Unpopular opinion: Strato's > *

[oper8r_error]

The efficiency they get is unparralled with autotune/mtronic.

I enjoy not breathing unspent hydrocarbon.

 

[millerlite]

I dont own a single strato saw. But if you keep it in the powerband and have a proper system (porting and muffler jive), saw tuned correct, and decent oil (i run echo gold) there isnt much smoke or smell at all.

Bar oil on the other hand... i was cutting 30 ft from the jeep tonight with the oe372xp and when i got home i noticed little tiny oil splatters all over it. Hood, roof... that stuff goes a ways in a breeze and is mostly half atomized mist. If you are cutting dry hardwood with a sharp chain in the sun, you can see it coming off of the bar nose. My oiler is on low, 18 inch bar and square filed chain, 8 pin, the chips dont carry the oil. It gets slung off the nose into your lungs.

 

[oper8r_error]

I dont own a single strato saw. But if you keep it in the powerband and have a proper system (porting and muffler jive), saw tuned correct, and decent oil (i run echo gold) there isnt much smoke or smell at all.

Bar oil on the other hand... i was cutting 30 ft from the jeep tonight with the oe372xp and when i got home i noticed little tiny oil splatters all over it. Hood, roof... that stuff goes a ways in a breeze and is mostly half atomized mist. If you are cutting dry hardwood with a sharp chain in the sun, you can see it coming off of the bar nose. My oiler is on low, 18 inch bar and square filed chain, 8 pin, the chips dont carry the oil. It gets slung off the nose into your lungs.

I've got some hours with a Stihl 026 PRO. Honestly, a favorite of mine. But, unless I am on top of it tuning it as it heats and up, it just makes more exhaust between idle and WOT. My 550XP, once warm, runs really smooth.

As for the oiler on the 372... I despise that oiler. It does its job, but even on low its just messy.

 

[millerlite]

I've got some hours with a Stihl 026 PRO. Honestly, a favorite of mine. But, unless I am on top of it tuning it as it heats and up, it just makes more exhaust between idle and WOT. My 550XP, once warm, runs really smooth.

As for the oiler on the 372... I despise that oiler. It does its job, but even on low its just messy.

I go through half a tank of oil to a tank of fuel in the hisky. But thats still a lot of oil going somewhere.

Interesting about the 026. I have several, one I have ported and use mostly. I am pretty sensitive to oil and smoke fumes and never found it to be that bad at all. I know they changed porting and mufflers over the years. My stock but muffler modded shindiawa 488 puts er out though haha

 

[sawmikaze]

Unpopular Opinion among who ?

 

[FergusonTO35]

The strato engines I have had ran quite well and seemed to be stronger than a conventional engine of the same displacement.

 

[millerlite]

The strato engines I have had ran quite well and seemed to be stronger than a conventional engine of the same displacement.

Well, there is no denying that a good strato is better than a non. Typically flow more air. Plus they have modern R&D since they are all newer saws. Definitely cleaner running even tuned rich. I think the folks that dont like them just like older saws like I do.

I drive old cars and trucks too, thats what I like. But cant deny that the new stuff is more powerful, better brakes, better suspension, better on fuel typically, nicer interiors, etc. I like knobs on my radio, a basic interior, simple designs and a lack of a million electronics and sensors. I can tune older ECUs, new stuff is hard to crack.

Some guys just like H and L screws to turn and something to fiddle with I think

 

[farminkarman]

Unpopular Opinion among who ?

Good question. I could see the technology getting a somewhat bad rep because of few saws that weren’t designed well. That being said, there are plenty of excellent saws that have it and run very well while burning a lot less fuel.

 

[redline4]

Unpopular Opinion among who ?

Saw sniffers with a deviated septum and long covid.

 

[cuinrearview]

OPE's first "unspent hydrocarbon" hot take

 

[sawmikaze]

Saw sniffers with a deviated septum and long covid.

That answer won't be topped.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Unpopular Opinion among who ?

The people who like to burn way more fuel in same size small saw, especially tree service climbers who love to send the saw down more often for refueling.

 

[oper8r_error]

Unpopular Opinion among who ?

Maybe I got this wrong, but just being around saws and the community, there seems be that kind of rose tinted nostalgia that trumps innovation, especially when it makes saws "run hotter" when it is an air cooled system.

I think for me, being somewhat new (3 years of cutting experience), I really appreciate the latest designs because they make it more friendly to the end user.

My 550XP mark 1 is the nicest saw I've ever ran. I have one set up w/ 16" bar, full chisel (.325 oregon LPX) and 8-tooth sprocket. I can bury the bar in a red cedar stump and watch ribbons flow. As the saw loads up, the autotune pushes more fuel into the circuit and you can feel the humidity rise around the saw with out being fumigated. Then, pull it out and go back to limbing like nothing happened.

Compared to my 026PRO, it just burns hotter and cleaner. That said, if the chain gets too dull and it can't load itself in cuts, it will lean out to a concerning degree. At that point, it's on the operator.

 

[Hinerman]

Saw sniffers with a deviated septum and long covid.

Repped...

 

[Stump Shot]

Unpopular Opinion among who ?

The weight police, refusing to carry one ounce more than is absolutely necessary.

 

[sawmikaze]

Maybe I got this wrong, but just being around saws and the community, there seems be that kind of rose tinted nostalgia that trumps innovation, especially when it makes saws "run hotter" when it is an air cooled system.

I think for me, being somewhat new (3 years of cutting experience), I really appreciate the latest designs because they make it more friendly to the end user.

My 550XP mark 1 is the nicest saw I've ever ran. I have one set up w/ 16" bar, full chisel (.325 oregon LPX) and 8-tooth sprocket. I can bury the bar in a red cedar stump and watch ribbons flow. As the saw loads up, the autotune pushes more fuel into the circuit and you can feel the humidity rise around the saw with out being fumigated. Then, pull it out and go back to limbing like nothing happened.

Compared to my 026PRO, it just burns hotter and cleaner. That said, if the chain gets too dull and it can't load itself in cuts, it will lean out to a concerning degree. At that point, it's on the operator.

What community are you in ?

 

[sawmikaze]

The weight police, refusing to carry one ounce more than is absolutely necessary.

The Postal Scale Posse' is alive and well.

 

[oper8r_error]

What community are you in ?

The one that talks about chainsaws online?

 

[59billy]

The Postal Scale Posse' is alive and well.

Hey, you grind some ports, ditch the base gasket, drill holes in the muffler -- we're talking some serious grams here, buddy.

 

[oper8r_error]

The Postal Scale Posse' is alive and well.

I won't lie, I need a light saw first, power comes second. I have to often limb my way into the stump area and if I can't maneuver the saw in tight spaces above my waist, its more dangerous as I won't have the same amount of control.

I think ideal saw could be 8.5lbs loaded @ 3.5-4hp with a mag case.