I have that second one. It's pretty nice.
It is easier to deal with the chain in the field, needs no tools but
after some use it gets kinda crapped up with the chain oil and sawdust
so it is not particularly easy to adjust, but you can take the cover off
easily by turning that round knob off (and you loosen that to turn that
thumbwheel to adjust the chain) and clean it up too. Probably should do
that occasionally anyway but of course I never think to do that until I
have to... I keep it in the truck and it is always ready to go which I
find quite handy as I use it often.
The fuel and oil filler caps are on the other side, easy to fill.
ALWAYS use the Stihl synthetic 2-cycle oil, I think it has a lifetime
warranty on the engine if you do, ask the dealer about that aspect. I
keep a 2gal can in the truck mixed and ready to go, the little oil
bottles mix 2 gal so when it gets low I fill the can and dump in a
bottle of the oil.
It's a nice saw but has one annoying aspect -- the pull rope is not
directly engaged to the flywheel, it has a spring the rope winds up then
the spring turns the flywheel. Sometimes it takes several pulls to get
it going, esp after not being used for awhile, and since it is not
directly attached sometimes the spring doesn't catch well or turn over
the engine right. So you might get a bit of workout cranking it to get
it to start, though sometimes it will start fairly quickly. When new it
would start on one pull but after time... but it still starts fairly
easily compared to other saws I have had.
It also has a chain brake, you push that guard forward and it locks the
clutch so you can start it and warm it up without the chain turning,
then release it (pull it back) and the chain will spin. I guess it is a
running safety feature too in case of kickback. I like that feature as
it is safer to start and carry around if it is just idling.
I haven't had any trouble with it, I think I might have replaced the
plastic primer bulb but those are a constant annoyance on any 2cycle
engine so you probably should buy a couple to keep around for when they
crack.
On a related note, I was using my Stihl weedwhacker the other day and it
started making a rattling noise then grenaded and stopped, all these
bits were rattling around inside the housing by the motor. I took it
apart and the flywheel/fan thingie had completely disintegrated, all the
wings on the fan aspect were broken off. I could see no particular
reason for that to happen so it was quite weird. Maybe the casting
failed, something broke off and then that took everything else with it?
Anyway I found a used part on ebay and ordered it, $20 with shipping,
should be here in a coupla days. I hope that gets it going, it is a
very strange failure. I don't know, maybe these things are just
limited-lifetime tools and expectation of more is unreasonable.
Buy a set of the carb adjustment tools too (I found a complete set of
all the different kinds on Amazon I think, pretty cheap, ebay has them
too but shipping from China might take awhile) as at some point you will
need to become an EPA scofflaw and Commiefornia felon. I have a Stihl
blower, I finally got that thing tuned up to run well with adjustments,
it went off and would barely run. I guess over time the jets or the
needles clog up or something. I think I have also adjusted the saw and
the weedwhacker and they run (ran!) a lot better now.
All that said, it is a lot better unit than the Husq and others I have.
I have an older Husq, maybe 10yo, it was just a constant mess of
annoying random issues every time I wanted to use it, the last being the
fuel tank pick up hose disintegrated or something, Looked to be a PITA
to deal with, I needed a saw right quick to clean up a fallen tree maybe
3yr ago so I just went and got this Stihl and have been mostly happy
with it. I should probably take the Husq to get fixed (I could probably
fix it but it annoys me so one of those things to pay someone else to
deal with) and have it for a backup. It worked OK when it worked but
not particularly reliable when I needed it. I have a chainsaw my dad
got when I was like 10yo, a Homelite, a really nice little saw (but
minimal safety features) that the same issue happened with the fuel
lines and of course there are no parts available for a 55yo saw...
Another one for the TODO pile... And there is one my dad had, I think
he might have bought it at an auction ages ago, I used it a coupla times
but it was a running PITA too, I don't even recall the model. It's
sitting in its case too...
--FT
On 9/9/20 10:38 AM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote:
Thanks, everyone!
I’m looking at two different Stihl saws, not sure which is better (probably the
more expensive one, of course!):
https://brandonrentalcentersriverview.stihldealer.net/products/chain-saws/homeowner-saws/ms250/#features_tab
This one is a “homeowner’s” model that’s on sale right now for $300.
This one appears to be similar but has some nicer features like automatic chain
tensioning:
https://brandonrentalcentersriverview.stihldealer.net/products/chain-saws/homeowner-saws/ms251cbe/
Thoughts? Opinions?
-D
On Sep 9, 2020, at 10:01 AM, Jaime Kopchinski via Mercedes
<mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote:
7 years ago I purchased a new Stihl chain saw. I've used it maybe once a
year since for storm clean up, etc. I use ethanol fuel in it, I don't
drain the fuel between uses. In other words, I don't go out of my way to
keep it running. But I always mix stabilizer in with the fuel, and only
use the Stihl 2 stroke oil with it (which also has stabilizers I believe)
It starts and runs perfectly every time I use it. No issues at all.
They've really figured out the occasional-use small engine. I highly
recommend them.
Jaime
On Tue, Sep 8, 2020 at 5:09 PM Dan Penoff via Mercedes <
mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote:
In an effort to become better prepared should a large storm/hurricane pass
through, I am considering purchasing a chain saw.
Since it would be something I would rarely use, I’m not looking to buy a
large professional grade Husqvarna or something like that necessarily.
However, I would like a good quality saw, not a HF sort of machine.
Suggestions?
-D
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--
Jaime Kopchinski
http://www.jaimekop.com/
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--FT
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