If you are only going to make this purchase once, buy the best you can afford.
Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)
- Thread starter mainewoods
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woodchip rookie
Addicted to ArboristSite
I cant afford a $1K trimmer.
Look for lightly used or one that needs repair?
Having used many of these I can say that more power is even more important with a trimmer/brush cutter than it is with a saw.
Having used many of these I can say that more power is even more important with a trimmer/brush cutter than it is with a saw.
woodchip rookie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Yea thats what I figured. I looked around on CL but no luck really. Big power in one of those would be a must I would think. Especially with the tree blade on it.
Went to the Tuesday auction. There were a couple things I was thinking about bidding on, but they were all in the last building, not going off till 7. There was a very nice Cruiser Double on a new long handle, a 7 ton Craftsmen gas powered log splitter, and a box full of ball peen hammers. The splitter was so cute I was thinking about waiting, but it was so freaking hot, I thought I was going to faint, so I left.
My NC plans got cancelled for now. My wife hit a pot hole and blew a tire last night. No one in town could get one until tomorrow. So, we decided to go visit in the fall when weather is nicer.
My NC plans got cancelled for now. My wife hit a pot hole and blew a tire last night. No one in town could get one until tomorrow. So, we decided to go visit in the fall when weather is nicer.
I have a 265rx with a dead motor
and an FS550 Most of the guys that do clearing work up here run FS460's because of the power , fuel economy and reliability .
No prob taking down 4" trees with these trimmers so ,,, not overkill lol
I have a string trimmer head for the 550 , no prob running 18" of string lol
Put these two cottonweeds on the ground for my aunt tonight. Used the come along on the one cut towards the lake to get the slight back weight past center. Just wedges on the one towards the house.
Pretty big trees to cut with a 35 cc saw but it did the job well. Almost 3 tanks full to tackle these two.
Pretty big trees to cut with a 35 cc saw but it did the job well. Almost 3 tanks full to tackle these two.
As I mentioned, I much prefer the 35cc Poulan to the 42 cc. And honestly it pulls 3/8 low pro on 16 inch bar pretty well with bar buried in softwood. Obviously wouldn’t do as well in oak or elm.
Bobby Kirbos
Scrounger of Cellulose Based BTUs
Look at that EPA sticker again and tell me what size engine is in that PP3516.
Steve, look at the EPA stickers on those two saws. The 35 cc may actually have a 42 cc engine in it.
I had the craftsman version of the 3314 and it had a 38cc engine. It wore a 16” bar and I really liked that little $35 saw. Took it off the shelf last spring and it wouldn’t start, bar stud was about stripped anyways and the side cover was broken where the chain tensioner is so I chucked it. That little saw cut a lot of wood.
woodchip rookie
Addicted to ArboristSite
I bought my Poulan 3314 brand new in 2006. It cut 3yrs of firewood plus yard cleanup. ALL my Husky's are just now catching up to how much wood that little poulan cut, and it would sit in the shed unused for 2-3yrs sometimes with the same gas in it. Dump old gas, refill, oil, run. Did a little MM and took it with me when I had the post-break-in tunes done to my Husky's and had them tune the 3314. That saw was the cheapest, loudest screamer I have run. I never did put any good chain on it. Shame. Still ran when I sold it. Paid $100 brand new. Had it 12 yrs. Sold it for $50. Never again will I be able to say I paid $50 for a saw that lasted 12yrs that cut as much as that saw did.
Bobby Kirbos
Scrounger of Cellulose Based BTUs
Those "cheap", "throw away" Poulan saws surprise a lot of people. IF MAINTAINED CORRECTLY, they are hard to kill.
I stand corrected!!! It is indeed a 42cc according to the tag!
What I don’t understand is why it will cut circles around my 4218??? Mine is a black one so not sure if it’s older or newer as it was given to me.
What I don’t understand is why it will cut circles around my 4218??? Mine is a black one so not sure if it’s older or newer as it was given to me.
Bobby Kirbos
Scrounger of Cellulose Based BTUs
I had the same reaction when I noticed that about mine. I think all of the Poulan saws that the box stores carry (42cc and smaller) have the same 42cc engine in them, regardless of what the marketing sticker says. They can under-sell the engine, but not over-sell it. From a manufacturing and service standpoint, it makes sense - they have only 1 engine to make and stock parts for.
Usually I see them sold as a '14 inch', '16 inch, or '18 inch' saw, instead of by engine size or horsepower.
Philbert
Philbert
I put saws up on C’list as for example, “61cc x 20” chainsaw”.
News flash: The 20” sell quicker than the 14”.
Even the 012 Stihl went like free beer with an 18” () on it.
News flash: The 20” sell quicker than the 14”.
Even the 012 Stihl went like free beer with an 18” () on it.
I can't tell you how many times a person has asked me what size bar I have on a saw, as if that translates to engine HP!!!
