opinions on current Sears chainsaws?

Use Less · #1 05/07/08, 04:12 PM

Anyone have experience with current Sear's chainsaws?My 22 year old Stihl 028AV died[needs >$100 parts&labor].
I'm wondering whether a Sear's is a viable alternative to a Stihl or Husqvarna??
Thanks.

ericjeeper · #2 05/07/08, 04:17 PM

But If I was a betting man the letters china are involved. spend the 100 on your 028. It is one of the best saws ever made.. and even if you put 100 into it.. It is still worth more then a sears new saw.

Scrounger · #3 05/07/08, 04:51 PM

Either fix what you have or get the Husky. The older Stihls are great, but a Husky will beat the new Stihls, hands down.

hunter63 · #4 05/07/08, 07:50 PM

Don't know about current Sears chainsaws, but they were Poulan for a long time.

I have three poulan's one quite old, and did have to have the fuel line replaced.(dealer guy said the ethanol/gas was the problem?)

He also said that the new saws are rated in hours, checked the tag in the front of the latest Poulan and sure enough, rated for only 50 hours! Sorta like a Bic lighter?

He had an Italian saw there, 16" for $250, don't remember the name, but they make the block for a lot of other saws in Europe. Warranty for 5 years, 3 commercial.
Railroad guys use one with a diamond round blade for cutting rails, think that the way I'm going next time.

homefarm · #5 05/07/08, 08:09 PM

my opinion is to fix the sthil much better saw for the dollar i have one thats over 20 years old might need parts sometimes but its stil cheaper than buying new...homefarm....

Rod Torgeson · #6 05/07/08, 09:55 PM

According to a repair place in Bingen, WA., Craftsman and Poulan chainsaws are made by Husqvarna. I have a Stihl(26 years old,20 inch bar) that stills cuts and runs good but hard to start. I have a Poulan(about 3 years old, 18 inch bar) that is good for lighter duty. I have a Husqvarna(new) with a 24 inch bar that cuts really nice and is easy to start.

Rod<---in Appleton, WA

Quint · #7 05/08/08, 01:11 AM

Don't know about new Sears chainsaws but I've been more than a little shocked how the cheap homelite saw i bought several years ago is working out. It was a factory reconditioned model being sold by Harbor Freight or Northern Tool I don't recall which. Came with a really nice plastic case and looked like new. It was 89 dollars and I wasn't expecting much especially since I haven't had really good luck with homelite saws in the past, but I needed something cheap and small to use instead of hauling around a big Stihl saw that I have. I've been totally shocked. I've used the tar out of that little saw and it hasn't missed a beat. I even loaned it to a cousin who used it to clear an old pasture and cut hedge posts and it is still running like a top. In fact this morning I used it to cut a dozen or so red cedar posts and 33 hedge posts. Not a single hiccup. Runs and cuts like a champ.

WolfWalksSoftly · #8 05/08/08, 03:21 AM

I'm surprised Husky would make a cheap saw that poorly and slap a Poulan or Craftsman name on it.
The only problem I have had with my Stihl was self inflicted....rolling out the back of the truck, oh and I threw it once..lol

tyusclan · #9 05/08/08, 05:27 AM

I know it's been mentioned on here before, but if you buy a Stihl, make sure it's made in Germany, and if you buy a Husky make sure it's made in Sweden.

I would definitely either fix the old saw, or buy a new Stihl or Husky. Stay away from the Poulan and Craftsman junk.

You can still get a Swedish-made Husky fairly reasonably at Lowe's.

I do have to agree with Quint on the Homelite. I have a small Ranger that my son took in trade for some work he did, and gave to me because he didn't want it. I have been totally shocked by the saw, because I wasn't expecting much out of it either.

It doesn't cut real fast. You have to let it eat at its own pace, because if you try to push it, you'll bog it down. But it cranks and runs every time, and has made a great little trim saw.

I have a big Husky for the big cutting.

**Cabin Fever** · #10 05/08/08, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyusclan

I know it's been mentioned on here before, but if you buy a Stihl, make sure it's made in Germany, and if you buy a Husky make sure it's made in Sweden.....

I totally agree. Stihl saws made in the USA are not near the quality of those made in Germany.

