I wish I could thumbs up this video a 1000 times. Professionals can easily justify spending an extra 1000+ dollars on quality a saw and look at it from a lifecycle perspective and know in the long run they are going to save money. I am just a firewood burning home owner and I can tell you I think I can justify it more. I only have the time to get out and cut maybe 1 or 2 times a month. I need my saw to start ,run and get the job done when I need it just as much as a professional. A good saw should last me 15 to 20 years. I am more than willing to spend an extra 50 to 100 bucks a year to avoid any stress or aggravation, it can not be understated how much that is worth. My saw lives on a shelf in my shop and I prob just walk by it a thousand times a year. I smile inside every time I see it knowing I have a tool that is joy to use. Each smile is worth at least a buck in my book lol. I also like supporting my local dealer even though 1 saw in 15 years really isn't much.
Totally agree, especially on the point about needing things to work when you have time. I’m the same way with my milling. When I have a window of time I log I have to mess around fixing things that window closes fast! And I do love having high quality things around too! Thankful that the G660 got me going but happy to move on to something a little better
For the amount of work you do, I’m shocked the 660 held up as long as it did! Good call going with the 661. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Looking forward to your long term review about it too!
I don’t want to be too hard on the holzfforma. But the build quality is really cheesy. Makes me appreciate my echo cs590, which is built like a tank comparatively. I have to say the saw is totally spoiling me! It literally starts on the first pull every time. My rotator cuffs are pleased!
You're going to love the 661. I've been running mine for 4 years now, and it has never let me down. I don't use mine for milling large logs, but I do use it for bucking some of the bigger stuff. For milling large logs, I bought myself an 881 with a 5 foot bar. That thing is a beast.
The 661 is great! I definitely see how an 881 would be more preferable. I find the 661 does great under 30 inches, but it really doesn’t like milling through anything over that. And of course it’s a powerhouse bucker and feller
I have a g660 that i also use for milling. Other than the exhaust bolts rattling out 😂 never had a problem. Mine was made on a good day, use a 42" bar and ive had cuts that i had to take off the end of my mill just to get through it. Im a slave driver to that thing knock on wood only thing i needed to replace so far was a spark plug. At least 30 hard woods and probably close to 90 trees in total. Slow and steady, if you can prop one end up so you're cutting down hill, and a winch set up helps a lot. Fuckin rights boss, great content and always keep your foot on the gas
Hi, thanks for the video and for the advices. I want to start milling and I was thinking about a farmertec at the beginning but then I have gone for the "buy once cry once". Needless to say I didn't buy the farmetec but a Stihl MS661c instead and I am happy with it. Now I need to buy a chainsawmill and start practicing. Keep up the good work!
If I could do it again that’s what I would have done. It’s better to learn with a decent saw, get a good understanding of how the saw cuts and issues etc. I love milling I hope you enjoy too!
You know the other side of this story. I bought my 660 at 80 dollars 8 years ago and there was an 80 dollar shipping fee. I’ve had a 660 for 8 years for 160 dollars. I think that’s a decent deal. I have a 661 at work and it’s such an amazing saw.
I love the honesty, I have a G444 and a G66 and have had and still have good service from them both but I don't do any milling, use mine for firewood. I cut and sell firewood year round for individuals and 4 different BBQ restaurants, only problem I had was muffler bolts vibrating lose but thredlocker fixed that. I also would not recommend either for milling.
That’s awesome! What a great job. I try to keep it real, I’ve got the g888 on the way and will update on how that goes. I needed a bigger saw, but wow the new 881 is almost $2,500
Love your new Sthil 661. I own several Farmertec saws. They work great for firewood saws! I understand completely about your investment because of your business! You can't afford breakdowns! Good luck with your business!
I really appreciate that! I got a new piston and cylinder for my g660, I’m going to put that on and keep going. With milling I think I need more oil than I was using too. It’s a learning process and the saw has taught me a lot
It all comes down to Consistency! The cheaper stuff just don’t have it yet. I love my cheap Neo-tech saw But like you said it’s just some thing all the time. So glad I bought a 661 also. Highly recommend you get the Professional air filter though. It’s worth the 90 dollars!
I’ll check out that filter. Very true about consistency. Some specific saws may very well be higher quality than others because of poor factory tolerances
I've milled a ton with my Husky 288 and it's still a boss after 20 years. I might consider one of these off brand saws for non-torture purposes though.
I’m starting to change my tune on these knock off saws, too. Trigger broke, pull cord broke, chain tensioner broke, and I pretty much have to adjust the low jet every time. It does come down to trust, doesn’t it. But milling is hard on a saw.
For sure I’ve been there! And if those parts are swapped out to OEM boy does that add up fast. I think I’ve got almost as much as the saw cost me swapped in parts now. And the carburetor has never really run right. Never ran well from the start. Enjoying your falling videos, happy you’re getting into milling!
