New 460 Rancher, 291 CBE, or used?

[SawThings]

I need a new saw, the Jonsared 2040 isn't cutting it any more. My budget puts me in about the Husqvarna 460 rancher range. The comparable Stihl unit appears to be the 291, with the newer CBE version on sale right now, so might as well? Looks like it has easy start compared to the other regular one, what are the other differences of the CBE version? Stepping up to the 391 costs quite a bit more.

The 460 says it's good for 24" which is what I'd need some of the time, while the 291 says only 20". It's ~5cc down on displacement compared to the 460 but quotes slightly more power, so I'm guessing it could run a 24" fine as well. They're roughly the same weight, the 460 is 6kg and the 291 is only 5.6, but the CBE version is 6.2! What's adding all the weight in the CBE?

Should I be considering an echo as well?

I have a few used options but I'm not keen on something of unknown background I have to fettle with to get right. Clearing some land on my property and I don't want to be wasting time.

The new options are in the 600-700 range,

Used I can get a Husqvarna 61, looks 80's or 90's, for $350,
Stihl 046 magnum arctic with a 32" bar for $680, probably more saw than I need though.
Stihl 048 AV for $425, again a bit big maybe, but I'm more concerned that I've heard there's a complete lack of parts for these older stihls
Last is a Husqvarna 372XP "rebuilt from the bottom up with quality parts" for $500. This sounds nice, but I'm just worried about the history of the saw. If my saw breaks down while I'm paying $120/hour for the excavator it's not gonna be worth it. I've also never bought a new saw, so I'm kind of excited for that new saw smell.

I know the pro saws are better, but this is something I'll put 5-6 hours of use on each year normally. I don't "need" a pro saw.

I'm tempted to go for the Stihl, being the most affordable with the spring sale they are currently having, but why does it only recommend a 20" bar when the specs say it has slightly more power than the 460?

Thanks for your help guys. Checking in with you folks will make me more confident with how I spend the dough!

 

[holeycow]

Echo 590. Done.

 

[irhunter]

I

I'll put 5-6 hours of use on each year normally. I don't "need" a pro saw.

IMO, either the Husky or Stihl you mention will work fine. So will the Echo, mentioned above.

How are the dealers there? It never hurts to buy from a near-by servicing dealer.

If you are only running a saw 5-6 hours, and some smallish part of that time needs a 24" bar...it seems the extra time to cut from both sides of the tree wold be no big deal. Or, are you cutting, like, 40" material from both sides?

If you are actually just occasionally cutting 24" wood, I would learn to cut from both sides and price out a MS262.

Roy

 

[Dph1256]

Echo 590 would be better than the 201 and 460

 

[SawThings]

Thanks for the CS590 suggestion, looks like the one to go with. Found a dealer with the 590s on sale with 18, 20, or 24".

I'm in BC, so i t's often 24" material, sometimes 40", but wielding the 24" bar might be off balance and kind of annoying, I might go for the 20" for now and get something larger if/when it's needed. Have to give them I feel I suppose.

The Husqvarna 455 w/ 20" bar deal for $499 is tempting for the price. The Echo is $549 for 18", $559 for 20" and $579 for 24". The 460 is not on sale and out of the running at $670. Leaning towards the echo right now.

 

[Ryan'smilling]

Of those saws, I'd want the echo 590.

Or if you look patiently you should be able to find a 365 or 372 AND a matching parts saw for under $650.

 

[babybart]

@chipper1 might have a 2166 in your price range.

 

[toadman]

I have a stihl 291 I rebuilt out of a dumpster, and also the 460 rancher I dredged out of a golf course pond and rebuilt... the 460 rancher will pull a 24" bar, but just barely in hard hardwoods.
The 291 I have pulls a 20" ok, but I suspect it would be very underwhelming with anything larger.
Stihl rates their saws conservatively on bar size & the hp doesn't line up with the real world performance seen between brands. Husky "underrates" HP numbers on some models compared to stihl.
my main concern on both saws when felling is the bar studs being anchored in the plastic housing.
Haven't had any issues with this, but worth mentioning.
Out of the two I prefer the stihl, mostly on handling but that's personal preferable.
They both do the job they're designed for pretty well, just not quite as well as comparable size pro model IMO. But that's why they are several hundred dollars less expensive

 

[Hand Splitter]

Rebuilt 372 for $500 seems like the ticket to me. Just check on OEM parts and who did the rebuild. If it’s it shop they should be able to give you a 1 year warranty.

 

[SawThings]

I did the deed. Got the 590 with 24" bar. Thanks for suggestions on the Echo, heading out to the property first thing tomorrow to try it out. Balance is pretty good with the 24" bar, feels nice.

Thanks for the offer on the 2166, but I needed this thing right away to keep the work going.

The rebuilt 372 would be good if it was a dealer selling or if I knew the person somehow. Could be a perfectly good saw, might have also mucked something up in the rebuild or who knows why they're getting rid of it. I just realized this Echo is the first internal combustion engine of any kind I've ever bought new, so I'm usually up for a fettle, but too much money tied up with renting an excavator to be taking a chance on messing around right now.

