Dolmar 7900 is impressive

[inspectorwoody]

A friend of mine at our WI mill swears by the 7900. Thinks it is the best thing since sliced bread! 

So curiousity got the best of me and I did a dealer search. Come to find out one of the guys in the local Amish Community is a dealer.

So off I go to check it out....

I will buy one when the funds allow. 


I bleed Orange and White but adding a little red just might make me a bit "normal!" 

[tcsmpsi]

Second hand info from the Solo / Dolmar dealer.


From what I understand is that Dolmar did not design all of the 7900. Solo designed a lot of the parts for that saw. They were to be sold together in joint venture like the large Dolmar 9010.
Dolmar took all of the credit for the 7900 and Solo got the shaft.
Solo took it one step farther and made the same basic saw with a larger engine and a few improvements.    
 

The new Solo 681 is now here, 81cc (80.7) same basic weight as the 7900 but with some major improvements.

The 681 has a larger air filter then the 7900, that is why the air filter cover is shaped a little different.

681 also has the good Walbo carburetor not the typical cheap Zama from China like the Dolmar.

681 has the side chain tensioner in the case like a Stihl not in the side cover like Dolmar.

681 also has a large top AV spring. The Dolmar had problems with them breaking.

681 also has a better bracket set up on the AV mount to the top handle. 681 bracket is bolted to the top cover. The Dolmar has a strap that wraps around the handle and it is always turning and putting stress on the top av spring.

681 has a two year commercial warranty.

Parts for the Dolmar are a problem, you have to find a dealer.

Parts for a Solo can be ordered online from Solo at the same price they cost from the dealer.

   
   
   

I've been rather looking at an 80" class saw.  That 681 seems pretty impressive, and I like it that Bailey's handles them. 

[GlennG]

 I have 2 Dolmar 5100`s  a 7900 and the odd ball 7300.  I love Domar saws. I hate the dealer network but I am a mechanic and I am also very resourceful when it comes to finding the part I need.  I do not need to rely on a dealership for service. The Domar saws by themselves are terrific. The dealer network is the polar opposite.

 As a professional arborist I have had the opportunity to own and operate most every pro saw made by Sthil.  The only Sthil saw I own today is my old 066. I sold all my other Stihls when Dolmar stole my heart.

 There are two things that made me fall out of love with Sthil.

 #1 is the overly complex flip lever gas and oil caps. This seems like a minor nit-pick but this is a huge issue for me. Sthil If your reading, screw on gas and  oil caps work because they are idiot proof.....K.I.S.S!!! You didn`t need to reinvent the wheel when you have the best reputation in the business!

 #2 is price. Other saw makers are building saws that cost lest, run smoother, are better balanced, make more power at a given weight and are just as reliable.


 Sthil has a great dealer network and if I needed to rely on dealer service Sthil would be my first pick. But when it comes to just the saw,the Dolmar 3100 is a better saw than the Sthil 026/260 and the Dolmar 7900 is better than the Sthil 046/460.

 The Dolmar 7900/7300/6400 are all built on the same platform. They are the same size, shape and weight. The only change is the piston and cylinder that is bolted on. The 7900 shines because it puts out gobs of power for its weight. The 7300 and 6400 while still great saws shine less than the 7900 because they put out less power but weigh just as much.

 I have a lot of respect for Sthil and they really are #1 . They have been #1 for a long, long time. But there are some other great saws out there. I want Sthil to produce the best chainsaw in the world, I am willing to come back but...... in the past few years Sthil has only added gimmicks like flip-lever oil caps and tool-less chain tensioning. These are home-owner features  that I would expect on a Poulan Wild-Thing but never on a Sthil. Sthil you are better than this. Lead the market with the best product or eventually you will be in someone elses dust.

 Cut 4 fun , thanks for the info on the Solo. I saw the pic in Bailey`s and saw the Domar resembleance. I want to try out that saw.