New Sawmill Chainsaw

Magicman · March 25, 2019, 06:58:09 PM

Kinda from necessity. "Ole arth" of the "ritis" family has been giving my knuckles fits when I crank my MS310 during cold weather. Wrapping a strap around the pull handle and my wrist helped but it was not a fix. Although the new MS311 comes with a decompression button, my eyes were resting easily on an MS362 e/w 20" bar. More $$ but....

The MS362 is the only Stihl Professional saw that is still listed as available without M-Tronic, so it was my choice. The 25" bar/chain from the MS310 fits so this will be my saw for trimming big stuff when sawmilling and will accompany the MS170. The MS310 will now reside at the tree farm.

offrink · March 25, 2019, 07:02:28 PM

Beautiful saw! Stihl makes saws with an easy pull start. No recoil when you pull the string out and when it pulls it back it it rolls over the engine. I've heard good things about them but never tried one.

Magicman · March 25, 2019, 07:13:24 PM

Yup, I think that those are ~35cc saws. I needed one that would handle a 25" bar at times. The old MS310 and this new MS362 are both 59cc saws.

WV Sawmiller · March 25, 2019, 07:29:54 PM

MM,

Good looking saw. I am sure you will enjoy it for many years to come.

Offrink,

My wife has one of those EZ start saws. I think it is a 180 model and works as promised. they make them for women and people with shoulder injuries and such. I don't know if they make them in the larger saws. You just slowly pull the cord and it winds then at some point it releases and cranks on the "rewind/unwind" cycle.

olcowhand · March 25, 2019, 07:31:23 PM

Sweet, MM!
A buddy of mine has an MS 362 and he loves that saw.... Good Call.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · March 25, 2019, 08:40:30 PM

Is this a PRIZE at the Georgia Project?

Magicman · March 25, 2019, 08:50:16 PM

Yes, but the scratch off tickets are a bit more than 2 SGU's.

lxskllr · March 25, 2019, 09:15:15 PM

Good saw. I have a 362 and a 362cm. Can't say I notice a difference between them, but I like not having to worry about tuning the cm. I also prefer the air filter on the cm. When the time comes to change the filter on the 362, I'll probably looking into getting the cm system to put on it.

Are you gonna pull the limiters to tune it? I left mine in place, but moved H all the way CCW for safety. I don't trust my ear to try fine tuning it at this point.

Magicman · March 25, 2019, 09:24:39 PM

This saw has the new round pleated (permanent) air filter.

I'll run a few tanks of gas through it before I take it in for a dealer look-see. So far it has been cranked a half dozen times and cut nothing.

Hooterspfld · March 25, 2019, 09:25:59 PM

Great saw, I went for the 362CM and really like it with the 20" blade. Helped a friend the other day with a 60' pine that came down in a storm. He couldn't stop gushing about it cutting like butter. I purchased it with a 25" bar, but actually like it better with the 20".

lxskllr · March 25, 2019, 09:32:36 PM

Quote from: Hooterspfld on March 25, 2019, 09:25:59 PM
Great saw, I went for the 362CM and really like it with the 20" blade. Helped a friend the other day with a 60' pine that came down in a storm. He couldn't stop gushing about it cutting like butter. I purchased it with a 25" bar, but actually like it better with the 20".

The 25" bar is too heavy. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have gotten the light bar. It does the job though, and is exactly what I needed.

Magicman · March 25, 2019, 10:16:42 PM

I only put my long bar on the MS310 once. Matter of fact, I did not use it on the log that I bought it for. :-\ The 20" seems to be just right.

Peter Drouin · March 26, 2019, 06:10:56 AM

Nice saw. What is m tronic?

celliott · March 26, 2019, 06:20:44 AM

Magicman, your stihl dealer should be able to order one for you, or get it online but a D handle from a 460/461 rescue saw might help you out.
Plenty on the eBay.
Would give you more grip, like the strap trick you were doing.

lxskllr · March 26, 2019, 07:09:32 AM

Quote from: Peter Drouin on March 26, 2019, 06:10:56 AM
Nice saw. What is m tronic?

