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Wife bought used Homelite 350 as a gift, what should I do...
The saw is 15+ years old, fairly lightly used with good compression. The carburation is messed up from sitting, I can get the high and low jets set so that it tops out OK and has plenty of power but it won't idle, so it needs a carburator rebuild or replacement and a couple of chains sharpened and it would be as good as it would ever get. It went through some small thorn apples last weekend OK but it was more of a problem to keep the saw running than it was to cut the wood up.
I don't have a lot of experience with these myself but my father has many years with cutting firewood and removing trees for the town. His advice was similar to what I have been reading here. He said to go buy a new Stihl, Husky or even a Jonsered if I want to go crazy and trade or sell the old Homelite any way I can. His description was the best I've heard, he compared handling a saw to handling a poisonous snake, you have to do everything right 100% of the time, no mistakes, or it will kill you. He said messing with a saw that won't start or run perfectly takes your concentration off of cutting and handling the saw the right way and can turn deadly. I am convinced, now I just have to figure out what to do.
I need a saw to cut firewood and clean up the forest behind the house, 18+ acres that needs some management. There is already some nice hardwood down that needs to be blocked up to start, I have to get this blocked, split and in before it starts to turn. I would be doing this with experienced advice right there with me and I have a good healthy fear of chainsaws and trees having known people who have been hurt badly and killed by both.
I have done automotive work right up to rebuilding engines and transmissions and have plenty of tools, so mechanical work doesn't scare me.
So, can someone tell me if the old 350 is not worth messing with for this? I'm in a tight spot, I have to figure out how to make the trade if necessary without hurting anyone's feelings, etc... If the 350 is actually worth fixing and using for a season it would make it easier.
She paid $100. Was this about right?
The saw is 15+ years old, fairly lightly used with good compression. The carburation is messed up from sitting, I can get the high and low jets set so that it tops out OK and has plenty of power but it won't idle, so it needs a carburator rebuild or replacement and a couple of chains sharpened and it would be as good as it would ever get. It went through some small thorn apples last weekend OK but it was more of a problem to keep the saw running than it was to cut the wood up.
I don't have a lot of experience with these myself but my father has many years with cutting firewood and removing trees for the town. His advice was similar to what I have been reading here. He said to go buy a new Stihl, Husky or even a Jonsered if I want to go crazy and trade or sell the old Homelite any way I can. His description was the best I've heard, he compared handling a saw to handling a poisonous snake, you have to do everything right 100% of the time, no mistakes, or it will kill you. He said messing with a saw that won't start or run perfectly takes your concentration off of cutting and handling the saw the right way and can turn deadly. I am convinced, now I just have to figure out what to do.
I need a saw to cut firewood and clean up the forest behind the house, 18+ acres that needs some management. There is already some nice hardwood down that needs to be blocked up to start, I have to get this blocked, split and in before it starts to turn. I would be doing this with experienced advice right there with me and I have a good healthy fear of chainsaws and trees having known people who have been hurt badly and killed by both.
I have done automotive work right up to rebuilding engines and transmissions and have plenty of tools, so mechanical work doesn't scare me.
So, can someone tell me if the old 350 is not worth messing with for this? I'm in a tight spot, I have to figure out how to make the trade if necessary without hurting anyone's feelings, etc... If the 350 is actually worth fixing and using for a season it would make it easier.
She paid $100. Was this about right?
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, & a good part of that was for shipping.
The new saws are safer and a lot easier to use but somehow I just like tinkering with the old stuff too. If you get the old Homey running, polish her up and give the missus a hug. You probably will want something lighter and faster for regular sawing.
