Thoughts on this Tanaka 32cc

[LittleLebowski]

http://www.bjs.com/tanaka-32cc-chai...reId=10201&storeId=10201&ddkey=http:ClickInfo

 

[LittleLebowski]

• 
  Product Features:
  
  
• 32cc 1.6 HP PureFire two-stroke engine
• 16" Oregon bar and chain, 3/8-inch pitch
• Side access chain tensioner
• Extra-large fuel tank
• CARB compliant
• Includes chain saw and manual
• Warranty: 2 years

Model Number: TCS33EB/16S
Estimated Delivery: 3-5 Business Days
Type: Standard Handle
Size: 32.2cc
Color: Orange
Horsepower : 1.6 HP
Maximum Output Power : 1.1kW
Cordless/Wireless: Yes
Batteries Required (Included or Not): No
Variable Speed : Yes
Number of Speeds: Variable
Electric Brake : Yes
Maximum Cutting Thickness: 16"
Material(s): Metal, Plastic, Rubber
Includes: Chain Saw, Manual
Dimensions: 15.3"L x 9"W x 11"H
Weight: 8.36 lbs.

 

[tp2177]

Don’t know much about Tanaka’s but have you thought about an echo cs-310? 20-30 bucks cheaper and much easier dealer support plus a 5 year warranty


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[David _4]

I have the Hitachi top handle version of the saw you're looking at which is made by Tanaka. The Hitachi saws have a 7 year warranty. I've had this saw for 3 years now and only have about 10 tanks though it. It's not a power house, but gets the job done and is an easy starter if you follow their starting procedure. I bought mine online from Menard's when they had a killer deal at $129 delivered.

https://jet.com/product/detail/bb79...&clickid=3bf9aa26-782f-4479-b652-022df92d86ee

 

[LittleLebowski]

Don’t know much about Tanaka’s but have you thought about an echo cs-310? 20-30 bucks cheaper and much easier dealer support plus a 5 year warranty

I'm just curious, not in the market for a saw smaller than my 421.

 

[LittleLebowski]

I bought mine online from Menard's when they had a killer deal at $129 delivered.

I would have been all over that.

 

[Cerberus]

May as well update since I've gotten enough time behind my tanaka tcs-33edtp (top-handled version of OP's rear-handle unit)

Solid saw, mine was "damaged beyond repair" I took it in-lieu of a $25 payment from a guy I'd climbed for that day (well we considered it $25-towards-payment, A-hole never did fully pay me for that job and w/o me the job would never have been done certainly not on his deadline!) Anyway I rebuilt so much on mine (including a smashed-up ignition module from broken flywheel fins, custom-fab'd a front-chain-tensioner since the side-tensioner's guts were missing) and have been using it w/ a 16" Oregon setup and I like it for a lot of reasons although it is a pig of a saw. Specifics:

Pro's:
- Once "properly" setup (opened-up muffler & air-intake-expansion, followed by carb re-tune, mine's not setup "a bit fat for longevity" instead I aim for optimal (and figure if/when I score-up the pist./cylinder that I'll be ready to get my replacement (echo 355t), it isn't going to blow your mind but if you're coming from world-class saws but it is a strong unit I go through thick, hard stuff w/o ever feeling it's "lacking", in fact when I got it I thought it funny how it was "1/3rd bigger" than my other climbing-saw(25cc/12"), the displacement/stated-horsepower, weight, bar-length etc so I was thinking "it'd better cut 1/3rd better!" and so far as I can tell it has!!
- Great price, unit not 'locked-out' or otherwise preventing tinkering, sharp aesthetics (IMO)
- Side-tensioner

Con's:
- heavier than necessary (and bulkier in a lotta spots), if I'm to cut-up something real quick on the ground I'll grab my Tanaka if my rear-handle isn't warm, but when going-up I hate the Tanaka, I'm only 140lbs and while strong for my size the Tanaka wears me out noticeably-faster than my 25cc/12", when aloft I *only* use the Tanaka when I need >12" cutting area (and then go back to my lil 25cc)
- on *my* model (ie this could be past-abuse), the AV setup is so squishy that I'm going to cut some hard-rubber wedges and just jam the handle in-place / kill all anti-vibe features
- OEM hand-guard for chain-brake is large and w/o "see-through slots/holes/etc" (I used a grinder and made big ole windows like I did on my 25cc, drives me nuts if I can't see my bar well enough!)
- 1 bar-nut (this is so damn common on climbing-saws and so annoying, thankfully the echo 355t uses 2 mounting bolts )


Overall I'm happy I got it but, at over $200 new, it's hard to think of a good reason not to just poney-up for the $350 echo 355t as it's superior in all ways including lighter weight *and* more power. But, if you've got one you can fix up in several hours, go for it, it's a bit of a 'pig' for a top-handle but most certainly does its job, but if looking for lower-powered top-handles the Scheppach csp2540 has made me happy for >8mo now w/o a single issue (only adjusted its carb once, right after opening up the air-flow ie intake&exhaust), for $135 shipped it's plenty for 'low end' climb-saw and, when needing more, gotta say that while I like my Tanaka I simply wouldn't pay $230 when an extra 120 gets an echo355t...Tanaka should push to get it under a $200 price point IMO (if anybody knows whether the Hitachi 33edtp is identical, I'd love to know...can't tell if it's just same body panels, or same entire saw)

 

[Wood Doctor]

Another Con: I got one of these in and it needed a new carb or a rebuild. Removing the carb is a PITA and looks to require a special tool. There is very limited tool clearance to the heads of the hex mounting screws, worse than any saw I had ever seen. Tanaka obviously wants no typical mechanic doing any carb work. I shipped it to a guy who only wanted spare parts for his collection.

 

[Cerberus]

Another Con: I got one of these in and it needed a new carb or a rebuild. Removing the carb is a PITA and looks to require a special tool. There is very limited tool clearance to the heads of the hex mounting screws, worse than any saw I had ever seen. Tanaka obviously wants no typical mechanic doing any carb work. I shipped it to a guy who only wanted spare parts for his collection.

Wouldn't doubt that, I'm still not working on carb-internals but am close and wanted to do that "at home clean" of that lil metal-mesh screen in the carb under the diaphragm (think it's the fuel-pump-diaphragm side, that lil circular mesh screen that's kinda "final fuel-filter" pre-carb), my unit was most-certainly abused so I figured there's gotta be a bunch of crap in there, probably spent 2hrs "trying to approach it", saw/tools on table and me on the computer more than @the table, couldn't comfortably remove the thing ('comfortably'=confident I can put it back w/o damaging anything!)
Had looked at brand-new carbs for it and the price seemed relatively high, was definitely a factor in deciding that, when I can no longer remedy its problems simply @home, I'm just going to replace it w/ the echo355t Will be neat to have a saw that's a bit more powerful than my 16"(Tanaka), but lighter than my 25cc/12" by almost half a pound!!!