I’ve used a bunch of knockoff ripping chains, in addition to stihl and Oregon. Haven’t used any husky ripping chain though. Holzzforma chain is ok. Archer is decent. 8ten is ok too. I don’t see a big difference holzzforma and other knockoff chains, so whichever is cheapest is probably better. Once I started milling a lot, and milling bigger stuff, I started buying only stihl ripping chain. It blew me away how much faster the chain was and how much longer it stayed sharp. So a stihl chain might be $75 versus $25, but it literally lasts me three times longer. I will go back to archer if I buy a 100 ft roll, but until then I go to stihl
@Urban Lumberjack Not really that I can tell, they all seem fairly inconsistent and varied. You get good ones and bad ones in all of them. Haven't had time to fool with them for about a year, sure things have changed some.
Whatever works! I’ve revived that g660, it’s actually still working. The 661cm is the more reliable saw for sure, but I feel like that g660 can be made comparable in durability for not a lot of money. Of course I learned that lesson after spending a ton of time and also money! Good to hear your thoughts thanks!
Up front they have a few more things you need to do to them to get them ready. I guess different thing is needed for different models. The Farmertec Holzfforma G388 72cc (038 MS380 MS381) you need a NGK spark plug, you need to modify the power switch, new quality clutch springs, modify the fuel filter pickup positioning, the throttle lever pin needs to be replaced with a bolt and a locking nut. Two years and a few hundred trees later, it is still running good. I don't know if I was lucky, but I had no more issues with the G388 then I have had with the original stihl. Also I love the old style screw lids.
That’s awesome about your saw. Totally agree, too, about fixing a few things and they’re usually great. I’ve seen them do a lot of work by very knowledgeable people
I’ve had my fair share of problems with the 660 clone there ok if you’re just the occasional firewood cutter but as a sawmill it’s a big No for me. I own a genuine Stihl ms 660 & 661 and never had any issues the ms 660 has really proven to be reliable over the years and 661 which I have been using for past 5 years has been very reliable. What I have done with both saws is put a bark box both of them not so much for performance but to get the heat out of them quicker will save your saws from overheating that is the biggest killer for chainsaw ever a dual port muffler that’s available will make a difference. You made the right choice getting ms 661 good review.
Making your own lumber is way too difficult to have a tool that you can't depend on. Great to see those noodles at the end. One reason why I love riving is because my tools will likely never fail. Worst thing that's happened so far is I've pushed a cheap froe too hard and it bent. I was able to bend it back. It's not make or break for me, but it does help me get a larger yield. I'd be very distraught If I traveled and didn't have backup when my important tool failed. This might make me think twice about not bringing multiples just in case. As for wedges I can always just make them out of wood in the field.
For sure, the old ways are most reliable. To think at some point some guy just went into the woods with an ax and figured it out from there lol. I’d like to get more into riving. I’ve got a huge white oak log waiting for the mill and may try to get some handles out of it
To those that cant afford a 661. I have been involved with these since day one. Its a math thing, add up parts cost for what you need to replace and add it to the cost of the saw. Then decide will you save money? You buy one and right off the bat you replace a bunch of parts from stihl and it will last as long as a stihl and start like one and be reliable. If you dont, just buy a used stihl to fit your budget. One thing is in dealing with the blue or kits you will learn repair. After the virus its much harder to upfit one and still save money. Milling is tuff on a saw.
Patiently wondering when you will reveal where you get your oak logs ha ha.. I almost bought that saw based on the fact you had one. Luckily I got the Shendiawa 757 for a steel from a guy at work. I absolutely love that thing.
I’m working on it! Hopefully soon! I haven’t used a shendiawa, there are some great Chinese saws I’ve seen on here, I think quality control is the issue so it’s hard to recommend a saw other than the specific one somebody personally owns
If you don't already, you will learn to love that 661, I've owned several 661's, beast of a saw, very reliable. I would not even think about buying a holzfforma or any other china clone saw. Just my opinion thou.
We use ours , at my job as an arborist. Bought it just for shts and grins. To be honest. Im impressed. However if it breaks we have a 500i and a 441 on the truck
I think it's totally worth it, maybe you've held on to the blue one a little too long, but now you know this chainsaw build really well, and I bet it made you the money for the badge one.
Well said. The blue absolutely paid for itself! I made a great table for a guy in upstate New York from white oak I milled with it, and the education I got from working on it has been very helpful.
@@urbanlumberjack Yeah, I'm contemplating this one for doing occasional rip cuts into sidegrain to get some better turning lumber saved from firewood pile. I already have two other saws for felling and bucking trees, as well as preparing the blanks. But I don't have a saw that can plow through 3-4" of lumber straight without a guide attachment.
I bought a brand new stihl recently and have spent more time on maintenance and replacing parts than cutting wood. This holzfforma costs a 1/5 of the price of the stihl version, your review has made my mind up, I'm buying a holzfforma! Appreciate the honesty Sir. I hope you have better luck with the stihl
Awesome! Im convinced with a few OEM parts they’re a really good option. If I had somebody tell me to swap the tensioner, pull cord, and whatnot before hand I’d probably have a totally different experience. Good luck to you too!
