I was gifted a used Husqvarna chainsaw a few years ago from my father. I’ve always liked Stihl, but a free saw is a free saw, right? It worked fairly well at first, but soon thereafter the problem started to show. The worst problem is it would leak bar oil constantly, no matter how you set it down. You basically had to put the perfect amount of bar oil you needed into it, because any extra was sure to be lost when you were finished, most of the time on the shop floor or the bed of a truck. Second problem is it just simply began to run like crap. I’m religious about running premium, non ethanol fuel in my saws, yet even so this thing would spit and sputter, and hesitate at times. But here again… a free saw was a free saw.
Yesterday my 90 year old grandmother called me saying a tree had fallen and was blocking her driveway. No problem, grandma. I love any excuse to fire up a saw and smell those two-cycle fumes. So I go out to the barn, fill up the Husky with fuel, and as I pick it up to pullstart it, gas starts leaking everywhere. I start it after a few pulls, and then it spits and sputters, and bogs down. “Nope… I’m done with this POS.” I set it down and drove to the nearest Stihl dealer.
I had a 291 or 271 farm boss in mind when I went there, but unfortunately the dealer was low on in-stock inventory. I got looking at a couple saws and within a few minutes I settled on a MS 311. After doing more research last night, I probably should have spent a little more coin on a 391, because it would offer a bit more grunt for the same amount of weight. Or really ponied up on a 362, which is a pro level saw and 1.5 lbs lighter. But I ran a tank of fuel through this 311 after getting back and I don’t have any complaints as of yet. I put a 20” bar on it and it seems right at home. It is a bit on the heavy side (13.8 lbs) so it might be overkill for smaller tasks, but I’d rather have it that way than the other way around. Next I need to get a set of aftermarket felling dogs to put on it. I like having the extra bite when felling. I may do some more cutting today around the farm if I get to it. I’ll try to post a pic or two of my new orange and white baby.
Just a couple of minutes with the bandsaw and everyone was happy. This was a nearly free DIY fix. Cost me 8 zip ties and about 15 minutes of my time. I'm neither a Hillbilly nor an engineer, but this worked out pretty well.
