Four Paws said:
Well, lots of great responses to my initial question, I really appreciate the input. Sounds like the 372XP is the sure favorite. It looks like I can get a 372XP with a 24" bar and chain, out the door for $625...what do you guys think??
I also did quite a bit of reading up on Dolmar saws. They sure seem like powerhouses - can anyone confirm or deny their horsepower claims? Their power to weight ratio appears to be VERY good! I found a local (40 miles away) dealer and spent some time chatting with them! Family owned, and great people. Told me they can get me both the 7900 and 5100s for $985.41 plus tax. That works out to $621 for the 7900, and $364.50 for the 5100s. What do you guys think?
Freakingstang, you seem to really like the 372Xp and 5100 combo. From reading and comparing a bunch of saws to the 5100s, I think I am sold on it!! Now, for the big saw - would you buy the 372XP or the 7900 since you have run them both? What size bars would you suggest. I was thinking 28" - 30" on the big saws, and a 20" on the 5100s.
I do like the 372 and 5100 combo. I like them, becuase I have the most time with that combo. I got a really good price on a 5100. That is why I bought it originally. I had never thought of getting one at retail price until I ran it for a while. I would buy another on tomorrow, if I had the need for it, at full retail.
First...Good Price on the pair. Around here a 5100 goes for 409 plus tax with a 18" bar. The 7900 is $689 for the powerhead and about $739 or so with a 20-24" bar. Dealer cost on the 5100 is right around the $335 mark depending on the volume they buy. So, it sounds like you found your pair of saws!
I run a 16" 3/8" on my 5100 and 20" normally on the bigger saws. I have bigger bars and will use them if needed, but it is kinda pointless to carry around a saw with a 28-32" bar in these parts. I have used the 7900's with up to 28" bars and they handled them great. I don't have that much trigger time behind them, so listen to the other folks when it comes to the 7900 advice. It is a great saw and has tons of power from my little use of them. I will say, that the muffler needs opened up on them. I have a makita 6401 which is the same as a Dolmar 6400. It is the same chassis as the 7300 and 7900. It dropped a good half second in a piece of 12x12 wood, so the power from the muffler mod was definately there.
Stock for stock, the 372 and 7900 are great saws. With a 20" bar, there is little time difference between the two. When you get into bigger wood, the 7900 really shines. It has the torque that the husky doesn't have. IMO. I still like the 372 for my needs. One of these days I will upgrade my 6400 to a 7900, until then, my 372 is my favorite saw right now.
For that price, I'd take them both, Dolmars that is. The only issue with the Dolmars that I have is the lack of parts availabilty. The saws are great, but the parts things sucks. I'm not trying to turn you away, but 1 G is a lot of cash to throw down on firewood saws. Everything i've had to order from Dolmar is/has been back ordered. There are a couple dealers on here that stock a lot of parts (cuttinscott & 166) Some of the parts i have ordered that were/are backordered: 5100 muffler, 7900 piston & cyl, 5100 muffler gaskets, 7900 base gaskets, etc. There are three dealers within a half an hour of me that don't stock any parts and don't have much more that a 510 on the shelf. i found one that is 1/2 hour away that has the big saws, but stocks no parts for them whatsoever. The guy that I go to to order parts is over an hour away from me, but he is great. He stocks a lot of parts, has every saw in the Dolmar line and is a hellavu nice guy. My problem with him, is he is not close to me. So you must take your dealer into consideration. I have a husky dealer 20 minutes away from me that stocks just about every stupid thing that I can think of. That is part of the reason I love my 372 so much, that and it has had a little woods porting done to it.
Sorry for the length of the novel I wrote tonight. Either way, the 372 or the 7900, you won't be disappointed. They are both terrific saws.
-Steve
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