Up front they have a few more things you need to do to them to get them ready. I guess different thing is needed for different models. The Farmertec Holzfforma G388 72cc (038 MS380 MS381) you need a NGK spark plug, you need to modify the power switch, new quality clutch springs, modify the fuel filter pickup positioning, the throttle lever pin needs to be replaced with a bolt and a locking nut. Two years and a few hundred trees later, it is still running good. I don't know if I was lucky, but I had no more issues with the G388 then I have had with the original stihl. Also I love the old style screw lids.
Using any chainsaw for home use versus commercial use are worlds apart in terms of longevity of the chainsaw, plus using chainsaws for milling timber is about the hardest work that you can make them do, particularly if using the longest bar that has been specified for the saw.
Id much prefer to have a good name brand saw but you can get two China clones for the cost and if you get a couple years from a saw its done the job. My dad still uses the echo he had when I was a kid, not a great saw but he took care and maintained it. When I was working on saws in high school the husky’s were having problems so they all break and they can all be learned and maintained. Love this shit.
Absolutely, the price of the clone saws is really good and they keep improving. I do like echo a lot, the cs590 I have it a tank. Special to have your fathers saw!
at the last tree service i worked for are boss had several of these farmertec saws and they just were always somthing going wrong with them the pullstarts are junk then tentioners barely work they leak gas everywhere and yeah just not good for everyday hard use. compared that to the 440 stihl he had i ran that almost everyday for 2 years straight never had an issue once and we would cut maybe 10 trees down a day. i have a 046 stihl that i love for myself now. for someone who does firewood and needs a big saw every once in awhile i could see it being okay but for a worksaw its just more trouble then its worth the time.
Nice video. It certainly pays to have a reliable saw. And someone making a living or using a saw most likely should invest in a good quality name brand saw and bite the bullet on price. I do have some saws that run well to a 20-inch bar and have a bunch of blow downs that are needing a much longer bar to make short order of in a cleanup. So, I am looking for a clone. I may discount this one because of your review. I am leaning towards another clone of the same saw. I usually buy Echos for dependability and easy start. If I were making lumber, I would just get a saw mill they are pretty inexpensive. But my use would only be to make lumber at my farm not travel to a job site and make lumber on the fly. I would like to buy a large Echo that would take a 36" bar but just for a cleanup that may not happen again it doesn't make a lot of sense. I would bite the bullet if I needed something for heavy use and long term. Thank you for your honest review.
Thanks for your input! I think the g660 could be good with some basic parts swaps (recoil, starter assembly, chain tensioner), but that adds a few bucks to go OEM. They are very easy and cheap to fix. That said I LOVE my echo. Would buy the cs590 again in a second. I’ve even run a 42 inch bar through white oak with it (didn’t want to but had to), and it got the job done. I think exho makes a bigger saw but have never used it.
Yes that’s technically true. Stihl doesn’t sell a bar longer than 36 inch you’d need to upgraded for 404 degree pitch which is the next size saw. Aftermarket sellers offer longer bars, I don’t use mine very often and am pretty reluctant to do so. Needs to be a very special tree to account for wear and tear on the saw. I definitely don’t recommend doing it often as it makes milling (already hard on a saw) even harder
I understand, i've always been a stihl man but can't justify the cost. And now that I'm close to retirement, it's just a matter of not wanting to invest too much money only to quit without the saws paying for themselves. When I do retire, I have a Stihl ms 251 for my personal firewood and will not miss the weight of big saws lol. Thank You for the honesty
Agreed on the chain tensioner and air filter are crap, whoever assembled mine did a quick and dirty job had some minor troubles because of it. Beyond that my G660 has been a champ. If I ever buy another I will buy a kit and build it myself with a good tensioner and filter. I suspect yours either had a flawed head or the guy that built it over torqued the spark plug. Time is money if you dont have the time spend the money, a MS661 just isnt in the cards for me but congratulations on your new saw.
I think the size can be good if somebody who knows what they’re doing give them a look over. I’ve learned a lot running this saw, I bought a new top and piston and rings for it, at some point I’ll put those on and see what happens. I think holz is trying to upgrade the bolt on parts, for sure they can put out a great affordable saw if they just want to.
bought one these get A job done my 881 was getting service. cut .3 huge oaks trunks where 65inch to 80in dia. 29in sthil bar and chain sthil air filter opend mufler up with dual ports. cleanend up exhaust ports cleand up carb and intake ports . thing rips for $500 saw. but nothing campared qualty saws
Awesome! These definitely benefit from exhaust work. I really liked mine too when it was running well. I think if somebody spent $50-$100 on upgrades this saw would be more than serviceable, especially compared to the $1,000 more we need to spend on the same model in stihl
@urbanlumberjack yea did sthil coil sthil air filter tried green uni filter also no difference. sthil bar sthil chain short rakers dual muffler cleand up ports . did not raise any of the port. timing . i did put thiner gasket so as piston starts open up ring just skinch past port now . and a little more jet on carb . really gets rpms now . orderd little digital tach just see how many rpms she's spinning
Absolutely. Very serviceable. Granted they were not problem free boards. Lots of breakdowns. But with the knowledge I got from that experience I believe I could take a new g660, replace what needs replacing, and have an awesome saw for very little money
That's too small a saw for milling that size wood. You might think about getting a helper and a double ended bar and a pair of 661s. Frying the coil is indicative of the saw being run too hot. It happens to every brand. Otherwise get an 881 . They are big enough and made for a long bar to be in 3 plus feet of wood. Also, run a Max Flo air filter. And clean it often . They really do help a saw to live longer and proform better. A 660/661 really isn't a very big saw.
