Chainsaw Repair

Thought maybe you guys could help put together a thread on pointers for a guy buying his first chainsaw.

I was hit with this yesterday. Guy never ran or touched a chainsaw and has bought a 5 acre place with 4 acres all wooded.

He said a few trees he wants down were 2 mans arms around trees  and the rest were smaller stuff he thought.

I ask what bar length he was looking for, what cc range, weight of handling saw as used (showed him this), most important to guys now days getting  first saw, COST.

I only have used saws and I didnt wont to end up working on a new wal-mart or lowe's poulan.

So I showed him stihl 026 028 036 066 MS660 , ported redmax 5000 , husqvarna 346 362 365 372 , poulan 365 3750 4000 , others I cant think of.

basically after listening to how he was going to used the saw, hardwoods and size and saying a 16" 18" bar would be good.  I felt he would kill the 49cc saws and under.

He liked the weight of the 3 cubes and didnt know how much the bigger saws weighed till he tried them. man i wished I had a 3120 084 166 for him to have lifted LOL. He thought the 066 was heavy

Cost  was biggest selling factor and I tried to get him into the biggest  cheapest lightest saw I could. After lifting for weight and comparing them in the cut  he settled on 036 with 20" for less then the new 40cc - 46cc poulans  at lowe's.

Then showing him how to sharpen a chain with a oregon file guide. seems to be the easiest to show to new guys.
How to remove chain and bar and re install chain with proper tension.
Tools he should get scrench etc.
How to mix fuel and ratio's I like 40:1 or 32:1 and to top off bar oil on every tank of fuel.
Check air filter after how many tanks? That seems to depend on saw and if user is using a dull chain it seems.
Showed him a wood chip from sharp chain compared to a dull chain putting off dust and to touch up chain if he notices a difference in cutting and what is happening if he starts cutting left or right in curves.
Showed how to start several different ways and with on ground with foot on rear handle as safest for newbie or with chain brake on if standing up starting for newbie.
I showed him chaps after he said his BIL cut through his calf last  fall.
I showed him kick backs on purpose and tried to explain what little I know on that and how the chain brakes come in handy.

I had no clue on the lefty part, but it sure looked dangerous with him bucking up wood testing with his body on bar side.

Help me out on this thread.

Please add your other ideas for what to ask or a new guy should look into when getting his first saw.

Buy a dog shock collar to put on his neck. Blast him every time he uses the saw left handed.

For first time users I always suggest a 200 series Husky. I include the 61 Husky/625 Jon as it is basically the same thing. Cheap to buy, tough as a brick, easy to work on, and lots of aftermarket parts for when things go wrong. I start them off with a BP or DP chain. More forgiving, easier to learn on and still cut OK.

my dad is a left handed,even with a chainsaw. and he never had trouble with it. BUT he is experimented .....

i dont think the bar on his side is a problem,and the brake handle is more close to his hand,so it engages quicker.the kill switch is a problem,its far...

I don't know your relationship with the guy, but if he were a friend ,I'd suggest that you drop the trees to keep him safe & let him buck them up with a couple of different saws. Just my $.02

Steve

Guess I shouldnt have left that open like that. I already knew he wasnt dropping the big ones. He was having someone else drop them for him. 

First thing I tell anyone who buys a two cycle something from me is that theyre to add 4 ounces of the best two stroke oil they can find to each gallon of gas.  I tell them to remember it thinking about having 4 fingers on each hand...