Fake Stihl Chainsaw Better? Let’s Settle This!
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2023
- $400 FARMMAC F660 vs $1640 Stihl MS 661. Chainsaws compared for build quality, engine torque, cutting speed through manufactured log, and cutting speed through a 33-inch tree.
To ensure an unbiased review, I personally purchased both chainsaws and all off the supplies used to test the saws. So, thank you for supporting the channel!
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➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
FARMMAC (high end version): amzn.to/3rIPUdE
Stihl MS-661: Available at Stihl Retailers
Videography Equipment:
Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: amzn.to/2YdXvPw
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Go Pro Bundle: amzn.to/3Ca0ZVN
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC - Навчання та стиль
I'd love to see a test on garbage bags. I never know if the premium ones are worth the cost!
Thanks!
Once you have to clean up a pile or two of (used/dirty/smelly) cat litter after a cheap garbage bag splits and spills its contents on your floor, you tend to buy the premium garbage bags.
That said, I agree, I'd like to see a test of them, and the "weight of wet cat litter before busting" test would be a great thing to include.
@@jayschafer1760💯 You took the words right out of my mouth.
I first realized I was an adult when the words, "that's a good garbage bag right there" came out of my mouth
I like the idea of testing garbage bags and using a "bag can hold x pounds of cat litter before busting" metric.
Best channel, no bs, no time waste, unbiased straight to the point
Thank you!
Truth
Agreed! The summary at the end is always the best. His format is the original.
I agree with you
As well as humor.
I would like to see how that clone performs with a a couple minor upgrades. Carb, air filter and muffler. The way it sounded in the cut just sounded like an air/fuel problem. Another great video! We can always count on you for quality content with zero bs.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Yes, thank you for adjusting the carb in this video. It obviously made a huge difference in performance. Id be curious about the no load speed after adjustment. Adjusting the carb was a big improvement in this video test compared to the previous saw tests.
Just with a better chain, and a minor carb adjust, it already performs almost as good as the stihl. Adding that fact saving $1200, good enough for odd jobs.
I have an F660V. It turns 12500rpm since I got it. It eats wood quite quickly. I've purchased a Dual port muffler which seems to have helped also. The V model has a Walbro carb, Italian coil, NGK spark plug. The stock chain is full chisel which is surprising because if you read the ad it says semi chisel. I would highly recommend the saw to anyone wanting Sthil power without the price. Will it last as long? Probably not but a replacement cylinder that's quality is about $120. Cheap ones are $40 ish but I wouldn't recommend them.
I have a couple of the nock off top handle chainsaw and I don't regret it they start around the first pull every time even in sub zero temperature...
It always depends, for what you need it. If you need a chain saw only once in a while, the Frammac will do it, but for professional use, the Stihl saw is the perfect joice.
Thanks for the feedback.
Or buy the smaller 2nd name brand one
Think about how the farmmac would perform if you replaced the filter with a stihl air fileter, stihl bar and chain and tuned it. It wont be equal to the stihl but at half the price its performance seems close enough. There is a difference between tools that get run all day most days and tools that get run ocasuonally.
@@mikehathaway2842Really important to mention. Stihl will run all day I doubt farmmac would
@@movietrailers6149 Didn't mikeathaway mention that?
I'm noticing a decent difference in performance between the two saws, but there's a huge difference in price. Glad you mentioned that at the end!
Thanks for sharing!
Of course there's a price difference, the Chinese didn't have to do any R&D, they just take a western design and copy it shamelessly. The more we support this by buying the "cheap" product, the more Western companies products will cost, and the less of them there will be, until this industry looks like power tools, batteries, and so many others where there are no real western options any more.
@@ProjectFarm battle of the Chinese saws? Farmer tec vs husky vs stihl and farmmac
i think the farmac needs a high adjustment
Likely the Stihl would last a lot longer
Wow! I just noticed you're almost at 3 MILLION subs!!! Let me just say that you've earned every one of those subs with your fair, accurate & unbiased testing methods...good job Todd! Let there be no doubt, hands down...YOU ARE THE MAN!!
Thanks so much!
This video is definitely an exception to the usual testing standards.