@@urbanlumberjack 🍁read...91.6cc for the 660 and 91.1cc for the 661. STIHLs' second largest model. Interesting commentary to me, there is another guy who uses a STIHL MS 460, 76.5cc (nla) who mills thousands of board feet slabbing with a 42" bar. He also owns an 090 but prefers the 460 due to the light weight and speed in the cut.
Mate sthil is good but I got HOlZFFORMA G660 never had problem I cut jarrah logs in south of Australia 🇦🇺 nealey every day very good saw in my opinion to me it's all about mateinence cheers for your review 🤙🤙
That’s fantastic! I figure whatever the Australians are doing with axes and chainsaws is the gold standard. Since the video I fixed up the g660, new recoil, spark plug fixed, muffler issues figured out. I’m still not that great tuning up the carburetor but it runs well enough for me. The saw really is easy to work on, and I’ve learned a ton about fixing saws since buying it. That’s worth the money alone I think.
Ten of us where I work have identical Ford trucks. Mine has been a lemon since day one. I could make a video about how much thar Ford has cost me in time and money. But that is just my experience with one Ford.
Ford has made some real stinkers. 03-07 probably the worst trucks ever made. Spark plug issues in many other generations. And those 6.0l diesels? Holy cow. Yeah, agreed 100%. Buy things cheap or economically, but when you make money with them they still need to work.
Several reasons, but I’ll highlight a few. First is cost. A chainsaw mill and chainsaw will cost many thousands less than a bandsaw mill. Second reason is capacity. A chainsaw mill can generally handle much bigger logs. Third is portability, a log generally needs to be moved to a bandsaw mill whereas a chainsaw mill can cut up a log where it fell.
Im just gonna say, with the size wood your doing your gonna burn up that stihl as well.. need the big big saws with lower rpms and more torque for a longer service life. For cutting and bucking the stihl will last a lifetime but milling is a different animal.. best wishes
Thanks for the Input, I recently picked up the holzzforma g888 for really big logs. On the 661 I am always very sure to have sharp chain, and wait between cuts. Milling is absolutely hard on a saw
If money was unlimited I’d have done just that! You’re right the 661 is small, but does ok in anything under 25 inches. Can go over that but very slowly. I bought a 105cc 070 clone I’ll use for milling the big stuff now
@@urbanlumberjack well keep milling big stuff with the 661 and it won't last either . How much extra for the 881 200 to 300 ? Also you batter the 660 clone then you buy another clone . Don't make much sense especially when the 660 clone has more power than the 070 and you can check that out . What works for you
Quality control in China, which is making almost everything now, is hit or miss. So while you had horrible experience, there will be 10-20 others that have no issues other than normal problems, this still happens to the big companies when they have anything made in China.
I think that’s largely true for the major moving parts I.e. the cylinder, piston, crank, etc. I’ve never seen someone have a problem with that. It’s really just the bolt on stuff like tensioner, recoil, etc. I’ll rebuild the saw when it breaks down for good and actually just bought the 888, which I have been using a lot lately with no issues. Thanks for the input!
I wish I could thumbs up this video a 1000 times. Professionals can easily justify spending an extra 1000+ dollars on quality a saw and look at it from a lifecycle perspective and know in the long run they are going to save money. I am just a firewood burning home owner and I can tell you I think I can justify it more. I only have the time to get out and cut maybe 1 or 2 times a month. I need my saw to start ,run and get the job done when I need it just as much as a professional. A good saw should last me 15 to 20 years. I am more than willing to spend an extra 50 to 100 bucks a year to avoid any stress or aggravation, it can not be understated how much that is worth. My saw lives on a shelf in my shop and I prob just walk by it a thousand times a year. I smile inside every time I see it knowing I have a tool that is joy to use. Each smile is worth at least a buck in my book lol. I also like supporting my local dealer even though 1 saw in 15 years really isn't much.
Totally agree, especially on the point about needing things to work when you have time. I’m the same way with my milling. When I have a window of time I log I have to mess around fixing things that window closes fast!
And I do love having high quality things around too! Thankful that the G660 got me going but happy to move on to something a little better
You use too many words. STOP IT
Thank´s for the posting, it´s enlightning since i´m in Europe and looking for two or three to take to África where repairment isn´t easy.
Love the honesty. We need more guys like you on TH-cam.
I appreciate that! It sure doesn’t make any money, but I feel good about it!
Another enjoyable, informative episode Mr. Stuart...
For the amount of work you do, I’m shocked the 660 held up as long as it did! Good call going with the 661. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Looking forward to your long term review about it too!
I don’t want to be too hard on the holzfforma. But the build quality is really cheesy. Makes me appreciate my echo cs590, which is built like a tank comparatively. I have to say the saw is totally spoiling me!
It literally starts on the first pull every time. My rotator cuffs are pleased!
