Smaller chainsaw

[ADK_XJ]

Yes it is a homeowner type chain. I bought a new one and it even says on the package "low kickback chain". I'll investigate into new chains to see if I can find one that fits my bar and saw, and is not "low kickback".

One other thing I discovered is that while they call it a 3/8" LP chain, which should take a 5/32" bit for sharpening, I tried two different 5/32" files, and neither one would fit in the gullet of the new chain at any angle, while making full contact with the chain. So whatever they use in the factory does not have a 5/32" diameter. This explains why, when I sharpened it, I made a mess of it, because I was trying to follow the existing profile, and that's impossible. I either have to take off a lot of metal at the base of the cutter, or the top. If I take off a lot at the bottom I start to run into the thing, I think it's called a tie-strap, that sits below the cutter. And if I take a lot off the top, I wind up with a very low angle top edge of the gullet (think a wave that is not ready to break) that does not cut well.

So I think I'll probably be much happier with a different chain. I'll try one and see what I think and then decide if I still need a bigger chainsaw.

If I do, looks like the Echo CS-4910 is the best saw I could get for my use. Though no-one seems to sell it - they've all moved on from the carburetor saws to the electronic ones, which I don't want. Ugh.

GO

Like I said in my first reply, I would look for a Stihl and my recommendation would be the MS-261 but if that's too over budget (we all have a budget) then my next level down would be their Wood Boss version of the same saw, a 251-C.

Don't buy a saw from the box store, buy it from a dealer. If you don't do a lot of cutting, I'd skip the hassle of the straight and round files and just get a 2-in-1 sharpener. It helps you set the right angle AND it cuts down your rakers/height gauge at the same time.

[berkshires]

Late to the party here but love all things chainsaw and firewood related...first off, a saw not cutting straight is going to purely be operator error or, more likely, that your chain teeth are not filed properly. Specifically, most people tend to file harder on one side than the other and/or they don't maintain the same angle across all the teeth. A good investment for a novice woodcutter is one of those two-in-one sharpeners like Stihl makes...just make sure you get the right gauge sharpener for your chain.

That said, you're probably right, it's worth the investment for something with a higher weight to performance ratio. For a little bit more than $600, you could buy the Stihl MS 261C which is a "buy it for life" type of chainsaw. You are paying a bit more than the same size homeowner model but you are getting a lot for that money, including: magnesium case, easy-tune carb, retaining nuts on the bar cover, etc.

I have a Stihl 271 and, while it's a great little firewood saw, every time I have to fiddle with the carburetor setting or I lose a bar nut I curse myself for not spending the extra $100.

So I think I had a lot of issues going on at once. First, the bar groove was blown out, so the chain was wobbling a bit side-to-side. I suspect this is, in part, because the chain was consistently under-tensioned. Second, the sharpening I'd done on the chain was absolutely terrible. I'll take my share of the blame, but I'll also mention that that chain comes very weird from the factory. You really have to start over, and start much deeper, in order to get a proper gullet on that chain, and I didn't know that. Third, the "low-kickback" chain is very not-grabby.

So I got a new bar, and a new chain that doesn't have the part that's like an extra depth gauge on it. I can see immediately that my file actually fits in the gullet properly, so sharpening it should go much better.

I also got the Echo CS 4910. I haven't had the opportunity to use either yet. I'll probably do some bucking in a month when I drive out to my sugarbush, if there's time after I put in my taps. I think the Echo weighs less than my old Homelite, and I'm confident it will make bucking a breeze in comparison.

GO

[bigschuss]

my next level down would be their Wood Boss version of the same saw, a 251-C.

.

I hate my Wood Boss 251. I bought one about 6 years ago or so to replace a worn out 20 year old Husqvarna 350 that I loved. Finally ran it into the ground after 2 decades of above average home-owner use and bought the 251. I find it boggy and underpowered. Hate it so much I brought my old 350 to a guy to have it rebuilt and just got it back. Doubt I'll get another 20 years out of it. But as long as it runs strong I doubt I'll pick up the Stihl again unless it's an emergency.

[littleTapper]

I hate my Wood Boss 251. I bought one about 6 years ago or so to replace a worn out 20 year old Husqvarna 350 that I loved. Finally ran it into the ground after 2 decades of above average home-owner use and bought the 251. I find it boggy and underpowered. Hate it so much I brought my old 350 to a guy to have it rebuilt and just got it back. Doubt I'll get another 20 years out of it. But as long as it runs strong I doubt I'll pick up the Stihl again unless it's an emergency.

My parents still burn wood for heating the house and shop since 1980 (and hot water) and my dad will grab his new 251 more than his 361 now since it does the job really well and doesn't weigh a lot. (he's 66, but not slowing down much). That saw should cut better than you hint at. Sucks it hasn't worked for you. Not fun to be frustrated with equipment like that.

If you want to throw it out, I'll pay you to ship it to me

[bigschuss]

My parents still burn wood for heating the house and shop since 1980 (and hot water) and my dad will grab his new 251 more than his 361 now since it does the job really well and doesn't weigh a lot. (he's 66, but not slowing down much). That saw should cut better than you hint at. Sucks it hasn't worked for you. Not fun to be frustrated with equipment like that.

If you want to throw it out, I'll pay you to ship it to me

LOL!

To be fair, I think the Wood Boss 251 is probably an adequate home-owners saw. I do a ton of logging, trail maintenance, food plots, and firewood and it's just really underpowered and inadequate for me. It was probably a poor purchase on my part. But I can see how it would be an adequate home-owners saw with a nice sharp chain and a finely tuned carb. It's certainly my "go to" saw for delimbing since it's nice and light.

I still run an older, made in West Germany Stihl 044 that is just a beast. That Husky 350 that I had rebuilt was just an awesome saw as far as its power to weight ratio. The guys at my Stihl dealership sold me on the 251 as a commensurate replacement to that old 350...it was not.

[littleTapper]

LOL!

To be fair, I think the Wood Boss 251 is probably an adequate home-owners saw. I do a ton of logging, trail maintenance, food plots, and firewood and it's just really underpowered and inadequate for me. It was probably a poor purchase on my part. But I can see how it would be an adequate home-owners saw with a nice sharp chain and a finely tuned carb. It's certainly my "go to" saw for delimbing since it's nice and light.

I still run an older, made in West Germany Stihl 044 that is just a beast. That Husky 350 that I had rebuilt was just an awesome saw as far as its power to weight ratio. The guys at my Stihl dealership sold me on the 251 as a commensurate replacement to that old 350...it was not.

Nice! I grew up using an 041 AV Super. I wonder if that's still laying around somewhere at the farm...I think it was pretty wore out, but could be rebuilt by a collector.

Could try a muffler mod on that 251. Sure wouldn't hurt. It made a hell of an improvement on my 291. You may have to remove the limiter on the high speed adjustment to get enough fuel after that, but it's easy.