both mcculloch and homelite had multiple chances to survive long before falling apart.. but their 'old school' thinking doomed them. they didn't want to spend any cash on research or development. even when the out sourced companies they were using to build some of their more advanced saws were screaming at them to do so. oleo-mac told mcculloch right from the get go that the titan line although far more advanced and user freindly, were outdated designs. mcculloch decided to keep what they had in hopes their customers would stick with them due to brand loyalty. homelite was basicly told the same thing by solo, but with less of the research and development talk. they were told 'hey don't worry! we'll keep you running." but they never thought that people wanted a lighter faster chainsaw, nor that the early epa would start clamping down on "polution" be it gasses or sound. they were both blinded like deer in headlights not really knowing what their customer really wanted because they really didn't care.