You're going to love the 661. I've been running mine for 4 years now, and it has never let me down. I don't use mine for milling large logs, but I do use it for bucking some of the bigger stuff. For milling large logs, I bought myself an 881 with a 5 foot bar. That thing is a beast.
The 661 is great! I definitely see how an 881 would be more preferable. I find the 661 does great under 30 inches, but it really doesn’t like milling through anything over that. And of course it’s a powerhouse bucker and feller
I have a g660 that i also use for milling. Other than the exhaust bolts rattling out 😂 never had a problem. Mine was made on a good day, use a 42" bar and ive had cuts that i had to take off the end of my mill just to get through it. Im a slave driver to that thing knock on wood only thing i needed to replace so far was a spark plug. At least 30 hard woods and probably close to 90 trees in total. Slow and steady, if you can prop one end up so you're cutting down hill, and a winch set up helps a lot. Fuckin rights boss, great content and always keep your foot on the gas
That’s awesome!
Hi, thanks for the video and for the advices. I want to start milling and I was thinking about a farmertec at the beginning but then I have gone for the "buy once cry once". Needless to say I didn't buy the farmetec but a Stihl MS661c instead and I am happy with it. Now I need to buy a chainsawmill and start practicing. Keep up the good work!
If I could do it again that’s what I would have done. It’s better to learn with a decent saw, get a good understanding of how the saw cuts and issues etc.
I love milling I hope you enjoy too!
You know the other side of this story. I bought my 660 at 80 dollars 8 years ago and there was an 80 dollar shipping fee. I’ve had a 660 for 8 years for 160 dollars. I think that’s a decent deal. I have a 661 at work and it’s such an amazing saw.
I love the honesty, I have a G444 and a G66 and have had and still have good service from them both but I don't do any milling, use mine for firewood. I cut and sell firewood year round for individuals and 4 different BBQ restaurants, only problem I had was muffler bolts vibrating lose but thredlocker fixed that. I also would not recommend either for milling.
That’s awesome! What a great job. I try to keep it real, I’ve got the g888 on the way and will update on how that goes. I needed a bigger saw, but wow the new 881 is almost $2,500
Did you use 25:1 mixture?
Love your new Sthil 661. I own several Farmertec saws. They work great for firewood saws! I understand completely about your investment because of your business! You can't afford breakdowns! Good luck with your business!
I really appreciate that! I got a new piston and cylinder for my g660, I’m going to put that on and keep going. With milling I think I need more oil than I was using too. It’s a learning process and the saw has taught me a lot
It all comes down to Consistency! The cheaper stuff just don’t have it yet. I love my cheap Neo-tech saw But like you said it’s just some thing all the time. So glad I bought a 661 also. Highly recommend you get the Professional air filter though. It’s worth the 90 dollars!
I’ll check out that filter. Very true about consistency. Some specific saws may very well be higher quality than others because of poor factory tolerances
I've milled a ton with my Husky 288 and it's still a boss after 20 years. I might consider one of these off brand saws for non-torture purposes though.
That’s awesome!
I’m starting to change my tune on these knock off saws, too. Trigger broke, pull cord broke, chain tensioner broke, and I pretty much have to adjust the low jet every time. It does come down to trust, doesn’t it. But milling is hard on a saw.
For sure I’ve been there! And if those parts are swapped out to OEM boy does that add up fast. I think I’ve got almost as much as the saw cost me swapped in parts now. And the carburetor has never really run right. Never ran well from the start. Enjoying your falling videos, happy you’re getting into milling!
Hi there do you trust/enjoy the Holzfforma ripping chain for milling more or less than other brands? Do you recommend the chain?
I’ve used a bunch of knockoff ripping chains, in addition to stihl and Oregon. Haven’t used any husky ripping chain though.
Holzzforma chain is ok. Archer is decent. 8ten is ok too.
I don’t see a big difference holzzforma and other knockoff chains, so whichever is cheapest is probably better.
Once I started milling a lot, and milling bigger stuff, I started buying only stihl ripping chain. It blew me away how much faster the chain was and how much longer it stayed sharp.
So a stihl chain might be $75 versus $25, but it literally lasts me three times longer. I will go back to archer if I buy a 100 ft roll, but until then I go to stihl
I like working on, and playing with the Chinese saws. I have enough of them on hand to always have a backup when they fail.
Have you found any brands better than the others?
@Urban Lumberjack Not really that I can tell, they all seem fairly inconsistent and varied. You get good ones and bad ones in all of them. Haven't had time to fool with them for about a year, sure things have changed some.
I recommend you buying a real Stihl. But some of us cant afford a MS 660 but we dont cry about. As long as it works man😊
Whatever works! I’ve revived that g660, it’s actually still working. The 661cm is the more reliable saw for sure, but I feel like that g660 can be made comparable in durability for not a lot of money. Of course I learned that lesson after spending a ton of time and also money!
Good to hear your thoughts thanks!
Up front they have a few more things you need to do to them to get them ready. I guess different thing is needed for different models.
The Farmertec Holzfforma G388 72cc (038 MS380 MS381) you need a NGK spark plug, you need to modify the power switch, new quality clutch springs, modify the fuel filter pickup positioning, the throttle lever pin needs to be replaced with a bolt and a locking nut.
