StihlMagnum440
Super OPE Member
Once again totally correct info from MM. Hemlock is what I was logging in Maine. It is used in framing and hardens so screw it or nail it green. The bark is used for mulch.
Hemlock has a lot of branches so used a Stihl 192C for that.
A fresh hemlock log weighs a lot. A guy with a triaxle log truck off loaded my flatbed truck at the mill once for me while the mill loader was busy. Granted the guy was moving fast and had the log off my truck fully extended but the 30" x 8'6" hemlock log lifted the whole side of the triaxle truck off the ground with the outriggers extended. The guy asked me if I saw it happen and I was surprised too.
Snowing like crazy in Maine but been running my Stihl Magnum 440 through it. We have 18" in the ground of base snow and we have 12" or more coming down right now. My F150 has a load of firewood cookies in the back for weight for plowing and to be cut up after the storm. That is a continuous process.
The Stihl 440 has been running super with the Farmertec repair parts. Wished I had bought the Arctic version. Trying to start a saw and dealing with gloves is a hassle. Heated handle would be nice since I have been cutting in 0 and below temps.
One key thing with the cold temps is to keep the gas jugs full and in warm storage to prevent condensation. When the saw starts running funky in the cold it is because of condensation.
I bring the saw right in after running it and fill it's gas tank to prevent condensation. Like MM observed, the see through Farmertec fuel tank makes seeing the fuel level a lot easier and I love that.
Usually, I take the saw from the heated indoors and run it in the cold until the tank is near the bottom and not empty and by that time both me and the saw are ready to go back inside for heat and maintanance.
Been busy as all get out and go between chainsawing and plowing and all the winter chores. Glad the Stihl 440 has been pull and go. In these winter conditions there is no time for fussing with equipment. My Stihl 440 is not for fun although it is fun to run. Definitely worth it's light weight in gold!
The wind is howling outside and snow coming down all day. The reward of chainsawing is throwing wood in the stove and heating to "no need for a shirt temps". Nice to keep a house heated so it feels like summer and clothes etc get dried out from the stove.
Here in Maine heating oil and especially electricity prices are going through the roof. I have a woodstove and free, except for labor, firewood. I also have a solar system with back up generators (rarely used) so no electric and heating bills and no worry of power outage or being cold.
Will be plowing in a while. I waited too long last storm and the plowing was hard because we got nearly 2 ft. Going to do multiple plows this time. Have a good one.
Last edited:
