Downgrade from 70cc to 60cc

[NC Cutter]

After camping on the long holiday weekend, I find myself once again contemplating downgrading from a 70cc saw to a 60cc saw to save weight. I figure with the 1 lb less powerhead combined with the shorter 20" b&c vs the 24", I'd be down around 1.75 lbs.

So I'm contemplating trading the Husqvarna 372xp for a Echo 590 or possibly the Dolmar 6100. Good trade or no? I would want a new model for my great condition used. Is that even feasible, or just try to sell it? Should I put an ad in trading post or would it just be easier to contact a local dealer and try to negotiate with them?

Speaking of dealers, I like the convenience of the Echo dealer (less than 10 minutes away), but I've come to discover it takes a long time for him to get parts. So having an Echo dealer close by seems kind of worthless if they have to order everything just like I would anyway.

The Dolmar dealers don't stock any saws and aren't really saw shops anyway. Not sure what to do on that end.

I'm steering far around Autotune saws, so Husqvarna is dead to me with their current lineup. I'd much rather have the internal clutch of any of the other saws anyway.

I'd consider a Stihl, but only one of the newer computer model saws. I've read to stay away from the older 362 model.

Thoughts?

 

[svk]

Buy a shorter lightweight bar for your 372 and keep cutting.

 

[blsnelling]

Don't over look a ported 50cc with a 20" bar if weight is a real concern.

 

[BroncoRN]

Grab one of those old heavy mag saws and drag that around for a couple hours. That 372 will feel like a feather!

 

[computeruser]

18" laminated bar!!

 

[NC Cutter]

Buy a shorter lightweight bar for your 372 and keep cutting.

I mulled this over for quite awhile. I'd have another $100 in a Total lightweight 20" bar that would net me around a pound loss over the solid 24".

Alternatively, I could put the same lightweight bar on one of the 60cc powerheads that already weighs a pound less.

 

[NC Cutter]

Don't over look a ported 50cc with a 20" bar if weight is a real concern.

My last ms261 w/ 20" bar wasn't the greatest experience. Many are saying the new one is loads better, but I doubt it would keep up with a stock 60cc saw, much less a MM'ed saw. Not sure though, just guessing.

Also, I have a 40cc saw for small stuff.

 

[NC Cutter]

Grab one of those old heavy mag saws and drag that around for a couple hours. That 372 will feel like a feather!

I was climbing up and down the mountainside while cutting this weekend. Grasses were almost waist high in places. It sucked! My buddy has an old McCullough saw that I can't imagine dragging through that stuff. I didn't bring my new little 40cc Echo, but it would have been too small for some of that stuff anyway.

 

[NC Cutter]

18" laminated bar!!

I looked into an 18" bar, but chain is scarce for that size on this saw. Even online the selection is very limited.

 

[GrassGuerilla]

While I think the echo 590 is the best bang for the buck out there, trading off a 372 for one seems like a bad decision. It's a great budget 60cc, but it ain't no 372. Put that lightweight bar on the 70cc saw and get the best of both.

 

[computeruser]

I looked into an 18" bar, but chain is scarce for that size on this saw. Even online the selection is very limited.

Scarce?! You can get a loop spun up in any size you want from any number of shops or online sources. Pitch, gauge, and number of drive links, and bam!

 

[GrassGuerilla]

I looked into an 18" bar, but chain is scarce for that size on this saw. Even online the selection is very limited.

If you think those are scarce, try sourcing the 70dl chain that comes stock on a 590. That's an oddball size. I swapped mine out for a proper 72dl 20".

 

[stihlaficionado]

My last ms261 w/ 20" bar wasn't the greatest experience. Many are saying the new one is loads better, but I doubt it would keep up with a stock 60cc saw, much less a MM'ed saw. Not sure though, just guessing.

Also, I have a 40cc saw for small stuff.

It's pretty darn close. I have a ported 261 by Brad & have run it against a stock 362...pretty darn close with a 20" ...the 261 running .325 though

 

[svk]

I looked into an 18" bar, but chain is scarce for that size on this saw. Even online the selection is very limited.

Those chains/bars are very common.

I ran a 16" bar on my 2165 (physically the size saw as a 372) and balance was fine.

 

[sunfish]

Some 60cc saws are as larger as a 372. Just sayin.

 

[stihlaficionado]

Some 60cc saws are as larger as a 372. Just sayin.

True...some fat & bulky 60's

 

[Chris-PA]

If you think those are scarce, try sourcing the 70dl chain that comes stock on a 590. That's an oddball size. I swapped mine out for a proper 72dl 20".

You can buy 70DL 3/8 chains at most box stores, but they will be TriLink. You can get full chisel non-safety chain at TSC in 70DL. It works well.

 

[weimedog]

In a similar mind set a few years back, I built myself a 372 (Original "non" xt) based saw with 365 top plastic and filter. Put an eighteen inch Sugihara bar & Oregon LGX...great saw. It was both lighter and easier to deal with than the high top version. Certainly lighter and more compact than a high top 372xt with a 24 inch bar! The new XT versions have packed on a bit of size & weight as compared to the original ones. Since then I took a "damn the torpedo's" approach and built myself a 562 with a 20 inch Total lite bar. Its a match of a stock 372 from a power perspective and a WHOLE lot lighter, less vibration too. I haven't had any of the much talked about issues. Maybe because my tweaks were about ridding heat from the system or maybe I just have the statistically good bits and pieces, really couldn't say. (It started as a toasted 2012 version, got a new set of "six screw" cases, an el48, & my tweaks which include a popup, cut cylinder base & flange, muffler mod, cover mods) It was hot as hell this summer. No issues of any kind yet.

That Dolmar (Now Makita) looks interesting and seems to be a legitimate option in my mind...especially if you have a dealer like the "Cutting Edge" around. The Echo I see a lot, hear a lot of chatter about on line....but have never ever seen one in the field so have no opinion. I personally rather see in real life than read about when it comes to mechanical things. I have seen the Dolmars.

I've seen the Stihl's as well....

 

[CoreyB]

If I where looking for a camp saw I would grab a little Dolmar 421. Although I totally get wanting a 6100

 

[Full Chisel]

I would put money on having regrets sending that 372 down the road! If I could only have one saw, the 372 would without a doubt be it.