Chainsaw warranty?

[farmboy05]

I'm looking at buying my first chainsaw so i don't have to keep borrowing my fathers underpowered one. Money is tight right now but i did see this one on sale and am thinking I'll buy it.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200604984_200604984

I know it's not top of the line but i just want something to get me by a few years until we're debt free and money frees up for a really good one. I was wondering though if the extended warranty is worth it.

Thanks in advance,
Matt.

 

[TreePointer]

I know where I can drive to a local dealer for Stihl, Husqvarna/Jonsered, Dolmar/Makita, and Echo warranty work and know I'd get it back in a timely fashion. I have no idea where I would take a Remington chainsaw for warranty work.

I'd check my local dealers for a used model. See what they have. Maybe something like a Stihl 250, 290; Husqvarna 350, 450, 455 (Jonsered 2255); Dolmar 5100s, 5105. I'd trust a used 250 or 290 in decent condition to last longer than a new low end Remington or Poulan.

If your goal is to save money, stay away from just about all extended warranties.

 

[BrotherBart]

Remington saws are an MTD product. Two small engine shops within eight miles of my house are a service center for them. And I live out in the sticks.

One of them is the Sthil dealer.

(broken link removed)

 

[TreePointer]

If I depended on service centers for repairs, parts, and advice, I would make certain to have one nearby.

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah I love all of this talk about having a dealer handy. Bought one saw from an dealer. In 1991. The saw has lasted fifteen years longer than the dealer did and has never been in the shop. In fact none of my five saws have ever had to go to a shop.

Any small engine repair shop can fix a chainsaw if you need such.

 

[TreePointer]

Yeah I love all of this talk about having a dealer handy. Bought one saw from an dealer. In 1991. The saw has lasted fifteen years longer than the dealer did and has never been in the shop. In fact none of my five saws have ever had to go to a shop.

Any small engine repair shop can fix a chainsaw if you need such.

In general, I agree with the idea of not needing a dealer. Because Farmboy05 indicated he was considering an extended warranty, I assumed he would need this relationship. With all the improperly tuned saws, ethanol damage, and cheap (wimpy) parts on saws these days, I see dealer/service centers being more important than they were when we first started buying OPE.

So Farmboy05 purchases a Remington chainsaw from NorthernTool and it arrives via UPS. We have no idea if these saws are properly tuned in the factory, so Farmboy05 (if he's not comfortable with tuning) has to take it to a dealer/service center to get it tuned and pay more money.

 

[BrotherBart]

The saw he is looking at isn't gonna make a logger drool but it has a two year parts and labor warranty and if he keeps a sharp chain and if he doesn't work it like a rented mule it should get it done till he can afford a hot dog one. If it is gonna fly apart it will do it in the first cord bucked.

I cut a heck of a lot of wood back when with a $99 Poulan Micro XXV.

 

[farmboy05]

Ic. Well I'll do some checking around. I'm not usually a fan of extended warranty (i usually avoid them like the plague). But i didn't know if a chainsaw might be worth it. Thanks for the info!!

 

[TreePointer]

I'm not against getting inexpensive saws. I've done a good deal of cutting with a 42cc craftsman and even an Earthquake saw. (I only recommend the Earthquake as an inexpensive project saw--porting, muff mod, etc.).

If OP is paying $189 + Northern Tool's normally high shipping for a Remington saw of unknown durability, I say checking the dealer for a USED 250 or 290 for nearly the same money that's built like a tank and has a great track record for durability is worth the time. Maybe there isn't a good deal on a used saw at his dealers, but my Stihl and Husqvarna dealers have them from time to time.

That Poulan Micro XXV is built like a little tank, too! My brother in Phoenix has one. Cute little bugger.

 

[highanddryinco]

Farmboy05 - What are you planning to use the saw for? Since you're already using your father's saw, I assume you've got some basic maintenance skills maybe? Are you cutting all your own wood to heat with or is this just occasional use?
I ask because back in the day (1990-ish) when I didn't have a pot to pee in, I bought a reconditioned 2.0 Mac with a 14" bar from Harbor Freight for about $75 with coupon. Covered me for a good long time performing various chores, , landscaping tasks, and helping out a buddy who heated with wood. With minimal care over the years...It still starts and runs today.
Fast forward to today and I've got numerous pots to pee in and I cut all my own wood to supplement about 70% of my heat with so I opted to step up the power and quality. That said, both my Stihls are Craigslist finds. They're out there, just watch regularly and act fast if you want one. Otherwise, go ahead and buy on the cheap, skip the warranty, and "live long and prosper." You can find basic parts for about any saw on the internet if needed.
Love my Stihls, but we've all got to start somewhere. Good luck on your choice.

