The Small Dolmar/Makita Thread..Max 50cc class

[Wilhelm]

Dolmar PS-4600S, Dolmar PS-6100CE, Makita EA4300



Dolmar PS-460, Dolmar PS-4600SH, Dolmar PS-9010, Makita EA5000XS



Dolmar PS-3400TH, Dolmar PS-6400, Dolmar PS-7900



Dolmar PS-311TH, Dolmar PS-550, Dolmar PS-6100MMWS

Just to show some of mine.
They aren't too hard to come by if You have the cash ready to jump on deals - because lets be honest, a great or good deal won't stay available long enough for the undecided and unready to make up their mind!

 

[Ford3000]

I can feel my body aging with every passing year!
This is why I ain't gonna "do favours" in terms of bucking firewood logs for others anymore.
This right now is the very first time that I have no firewood logs sitting in my back yard waiting to be bucked - I cleared them all during winter vacation.

Instead of spending my own money and wearing out my body and machinery "for the sake of friendship with others" I'll rather spend my time and money doing stuff like this (see attached pictures).

View attachment 363082 View attachment 363083 View attachment 363084

That looks delicious, brush ape will be envious.

 

[Wilhelm]

That looks delicious, brush ape will be envious.

It is delicious!
I have some left for tomorrow, it'll be cold but still very tasty.

BA can sit in a plane and come get some , freshly made of course - and so can You.

 

[Ford3000]

Efco MTH 5100 Piston, a real work of art, never saw a pin so close to the
bottom of a piston, look at the beautiful spacers aside the top bearing.

 

[Ford3000]

Well am going to get devious, contact some Stiga dealers looking for
base gasket, muffler gasket, and starter cover, just to see how many
moons it takes to get a response.

I got a response this morning / Monday to the mail I sent the Irish Importer.
Was told to go onto their site, type in the Part Number from the parts list they
sent me.
This did not bring up the muffler gasket, the recoil starter cover or base gasket.

I then went to another parts site, which list a lot of stiga chainsaw parts,
using the same code I tried for the base gasket for the SP426, bad news,
the search result states stopped supplying it completely, this makes me
think the Stiga 426 was using the no longer available Makita 4300 engine
and as such will also suffer from parts availability.
"18 - Code No. 118804616/0
Sorry, this part cannot be ordered. Stiga stopped supplying it completely."

I think I will give up on Stiga.

 

[FergusonTO35]

That doesn't sound good at all. Sounds like the complaints alot of folks have had about Olympyk/Efco over the years.

 

[Wilhelm]

Dolmar PS-420:
- 346304-9 muffler gasket in stock (1.29€)
- 195131130 cylinder base gasket in stock (3.14€)
- 195111065 crankcase gasket in stock (3.57€)

No wonder Stiga can't supply anything when they weren't making their own products in the first place.

 

[Ford3000]

Dolmar PS-420:
- 346304-9 muffler gasket in stock (1.29€)
- 195131130 cylinder base gasket in stock (3.14€)
- 195111065 crankcase gasket in stock (3.57€)

No wonder Stiga can't supply anything when they weren't making their own products in the first place.

@Wilhelm, I went back and tried to find parts on one of the sites I linked, they previously came up as no longer available, next to my surprise they were available, I do not know if there is script at work hoping people will buy the parts because some other parts clicked are available, and then the bad news will be delivered when the available parts are all that arrive.
This was the site I found all the stiga parts you could care for, when you select a part, look near the bottom of the page, the other engines the part fits are all listed too, great way to find out what parts from other models are compatible without searching for ages.

Spare parts - STIGA - Chainsaw | sGarden.cz

www.sgarden.cz

 

[Ford3000]

That doesn't sound good at all. Sounds like the complaints alot of folks have had about Olympyk/Efco over the years.

@FergustonTO35 I recently found an Efco MT6500 for sale new, 150.00 cheaper than in other places in Ireland, then I looked for parts to see what would be available, the parts that were available made Stihl parts look cheap, they were also not many in stock, so I gave up on buying it, 649.00 for a saw that is discontinued, hardly any parts in my area, and any that are are too expensive, I just don't know how a company expects to sell products with a parts situation like this. Maybe the larger saws will be all banned soon, like they did with the large Mig welders in europe, and not a single manufacturer squeaked out the truth until the law came into effect, the law is, no transformer based mig welder can be sold to a business, they all have to be inverter based and be above I think 87% efficient, a transformer based mig welder of max 200 amps can be sold to private individuals, and the trouble with the 200 amp transformer migs is, they have a low duty cycle, so in reality are useless to anyone who needs a welder other than someone who likes to stand about more than they weld. I fear something is in the pipeline regarding saws and home owners.

