Chinese Chainsaws. 2nd try after 2 years

[Bernhard]

I have a friend in china, which is trading with motorized forestry/garden equipment. Tomorrow (sorry, this morning) we have had discussion about the biz and he told me, that he will lay focus for sales on south and south east Asia, South America, the USA and CDN.

I told him, that asia and Sout America would be ok, but not sure about the north.

http://www.erick-enterprises.com/pro.php

I know that Stihl, Dolmar od Husky are much cheaper in the USA then in Germany.

So, would You buy such a chinese saw?

Yes, I have asked a questions like this a 2 years ago. But a lot has changd since then and I (Erick, too) would like to hear about Your opinions.

[nmurph]

only if i lost the head off of my axe handle and couldn't find a suitable rock for a replacement.

[zopi]

Everything on that page is a blatant ripoff of a  a Stihl product..and since most of Stihl's domestic equipment is made by my neighbors right here in Virginia Beach..you can send all of it right back to China for all of me..

[redpowerd]

the saws dont look too much like stihl, more like jonsered. personally, and not to be insulting, i try very hard to purchase items without the word 'CHINA' on them. they own enough of us already

[Rocky_J]

As somebody who makes my living with my chainsaws, absolutely not. I buy only the best saws I can find and they only cost me 1-2 day's income. They last me for many years and pay for themselves hundreds of times over. Why would I buy a POS cheap ripoff just because it looks good? Looks do not matter, what matters is that it works right, every time, all the time, for a long time. I cannot trust a Chinese ripoff saw to make my living.

Where would you even get spare parts? Not just parts that break, but maintenance parts like air filters, sprockets, carb kits and AV mounts. And with our ethanol fuel issues, even Stihl and Husqvarna fuel components are being eaten away and need replacements.

[John Mc]

Chinese CS5200 vs Husky 353

                5200         353
    HP          3.1          3.3
    cc           52           51.7
max pwr @ 7000        9000 RPM
  weight      11.7         11.0 lbs.

Recommended gas:oil mix is 25:1 for the Chinese saw, recommended bar & chain oil is SAE 10W-30 motor oil. Looks like they copied someone's specs from the 1960's. I wonder if it really needs 25:1 mix?

No specs on noise or vibration.

The 5900 seems like quite a pig: the power of a Husky 455 (3.5 HP) but at 15.8 lbs, weighs more than Husky 390 (which at 6.5 HP is almost double the 5900's power).

[beenthere]

If I would buy, it would only be from a dealer who knew the chain saws well, and had parts and repair knowledge (and a good reputation).
Certainly wouldn't buy on looks. Anyone can make up ads to look pretty.

And bottom line, wouldn't buy Chinese knock-outs of other saw brands (and avoid 'made in China' wherever possible).

And I'll never buy anything but Stihl (not that other brands are not good, but Stihl has served me very well for 35 years).

[Trax]

the saws dont look too much like stihl, more like jonsered. personally, and not to be insulting, i try very hard to purchase items without the word 'CHINA' on them. they own enough of us already

Click On Chainsaw in the Menu on the right side of the page you will see the Sthil & Husky copies

[metalspinner]

Just two weeks ago, I found out that a product I developed and manufacture now has a Chinese twin.   Money has now been taken right out of my pocket.  What's the phrase? "Imitation is the sincerest form of flatery,"  or something like that?  Well, why can't China come up with their own ideas?  They have more engineers than us.  More money than us.  More people than us.

I know it's impossible to avoid purchasing non-Chinese items, but I try best to buy from an original developer.  Of course, I'm also a hypocrate because just last year I bought  a Grizzley Planer and I have a Jet engine lathe and a Honda mini van and a blah, blah, blah...

It makes me wonder why it's even worth going to work some days.  Just as soon keep all my ideas to myself.

[Al_Smith]

 I could get on my soap box and give an oratory  about Chinese made goods but it would fall on deaf ears I'm afraid . When the smoke finally clears and people get their heads out if their behinds and realize they are only cutting their own throats then maybe we will get back to the way things should be . Until such time  the buying public will continue buying this junk,put their neighbors out of work,raise our taxes and make a bunch of greedy businessmen rich .

Now that I've got that out of the way .I do believe I have enough old saws that were the rice burning junk Chinese saws the only things available I could still have enough operating saws for about twice my lifetime,weather I'm here or not .No rice burners for Al but thank you anyway . 

