Thanks guys. I would love a Husky but its a little steep for me to justify with what I will use it for (Translation =the wife would kill me). Same with Stihl. I have read some good things about Homelite and Echo as well as some decent reviews of some of the Poulan's. Basically the race is down to Homelite, Echo, or Poulan. I have a wider selection of Homelite and Poulan but there is a small selection of Echo (I belive it was the 3450 I saw). It's not urgent yet (my Mculloch is still breathing but labored) so I will see if anyone else has any input before I make up my mind.
I like your thinking.
While a Husqvarna or Stihl will last 3x longer than a Poulan, they also cost 4X more. So an occasional user will never get his money's worth.
I used my 18" Poulan for years, and have cut hundreds of trees. The bar finally wore out (I have a bad habit of hitting the dirt), and I got a better quality Australian made bar for $22. It still cuts great, cranks in 1 or 2 pulls, and idles perfectly.
After a hurricane a while back, I was about to resume cutting up a downed oak tree when 2 boys from Kentucky pulled up in a pickup. They had driven down here looking for work cutting up downed trees. I told them I was fixed up, and pointed to my Poulan. They laughed, and went to the truck and produced a big orange Husky like like they were saying "That's not a saw, THIS is a saw". He cranked it up and cut a ~14" slab off a big limb. I'm thinking heck, that wasn't so fast. So I asked him to cut another slab, and timed it. It took him 10 seconds. I cranked up and it took me 9 seconds. He said "yea, but yours turns real high RPM. and it won't last!". I said yea, but it cost me 1/4th as nuch as yours, and 4 of mine would last longer than yours."
We all laughed, and they left. They really were nice guys, and I sure envied that Husky they had.
