I usta love being the test mule for all these new saws. I was the first in our area to buy and run the ms441, 576xpAT, 562xp, 372xp, ms661rcm and mt8200 efco. When I mean run them, I'm talking 7 plus hrs a day and 4 to 6 days a week. The first saw I tried new was the 372. My local dealer didnt even have them on display yet, as he still had 272xp for sale. The 372 is the only saw I keep going back to after trying tons of other saws.
I dont like being test mule any longer, after having issues with both major brands. So I appreciate when I can read about others doing what I used to do and proving the powerheads value.
The 266 ran 11 yrs. I'm sure it ran production yrs, '83-to '94. The 371 was available in Canada in the spring of '96
Although the 266 was discontinued, the 268 wasn't. You could purchase either three in 96-97.
Nobody liked the 268 for Tree thinning thick Hemlock stands on the west coast.
Somebody said it was junk and that was the end of it. Maybe not as responsive with the two rings? or coil issues? I can't remember...if anything but it got a bad rep. Much as everyone was upset about the 266 going away, the 268 was not considered.
The 272 was considered bulky to manovoue with 16" bars in thick tall salmon berry and salal bush but some guys went that route. It was 100% husky domination. I heard one guy was sent packing by the foreman because he showed up with Stihls?
A real prejudice crowd.
I got a good price on a little Shindiawa of a friend that wrenched for them in '92, the first time I went thinning. That was 400 ha (1000 acres) in the interior. All the residual seed tree's they left then had to be felled as they all had Mistletoe.
I had my 42 husky and that Shindaiwa.
The Shindaiwa lasted a hard week in the Doug fir dog hair and the mount pulled through from chain throws that destroyed the aluminium. (Bad design)
The contractor said it was a good idea to buy a 028 super off someone there for $240. It was almost new saw. (Only stihl I ever owned) Of course there was the 266 crowd there telling me I have to get a 266xp if I want to get serious....and that I'm working too many hours and my 42 sounds like a sick cow. I bought a real nice 266 of the job for $500.
They where all proven saws except for the Shindaiwa but I still payed for it and made money in a week.
Next shift I brought up a friend. One of the guys had the new 262xp. Seamed like they were working out good from a few stories going around so I told him I would get that one.
He was going to pay me back but had to go back to the Island to see about a girl...
And that makes one more saw for me.
Next break was my Sisters Wedding and I dropped the Huskys off for porting at Walker's.
I owned four 262 xp up to '96.
Any chance I could get away with running my ported 262 xp then my ported 266 would sit.
So really the first time I bought a new saw in a pinch was the 371 xp. I didn't know anyone that used one so I found a 272 at the other shop and bought it instead but the vibration was killing my hands by half a day so he charged me $100 to drop it back off.
Then I bought the saw that I first past over. (371) It had a noticeable air leak once you got high-balling,It would race up.
Same with a 575 that I bought in a pinch.
I actually thought 575 was a new saw but had been out for a few yrs by then.
I just ran them hard anyway because
f* it!! I can fix the leak but I had some counter control.
I ain't voluntarily giving up control of the wheelhouse to leave it in the hands of some dealer. Not now,, not never again!
I just bought a pair of saw boots for £ 250 and they tighten up with wire around two dails. They are guaranteed for the life of the boots and he said they passed a suspention test of increadable amounts of weight. Someone I talked to said he sent them off to get them fixed like 3-4 times?
Mine broke already. I feel so stupid because not only do I know how to tie laces now, I know have to replace them too. Never give up your independence. Don't let the bastards win.
I Loved F1 in the early 90's . That's when a F1 driver was a race car driver. Why? Because they had control of it all.
They adjusted the hydraulic suspension in the corners and such. Now everything is computer/ electric. I have no doubt that they could do it all fine without driver's.
It could be just another computer game like racing drones or just let the computer drive. That's not even the future, it exists.
. I have CAD bad sometimes. I had a craving for a muffler modded 572. Anyways, I brought that down into our new unit today, and I let @HYPERSAWS bring the 500i. I’ll simply say he really likes it. Am I right? It seems to be getting better. It puts a pretty good spanking on the 572 to be honest. I stole my saw back from him, and have full intention on putting some solid time on it. I think it may be a break-in, and just how this saw runs. Fantastic power to weight.