[Ironmower]

Just two weeks ago, I found out that a product I developed and manufacture now has a Chinese twin.   Money has now been taken right out of my pocket.  What's the phrase? "Imitation is the sincerest form of flatery,"  or something like that?  Well, why can't China come up with their own ideas?  They have more engineers than us.  More money than us.  More people than us.

I know it's impossible to avoid purchasing non-Chinese items, but I try best to buy from an original developer.  Of course, I'm also a hypocrate because just last year I bought  a Grizzley Planer and I have a Jet engine lathe and a Honda mini van and a blah, blah, blah...

It makes me wonder why it's even worth going to work some days.  Just as soon keep all my ideas to myself.

I'm sure they could, but why would they want too? Unfortunetly, that's the way things go.

[Ironwood]

NOPE.

 Ironwood

[sd locke]

i agree with Al . chinese junk . my tractor made in japan . dont like it but what the heck USA dont make a tractor anymore not even a small diesel for good tractor. the only american made vehicle now that is all made in america is toyota

[sd locke]

i hope this doesnt open a can of worms

[redpowerd]

the saws dont look too much like stihl, more like jonsered. personally, and not to be insulting, i try very hard to purchase items without the word 'CHINA' on them. they own enough of us already

Click On Chainsaw in the Menu on the right side of the page you will see the Sthil & Husky copies

ok i see them, not sure why i didnt the first time.

[beenthere]

i agree with Al . chinese junk . my tractor made in japan . dont like it but what the heck USA dont make a tractor anymore not even a small diesel for good tractor. the only american made vehicle now that is all made in america is toyota

sd
Am guessing you don't know what you are talking about.  (Sorry about that guestimate)

Tell us what you do know about where tractors are made, and where small diesels are made (i.e. tell us what tractors and what size diesel is small). 

[cb6048]

I could get on my soap box and give an oratory  about Chinese made goods but it would fall on deaf ears I'm afraid . When the smoke finally clears and people get their heads out if their behinds and realize they are only cutting their own throats then maybe we will get back to the way things should be . Until such time  the buying public will continue buying this junk,put their neighbors out of work,raise our taxes and make a bunch of greedy businessmen rich .

Now that I've got that out of the way .I do believe I have enough old saws that were the rice burning junk Chinese saws the only things available I could still have enough operating saws for about twice my lifetime,weather I'm here or not .No rice burners for Al but thank you anyway . 

Nicely said my good man!

[sawguy21]

I work with an OPE parts distributor and deal with the complaints about Chinese products on a daily basis. Husqvarna bought the McCulloch division from Jenn Shing or whoever and we don't have to deal with it anymore thank goodness. Now it is MTD and their DanG snow thrower and lawn mower engines. The Chinese will get their act together eventually, they want market share and American dollars, but until they do it is a crap shoot. Just remember, the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

[Al_Smith]

Tractors,hmm let's see now .The last tractor made in the USA under 100 HP was done at what once was New Idea in Coldwater Ohio . It was the same machine but sold in several colors ,Oliver green,White white or MM yellow .

IH went belly up .JD doesn't make a small utility that I know of stateside and Massey is gone too from Canada . You kind of run out of choices . I mean there are only so many 8n Fords and Fergy TO 20's to go round ya know .

Aha that's the problem,I see it all now .The old Fords and Fergys could be rebuilt any number of times and thus could last forever that they sold so few there was no money in it .Made them too good I guess .I bet they never make that mistake again .

[beenthere]

.........
JD doesn't make a small utility that I know of stateside and Massey is gone too from Canada . You kind of run out of choices . I mean there are only so many 8n Fords and Fergy TO 20's to go round ya know .
.............

There is a large Deere plant in Augusta, GA
Al, I think you missed this one. For a few years (20 ago) the small compact utility (CUT) Deere were re-badged Yanmar's. Then in 1998 the Augusta, GA plant opened to make the 30 - 45 hp compact utility tractors (at the time had the good 3 cyl Yanmar Diesel). Then Deere started making their own smaller diesel engines in 4 cyl at facility in IA. And I think the small Deere CUT 4100 that was Yanmar was phased out about 8-10 yrs ago, and its replacement is US made.
IH was combined with JI Case and Ford (New Holland), but I don't know if any units are made in US, but think Canada (which is close enough for me  ).