Which saw? Advice needed.

[Maintenance Chief]

My cousin is a novice , and an assistant park ranger, let me know if your gonna sell the 038. It would make a good saw for someone like him.

 

[Alberta Farmboy]

Thanks again for all the great advice.
I'm actually leaning in the direction that bryanr2 and huskyboy are suggesting. Maybe I get rid of the 362 and the 038 and get a saw just one step up. Is the difference between an 038 and something like a 461 that noticeable?

I don't want to start a *s-word storm here but, are there 1 or 2 general consensus 70 cc class saws that are light and regarded as the better ones to buy? I hear lots of good about the MS 461/462.

Oh, BTW, I live in Canada so everything here is more expensive. As well, for me to sell a saw and ship to the states is likely cost prohibitive, correct?

Last question for now, are there any good saw builders/experts on this forum from Canada?

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Light and powerful is the ms 462 not much heavier than the 362 but lots more power

 

[Maintenance Chief]

My opinion of the 038 68cc version,

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I honestly so no problem with an 038 and if he just kept the group he has minus selling and he makita to buy parts for the 288 he would be happy

 

[XP_Slinger]

Thanks again for all the great advice.
I'm actually leaning in the direction that bryanr2 and huskyboy are suggesting. Maybe I get rid of the 362 and the 038 and get a saw just one step up. Is the difference between an 038 and something like a 461 that noticeable?

I don't want to start a *s-word storm here but, are there 1 or 2 general consensus 70 cc class saws that are light and regarded as the better ones to buy? I hear lots of good about the MS 461/462.

Oh, BTW, I live in Canada so everything here is more expensive. As well, for me to sell a saw and ship to the states is likely cost prohibitive, correct?

Last question for now, are there any good saw builders/experts on this forum from Canada?

Shipping from Canada to the US isn’t bad, shipping from US to Canada is more expensive for some reason.

461/462 are both fine choices. Buy either of them with confidence.

@Canadian farm boy is one of the best builders here.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Light and powerful is the ms 462 not much heavier than the 362 but lots more power

Yes, and that also goes back to the 046 Magnum. I restored one and then lent it out to a guy two years ago. I called him yesterday for a return and now he wants to buy it. I may never see it again.

 

[bigbadbob]

What are you cutting,, didnt think Alberta had big trees??
Just wheat and oil,,,

 

[Czed]

Thanks again for all the great advice.
I'm actually leaning in the direction that bryanr2 and huskyboy are suggesting. Maybe I get rid of the 362 and the 038 and get a saw just one step up. Is the difference between an 038 and something like a 461 that noticeable?

I don't want to start a *s-word storm here but, are there 1 or 2 general consensus 70 cc class saws that are light and regarded as the better ones to buy? I hear lots of good about the MS 461/462.

Oh, BTW, I live in Canada so everything here is more expensive. As well, for me to sell a saw and ship to the states is likely cost prohibitive, correct?

Last question for now, are there any good saw builders/experts on this forum from Canada?

Any current 70cc saws are good saws with parts readily available
You just have to choose auto tronic or
Carbed.

 

[Alberta Farmboy]

What are you cutting,, didnt think Alberta had big trees??
Just wheat and oil,,,

We don't have much for big trees but there are some around, particularly where I elk hunt. I should have prefaced that by saying they are big by our standards, 30" - 40", they certainly are not redwoods. I'm mostly a firewood guy anyway.
Honestly, I could probably get by with my MS 260 but I got a pretty good deal on the 362. Then when I went to pick up the 362, I got a good deal on the 038 and he basically threw in the 288 and the Makita.
Anyway, is the 461 that much of an upgrade over the 038? Only 5 cc's difference.
And any new saw i get will likely be an autotune, I can't accurately tune a saw by ear.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

We don't have much for big trees but there are some around, particularly where I elk hunt. I should have prefaced that by saying they are big by our standards, 30" - 40", they certainly are not redwoods. I'm mostly a firewood guy anyway.
Honestly, I could probably get by with my MS 260 but I got a pretty good deal on the 362. Then when I went to pick up the 362, I got a good deal on the 038 and he basically threw in the 288 and the Makita.
Anyway, is the 461 that much of an upgrade over the 038? Only 5 cc's difference.
And any new saw i get will likely be an autotune, I can't accurately tune a saw by ear.

You can certainly LEARN to tune a saw by ear unless you have irreversible hearing damage.
The video of my 038 is just a stock saw so you can watch other videos for comparison.
The 288 is a reputable saw and I'd suggest cutting with the ones you do have and not guessing about the ones you don't.
As time and funds allow buy more saws...simple.

 

[Alberta Farmboy]

You can certainly LEARN to tune a saw by ear unless you have irreversible hearing damage.
The video of my 038 is just a stock saw so you can watch other videos for comparison.
The 288 is a reputable saw and I'd suggest cutting with the ones you do have and not guessing about the ones you don't.
As time and funds allow buy more saws...simple.

