nectarine Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Our McCulloch chainsaw gave up the ghost and I took it to a service centre. The chap says the "bobine" (?) has died a death, he couldn't explain what it was but I think it's something to do with the electronics. He says that McCulloch don't do spare parts for very long, only a few years (the saw is 10 years old) so it's impossible to repair. Anyway, he's very keen to sell me a Stihl chainsaw where he says the parts are available for 20 years.I've emailed McCulloch directly and got no reply, so am thinking about what he says. Before I buy a Stihl, does anyone have any thoughts about what I could do with the McCulloch and also whether Stihl are a better saw?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeb Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 No brainer.......Stihl everytime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 McCulloch's are known in the trade as "one season equipment" so if you have had yours for 10 years it has done very well. Mine has lasted 5 so far and is still OK but it was a lot cheaper than a StihlIts like a lot of things you get what you pay for, Stihls are double at least the price of a Partner or McCulloch, are easy to start and maintain and will last for many years. If you are using a chainsaw a lot then invest in a good one as the next cheap one might not last half as long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Yes I second everything Ron has said. After 10 years your McCulloch doesn't owe you anything.I'm in a similar position as you, bought a cheap McCulloch about 8 years ago when money was a bit tight for me and I couldn't run to a Stihl. It's been OK, not great but OK, and when it finally expires I'm going to splash out on a Stihl. I bet the wretched thing goes on forever now [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Probably Bobine d’aluumage – combined switch and fuel pump. Spares for many other makes readily available. On site MacC as below. Part looks petty expensive versus new saw.http://www.sosgarden.com/default.php?cPath=675_922_696 http://www.camaland.fr/index.php?cPath=332_45 http://www.camaland.fr/index.php?cPath=332_45_871 http://www.pro-motoculture.com/boutique/liste_familles.cfm?code_lg=lg_fr&num=41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Streason Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Should also consider HUSQVARNA. Similar quality to Stihl. See which gives you a better price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave21478 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 There is a wee back-street place near me who does new equipment, and servicing and repars for old stuff. He has a huge pile of scrap saws, strimmers etc etc, and will sell most used parts for a couple of euros. I would imagine it would be worth a little leg-work to see if you can find somewhere similar before condeming your old saw.I have a MacCulloch myself, and its....well its ok actually, but its real wake-up when I use a big-name saw, the difference in quality is evident straight away.I trapped and banana`d the guide bar on it this morning, but funds wont stretch to a new saw, so a new bar will have to do me for now - My trusty Mac will soldier on a while longer! My Brother in law has a Partner saw which is IDENTICAL to mine, I assume the brands are owned by the same company or one is made on licence from the other? Anyway it runs fine now, but nothing will budge the spark plug - When it needs changed the saw will have to be binned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 My One season Mac saw is on its 4th without drama.Stihl are professional kit, well engineered and robustly built but if you are not really using it a lot then you can buy two Macs for the price of one Stihl...you pays your money....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted February 10, 2009 Author Share Posted February 10, 2009 this is very useful advice and thank you. Thanks also for explaining the bobine allumage .... we shall search around a few shops to see if we can get a spare but now Mr. Nectarine has read all these comments and his appetite is whetted for a new and better quality saw. Whilst we don't use the saw too much, when it is used then it gets quite intensive use for a week and Mr. N complains of the vibration up his arm, which leaves his arm feeling 'dead' for a few hours afterwards. Sounds like the better quality ones have better anti-shock ....Thanks all, for your very helpful and constructive replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Totally agree Nectarine, the new ones reduce the vibrations considerably, my old Stihl 038 farm boss, great machine but after a long day very tiring . The new ones are much more comfortable. All manufactures were forced to produce low vibration machines. MaCulloch are made by electrolux I believe, so they don't do bad for a light machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Soak round the plug for a week in WD40. Clamp the saw on a workmate and use a plug spanner socket and a 4 foot torque wrench ( how else to you torge a VW head ? ) Worst case scenario you split the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave21478 Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 ^^^ tried all that - there is no way its budging. heating it with the burner, freezing it with cold spray, long levers....it will not move. It gets to the point where you are lenaing against the lever and just know that forcing a wee bit harder will result in a split casing and swear words.BTW, wd40 isnt that great as a penetrant. Duck oil, or PlusGas