Best all-around Chainsaw

[John Mc]

Just acquired a Stihl 044 and a 028 and am trying to decide which one to keep. I imagine the suggestion will be to keep them both but I don't think I really need two saws for my anticipated use and would like to get some of the money back that I paid for them.
For now I plan on mainly using it to cut appx. 2 cords a year of oak and pine firewood in addition to minor use around the yard for pruning walnut and cedar trees.

For me, the keeper would be the 028. That's due partly to the fact that I mostly cut firewood under 14" DBH (8-10" diameter is most common). Also due to the fact that neck and back troubles (from an old college wrestling injury) are aggravated by chainsawing, and the heavier the saw, the less of it I can tolerate, and the more problems I have. So I'd rather take a bit more time going at a log from both sides with a smaller saw, than haul around a bigger saw for the rare occasions I really need it.

[Rocky_J]

The 028 is an older generation saw than the 044. It might even have a points ignition. On that basis alone I would keep the 44 instead.

[Midmountain Man]

It's actually an 028 AV Super with Electronic Quickstop. I assumed they were both of the same vintage with maybe the 028 even being newer, but is this not the case?

The seller also had an 025 that they would give me for $80, that I am considering that in tandem with the 044 or I could likely just turn aorund and sell it for more than $80.

[Rocky_J]

I don't know if the last 028's were made before or after the 044 came out. I don't think there was an overlap but I could be wrong. I think they might have had electronic ignition on the last few years of the 028. If yours says 'electronic' then it's most likely one with electronic ignition.

The 028 was introduced in 1977 and the 044 was introduced in 1993.

[Al_Smith]

That 028 wouldn't make a pimple on the behind of an 044 .Keep the 44 . I don't think there's a pound difference in weight but there sure is in power .

[timber tramp]

   I'd keep the 044, buy a shorter bar and chain if you want to. There's tons of parts availability. So you should be able to keep it running for a very long time.    TT

[Midmountain Man]

Sounds like the 044 it is.
Didn't realize the 028 was that much older, that was the clincher. They both run great and the 044 is probably more saw than I need, but I might as well start big. It does seem signficantly heavier than the 028 but for only a handfull of days a year I can manage the extra weight.

Thanks for the advice, any thoughts on a nice 025 for $80, seems like I could keep that along with the 044 or turn around and sell it for at least $150.

[Rocky_J]

The 025 is a decent little saw for light duty. And for that price it wouldn't hurt to keep it around as a backup in case you get the 044 stuck (not that I would know anything about that  ) or for light duty cutting where the 044 would be too big.

[John Mc]

That 028 wouldn't make a pimple on the behind of an 044 .Keep the 44 . I don't think there's a pound difference in weight but there sure is in power .

I didn't realize they were so close in weight. Given that, I'd go with the 044 as well. My upper back can just learn to live with it... given the difference in power, I'd probably make up for it with less time spent cutting.

[windthrown]

The 025 (and all 1123 saws) are a pain to fix IMO. I have owned many of them. They are all stuffed together, have cheaper plastic, and clamshell engines. They are small and light, but the 025 has quite a lot of vibration (more than the 026). They also have the small mount bar that does not interchange with the 044. They run better with Picco B&C rather than .325 that they typically come with. They have a major weakness in the side clutch area that is all plastic. The plastic melts from the heat of the brake, and/or the oil line there that is also palstic will melt open. The clutches in them are also prone to grenading. I see many melted and grenaded clutch 1123 saws on Ebay (more of them than scored engines). The oil pumps in them are a tiny unit prone to clogging too. The clutch cover is plastic as well, and tends to chip and break pretty easy. The air filters are too small, and the tabs tend to break off on them. For about the same price you can get a much better built used 026 (I have on CL). 025 saws sell well on CL, and I have bought, fixed and flipped them there, as they make a great 'homeowner' saw. They go for $150-175 pretty well around here. Buy the 025 and flip it, and put the money from that and the 028 toward an 026 to go with your 044. Then you will have a good pair of Stihl saws. I have several 026s and an 044, and a set of 361s as well. The 026s are easy to fix and fun to run, and they are light and nimble saws. They also hold up to abuse, and they run all day w/o problems. The 1123 saws all tended to pool on me when they were really hot. That made them hard to re-start after a few hours of use.

[bill m]

Keep the 028 and sell the 044 to me.

[GASoline71]

gasoline71 i like your saying chicks dig scars i was in the wrong place at the wrong time tree wacked me right in my face from my lip down my chin down my neck. Split right open lots of stitches and surgery and cracked my chin bone and knocked 4 bottom teeth out and cracked my jaw bone had to replace all of that but im still cutting even more wood than before

I have a few "shavin' scars" of my own.  Have had a total of 39 stitches in my chin alone.  From dirt bikes to trees... my chin is pretty banged up. 

Maybe you should come to New England and spend a day with a me to get a first hand look at how we do things and why we do them. And then I will go to your neck of the woods and do the same. I think we both could learn something here and come away with a better understanding of each others jobs.

I would love to do that Bill... And I am being serious.  I am always wanting to learn from people.  I have never worked a crew back east, and a knuckledragger like me could prolly learn a trick or 2.  Maybe someday I can get back east to do just that. 

Gary

[timberjack240]

 chicks dig the scars and like my window sticker says she thinks my chainsaws sexy  but the first time i texted her and said i was jsut underneathe i tree and may be headed for x rays i doubt ill see u tonite i can walk rite now. im layin on the ground cant move my knee i think my legs broke  . or i jsut had a tree go sailing past my face about 5 ft away !! or i jsut knicked my boot w a saw or i jsut flipped a skidder over it changed her tune  changed her tune .. now anytime the subject comes up its y dont u quit its dangerous  .. so i try to bring it up in a less scary way  the only one she thought was funny was when i texted her and said im cuttin in  a cow pastuer hidin from a bull hes rite there im in a bush!!      my only reply is cuttin trees is like you after all the crap i still keep comin back for more   

[Magicman]

Homelite XL12 + daughters yard + wire under limb - anti-kickback brake = trip to emergency room to get sewed up....

The XL 12 was a good saw through the mid 1970's, but it was loud, slow, and didn't have a chain brake....



 


I just tell folks that a "bear" did it....

[SawTroll]

I don't know if the last 028's were made before or after the 044 came out. I don't think there was an overlap but I could be wrong. I think they might have had electronic ignition on the last few years of the 028. If yours says 'electronic' then it's most likely one with electronic ignition.

The 028 was introduced in 1977 and the 044 was introduced in 1993.

Actually, the 044 was introduced in 1988 (Acres site is wrong on several Stihl models).

The 028Super was made at least until 1990, a German source say 1993.