 

[Stefaan]

So glad i found this thread.

I recently came acros these Ruris chainsaws made in Romania.


I thought to myself, holy sh!t are they copying dolmar chainsaws now? Because the rm420 looks just like the ps350/420 and the rm500 like the ps5000/5100/5105/....

Then I found these Stiga saws and Alpina, Hecht, Heller,......and a whole other bunch of names. All made in Italy, Romania, Tchech-Republic, Poland,....etc. Then came to the conclusion and thought this can't be right. They all must be made in China. I don't have any problem with stuf made in china as long as the quality control is on point and the quality of the products is there. Makita ea4300 and 5xxx and 79xx series were also made in China after some time. I really can't find any quality difference between my China made ea4300 and German made ps420.

As discussed by Sondre, I also don't believe any of the companies mentioned above paid for the rights to produce copies of the ps350/420 or the 5xxx serie. I'm not saying they stole anything per se, but since they were already made in china by a japanese/ German company it is a lot easier to "steal" the blueprints for these saws. Still not saying they did so. Could just be reversed engineering.



In my opinion, I'm glad somebody is copying Dolmar saws now. It is a cheap alternative to learn how to port saws if you want to and maintain the original saws for much less money. I can pay €5 for an original muffler gasket for my 372xp or just buy one for €0,50 that works just as well.
If the internal components of these copy saws are made to the same specs as the original, that'd be great in my opinion.

I really dig the black and yellow Stiga colors. I have a garden power equipment dealer who sells a lot of Stiga products. I will visit him next week and ask him some questions about these saws and if parts are available. He used to be a Dolmar dealer, now Echo.

 

[Wilhelm]

I bought a nearly complete parts PS-5105 this week, I don't care for the Chinese made clones and copies and I hate seeing this Dolmar (Makita ) thread going to s#its!

Would anyone of You guys please open a new thread named "Dolmar/Makita clone saws"!

Thank You!

 

[Wilhelm]

Makita UC250D, 10" B&C, 3/8"LP.
Took 2 batteries to finish the job.

 

[Wilhelm]

Dolmar PS-550 (& PS-6400), great saw(s)!

 

[Ford3000]

Dolmar PS-550 (& PS-6400), great saw(s)!

View attachment 383582
View attachment 383583

How do you like the PS550 now after having it for some time, would you rather it or a 6100 in the same use case.

 

[Wilhelm]

How do you like the PS550 now after having it for some time, would you rather it or a 6100 in the same use case.

For serious work I will pick up my 100% factory stock PS-550 over my stock "Carbon Edition" & MMWS PS-6100 any day of the year.
The PS-550 is so well mannered yet grunty with a semi short 3/8" 56DL B&C setup she doesn't even wear me down through hours of bucking up logs.

The issue with the PS-6100 series saws is they utilize the exact same clutch assembly as the PS-420/5105/550 and it is just too lightweight/weak to keep up with the power of 61cc's of power both stock and even more so ported.
The PS-6100 is a nice design, but it really needs the heavy duty clutch of the 64/73/79xx series saws!

Even a stock PS-550 will make her clutch slip when biting down into hardwoods with a fresh well "to specs sharpened" quality chain!
The PS-550 is as underrated as the the PS-6400 - then again, maybe I just have a sweet spot for the under dogs!

For anything under 24" my PS-550 & PS-6400 are my main go-to-saws - period!!!

P.S.:
There is nothing wrong with my MMWS PS-6100, nor my XS EA5000 for that matter!
They are simply so temperamental and excruciatingly tiring and exhausting to use for hours on end that they are not my first pick for "work" (my last log pile bucking took 4/2/4 hours).
They are both brutal, no questions asked!!!
Very fun saws for "play & show off" - but also, I don't want to wear them out on crappy jobs.

 

[Ford3000]

For serious work I will pick up my 100% factory stock PS-550 over my stock "Carbon Edition" & MMWS PS-6100 any day of the year.
The PS-550 is so well mannered yet grunty with a semi short 3/8" 56DL B&C setup she doesn't even wear me down through hours of bucking up logs.