Computer controlled saw. Plus side is there's nothing to do regarding tuning. The computer keeps the saw running optimally. Minus side, if the computer acts up, the only one at this time that can fix it is a Stihl dealer. So far, I'm a fan, though I don't like being tied to other people for repair. The software should be open sourced, with ports on the saw the end user can use.

Magicman · March 26, 2019, 08:29:13 AM

I was not necessarily against the M-Tronic because every vehicle that I own is computer controlled. I am not much more than an occasional chainsaw user so in a $$ sense, I could not even justify this saw over a "homeowner" saw much less the computer upgrade. Matter of fact, I never even asked or discussed it with the dealer, I just told him to order a MS362 and he did. I brought the subject up when he was prepping the saw yesterday and he told me that I had made the right decision, for my particular use anyway. Then maybe he is a good dealer and the customer is always right. :

marcnaz · March 26, 2019, 08:34:51 AM

I have one of the MS310's also. I really like the saw, but it can be a little hard to start if it's been sitting a few days. It would be nice to have one the was easier on the arm and fired first pull or two. One good thing about the older models is parts are really cheap and readily available even on Amazon. I just replaced the ignition coil in mine and it was only about $10. Also for those who haven't tried them, got a couple of Oregon LGX chains for mine and am very pleased with them.

Resonator · March 26, 2019, 08:54:48 AM

Nice saw!

"Cut. Carve. Craft. MS362, with a professional chain saw anything is possible."

boonesyard · March 26, 2019, 10:05:46 AM

I just picked up a new saw to have around the mill as well. We cut up the ash pictured, bucked it with the 390, but cleaned up everything else with the Milwaukee and the 12ah battery. I can't get over how well it worked. Cleaned up the hole tree and still had 2 bars of juice left. It's pretty heavy, but I didn't find it a big deal. Sure does start easy :D

lxskllr · March 26, 2019, 10:08:53 AM

A mill seems like the ideal place for a battery saw. Quick to start, and close to mains power in case you run low on juice.

Florida boy · March 26, 2019, 10:19:39 AM

I have z 359 husky and several smaller and bigger saws including a 372. The 359 is my best all around saw great power to weight ratio. 59 cc's are the bees nees for me...

78NHTFY · March 26, 2019, 03:32:25 PM

MM--good choice on the MS362! I have the earlier version: MS361. It's my primary logging saw w/20" bar. So far (7 years) it has always started. To start on the first pull (after it's been sitting), I burp it a couple of times first by pulling so it turns over. If I forget and give it a full pull, it takes 7 full pulls to start it. Starting on the first pull sure saves on the arm/hand strain! All the best, Rob.

LeeB · March 27, 2019, 03:08:14 AM

I've been mostly a husky guy but do have a 361. I find myself going for it about as often as the husky 562. I like both of them about the same. What's the difference between the 361 and the 362?

JustinW_NZ · March 27, 2019, 04:03:23 AM

I have a ms250 with 'ergostart' and yes its been great - when climbing up a tree dismantling then its REALLY good not having to fight with a saw hanging in a harness..

The wife can also pick it up and get it going in too secs which is handy..

Cheers
Justin

YellowHammer · March 27, 2019, 08:44:59 AM

I've got some big saws, some mid size saws, and recently got a little itty bitty saw for use around the mill and edger. It uses a narrow kerf, fast, picco chain like a limb trimmer, and is great for trimming limbs, spikes off butt logs, the ends of boards before feeding into the edger, etc. I also used it, just to see how it worked, to limb and trim up a decent white oak, maybe 18 inches on the butt and it did pretty good, with battery life to spare. Not something I want to do regularly, but for small, limb trimmer sized branches, this thing is fast.

No cords, no gas, no oil, no problems, two year warranty on saw and battery.

Hobby Hardwood Alabama Battery Powered Stihl 200 Chainsaw - YouTube