Highground · #11 05/08/08, 07:55 AM

I have a Craftsman saw. Named it Harley because it leaks so much oil.

Scrounger · #12 05/08/08, 07:58 AM

I got an older Stihl (I THINK it was an 026....) in 1994. It belonged to my wife's uncle, and I got it when he died. It had been used for several years. I used it for about 3 years until it finally died. It was going to cost close to $200 to fix it (it was old enough to have obsolete parts....), so I bought a new Husky 55. As good as the old Stihl was, the Husky was WAY better. When it was stolen, I bought another 55. I had trouble with it for almost 2 years until I finally convinced Husky to fix it (chain oiler). During this time, my wife said we could come up with the money for a new saw IF we bought a Stihl. BIG mistake. Now that the Husky is fixed, the 290 sits in a corner of the shop. Best place for it.

My wife's dad has an old Stihl 038 that he uses for big stuff. He (and my BIL) also have MS290's, that are older then mine. They seem to run OK, but not as good as the 038. Stihl's quaility has gone down hill.
My little Poulan has done some heavy cutting for a little saw. MUCH easier to start and operate (lots likghter to begin with).

WisJim · #13 05/08/08, 08:17 AM

The basic and first rule of buying a chainsaw is to buy it from a shop that does repairs and service on site. Any place that sells gas engine powered tools (chainsaws, lawnmowers, tillers, etc.) and doesn't have a shop and mechanic is NOT the place to buy a saw. This means, to me, that you never buy a chainsaw from a big box store, sears, etc.

I've had new and used Jonsereds and Stihls over the years, and now we have 2 or 3 Jonsereds and 2 Stihls, all good saws. I didn't like the Stihl 041 that I had back in the 1980s, but the MS260 that we bought a couple of years ago is a nice reliable hard working saw.

glenn amolenaar · #14 05/08/08, 08:23 AM

I think it has been said very well here, the older Sears saws were built better than the current models. Also if you only speak English and need to order parts from Sears all I can say is good luck. Best bet is buy one of the other brands mentioned.
Glenn

Mutti · #15 05/08/08, 08:50 AM

Doesn't having a 22 year old chainsaw say something to you???????????????? Hubby has Stihl over 30 years old still running. Buy quality and you won't have to replace it next month. Son just got a new Easy Start Stihl and loves it,too. DE

ozarkcat · #16 05/08/08, 05:09 PM

I've beat the tar out of mine over the years, have had nothing but great luck with it - easy to start & run, never had any problems.

MontanaVet · #17 05/08/08, 10:49 PM

Get a Stihl. All other chainsaws, except one- Huskawhatever, are for pruning. Spend the money first and save later.

indypartridge · #18 05/09/08, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Use Less

Anyone have experience with current Sear's chainsaws?

Yes. Mine is a 36cc (16" bar) that was given to me when we moved to the homestead four years ago. I haven't had any problems with it. I cut maybe 5 or 6 cords of wood a year.

Quote:

I'm wondering whether a Sear's is a viable alternative to a Stihl or Husqvarna??

I'll leave that part of the question for the "experienced" homesteaders/chainsaw-users to answer, since my experience is so limited.

tyusclan · #19 05/09/08, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrounger

...my wife said we could come up with the money for a new saw IF we bought a Stihl. BIG mistake. Now that the Husky is fixed, the 290 sits in a corner of the shop. Best place for it.

I also had an MS290 that I was very disappointed in. I bought it before I knew that Stihl had different grades of saws.

It gave me nothing but trouble until it quit completely. To be fair though, it may not be all the saw's fault since I had other's running it for me from time to time.

I replaced it with a used commercial grade Husky that I found at a pawn shop. I've had to do some minor things to bring it up to snuff, but it ran from day one. I cuts like a fiend.

If you're looking at Stihl, go to the website and look at the list of commercial grade saws, and choose one from that list that is the size that you think you need. You'll pay more for it, but it'll pay off in the long run.

RACCOON · #20 05/09/08, 07:42 AM

It all depends on how much u cut and what u cut, if u only use the saw ,once or twice a year on soft wood,go with Poulan. If you cut your hardwood firewood, I would try Dolmar ,or Makita they're top of the line saws,as good as Husky or Stihl maybe better,and they're cheaper!!!!