039 bigger saw upgrade?

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Dulchain

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Just a landowner cutting for myself and my two saws are both muffler modded and tuned, run good for what they are. First is a stihl 039 20" second is a husky 41 16" purchased both new in the 90's. Have been very reliable with minimal maintenance required. The 039 pulls the 20" with very little stress even fully buried in oak, have taken a couple 40"+ trees with it.
Only issue with the 039 is the oiler, it's kinda weak. Thinking about picking up a bigger saw to run up to a 28" bar. How big of a saw does it take to run a 28 like the 039 runs with a 20 in mostly pin oak and maple? Weight is a concern also, not wanting a saw so heavy/bulky I dread using it.
Would a ms400 (light weight is a plus) work or would it take something like a ms462 $$$ or other suggestion? One other thing, used saws in this area are going for crazy money so looking more at new saws.
 
My opinion- for what it is worth, seeing as how I do not cut either species mentioned......
The new MS400 will do what the old 039 does but do it a WHOLE lot nicer- more of an 039 replacement than a large step up.
462 will do it, but a 500i will do it nicer.
20cc steps are good ones to take- you have the old 41 for 40cc smaller stuff, 039 64ishcc for medium, now you should be looking another 15-20cc up to make it a worthwhile step, which puts you into the 80cc bracket, in which the 500i sits pretty close to.
Or- you go Orange and head the Husqvarna direction- must be millions of 372's kicking about the States- could be worth a punt, 572,385, 181/281.......
 
Yeah I second the 372xp,288,394,395, option.
Also there's Stihl 460,461,441and 660s floating around out there ,maybe talk to some local shop owners about buying a good used one if they're willing to check it over for you.
New is nice but theres plenty of benched saws that got used for 1 job and are now riding the pine.
 
A 500 would be really nice but $1500 for a saw might be too much. Have only been looking at Stihl so far, will see what the 372 and 572 are going for in my area.

A new 462 that you were looking at will not be far away from the 500i price, if I was needing a new saw and looking at spending 462 type money, I think I would stretch to the 500.
Keep an eye out for local secondhand Jonsereds as they often fly beneath the radar and go for less than their orange covered cousins.
2171, 2172, 2186 and 2188 = 371, 372, 385 and 390.
 
I really like the feel of the 400. It makes nice power and handles really well. Haven’t run it with a 28” buried, but it had enough power to spare in 20” wood it would not surprise me if it ran well with a 28”, too.

The 500 will pull the 28” with authority, but the price tag shocks me. Side by side with my circa 2004 (I think) Dolmar 7900, I see no real performance premium accruing to the 500. They cut pretty much equally. You can buy a lot of clean, low hour 7900s for $1500!
 
I believe the 039 were capable of wearing a 25inch bar now if your oiler is not pumping like it use to maybe time for a new one perhaps someone knows of an upgrade oil pump for your 039. I would think that if it's possible to upgrade the pump that a mm 039 could in a pinch run a 28 inch bar. By all means if you just want a new saw get one. For the price I would seriously consider the echo 7310. 70cc class saw. However I kind of prefer saws with ms in front so I would probably get 1 of these ms400,ms462,MS 500i,ms660/661. I know the ms660s will run and they don't tire me out like my 880.
 
If anyone knows of a simple/cheap oiler upgrade for a 039 I would be willing to try a longer bar with a skip tooth chain. Worse case I would already have the bar/chain to go with a bigger PH.
 
Thinking about picking up a bigger saw to run up to a 28" bar.
Husky 572 or MS462. Basically thats a possible 28", if you want a dedicated 28" thats a 90cc saw you're looking at.
I wouldn't want to carry around that weight if you dont really need it though...
 
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