 

[dougand3]

I've done a good deal of cutting with a 42cc craftsman

Same here. Used a Craftsman 42cc18" (Built by Poulan) for 15 years . Only problems were dirty carb screen and broken flywheel fins from coil bolt working out and bouncing on fins. If I was buying my first saw now on a TIGHT budget, for 4 cords or less bucking per year, I'd get this Poulan 4218 for $88 shipped:

http://www.vminnovations.com/Produc...Cycle-Gas-Powered-Chain-Saw-Refurbished-.html

Now, you may need to tune carb - will need some wrenching skills. May need a carb tool or remove carb and cut off limiters and dremel slots in Hi - Lo screws to tune.

Depends on how comfortable OP is re: wrenching...may find a pro saw for cheap on CL. But it might need carb work/replacement or piston/ring/cylinder replacement.

 

[highanddryinco]

I'd have to agree.
And like the ad says, you can keep your lawn beautiful and manicured with it.

 

[maple1]

Does that thing really weigh 25 pounds?

Zoinks.

That doesn't seem to be that great a deal to me.

I found a used MS250 for $60 a couple years ago. Had to get a new bar & chain for it, and hook the switch back up that had come unhooked, but I really like using it and it works like a top. Gotta watch close for the deals though, they don't last long.

What do you have for dealers around you? I think I would go for a $190 used Stihl over a $190 new Remington - warranty or not.

EDIT: Or the $90 Poulan mentioned above.

 

[KD0AXS]

No, it doesn't weight 25 lbs. 25 lbs is the "ship weight" not the actual weight of the saw itself. I looked at the MTD version (same saw, different color) at Menards, because they had them on clearance for $150. I looked up reviews on it and they were terrible, so I passed on it. I ended up getting the Poulan Pro PP5020AV, which I think is a great choice for a halfway decent saw on a budget. Fleet Farm had it on sale for $189, so I took the ad to Home Depot. After they beat the price by 10%, it was $170.

 

[TreePointer]

That PP5020AV is $169 right now at Tractor Supply Co.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/poulanreg;-pro-pp-5020-av-20-in-chainsaw

 

[farmboy05]

Buying a used 2 cycle piece of equipment makes me nervous. But I'll take a look around. The one guy i know of that sells mostly husqvarna is also a dealer for this Remington. (But he really likes his Husqvarna lol.) I'll do some calling around. And if i go with the Remington, I'll leave out the warranty.

Fyi, I'm looking at cutting less then 3 or 4 cords a year.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[KD0AXS]

That PP5020AV is $169 right now at Tractor Supply Co.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/poulanreg;-pro-pp-5020-av-20-in-chainsaw

That's a good deal there. If you can get Home Depot's price match, it would be $153.

 

[TreePointer]

When I was buying my first saw, I was also very cautious about buying used, so I bought new. Nothing wrong at all with that.

After repairing and rebuilding a few, I learned what to look for and was a lot more secure in the fact that I could provide my own service on a used model.

There is a sort of middle ground of buying used from a local chainsaw dealer. Chainsaws are not very complicated machines, and the dealer is the same place that would do a warranty repair on a new saw. My local "Mom & Pop" Stihl dealer has been an OPE service center for many decades, knows their stuff, and are more honest than some of my own family, lol!

 

[Noshow]

I saw an ad the other day for brand new Stihl chainsaw for around $200 or $190 something like that. I think it was the ms170 or 180. Yes they are small saws and they are the cheaper built Stihls. I would take one over anything built by MTD. Plus you are buying from the dealer with warranty. Go to their site and see if they are still running that promotion.

 

[CTYank]

I've had a PP5020AV for 2.5 years now. Still runs better than new. Bud liked it so much, he got one & put his stihl 250 up for sale. Way more powerful, and smoother.

If you're even thinking of a 250/251 try a Dolmar PS-421 for the same price new, and never look back. Enormously better, pro quality vs plastic poo (homeowner Stihls).

At TSC's price for PP5020 on special, that's a no-brainer IMHO. Bigger and better, even: Echo 590 for ~$390, designed by Shindaiwa.

 

[CTYank]

Same here. Used a Craftsman 42cc18" (Built by Poulan) for 15 years . Only problems were dirty carb screen and broken flywheel fins from coil bolt working out and bouncing on fins. If I was buying my first saw now on a TIGHT budget, for 4 cords or less bucking per year, I'd get this Poulan 4218 for $88 shipped:

http://www.vminnovations.com/Produc...Cycle-Gas-Powered-Chain-Saw-Refurbished-.html

Now, you may need to tune carb - will need some wrenching skills. May need a carb tool or remove carb and cut off limiters and dremel slots in Hi - Lo screws to tune.

Depends on how comfortable OP is re: wrenching...may find a pro saw for cheap on CL. But it might need carb work/replacement or piston/ring/cylinder replacement.

Bought one of these a year+ back for backup. Original ("Torch") plug was NFG, chain ditto. With colder-than-stock NGK plug and good chain, and wee carb adj., it works great. Don't use it for logging- engine bolts to plastic chassis and bar studs attach to that chassis, so there's some flexibility. Mind you, some smaller stihls have bar studs that THREAD into plastic.

 

[computeruser]

There's no sense in paying for an extended warranty on a $180 saw, or $180 anything for that matter. It's a throw-away.