Two years and a few hundred trees later, it is still running good. I don't know if I was lucky, but I had no more issues with the G388 then I have had with the original stihl. Also I love the old style screw lids.
That’s awesome about your saw. Totally agree, too, about fixing a few things and they’re usually great. I’ve seen them do a lot of work by very knowledgeable people
I’ve had my fair share of problems with the 660 clone there ok if you’re just the occasional firewood cutter but as a sawmill it’s a big No for me.
I own a genuine Stihl ms 660 & 661 and never had any issues the ms 660 has really proven to be reliable over the years and 661 which I have been using for past 5 years has been very reliable.
What I have done with both saws is put a bark box both of them not so much for performance but to get the heat out of them quicker will save your saws from overheating that is the biggest killer for chainsaw ever a dual port muffler that’s available
will make a difference.
You made the right choice getting ms 661 good review.
I’ve looked into the bark box it looks great. I’ve heard power is improved a bit but I totally agree heat is the number one enemy.
Making your own lumber is way too difficult to have a tool that you can't depend on. Great to see those noodles at the end. One reason why I love riving is because my tools will likely never fail. Worst thing that's happened so far is I've pushed a cheap froe too hard and it bent. I was able to bend it back. It's not make or break for me, but it does help me get a larger yield.
I'd be very distraught If I traveled and didn't have backup when my important tool failed. This might make me think twice about not bringing multiples just in case. As for wedges I can always just make them out of wood in the field.
For sure, the old ways are most reliable. To think at some point some guy just went into the woods with an ax and figured it out from there lol.
I’d like to get more into riving. I’ve got a huge white oak log waiting for the mill and may try to get some handles out of it
To those that cant afford a 661. I have been involved with these since day one. Its a math thing, add up parts cost for what you need to replace and add it to the cost of the saw. Then decide will you save money? You buy one and right off the bat you replace a bunch of parts from stihl and it will last as long as a stihl and start like one and be reliable. If you dont, just buy a used stihl to fit your budget. One thing is in dealing with the blue or kits you will learn repair. After the virus its much harder to upfit one and still save money. Milling is tuff on a saw.
Patiently wondering when you will reveal where you get your oak logs ha ha.. I almost bought that saw based on the fact you had one. Luckily I got the Shendiawa 757 for a steel from a guy at work. I absolutely love that thing.
I’m working on it! Hopefully soon! I haven’t used a shendiawa, there are some great Chinese saws I’ve seen on here, I think quality control is the issue so it’s hard to recommend a saw other than the specific one somebody personally owns
If you don't already, you will learn to love that 661, I've owned several 661's, beast of a saw, very reliable.
I would not even think about buying a holzfforma or any other china clone saw. Just my opinion thou.
I definitely hear that. The 661 starts on the first pull almost every time. It’s amazing!
Thank you
Is there a difference between the blue, orange and carbon fiber look models? The blue one always seems to be more expensive.
I’ve wondered this same thing myself. I haven’t heard anyone claim there is a quality difference between the colors, I believe it’s just cosmetic
We use ours , at my job as an arborist. Bought it just for shts and grins. To be honest. Im impressed. However if it breaks we have a 500i and a 441 on the truck
That sounds like a great set up!
Are you considering any upgrades for the 661?
Maybe a barkbox, probably going to plug the decomp valve. Maybe a higher flow air filter but just thinking about it at this point.
I think it's totally worth it, maybe you've held on to the blue one a little too long, but now you know this chainsaw build really well, and I bet it made you the money for the badge one.
Well said. The blue absolutely paid for itself! I made a great table for a guy in upstate New York from white oak I milled with it, and the education I got from working on it has been very helpful.
@@urbanlumberjack Yeah, I'm contemplating this one for doing occasional rip cuts into sidegrain to get some better turning lumber saved from firewood pile. I already have two other saws for felling and bucking trees, as well as preparing the blanks. But I don't have a saw that can plow through 3-4" of lumber straight without a guide attachment.
Looking at the saw, have you ever blown it out on a regular basis?
Like to clean with an air compressor? I haven’t done that regularly no, but would be a good idea
@@urbanlumberjack
I blow my saws out on a regular basis. Especially just before a big job.
You want a Stihl 090 for serious milling. If I was on a budget I would buy a used pro saw that is still in good shape.
I bought a brand new stihl recently and have spent more time on maintenance and replacing parts than cutting wood. This holzfforma costs a 1/5 of the price of the stihl version, your review has made my mind up, I'm buying a holzfforma! Appreciate the honesty Sir. I hope you have better luck with the stihl
Awesome! Im convinced with a few OEM parts they’re a really good option. If I had somebody tell me to swap the tensioner, pull cord, and whatnot before hand I’d probably have a totally different experience. Good luck to you too!
@@urbanlumberjack I'll keep that in mind, thanks!
Up front they have a few more things you need to do to them to get them ready. I guess different thing is needed for different models.
The Farmertec Holzfforma G388 72cc (038 MS380 MS381) you need a NGK spark plug, you need to modify the power switch, new quality clutch springs, modify the fuel filter pickup positioning, the throttle lever pin needs to be replaced with a bolt and a locking nut.
