1) I probably go through 10 pick up truck loads plus some cutting maintenance on about 15 acres per year.
2) Wood left after logging last summer my guess is 20" diameter and less
3) Not expiernced on chinsaws, other than the husky chain issue I cant resolve. I am mechinically inclined to some extent.
Hello kgriff,
and welcome to this site! Many good things have been written here in the last few pages, but I believe many of it in an emotional sense.
1. you already have a very good saw. That you are having problems with it is a shame but should be easily solved. There are many things to consider so I will just elaborate on a few.
a. good quality chain and sharpening skills: no I dea what chains you are running but Stihl chain is considerd one of the best out of the box, available in any size and form for any chainsaw out there. I would further consider one of the Husqvarna roller sharpening guides, pricewise cheap but you have very consistant results. A sharp chain is like a saw one class up!
b. learn regular maintenance!: clean bar and saw=> a compressor is very useful for cleaning our tools and many problems result from improper cleaning (bar oil holes etc.). replacing worn bars and sprokets also belongs into this category. If you have a problem don't be afraid to ask here. post your problem with pictures and you will recieve more help than you want!
2. I also have the impression you feel your saw is underpowered for your need. In that case I would seriously consider a saw in the 55-65cc class. Yes they will be heavier.
Chainsaws are diveded in classes 1.semi pro=farmer and 2. pro class. For your needs it won't matter, if you do your regular maintenance! The semi pro class is usually detuned and heavier than the pro class in the same cc rating. You can overcome the detuned problem with minor modification(muffler modification = MM if interested use the search function, there are hundreds of threads available here).
Quality wise there is usually no difference in the classes of saws by different brand. One exception is Dolmar=Makita. Their semi pro class is built similar to the pro class.
Any of the following companies(same company different name&colour!) will make you happy.
Husqvarna=Jonsered, Dolmar=Makita, Echo=Shindaiwa, Emak=Efco=Oleo Mac, Hitachi=Tanaka, Solo= Cub Cadet, Stihl
What would I recomend? Have a chainsaw mechanic look at your old saw and see if it is a small problem to get it back to working condition.
If you want new for your need I would seriously think about a saw in the 60cc class. But you will expect to pay for it and you will have to upgrade your budget if you intend to buy local. The Echo 600p or the detuned 590 would be nice choices(it is important to have the carb set correctly at sale, they are often out of tune). The new Dolmar 6100 should be available sometime in fall in the US would be my number one choice on an economy aspect. The reviews sofar have been great. These saws are pro line saws. You can get these for the price of semi pro saws from the top two players!(Stihl & Husqvarna)
Top of the line will be Husqvarna 560xp or Stihl 362 where you would need to double your budget.
You can think about used and contact one of the rebuilders here on this site (f.e. nmurph). They usually have very good stuff that will get you into a totally different class on your planned budget. But don't forget they are used products so no guarentee.
Good luck!
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