Mule saw?

[RCBS]

I have a nephew who needs a saw. It will be his first. I am trying to locate a used running or easily repairable saw to give to him. I don't have a lot of confidence in his ability to maintain the saw well. So...I'm looking for a 50cc or under "Mule" saw that will just work so long as it gets proper fuel & oil. What saws should I be looking for? Durability moreso key than weight/performance/features etc. This will be a "learner". I need something tough that won't mind being neglected a bit. If I see that he's taking good care of an old saw, I may try to get him something better.

What say you OPEF'ers?

 

[jake wells]

echo.

 

[Jimmy in NC]

Homelite Xl12, SXLAO, etc. Or Husky 350, 353. Cheap to repair and maintain.

 

[Hinerman]

Cheap...

 

[David Young]

husky 51/55

 

[Simondo]

Stihl 024 av.. 026..ms 260. Plenty of parts around at a good price.
Husqvarna 350..353... for the same reasons.

 

[DSS]

Pretty hard to beat a 488 shindaiwa for dependable

 

[Wagnerwerks]

Pretty hard to beat a 488 shindaiwa for dependable

That it the truth. They only ones I've seen roached were either truly shot to the point of falling to pieces (which takes a lot for a shinny) or the low side only carb saws.

 

[RCBS]

echo.

Yup. Always have considered them the Kubota of chainsaws. Not high performance figures, but tough as hell.

Homelite Xl12, SXLAO, etc. Or Husky 350, 353. Cheap to repair and maintain.

I have a 350 that I can't bear to let him have...sentimental....and too good of shape for him.

Cheap...

For sure.

husky 51/55

Now if I could only find one for cheap!

Stihl 024 av.. 026..ms 260. Plenty of parts around at a good price.
Husqvarna 350..353... for the same reasons.

The Stihls in that range have caught my attention.

Pretty hard to beat a 488 shindaiwa for dependable

I have never had the privilege to run a Shinny. I hear great things about their trimmers.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Keep them coming. Ideally, I hope to find something local with a burnt top end that needs some TLC and can be brought back to life fairly cheap with an aftermarket P&C or something.

 

[merc_man]

Id give him a crappy saw. Then when he learns to maintain it get him a better one.

Thats what i did for.my sob. He is total opposite of me when it comes to maintaining stuff. Heck he has left.his.layng in the yard.

 

[cus_deluxe]

My pick would be 51/55 as well. Decent 029s can be found for pretty cheap too, those things somehow seem to tolerate severe neglect.

 

[cus_deluxe]

Wouldnt recommend an 1127 series saw as a first saw if u want him to want to work on it though haha.

 

[jake wells]

the kubota's of the chainsaw world i like that.
i have beat the crap out of this echo and it got dropped out of a tractor a while back it takes a beaten and keeps on ticking.

 

[psuiewalsh]

http://easternshore.craigslist.org/tls/5832632309.html

 

[big t double]

Pretty hard to beat a 488 shindaiwa for dependable

I thought you were somehow contractually bound to only recommend 038's for any sawing application?

 

[psuiewalsh]

Not 50 cc outside of contract

 

[Onan18]

Stihl 024/026/MS240/MS260, 029/MS290 Husqvarna 51/55, 345/350/351/353 455 Rancher (these things run when they have no right to) Echo CS310/370/400 or their older cousins, Poulan 3400 etc... All are good options

 

[Czed]

Echo cs400 490 Stihl 250 170 or poulan 5020 are common good tough all around saws i think.

 

[jakethesnake]

51 55 they can usually be had for 125 ish running if the plastic is ugly

 

[jakethesnake]

I want another 55 and I can't find one for 125 so I may be full of *s-word