Two years and a few hundred trees later, it is still running good. I don't know if I was lucky, but I had no more issues with the G388 then I have had with the original stihl. Also I love the old style screw lids.
Using any chainsaw for home use versus commercial use are worlds apart in terms of longevity of the chainsaw, plus using chainsaws for milling timber is about the hardest work that you can make them do, particularly if using the longest bar that has been specified for the saw.
Id much prefer to have a good name brand saw but you can get two China clones for the cost and if you get a couple years from a saw its done the job. My dad still uses the echo he had when I was a kid, not a great saw but he took care and maintained it. When I was working on saws in high school the husky’s were having problems so they all break and they can all be learned and maintained. Love this shit.
Absolutely, the price of the clone saws is really good and they keep improving. I do like echo a lot, the cs590 I have it a tank. Special to have your fathers saw!
at the last tree service i worked for are boss had several of these farmertec saws and they just were always somthing going wrong with them the pullstarts are junk then tentioners barely work they leak gas everywhere and yeah just not good for everyday hard use. compared that to the 440 stihl he had i ran that almost everyday for 2 years straight never had an issue once and we would cut maybe 10 trees down a day. i have a 046 stihl that i love for myself now. for someone who does firewood and needs a big saw every once in awhile i could see it being okay but for a worksaw its just more trouble then its worth the time.
That seems about right, the saws are for occasional use. My echo CS 590 is built so much better than the farmer tech.
That saw is awesome
Thank you!
Nice video. It certainly pays to have a reliable saw. And someone making a living or using a saw most likely should invest in a good quality name brand saw and bite the bullet on price. I do have some saws that run well to a 20-inch bar and have a bunch of blow downs that are needing a much longer bar to make short order of in a cleanup. So, I am looking for a clone. I may discount this one because of your review. I am leaning towards another clone of the same saw. I usually buy Echos for dependability and easy start. If I were making lumber, I would just get a saw mill they are pretty inexpensive. But my use would only be to make lumber at my farm not travel to a job site and make lumber on the fly. I would like to buy a large Echo that would take a 36" bar but just for a cleanup that may not happen again it doesn't make a lot of sense. I would bite the bullet if I needed something for heavy use and long term. Thank you for your honest review.
Thanks for your input! I think the g660 could be good with some basic parts swaps (recoil, starter assembly, chain tensioner), but that adds a few bucks to go OEM. They are very easy and cheap to fix.
That said I LOVE my echo. Would buy the cs590 again in a second. I’ve even run a 42 inch bar through white oak with it (didn’t want to but had to), and it got the job done.
I think exho makes a bigger saw but have never used it.
I didn’t think you were meant to run a bar any longer than 36inches on this saw?
Yes that’s technically true. Stihl doesn’t sell a bar longer than 36 inch you’d need to upgraded for 404 degree pitch which is the next size saw.
Aftermarket sellers offer longer bars, I don’t use mine very often and am pretty reluctant to do so. Needs to be a very special tree to account for wear and tear on the saw. I definitely don’t recommend doing it often as it makes milling (already hard on a saw) even harder
I understand, i've always been a stihl man but can't justify the cost. And now that I'm close to retirement, it's just a matter of not wanting to invest too much money only to quit without the saws paying for themselves. When I do retire, I have a Stihl ms 251 for my personal firewood and will not miss the weight of big saws lol. Thank You for the honesty
Agreed on the chain tensioner and air filter are crap, whoever assembled mine did a quick and dirty job had some minor troubles because of it. Beyond that my G660 has been a champ. If I ever buy another I will buy a kit and build it myself with a good tensioner and filter. I suspect yours either had a flawed head or the guy that built it over torqued the spark plug. Time is money if you dont have the time spend the money, a MS661 just isnt in the cards for me but congratulations on your new saw.
I think the size can be good if somebody who knows what they’re doing give them a look over.
I’ve learned a lot running this saw, I bought a new top and piston and rings for it, at some point I’ll put those on and see what happens.
I think holz is trying to upgrade the bolt on parts, for sure they can put out a great affordable saw if they just want to.
bought one these get A job done my 881 was getting service.
cut .3 huge oaks trunks where 65inch to 80in dia. 29in sthil bar and chain
sthil air filter
opend mufler up with dual ports.
cleanend up exhaust ports
cleand up carb and intake ports . thing rips for $500 saw.
but nothing campared qualty saws
Awesome! These definitely benefit from exhaust work. I really liked mine too when it was running well. I think if somebody spent $50-$100 on upgrades this saw would be more than serviceable, especially compared to the $1,000 more we need to spend on the same model in stihl
@urbanlumberjack
yea did
sthil coil
sthil air filter tried green uni filter also no difference.
sthil bar
sthil chain short rakers
dual muffler
cleand up ports
. did not raise any of the port.
timing .
i did put thiner gasket so as piston starts open up ring just skinch past port now .
and a little more jet on carb .
really gets rpms now . orderd little digital tach just see how many rpms she's spinning
@ottomonotto9969 that’s awesome! I’m going to do about exactly this if I ever get another clone saw.
