at a local saw shop when you get the chance, if you want to save some loot. Just have the saw with you to check fitment of course.

There's always the cobjob your own from an old plastic ice cooler as well, little cutting etc, perhaps a 5 buck yard sale big cooler.

The 5020 case is the same as the square Husky ones, far as I can tell..

 

[LittleLebowski]

Well, had kind of a tough afternoon with the 5020. Cut five 4-7" or so oaks down and it shut itself down a lot. Once I started cutting with the right side down, it ran noticeably better but still not well enough to make me think all is well. The new chain was installed but it's the same model as the old one. Is the rear handle supposed to be unattached at the forward top point where it goes into the body?

It did start running better when I moved onto more vertical cuts but I feel like it's not running well. I cleaned the bar well when installing the chain and I am sure I tensioned it properly. Air filter was clean and sealed. Ethanol free 40:1 fuel is what I use.

 

[Chris-PA]

Leave it to you to come back with metric file sizes. Geeesshh...

BTW the correct metric measurement for 7/32" is 5.563mm

The Stihl files are marked with both measurements - maybe send them a letter and let them know they're wrong.

As for angles, I would think that a guide that has the angles the same as the witness marks on the chain would be a good thing for someone learning how to file.

That's what I'd use. Those marks are pretty much useless for anything but freehand filing BTW.....

You have to remember not everyone is as smart as you are.

Many people are a lot smarter than I am - what on earth does sharpening and filing things have to do with being smart?

 

[Agent Orange]

Well, had kind of a tough afternoon with the 5020. Cut five 4-7" or so oaks down and it shut itself down a lot. Once I started cutting with the right side down, it ran noticeably better but still not well enough to make me think all is well. The new chain was installed but it's the same model as the old one. Is the rear handle supposed to be unattached at the forward top point where it goes into the body?

It did start running better when I moved onto more vertical cuts but I feel like it's not running well. I cleaned the bar well when installing the chain and I am sure I tensioned it properly. Air filter was clean and sealed. Ethanol free 40:1 fuel is what I use.

I'm not a pro, but looking at the piles of dust I would say you're chain is dull. You should see chips of some sort instead of sawdust. Try to learn filing, either here or take your chances on YouTube. Hopefully the pros will be along to help instead of slinging mud at each other.

 

[jakethesnake]

I'm guessing you might need to tweek the tuning

 

[LittleLebowski]

On a whim as I pick out the right sharpening kit, I picked up a Husqvarna chain and it cuts much better. It was paid for on a leftover Lowes gift card, better than my wife buying plants on it

 

[LittleLebowski]

Do these things really hate 89 octane or something? It's sure been hard to start on that despite the manual explicitly stating that it needs at least 87 octane. No real gas near me, just the regular ethanol crap.

 

[jr27236]

I would say you need to tune the carb again, since you have been running it, it's now broken in and needs a little tweak probably. Also once you learn how to sharpen your chain, you'll be doing it in no time. I would get a stump vise also makes life a little easier in the woods sharpening.

 

[LittleLebowski]

I would say you need to tune the carb again, since you have been running it, it's now broken in and needs a little tweet probably. Also once you learn how to sharpen your chain, you'll be doing it in no time. I would get a stump vise also makes life a little easier in the woods sharpening.

Yeah, I have the tool for the carb, I just need to set aside time to read and also watch videos on it.

 

[jakethesnake]

You keep that Glock taped to that saw?

 

[jakethesnake]

You are notching those trees fore you fall em ain't ya? If not please do It's safer please learn if you haven't already I'd also recommend if you don't own any get some plastic felling wedges ordered up they're cheap and can save your tail on questionable trees