The issue with the PS-6100 series saws is they utilize the exact same clutch assembly as the PS-420/5105/550 and it is just too lightweight/weak to keep up with the power of 61cc's of power both stock and even more so ported.
The PS-6100 is a nice design, but it really needs the heavy duty clutch of the 64/73/79xx series saws!

Even a stock PS-550 will make her clutch slip when biting down into hardwoods with a fresh well "to specs sharpened" quality chain!
The PS-550 is as underrated as the the PS-6400 - then again, maybe I just have a sweet spot for the under dogs!

For anything under 24" my PS-550 & PS-6400 are my main go-to-saws - period!!!

P.S.:
There is nothing wrong with my MMWS PS-6100, nor my XS EA5000 for that matter!
They are simply so temperamental and excruciatingly tiring and exhausting to use for hours on end that they are not my first pick for "work" (my last log pile bucking took 4/2/4 hours).
They are both brutal, no questions asked!!!
Very fun saws for "play & show off" - but also, I don't want to wear them out on crappy jobs.

That is what I thought, the 550 is well mannered, I seen a video of Andrew I think, compared the 6100 and the 550 and I concluded I would rather use the 550 size, sadly Makita / Dolmar then shut up shop regarding the petrol saws, so that ended that idea.

 

[Wilhelm]

That is what I thought, the 550 is well mannered, I seen a video of Andrew I think, compared the 6100 and the 550 and I concluded I would rather use the 550 size, sadly Makita / Dolmar then shut up shop regarding the petrol saws, so that ended that idea.

The idea is alive as long as You pursue it.
Execution may be a bit tricky though.
There are still new ones available, but the asking prices will scare most potential customers off, as well as parts availability.

 

[Ford3000]

Yes, some are available, but the price, and the parts make it a bad choice for me. Not many saws between 50 and 60 cc out there, the Maruyama 56 based off the Active 56-56 are about the only non MT or AT saws, but they too are stupid prices, and parts in my area are zero. Echo have nothing either in the 54 cc bracket. I find that size of saw would make a good firewood saw for someone like me, who can not sling the heavier ones, and as you know, saws can put up quite the fight after a few rounds they usually win if they are too wild at heart or too heavy, best to fight in the most suitable category.

 

[00wyk]

Yes, some are available, but the price, and the parts make it a bad choice for me. Not many saws between 50 and 60 cc out there, the Maruyama 56 based off the Active 56-56 are about the only non MT or AT saws, but they too are stupid prices, and parts in my area are zero. Echo have nothing either in the 54 cc bracket. I find that size of saw would make a good firewood saw for someone like me, who can not sling the heavier ones, and as you know, saws can put up quite the fight after a few rounds they usually win if they are too wild at heart or too heavy, best to fight in the most suitable category.

Did you not have a ps420? I forget where you were, was it County Wexford?
I have a 420 in great condition I just got in and am about to port it. May sell her on, dunno since they are getting harder to find here, huh?

 

[00wyk]

For serious work I will pick up my 100% factory stock PS-550 over my stock "Carbon Edition" & MMWS PS-6100 any day of the year.
The PS-550 is so well mannered yet grunty with a semi short 3/8" 56DL B&C setup she doesn't even wear me down through hours of bucking up logs.

The issue with the PS-6100 series saws is they utilize the exact same clutch assembly as the PS-420/5105/550 and it is just too lightweight/weak to keep up with the power of 61cc's of power both stock and even more so ported.
The PS-6100 is a nice design, but it really needs the heavy duty clutch of the 64/73/79xx series saws!

Even a stock PS-550 will make her clutch slip when biting down into hardwoods with a fresh well "to specs sharpened" quality chain!
The PS-550 is as underrated as the the PS-6400 - then again, maybe I just have a sweet spot for the under dogs!

For anything under 24" my PS-550 & PS-6400 are my main go-to-saws - period!!!

P.S.:
There is nothing wrong with my MMWS PS-6100, nor my XS EA5000 for that matter!
They are simply so temperamental and excruciatingly tiring and exhausting to use for hours on end that they are not my first pick for "work" (my last log pile bucking took 4/2/4 hours).
They are both brutal, no questions asked!!!
Very fun saws for "play & show off" - but also, I don't want to wear them out on crappy jobs.

I am really weird in that I like a mildly ported 60 or 70cc saw for big work vs crazy ported saws. But I enjoy a 420 ported out of it's skull.
I think the porting races have gotten way out of hand.
I think I may be agreeing with you - it's just easier to whip about a ported 40 or 50cc saw all day long.
Ugh. I am getting old.