NEVER AGAIN!!!!

[wood4heat]

Will I buy a piece of homeowner grade equipment from Stihl! A few years ago I bought an ms211 for some cleanup around my house. That POS was nothing but trouble from day one! Ditched it for a used 024 which has been a great saw!

I was up cutting firewood with my uncle a couple years ago. He had just bought an MS290. Ran fine half the day until the choke/run switch popped out of position and was interfering with the throttle. We snapped it back in place but it refused to stay. We wound up finishing the day with just my 361.

Last year I picked up an hs45 trimmer. After fighting the F'ing thing for half an hour I got it running and did quite a bit of work with it. Went through another battle getting it started a few weeks ago and it ran but would die as soon as it built enough rpm to get the blade moving. I thought it was just too low on fuel and the pickup was sucking air. Today I filled it to the top and after messing with it for another half hour I got the same BS! Launched that cheap POS half way across the yard.

Is homeowner Stihl code for single use?

 

[alexcagle]

Will I buy a piece of homeowner grade equipment from Stihl! A few years ago I bought an ms211 for some cleanup around my house. That POS was nothing but trouble from day one! Ditched it for a used 024 which has been a great saw!

I was up cutting firewood with my uncle a couple years ago. He had just bought an MS290. Ran fine half the day until the choke/run switch popped out of position and was interfering with the throttle. We snapped it back in place but it refused to stay. We wound up finishing the day with just my 361.

Last year I picked up an hs45 trimmer. After fighting the F'ing thing for half an hour I got it running and did quite a bit of work with it. Went through another battle getting it started a few weeks ago and it ran but would die as soon as it built enough rpm to get the blade moving. I thought it was just too low on fuel and the pickup was sucking air. Today I filled it to the top and after messing with it for another half hour I got the same BS! Launched that cheap POS half way across the yard.

Is homeowner Stihl code for single use?

Why didn't you take them back for warranty?

 

[wood4heat]

Why didn't you take them back for warranty?

I suppose that would be fine for someone who doesn't mind running to the dealer to drop their equipment off every time they have a job to do. Kinda sucks when you've driven an hour or more out to the woods though. For me I would rather have something I can depend on. At this point I don't think Stihl offers that unless you want to spend the $$$$$ I bet I would have just as good of luck with something from Harbor Frieght.

 

[7sleeper]

I think you don't know how to use two stroke equipment...

7

 

[user 122190]

My 4 year old, MS290 has been bullet proof. Only time I had a problem is when I let my neighbor tune it for me. Once I fixed his, generous help, it was back to cutting, running and starting without fault.

 

[merc_man]

Iv had a ms 290 and 250. Only trouble had was the 250 needed to be tuned.

 

[wood4heat]

I think you don't know how to use two stroke equipment...

7

Well... I never had any trouble with my dads 026. His POS Stihl leaf blower was a PITA to get running but seemed to work once you got it going.

My father in laws Stihl back pack blower was better. As we're his saws and weed eaters but they were all commercial pro grade.

I have never had any trouble with my 361. Starts easy and runs great. I've never flooded it like some complain of but I don't use the decomp. My 024 has been just as trouble free even though I don't use it much.

I will give your opinion some consideration though. In all of my experience with two strokes pulling the trigger makes them rev up and do work. Is that not how you use the homeowner products?

 

[wood4heat]

Clearly some of you have had better luck with this stuff than me.

 

[Efisher26]

What makes it a homeowner stihl? (not sarcastic)


-Efisher26-

 

[Kostas]

Clearly some of you have had better luck with this stuff than me.

Obviously.A friend of mine has an ms211 5 years now.He never rerplaced anything on the saw but a plug and he push it like there is no tommorow.The saw never missed a bit and it starts allways first pull when hot.Ok,it is a litlle hard to start cold but other than that,it is rock solid.He always cary it when we going to do a job so i now first hand.He also has an ms 390 which is a little heavy for the power but it is reliable as well.I think that guys in here prefer the magnesium crank case saws because they responde well to mods and tend to call clamshells saws "homeowners".

 

[earlthegoat2]

As a maintenance tech for outdoor power equipment, I generally cannot stand homeowner grade equipment. Though, I have not had significant problems with Stihl homeowner grade equipment, I have done some maintenance on them and can say I would rather work on the pro stuff. So much so that I don't buy any homeowner grade items I would be using for myself.

 

[alexcagle]

"Occasional use" means homeowner use.
"Professional use" means it gets used every day.
"Construction or Industrial" means all day every day use.
MS390 was "intermediate use" I believe.

 

[wood4heat]

What makes it a homeowner stihl? (not sarcastic)


-Efisher26-

Stihl has several ranges of equipment in their catalog. I'm not positive they call it homeowner but it's their less expensive line and not intended for every day use. Generally speaking this line has fewer features and a lower quality of construction.

 

[Jacob J.]

I've not had any experience with the 211, but the appearance of it to me screams "cheap." That being said, I purchased a new MS-250CBE for my mom and it has seen horrendous abuse and still runs great. Same with the MS-210CE I bought for my Aunt- She's even cut truckloads of Bamboo with it (dirt clods and all) and at one point went two years without cleaning the air filter and it's hanging tough.

 

[Rockjock]

Stihl has several ranges of equipment in their catalog. I'm not positive they call it homeowner but it's their less expensive line and not intended for every day use. Generally speaking this line has fewer features and a lower quality of construction.

Actually I am not sure if that is true, feature wise. A great many saws I see are the " homeowner "
" occasional use " type and they have all had long hard lives. I tend to believe no matter what you buy if you take good care of it then it will serve you well. OP the dealer is there for a reason, they could educate you on what you are doing wrong and help get you back to work.

 

[speeco]

Actually I am not sure if that is true, feature wise. A great many saws I see are the " homeowner "
" occasional use " type and they have all had long hard lives. I tend to believe no matter what you buy if you take good care of it then it will serve you well. OP the dealer is there for a reason, they could educate you on what you are doing wrong and help get you back to work.

I work at a still dealer . and on my own saws and handheld leafblower I remove limiter caps and open up the mufflers . then I retune them . they start and run much better, just my two cents worth.

 

[alexcagle]

I work at a still dealer . and on my own saws and handheld leafblower I remove limiter caps and open up the mufflers . then I retune them . they start and run much better, just my two cents worth.

"Still" ?

 

[Efisher26]

Dam auto correct


-Efisher26-

 

[angelo c]

What makes it a homeowner stihl? (not sarcastic)


-Efisher26-

the operators lack of experience operating it.
in theory the "pro" saw is higher "quality" in materials and build design.
in actual use proper maintenance and use will dictate the "value" of said tool.

 

[blkcloud]

Several years ago I bought a new stihl weed eater.. it was my first stihl purchase.. after gassing it up and making sure it would run, the dealer said.. oh. Btw, this has a ryobi motor...