HELP! Looking to Learn

[Rainsford]

Hello Everyone,

I have a couple of questions. The first is regarding saws that have been discontinued in the States.

How do you know what to look for if buying a saw that has been discontinued here like a 461, or 372 etc.. Are the saws that sellers have from time to time that come from other countries of the same quality they use to be. Can I be confident in buying a 372 made in Brazil or a 461 from whatever country they are built in? Is there a way to tell what to avoid and what is worth the higher than normal price tags? I’m at the point where I almost want to just buy old saws that need work and send them off the builders here on the forums.

My other question is about local builders and mechanics. Wondering if anyone knows some local to East Coast Pa. I’d really like to find someone local I could possibly learn from. I’d like to be able to work on my own saws eventually and between the posts here and the videos on youtube there is a lot I can learn but it’s always good to have someone you can go to in person from time to time.

Sorry for the long post,

Matt

 

[Stem]

buying saws is better in person, you can feel how much compression it has, and if possible take the muffler (or cover) off & look at the piston, and hear how it runs. like anything else, trust your gut. if the deal seems too good to be true then it usually is.

as far as working on saws, pickup a cheap yard sale find and tinker with it.

 

[hacskaroly]

I’d like to be able to work on my own saws eventually and between the posts here and the videos on youtube there is a lot I can learn but it’s always good to have someone you can go to in person from time to time.

Welcome to the forum!

Best bet will be to get either a project saw (something cheap if not free) and take it apart, see how it all fits together, then try to put it back together again. If you run into questions you can take photos and post them here with questions, most likely someone will be able to chime in and help out. I have asked lots of questions here and have gotten a lot of good answers from those with more experience.

If you see a saw that interests you, check e-bay and amazon for parts, that will give you a good idea if there a bunch of OEM and/or aftermarket parts out there. If the results come back few and far between or the parts are $$$$, then you might want to steer away from that saw unless you really want it badly.

Older saws (1960s-70s) like McCullochs and Homelites are quite straight forward and I find them really fun to work on. They have a good following and you can come by parts, gaskets and carb kits fairly easily and relatively inexpensively. Stihls and Husqvarnas have a good following and many saws from the 1990s are still going strong.

As for what you mentioned, the 461 and 372, I have an 046 and a 272 (older versions of what you listed) and they are great saws, found them both at the dump. They needed some work, but it was well worth it and a lot of fun to get them running and use them for firewood!

 

[Rainsford]

Thanks for the input. Buying an old saw to tinker on is a great idea. I do also need another saw now for use as well. I have some larger work that is gonna be constant for a while hence the 70 cc or higher saw like a 461, 462, 372 etc.. That’s why I’m curious about those saws that pop up for sale on here from time to time. Not sure if say a 372 made in Brazil is up to par with original 372’s etc..

 

[cuinrearview]

This is what you need.

D

SELLING Thread 'Makita 7901'

Mar 30, 2025

Selling my Makita 7901 saw. I got the saw from honesdsle spreading a supply in honesdsle pa. The saw has a 7301 fuel tank but does have the 7901 top end. Saw also has the hd air filter set up the clutch cover is broke where the dog mounts to but I have a Dolmar clutch cover that isn’t broke that I will include with the sale. The recoil sticker is 1/2 peeled off as well. Looking to get $675.00 or reasonable offer plus shipping from 62223. I will get pictures soon thanks

• dolmarkid
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Whole Chainsaws for Sale/Trade

• 

 

[S&S_Work_Saws]

Just do your homework on the seller before buying a saw online. There is a lot of reputable sellers on this forum that will explain to you what is OEM and what isn't on the saw. Any saw I sell or work on and send out the door carries a little bit of a warranty also. Alot of the guys around here will stand behind their sales also.

 

[Rainsford]

Just do your homework on the seller before buying a saw online. There is a lot of reputable sellers on this forum that will explain to you what is OEM and what isn't on the saw. Any saw I sell or work on and send out the door carries a little bit of a warranty also. Alot of the guys around here will stand behind their sales also.

Thank You

 

[Ketchup]

Both 372 and 461 are high quality saws regardless of where they’re made. 372 has a strato (XTorq) and an original model. Both are good. There are millions of 372 clones out there though, so don’t get suckered by knock-offs. That will be one of the big things to watch for when buying either model used. Clone parts aren’t worth their weight in scrap. AM parts are available for both models.

 

[Rainsford]

Thanks everyone! I have a new 372 on the way so gonna start looking for an old beat up 372 I can take apart and learn on. Hopefully I can learn enough from that one before the new one ever needs any work.

 

[hacskaroly]

I have a new 372 on the way so gonna start looking for an old beat up 372 I can take apart and learn on. Hopefully I can learn enough from that one before the new one ever needs any work.

You can also get a 365 or a 371, they are the same chassis, just different size cylinders, pistons and air filters. You can upgrade the 365 and the 371 to a 372 by just changing out the piston, cylinder and air filter.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Thanks everyone! I have a new 372 on the way so gonna start looking for an old beat up 372 I can take apart and learn on. Hopefully I can learn enough from that one before the new one ever needs any work.

If you can take a 372 apart and put it back together you can do any modern saw. They all work on the same principles, just may go about it a little differently But, it will become obvious to you.
Except maybe a MS500I . Wouldn't start there.