is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 If the thing is still running run it till its warm and switch off. Use a robust deep socket on the plug and an airwrench, the vibration should do the trick if not then an impact wrench may help but will likely shatter the ceramic on the plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Dave at least your Brother in law and other readers of this thread have learnt not to overtighten the spark plug [6]Plus gas is a good penetrating oil but does cause corrosion unlike WD40, so if the plug was sprayed before assembly it will be very hard to shift. Have you tried tightening the plug some more? Sounds crazy but sometimes it can crack the corrosion by stretching the thread and compressing the sealing washer. Even the slightest movement can be enough to ease it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Going back to Stihl. I had to buy a new saw when mine burnt the piston out. It was only about 25 years old and when I contacted Stihl they were amused at my complaint and said that they didn't do spares for that model any more. Domage. [blink]So now I have a lovely new Stihl MS180C with a 14 inch bar and it is great. It has the easy start system on it where you pull yer little bit of string which winds up a spring and when it gets to the end of the string the spring is released and it kicks the motor over and starts! Magic [8-|]... It is wonderfull to be able to do that if you have arthritic hands.. Vibration is minimal, it is not heavy and a dream to use.As has been said, you pays yer money and you makes yer choice and for me I would much rather pay for the quality [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 many thanks for all replies. Mr Nectarine is totally sold on a new Stihl and we are going out this afternoon to buy one.Funnily enough, many of the shops are discounting their models, with 100euro 'reprise' on them. I asked what this was and was told that if I brought in my old chainsaw then I would receive the 100 euro discount. However, even if I didn't have a chainsaw, I would still receive the 100 euro discount?I'm assuming this is some legal whizz to put the items on sale and get around the official 'soldes' dates ... but could anyone confirm this. Am I missing something in this?If that is the case then I would just ask for the discount and flog my old McCulloch separately to someone who might be able to repair it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybear Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Get a 'Jonsered' all the locals 'round here use them ( pro and the rest ) despite having a certain way of getting it to start it is robust easy to maintain, easy to use.and getting bits for it is a piece of cake. Also they are reasonably priced - the ford' of the chain saw not the 'merc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 aaaah too late ... Mr. Nectarine went into town and was seduced by the gleaming oiled lines of a fancy Stihl chainsaw, sold to him by a smooth-tongued salesman! But it was a good price, and Mr. Nectarine is happy with it and eager to start work on the fallen trees in our garden. He's a bit over-enthusiastic to my liking ... I suspect I shall have to keep an eye on him in case he gets over-eager and we end up with a garden of tree stumps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 All the locals round here have either Stihl or Mculluck and the pros have either Stihl or Huskies.I hope that Mr Nectarine has the protective kit to go with it as well? I for one would much talk to him and not about him!The neighbour behind us was using his chain saw last summer. He was dressed in all of the French protective kit, you know, shorts and sandals!!![:-))]As for this bloke. About 14 foot up a ladder, holding onto the tree with left hand, chain saw about a foot in front of his throat and he is a pro too, French, but he did have a Stihl! I took the photo and vanished into my workshop and made a lot of noise to hide any possible screams [:-))] ![IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/Jonzjob/Treesdown6attemptedsuicide1.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gluestick Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Stihl, Husqvarna, Jonsared, McCullough, are all now owned by Electrolux: in fact they have been buying up every outdoor product in the World when they can.Yes, Stihl do last longer.However, as I found with my older ride-on mower (made by AYP in the USA; sold in France under the "Rallye" brand name) Electrolux are totally useless at providing service products: and even being interested! I needed a new deck; the bit which houses the blades and blade bearings and pulleys etc, or the entire thing was scrap.After eventually managing to speak to a wholly disinterested youth at Electrolux who stated that he thought the part would cost about £250, sniffed a few times and promised to get back to me (That was five years ago and I am still waiting!), I gave up and started searching in the USA.Good old Google!Found a dealer: who almost instantly emailed me back: and put me on to another specialist who confirmed he had the part and set up a dedicated page on their website just for me, so I could order and pay over the secure (SSL) shopping basket.One week later the part arrived, courtesy of DHL.Cost including shipping? Just £80.So yes, Stihl will last longer; but whether one can buy necessary service parts five years down the line is another matter, I'm afraid.Same with white goods: Zanussi; Bosch: Indisit; now all Electrolux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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