Yes, I totally agree about cutting with the ones I have...the 288 would just be a project and certainly something I won't need any time soon.
Shouldn't a guy have a tach to properly tune a carb? I don't know, just asking.

 

[XP_Slinger]

Yes, I totally agree about cutting with the ones I have...the 288 would just be a project and certainly something I won't need any time soon.
Shouldn't a guy have a tach to properly tune a carb? I don't know, just asking.

Need to be able to recognize when a saw needs a tuning adjustment. Until you learn how that sounds a tach won’t do you much good imo.

 

[Stump Shot]

Anyway, is the 461 that much of an upgrade over the 038? Only 5 cc's difference.
And any new saw i get will likely be an autotune, I can't accurately tune a saw by ear.

That's like comparing a club to a laser beam. You get to actually cutting with different ones you'll learn right quick.
It's easy enough to learn how to tune a saw proper, just have to want to learn to do so is all. At least then you can recognize trouble coming in your auto tune saw before it manifests itself.(such as an air leak for examples sake)

 

[Alberta Farmboy]

That's like comparing a club to a laser beam.

Hahaha, that's funny! Yeah, I guess having more exposure to different saws would show the differences pretty quickly.
I wouldn't have guessed that 5 cc's would make that big of a difference. Although, those saws are probably 20 years apart in design and technology so it would make sense that it's not just a comparison of cc's.

 

[huskihl]

Hahaha, that's funny! Yeah, I guess having more exposure to different saws would show the differences pretty quickly.
I wouldn't have guessed that 5 cc's would make that big of a difference. Although, those saws are probably 20 years apart in design and technology so it would make sense that it's not just a comparison of cc's.

Being an AVS, your 038 should be a Super, which would make it 67cc, vs 76cc on the 461. Plus the 20 years of design tech

 

[drf256]

Them 38’s ain’t the quickest, but they really do seem to last forever. Buddy of mine bought an 038M new when the 044 was a new model, I think he told me it was in ‘89 but don’t quote me on that. He hasn’t even turned a carb adjustment screw on it, and he used for stumping commercially for all these years. He is a landscaper, so he only does a few dozen trees a year.

I’m gonna say to keep the 038. You can find a used Magnum p&c one day and we can walk you through the install. They are overbuilt, kinda heavy and a bit slow. But it should be there for you for many many years.

Keep your 026, keep the 038, keep and fix the 288.

 

[Alberta Farmboy]

Reviving this thread.

Well, it's amazing how things change and stay the same.

This is my first post here in a few years as things have been busy for me.

Saw update:
1. The Makita is gone. It had a coil issue and couldn't find a coil that was cheap enough to justify the fix.
2. I still have the 038 Super. Used it this year, still running great.
3. The 362 fell out of my truck while hunting last year when my tailgate opened up unexpectedly. That one hurt, I really liked that saw!
4. The 288 is sitting in a plastic box, half restored. I found another one so now have 2 of them to bring back to life.
5. Still have the trusty old 260. It's running just fine but just doesn't have the jam to get through the 15-18" wood quick enough for my liking.

After losing the 362 last year, I've been looking for something to replace it and was thinking of the MS 500i. I waffled back and forth until I met a guy selling some saws. Well... I ended up with an 044 (looks like a 10mm), an MS 461 and he basically threw in a MS 200 rear handle. All are used and in decent shape, so not beat to crap but not mint enough that I'd want to leave them on a shelf.

So the 044 cylinder and piston look really good, lots of compression and runs really nice. I plan on putting a DP muffler on it and an HD2 air filter.
The 461 also looks good, great compression, needs a new pull cord and handle. I'll probably leave this one stock other than a DP muffler.
And the MS 200 was used but in decent shape. I may just leave this one alone. I actually don't see a need to keep it around but it's kind of a cool little saw so maybe it stays.

Needless to say, I'll have lots of fun over the winter going through all of the saws and doing some maintenance, rebuilding and light mods.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

Nice!, sounds like your having fun.
Of course the 038 is still running!
I like the ms362 for little stuff ,it's light and compact with a 20" bar.

 

[Alberta Farmboy]

Yeah, I had a 24" on mine. To me, it was a great set up, it had plenty of power for my use, balanced nice, had enough reach... I know the MS 362 doesn't have a lot of fans here but I really liked that saw, and yes, it was completely stock.
Having said all of that, I haven't experienced or used any bigger more powerful saws, so my experience is very limited here.
I'm looking forward to getting the 044 and 461 out over the next few weeks for some firewood and see how they do. The 044 has a 20" bar and the 461 has a 28".
Are those probably the best lengths for each saw? I was thinking the 044 might be better with a 24".