 

[chipper1]

@chipper1 might have a 2166 in your price range.

Thanks for the bump .
Close depending on shipping and the current exchange rate which last time I checked wasn't the best going that direction, but great if I need something there.

@SawThings congrats on the new saw.
Let us know how you like it.
It will take a good number of tanks to break in and the carb will need to be adjusted to run optimally once it does for the best performance.

 

[SawThings]

After a bit of a boondoggle I finally came up with some J.A.S.O. FD oil, never bothered with my old saw but I I want to be able to show receipts if there's ever a warranty issue. It definitely rips, what a difference. I'll post some pics of the operation tomorrow.

 

[SawThings]

Well I said I'd a pic so I better follow through. Getting rained on all day but finally got everything graded and processed for the log sort, ready for the truck to pick up. Now I have a lot of firewood to get cutting! I'll take a few more photos when I'm not soaking wet. Should of seen the prune hands at the end of this day! I'm pretty sure I was wearing about 10 pounds of wet saw chips too.

 

[chipper1]

View attachment 821184

Well I said I'd a pic so I better follow through. Getting rained on all day but finally got everything graded and processed for the log sort, ready for the truck to pick up. Now I have a lot of firewood to get cutting! I'll take a few more photos when I'm not soaking wet. Should of seen the prune hands at the end of this day! I'm pretty sure I was wearing about 10 pounds of wet saw chips too.

So does this mean your done for the yr .

this is something I'll put 5-6 hours of use on each year normally.

 

[SawThings]

Not a normal year for me, usually I buck up a couple trees downed from a storm per year for firewood. This year I'm clearing land for a new house. Still some work to go, but after I'm done processing ~25 cords of firewood I'll be done for the year. Done with the chainsaw anyway, bunch more to learn after that.

I've put about 4 liters through it now, how long before a carb tune? I'll take it back to the dealer and ask for a little freebie. Tell them all about my J.A.S.O. FD, in fact I'll buy some more. Make sure they know I'm not a goof.

 

[chipper1]

Not a normal year for me, usually I buck up a couple trees downed from a storm per year for firewood. This year I'm clearing land for a new house. Still some work to go, but after I'm done processing ~25 cords of firewood I'll be done for the year. Done with the chainsaw anyway, bunch more to learn after that.

Right on, looks like you're getting "a lot" done .
Do you guys pour basements up there, or just foundations.

 

[SawThings]

Basements are normal here, but I've been living on the side of a cliff for a while and looking forward to walk out grade, flattened it out and going with a slab.

 

[chipper1]

Looks sweet.
Be a good site for a walkout.
Have you already been living on this site. Looks like you already had a good plan made up and are just acting on it now.
How deep is the water there.

 

[SawThings]

What's a walkout? (edit: realized you might be referring to the walk our grade, whoops )

I haven't been living on site. I live about 5 minutes away. Was planning to sell the place I'm in now this spring and do it trailer style/in law spare bedroom for a few months until it was done, but covid killed the plan to sell now. Hang it out for a bit and either rent or sell depending on how things go.

My well is 800 feet! It's deep, volcanic bedrock. Low flow well, 0.5 imperial gallon/minute. It's enough for the household needs with a 3000 gallon storage cistern but not for summer irrigation. Will also be putting in a rainwater collection system for irrigation needs. Lots or rain here, less in summer when we need the irrigation, but with the right amount of storage from spring rains and summer rain top ups it'll be doable. Nice thing is the water here is fairly soft, even that deep, it's only about 50ppm. I looked into fracking the well, it's $3000, which is a lot less than a rainwater collection system, and they tell me my well is a perfect candidate, and would likely yield 3-4 gpm after fracking, but no guarantees, and it can ruin your well, or other adjacent wells, and you're liable for it all, so rainwater it is. Better PH for irrigation anyway. Can't risk an 800ft well that was 40K to drill.

I'm very flattered that it looks like I had a good plan made up. I have no experience at all with anything like this, wonder what the hell I got myself into sometimes. Bought the lot and started immediately, had an eye on it for about a year though, but not as far as planning goes, I was still wading through the financing process at that point. It all does seem to be working out though, so far anyway. Geotech passed my engineered fill and stormwater management plan! I'm learning a lot every day doing this. No fire hydrants out here so I also need to have a fire sprinkler plan with cistern and pump before I get the building permit, building code is pretty tight around here. Friends with knowledge, websites full of helpful people like this one, I couldn't do it without such things, which I'm very thankful for. I need all the help I can get!

 

[FlyingDutchman]

The 460 Rancher has been an excellent saw for us for more than a decade, still is an excellent saw. But the 590 seems to be much cheaper. As easy as the 590 air filter is to access I wonder if if it has the Air Injection like the 460. I barely ever have to service the air cleaner on the 460. Stihl and others on a saw of that class don't. My MS290 I'm cleaning the filter every few tanks. The 460 I'm cleaning it once a season it seems like.