Best saw to build?

Wedgebanger · February 11, 2019, 12:17:21 PM

Wanting to buy a used pro saw from the 90s-early 2000s. What is the best model to build up? Husqvarna or Stihl are the brands I've mainly used and am accustomed to.

HolmenTree · February 11, 2019, 12:24:01 PM

Stihl 046 Magnum or early 371/372XP.
Smaller saws Stihl 026Super or Husqvarna 242XP/346XP .

sablatnic · February 11, 2019, 02:24:24 PM

And Stihl 026 - 260, if you want a small saw.

HolmenTree · February 11, 2019, 02:57:58 PM

Quote from: sablatnic on February 11, 2019, 02:24:24 PM
And Stihl 026 - 260, if you want a small saw.

Yep, my mistake 026 not 036.

Quote from: HolmenTree on February 11, 2019, 12:24:01 PM
Stihl 046 Magnum or early 371/372XP.
Smaller saws Stihl 036Super or Husqvarna 242XP/346XP .

doc henderson · February 11, 2019, 03:43:28 PM

I have a 25 y/o Stihl 046. what all would you guys do to it at this point. to build it up.

AZ_builder · February 11, 2019, 06:33:08 PM

I have a woodboss 028 super that I put together. Small but really nice saw.

Cam460 · February 11, 2019, 07:53:16 PM

Stihl 034 and put a 036 top end on it!

wild262 · February 11, 2019, 08:27:19 PM

Husky 262xp, or Husky 61 with a 272 top end? Or a Husky 340, 345, 350, 353, to a 346xp? Just a few I have done.

Air Lad · February 12, 2019, 05:04:37 AM

Quote from: HolmenTree on February 11, 2019, 12:24:01 PM
Stihl 046 Magnum or early 371/372XP.
Smaller saws Stihl 026Super or Husqvarna 242XP/346XP .

A mate of mine worked in forestry harvesting Hoop Pine
He bought a 046 mag from an old retiring workmate
He loves that saw
Just saying

HolmenTree · February 12, 2019, 08:10:34 AM

Quote from: Air Lad on February 12, 2019, 05:04:37 AM
Quote from: HolmenTree on February 11, 2019, 12:24:01 PM
Stihl 046 Magnum or early 371/372XP.
Smaller saws Stihl 026Super or Husqvarna 242XP/346XP .
A mate of mine worked in forestry harvesting Hoop Pine
He bought a 046 mag from an old retiring workmate
He loves that saw
Just saying

I was impressed with the 046 Mag with dual muffler outlets when Stihl sponsored my saw contest back in the '90s.
046 factory production run started in Aug 1995 and weren't EPA doctored with until end of 1997. So there was a couple of good years there.
At 76cc and 14.1 lbs PHO they were a thoroughbred in power to weight ratio.
To better that you'd need to go back to 1986-'87 with the 85cc 064 at same 14.1 lbs.
These weights were without dogs and with a standard half wrap handle.
Also standard muffler without the forestry fire guard front cover.

Inaotherlife · February 12, 2019, 10:47:20 AM

009L with 012 p&c.

Oops, I guess that's not a pro saw.

How about 020 or 200T.
026, or that 046 sounds like a good one.

Maybe something red. 2054 or 2055 Turbo.

Or just the biggest saw that you can find.

mike_belben · February 16, 2019, 08:27:57 AM

Husky 61 into a 72 is probably one of the cheapest bigger saws you can build. I never paid more than $50 for a dead 61 and never spent more than $60 on a full 72cc kit. Chinesium. Even a parts 372 brings more than that.

sablatnic · February 16, 2019, 11:52:53 AM

Before starting to rebuild something, it might be a good idea to check the local availability of derelict saws.

Where I live it was mostly Partners bring used professionally, and old Partners are still to be found.
The old cube-partners were produced for many years and are easy to repair - I've even crafted 70cc pro cylinders onto a couple of 55cc farmer crankcases. It involved boring the crankcases to accept the larger cylinders, but everything else is the same.

sawguy21 · February 16, 2019, 12:32:14 PM

I have seen a few Partners but they are not a popular saw in North America and parts are scarce.

sablatnic · February 16, 2019, 12:51:41 PM

Maybe Electrolux didn't know what to do with Partner - they suddenly owned Husqvarna, Jobu, Norlett, Partner, Jonsereds, Pioneer, Frontier, Poulan, McCulloch and most likely some I have forgotten about.

Inaotherlife · February 16, 2019, 01:23:58 PM

Quote from: sablatnic on February 16, 2019, 12:51:41 PM
Maybe Electrolux didn't know what to do with Partner - they suddenly owned Husqvarna, Jobu, Norlett, Partner, Jonsereds, Pioneer, Frontier, Poulan, McCulloch and most likely some I have forgotten about.

Redmax?

sablatnic · February 16, 2019, 01:34:35 PM

Yes, Redmax too, thanks!

Al_Smith · February 17, 2019, 04:14:07 AM

Truth be known you can enhance just about any saw of any make .End results might vary depending on how much is done to them .There are as many opinions on what and how to do and what make is best as there are opinions on gas/oil ratio to use in them .Thus the great oil oil debate is not the only subject discussed at great length .
All I can say about the subject is every modification I have ever done yielded better performance .It's not rocket science . ;)

Wedgebanger · February 17, 2019, 06:05:06 PM

Anyone ever run a McCulloch saw? I've read that the ones from the 70's are solid units...

Al_Smith · February 18, 2019, 08:57:18 AM

I have a few of the yellow saws . 8)

Inaotherlife · February 18, 2019, 10:24:56 PM

Old Macs, Poulans, and Homelites from the 70's and 80's can all be good saws. But I figure those old saws aren't easy to find parts for.
I'd probably buy a big one if I could find one that I thought I could get going without replacing a bunch of parts.

Al_Smith · February 19, 2019, 01:24:55 AM

Restoration of anything is not for everyone .I've delved into old tractors,chainsaws ,old machinery ,hand tools .You just have to have patience and do a lot of research .
Most people who own chainsaws just want them to start and cut wood .It's only us few who restore and or enhance the performance of same .Which doesn't make us rock stars ,just different . ;)

Wedgebanger · February 19, 2019, 12:17:12 PM

Quote from: Al_Smith on February 18, 2019, 08:57:18 AM
I have a few of the yellow saws . 8)

Which one would you look for as a restoration build?

Inaotherlife · February 19, 2019, 01:40:07 PM

None from the 90's and up I'll bet.

Al_Smith · February 19, 2019, 04:53:42 PM

:D McCulloch as we knew it stopped production in I think 1998 .The only one I have in the 1990's is an Italian made Titan 70 which is rare and totally intact and stock and shall remain that way .As far as one to tinker with any of the 10 series .They usually don't cost much and parts are plentiful .An older one like a model 250 being a reed valve 80 cc can be found too usually reasonable although some get the idea just because it's old that it's made of gold .
The way I look at it if it doesn't run it's nothing more than a boat anchor ,small boat not a cruise ship .