Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Chainsaws not listed - Gas OPE => Topic started by: wild262 on October 20, 2015, 12:05:24 pm

Title: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on October 20, 2015, 12:05:24 pm
Poles saws is something I've never owned.  Could sure used one today cutting back the tall overhanging limbs on the edge of my pastures before brush hogging.  Hopefully I will get all the honey locust cut and burned this winter.  Nasty stuff.  >:( Anyway, I'm looking to buy (new or used) a good quality pole saw.   Cut4fun I noticed you like the Echo's.  Looks like they are good considering what I've read here about them on different sites.  Will consider any brand, just want it to last, and I can do the maint. on them.  I rebuild Chainsaws as a hobby, so its not a problem.  Weight is a major concern however.  Had back surgery 3 yrs. ago.  I'm not or ever will be 100%, but I can still cut wood for my heating stoves at 56 yrs. old.  Can anyone steer me in a direction here.  I would be just as happy with old or new as long as its not to heavy.  Many thanks. :)
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: Cut4fun . on October 20, 2015, 12:08:54 pm
The guy I sold my echo to this year was homeowner and he didnt want anything to do with stihl polesaw or the 4 mix system. He was looking for used echo in his search.
I really really liked the echo and would buy another if needed.

http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Power-Pruners

Back problems  :o,  I dont think the bigger extendable is what you want. They get heavy quick.  Look into the fix postion ones that are lighter.

Also cheaper cost look at that poulan pro thats out now.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on October 20, 2015, 12:13:42 pm
Thanks Cut4fun.  Whats the 4mix system?   I know maybe some of them are 4 stroke.  I tend to favor 2 stroke.  More power smaller package, unless I'm wrong here :-\
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: Cut4fun . on October 20, 2015, 12:43:50 pm
4mix is stihls mess with to many moving parts that break IMO.  There is a reason they are going back to 2 stokes. Thanks goodness. 

Adam owns them and can tell you all about them. @aclarke

http://www.stihl.com/4-mix-engine-lightweight-and-with-good-lugging-power.aspx
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: aclarke on October 20, 2015, 02:57:47 pm
The 4 mix 131HT units we've had have all failed (3)  with low hours. (Under 75hrs and a little over a year) Weak link seems to be the valve retainer/keeper material and or design.   Both exhaust and intake sides...

Put a two stroke weed eater head on one and it works ok for tall hedges but it's a little weak with the chainsaw head on it.   Like to see a two stroke head in the 35-40 cc range
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on October 20, 2015, 03:45:13 pm
Thanks for the heads up.  Was not looking to close at Stihl, but more so the Husky 128, or Poland Pro.   Haven't looked at Echo yet, but I will tomarrow.  Have a dealer 15 miles away.  I am leaning toward a 2-stroke.  Does anyone know if the weights they all post is the complete unit, or just the head without the pole?   Thanks
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: srcarr52 on October 20, 2015, 04:47:36 pm
The 4 mix 131HT units we've had have all failed (3)  with low hours. (Under 75hrs and a little over a year) Weak link seems to be the valve retainer/keeper material and or design.   Both exhaust and intake sides...

Put a two stroke weed eater head on one and it works ok for tall hedges but it's a little weak with the chainsaw head on it.   Like to see a two stroke head in the 35-40 cc range

Sounds like someone should come up with an AM conventional retainer with locks instead of clipping over the valve. It's what we have to do on all of our racing small engines.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: Cut4fun . on October 20, 2015, 06:35:14 pm
Thanks for the heads up.  Was not looking to close at Stihl, but more so the Husky 128, or Poland Pro.   Haven't looked at Echo yet, but I will tomarrow.  Have a dealer 15 miles away.  I am leaning toward a 2-stroke.  Does anyone know if the weights they all post is the complete unit, or just the head without the pole?   Thanks