I spent the money on a built to the hilts 661 cm mag and never looked back. Knock off 660s etc have their place. I’ll just buy the real thing
So your saying you got low thousands of board feet out of a $350 dollar saw? That seems pretty good.
Absolutely. Very serviceable. Granted they were not problem free boards. Lots of breakdowns. But with the knowledge I got from that experience I believe I could take a new g660, replace what needs replacing, and have an awesome saw for very little money
That's too small a saw for milling that size wood. You might think about getting a helper and a double ended bar and a pair of 661s.
Frying the coil is indicative of the saw being run too hot. It happens to every brand. Otherwise get an 881 . They are big enough and made for a long bar to be in 3 plus feet of wood. Also, run a Max Flo air filter. And clean it often . They really do help a saw to live longer and proform better.
A 660/661 really isn't a very big saw.
That’s a good thought on a double end bar. If I get this G660 up and running I will consider setting that up
@@urbanlumberjack 🍁read...91.6cc for the 660 and 91.1cc for the 661. STIHLs' second largest model. Interesting commentary to me, there is another guy who uses a STIHL MS 460, 76.5cc (nla) who mills thousands of board feet slabbing with a 42" bar. He also owns an 090 but prefers the 460 due to the light weight and speed in the cut.
Mate sthil is good but I got HOlZFFORMA G660 never had problem I cut jarrah logs in south of Australia 🇦🇺 nealey every day very good saw in my opinion to me it's all about mateinence cheers for your review 🤙🤙
That’s fantastic! I figure whatever the Australians are doing with axes and chainsaws is the gold standard. Since the video I fixed up the g660, new recoil, spark plug fixed, muffler issues figured out. I’m still not that great tuning up the carburetor but it runs well enough for me.
The saw really is easy to work on, and I’ve learned a ton about fixing saws since buying it. That’s worth the money alone I think.
Ten of us where I work have identical Ford trucks. Mine has been a lemon since day one. I could make a video about how much thar Ford has cost me in time and money.
But that is just my experience with one Ford.
Ford has made some real stinkers. 03-07 probably the worst trucks ever made. Spark plug issues in many other generations. And those 6.0l diesels? Holy cow.
Yeah, agreed 100%. Buy things cheap or economically, but when you make money with them they still need to work.
I just don't get using a chainsaw for making lumber... I would think that it would be slow and more waste
Several reasons, but I’ll highlight a few. First is cost. A chainsaw mill and chainsaw will cost many thousands less than a bandsaw mill. Second reason is capacity. A chainsaw mill can generally handle much bigger logs. Third is portability, a log generally needs to be moved to a bandsaw mill whereas a chainsaw mill can cut up a log where it fell.
@@urbanlumberjack Muinto bem explicado isso mesmo.
Also bandsaw mills can have a tendency to have the blade wander, whereas a chainsaw will stay flat as long as your guide is flat
If you replace the China saws parts with Stihl oem it will prevent you from doing it twice. Almost everything is a perfect match
That’s very true. Every part I’ve replaced OEM hasn’t broken again.
Im just gonna say, with the size wood your doing your gonna burn up that stihl as well.. need the big big saws with lower rpms and more torque for a longer service life. For cutting and bucking the stihl will last a lifetime but milling is a different animal.. best wishes
Thanks for the Input, I recently picked up the holzzforma g888 for really big logs. On the 661 I am always very sure to have sharp chain, and wait between cuts. Milling is absolutely hard on a saw
You bought the wrong saw for milling . You should have got the 881
If money was unlimited I’d have done just that! You’re right the 661 is small, but does ok in anything under 25 inches. Can go over that but very slowly.
I bought a 105cc 070 clone I’ll use for milling the big stuff now
@@urbanlumberjack well keep milling big stuff with the 661 and it won't last either . How much extra for the 881 200 to 300 ? Also you batter the 660 clone then you buy another clone . Don't make much sense especially when the 660 clone has more power than the 070 and you can check that out . What works for you
THe ship of Theseus of saws lol
It is that for sure! I’ve got it running again, ultimately this saw is worth the money but plan on a bunch of OEM replacements
The 661 is a great Powerhead, but you should bite the bullet and get an 881, for the work you're doing it's very justifiable!
I would love an 881! Will definitely be my next purchase
Quality control in China, which is making almost everything now, is hit or miss. So while you had horrible experience, there will be 10-20 others that have no issues other than normal problems, this still happens to the big companies when they have anything made in China.
I think that’s largely true for the major moving parts I.e. the cylinder, piston, crank, etc. I’ve never seen someone have a problem with that.
It’s really just the bolt on stuff like tensioner, recoil, etc. I’ll rebuild the saw when it breaks down for good and actually just bought the 888, which I have been using a lot lately with no issues.
Thanks for the input!
If a tool doesn't earn then it's not worth the metal.
That’s very true I like that saying!
Sounds like a novice type saw not a professional one. But what would a novice want such a large saw for? Kind of pointless actually.
Alot of guys buy it for milling. Need a big saw for that and the 661/881 are real spendy
Puberty ended.
You bought a man's saw.
Hot dang!