Cheapest best saw that can run 22-28” bar

[NorinRadd]

I have a half dozen smaller saws. All basically entry level home owner saws. Small husqys. Small stihls. Most I use for carving. Getting into bigger stuff. I have a 20” on my husqvarna 345 and i need bigger.

The chainsaw world is so convoluted. There are so many models. With zero linear scale. Numbers all over the place. Old models new models. I can’t decipher.
Could someone throw a few models at me that you can find for a good used price. Under 600$ that can run something around 24”. Maybe the cheapest possible that can run 22”.
Please and thanks.

 

[cranman1951]

Just a thought.....take your 345 Husky and put a 45mm cylinder and a Hy Way high compression pop up piston....You'll need a 350 base adapter and the HyWay piston and cylinder ( you can use a stock 350 cylinder.) You will have the equivalent of a higher compression 353. A stock 350 handles a 18 inch bar with ease, The 353 (which shares the cylinder of the 350 but with a flat top instead of dished piston) I used to have liked a 20 inch bar (In 40 years of cutting I've never had a bar longer then 20") . I think you can do this swap for less then $125. I just am buttoning up a 350 that is getting the 45mm popup and since I can use the cylinder and adapter it only cost me the popup...$29 plus shipping.

 

[AlterEgo]

here's one. It looks to be a yellow one?

 

[sawfun]

A Homelite 925 is probably the cheapest saw that can reliably run and oil a 28" bar all day long. I've found plenty of them priced around $150 - $225.

 

[AlterEgo]

At least 70cc

At least.

 

[AlterEgo]

• London​

• Ad ID 1543284139
  kijiji..

 

[AlterEgo]

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/prince-george/630-jonsered-chainsaw/1543960669

 

[cuinrearview]

I think a Jonsered 2166 converted to a 2172 by you or another perfectly fits your needs and budget.

 

[cuinrearview]

Just a thought.....take your 345 Husky and put a 45mm cylinder and a Hy Way high compression pop up piston....You'll need a 350 base adapter and the HyWay piston and cylinder ( you can use a stock 350 cylinder.) You will have the equivalent of a higher compression 353. A stock 350 handles a 18 inch bar with ease, The 353 (which shares the cylinder of the 350 but with a flat top instead of dished piston) I used to have liked a 20 inch bar (In 40 years of cutting I've never had a bar longer then 20") . I think you can do this swap for less then $125. I just am buttoning up a 350 that is getting the 45mm popup and since I can use the cylinder and adapter it only cost me the popup...$29 plus shipping.

This setup would not be ideal for a 20" bar, let alone a 24".

 

[Timber MacFallen]

I have a half dozen smaller saws. All basically entry level home owner saws. Small husqys. Small stihls. Most I use for carving. Getting into bigger stuff. I have a 20” on my husqvarna 345 and i need bigger.

The chainsaw world is so convoluted. There are so many models. With zero linear scale. Numbers all over the place. Old models new models. I can’t decipher.
Could someone throw a few models at me that you can find for a good used price. Under 600$ that can run something around 24”. Maybe the cheapest possible that can run 22”.
Please and thanks.

A brand new Echo CS-680: https://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Chainsaws/CS-680

67cc and can handle a 27” bar.

On Echo dealer days when they’re 15% off you could be into it for $540.
Japanese reliability and simplicity.

 

[heimannm]

Timber makes an excellent point. Echo saws are very reliable and provide many hours of service.

If you want more cc's, want to spend even less, and are not opposed to a Chinese knock off, Holzfforma has a number of offerings. For example:

Chain Saw | Gasoline Chain Saw | Husqvarna Chain saw | Husqvarna 372XP | Husqvarna 372XP Chainsaw | Husqvarna 372 Chainsaw (farmertec.com)

I have an orange G372XP with a 24" bar that works well. I did have to replace the throttle cable after just a few hours use but the OEM Husqvarna throttle cable is an easy upgrade. These are not the equivalent to their Swedish parentage but are certainly serviceable for a few hours of use each month.




Mark

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

How handy are you at fixing stuff?
22-28" I would be settling on the 70-80cc mark- Husqvarna 272-288, Stihl 044-064- common saws with lots of available parts either OEM or AM, fairly modern and not too ugly to use, reasonable AV systems and safety features. Find an old beater and dress it up- will be about the cheapest, easiest and quickest route- but you have to have the knowhow and some basic tooling. You could step down to a high 60cc class of saw, but the 70+cc saws just do it easier.

 

[weimedog]

Yup a Homelite 925 would, there are a lot of those old pro level 80cc plus saws that would and are cheap. Partly because they are old and worn out, partly because parts are NLA, partly they can be tough to live with. My pick would a Husqvarna 281 or 288, Next would be An old 372 built with a 51.4 top end

 

[sean donato]

562xp beast with a 20" no major issues pulling a 24". Bit outside your price range. I'd take the echo if your being on the cheaper side of things.

 

[lostone]

Soft wood? Not an everyday user? New? Echo CS-620. I'm sure there has to be some good used saws in your area, maybe a Husky 372 or Stihl 044.

 

[Brushwacker]

Dolmar 6400 or its twin Makita model are powerful enough to handle 24inch well, i used 1 with 28 and it did fine in all but the hardest of woods. Husqvarna 365 i have pulls a 24inch buried in white oak with no issue, saws that you should be able to find working condition used 2 to 400$ depending how nice. A Stihl ms 390 or 039 probably would do for slightly less $. By all means if you can find something in your price range from stihl 044 or higher or ms440 or higher that would do a great job and they hold their value as well.

 

[Ryan A]

I think its all about getting the right deal to come along. Scour the forums, CL, FB market place and see what the biggest CC saw you can get is. Post holidays some guys may be hurting for cash.

 

[Timber MacFallen]

Another budget option if you want to go new is a 60cc Echo CS-590 Timber Wolf for $400. It won’t pull a 28” bar but it will manage a 24” and it has a magnesium case and good build quality: https://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Chainsaws/CS-590-Timber-Wolf

The CS-620P mentioned above by lostone is also a good option.

I know everyone likes to push used saws (and I have plenty myself) but having something new with a five year warranty counts for a lot. Finding a good used saw that has been taken care of can be it’s own project and hassle. Most people run saws hard and put them away wet.

 

[bigbadbob]

Where in BC are you??
I have 2071 Jred with heat
181se husky
394 husky I could part with.

 

[Maintenance supervisor]

Ask yoir local dealer what used saws they have, mine had a very nice 440 stihl for 500.00 . They can tell you aboit its history most of the time.
People often trade in their old saws wjen upgrading.