Echo from my understanding is complete set up.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on October 23, 2015, 05:52:23 am
The Echo I looked at today looks like a fine unit.  Pricey and a tad heavy though, that is with head and motor combined.  I may not have much a choice when it comes to weight.  Guess I need to check out the Poland pros.  My Dad had used Poland chainsaws when I was a teenager.  And all I can remember is him cussing them all the time.  It was in the shop more than in the timber.  Could have been his lack of maintance ,  but that really soured me on Polands, and has to this day.  Maybe there better now.  No more than I will use one it will probably be my best option.  Anyone have one here?   Are they rebuildable (carbs, cylinders), or do you just have to by new when they go bad?   Thanks
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: jr27236 on October 23, 2015, 08:05:51 am
I just bought a Echo PPT-230 from an auction for $150. Thing runs mint although I have to change some case plastics. I haven't used it as of yet, but I can tell you from just moving it around that this thing is awkwardly unbalanced and heavy and that's not extended, although that might balance it out. It has a two stroke 23cc motor. They do come with or you can buy a shoulder strap to offset the weight off your arms . Once I use it for cutting I will let you know how it went.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: exSW on October 23, 2015, 09:59:31 am
Look at Efco.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on October 23, 2015, 10:05:32 am
Look at Efco.
I knew EFCO made some pretty good saws, but didn't know they made pole pruners.  Will check them out as well.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: dannyupsolate on October 23, 2015, 09:00:04 pm
had the poulan pro saw end all apart other day. lt would not oil blew it all out then it oiled. oiler is just like wild thing oiler only shorter. head was poulan pro weedeater head.  seemed like good tool to me.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on October 24, 2015, 08:23:51 am
had the poulan pro saw end all apart other day. lt would not oil blew it all out then it oiled. oiler is just like wild thing oiler only shorter. head was poulan pro weedeater head.  seemed like good tool to me.
Are the polands worth the money? Would you buy one again if you had it to do over?   At this point I think I will just go ahead and buy a Poland Pro.  I can get 1 on flee bay for around 180.00.  The Echo's are no doubt a higher quality tool but @ $400 they should be.  I keep my equipment in top working order so maybe it will last awhile.  Many thanks to all for your input. :)
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: Cut4fun . on October 24, 2015, 01:36:15 pm
Just dont get the ryobi built poulan one. I had one of those here and it was junk IMO. Get the later new ones.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: dannyupsolate on October 24, 2015, 09:13:40 pm
thing is you kill something on the poulan you can pick up anything except saw end at local yard sale. I don't find echos at the yard sale. I have 3 echos and 1 tanaka from christmas tree farm trying to figure out how to put poulan carburetors on them. those rotary valve carburetors suck. get a poulan pro find a way to make it run a little richer than factory intended and enjoy
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on October 25, 2015, 07:43:48 am
Just dont get the ryobi built poulan one. I had one of those here and it was junk IMO. Get the later new ones.

How can you tell the difference.  Is there an easy way?
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: maxmag on October 25, 2015, 09:46:05 am
Not pushing any brand here,  I would like to have a Husqvarna, etc.. but for $250 less I bought a Poulan  Pro.  Have been very happy with it. Out of the box I only bumped the throttle adj a smidgen and it runs like it should. I use it for home use not prof use. It will cut limbs as big as the 8" bar will let it. Will it last? Did I get lucky with this one last? Only time will tell. Did find replacement chains at Walmart on clearance for $5 .
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on November 03, 2015, 07:36:26 am
Not pushing any brand here,  I would like to have a Husqvarna, etc.. but for $250 less I bought a Poulan  Pro.  Have been very happy with it. Out of the box I only bumped the throttle adj a smidgen and it runs like it should. I use it for home use not prof use. It will cut limbs as big as the 8" bar will let it. Will it last? Did I get lucky with this one last? Only time will tell. Did find replacement chains at Walmart on clearance for $5 .
      Are the carbs. on the Poland Pro's adjustable?  Since everything these days is EPA laced, I'd like to be able to richin it up a bit.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: dannyupsolate on November 03, 2015, 09:39:50 am
if they are not should not be hard to find one that is.  most have zamas that rebuild easy . be sure to unbox and  check the particular one you buy its only way to be sure which carburetor you actually get.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: Cut4fun . on November 03, 2015, 03:38:25 pm
The ryobi built one only had 2 cylinder bolts.  There is a thread on poulan pro pole saws and has the ryobi one with model number too.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: wild262 on November 04, 2015, 09:30:28 pm
I will check this all out.  Thanks too all.
Title: Re: Homeowner looking to purchase pole saw
Post by: kathy on January 18, 2018, 06:33:59 am
My friend Jon purchased Echo pruner a few months ago. This is a great limb pruner. He only wishes he had purchased an extension pole with it, He knows what Dad is getting for Christmas. A few extra feet would be perfect, being he is only 5' 9". Echo is one of the best overall products. Very well made, easy to use and balanced. Thanks Echo for the time, money, R & D and effort you put into your products to make them the best on the market.