I agree
Good job as always
Why are you worshipping people online?
These knockoff saws are actually pretty decent for the price point, thanks for testing!!
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
be carful the piston and cylinder is not very good quality sometimes the elbow link comes undone and grinds in to the cylinder wall locking up the saw
The Chinese COPIES, are getting much better but Copy is the operative word, Stolen Research and Technology, So for that reason and political Reasons, it will be a cold day in hell before I buy any of that junk even if I have to save my money for a lot longer and spend 1200 bucks more, Just my opinion, it really does not mean much.
t@@karlsquire8148
Those copies are because the patents have expired on the models they copy. Stihl has gone crazy expensive and cost prohibited for alot of people. I love stihl's good saws I have owned several , first was a 041 farm boss in 1980......... lasted along time15 yrs or so
I spent about 15 years trimming trees in my younger years and wished I could have afforded the Stihl as vibration hurts your hands . Great video again!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
those fine details, like vibration mean a lot if its something that is a daily Tool.
For trimming trees you really can't go wrong with an electric saw. Basically no vibration, and cheap. I use a $100 corded 10" worx polesaw/chainsaw I got from lowes 5 years ago and it's fantastic. Felling trees is a different story.
I'm not even in the market for any tools... but for some reason I still watch the Project Farm videos. Nicely done, as always.
Thanks! Thanks for watching!
Same here. And sometimes I can't even get the same brands he has access to in the US, but I simply love the content. Dude is really knowledgeable and charismatic
Same
haha! Same here, I bought a DeWalt electric based on his review and it's fantastic. There's no chance I'll even get something this big but my weekend is not complete until I watch the latest PF vid.
I have a farmertec g660, and I'd say your test results are pretty accurate. I went ahead and put a (modified) dual port muffler on mine, which helped. I've run close to 10 gal of fuel through it. It slowly improved over the first 5 gal or so, but so would a Stihl 660. I would never say that mine will beat a Stihl in a head to head match up, but the $1,000 I saved makes for one heck of a consolation prise 😂
Thanks for sharing.
There's a guy on here Aaron lynch who will work your saw and tune it for only a few hundred bucks
@@garythayer9673He only paid a few hundred bucks!
@garythayer9673 I do most of my own work on my saws. If you buy a clone, you need to be willing and able to wrench on them. Oftentimes, you'll need to replace a couple of parts pretty quickly, especially the screws/bolts that attach the handle and felling spikes. Those should be replaced before the saw is even assembled. The starter pawl is often weak. Sometimes, you get one with a bad clutch and/or oil pump.
@@ProjectFarm😮😮
Despite the price difference it's just not describable how much the workflow differs when you work with a quality tool. The time saved is in fact huge. You get a lot more done by the end of the day
Good Point!
But you could also buy and equip 4 people to work with the Farmmac for the same price as 1 Stihl - so if you've got the family out cutting firewood on the weekend you could have 1 person doing all the cutting work, or 4, for the same price. 18% slower but roughly 4 times as much cutting.
@@offshack minus vibration , minus exhaustion, minus constant adjustment becuase cheaper tools seem to e.g. loose tension, minus uneven cuts, minus more probable tool failure which will postpone your work for a day or two until the tool is repaired etc etc...
It's a miles difference of the "workflow" and is hard to describe in words once you have a qualty tool in your hands. The best I can come up with is that with quality tool you have way less to no other variables at all in the equation: "pick up the tool - work with it fast and efficient until you're tired - put away the tool - come back the next day and repeat". It's "just work - no bs" - kind of feeling.
@@cccpredarmy I've bought both, I would prefer and always buy 4 cheaper tools over the one expensive. The one breaks and you're out of work until you can find the one repair place 50 miles away to get you the special part. Buy 4, use one for parts, and have 3 running all the time, and if you blow it up there it in the dumpster and don't worry about it and keep going because it was cheap. I used to buy snap on tools, now I buy Kobalt. I used to buy hilti and Milwaukee drills. Now I buy DeWalt and craftsman.
@@TD75 I wouldn't set the repair costs as high since cheap tools also have accessibility for spare parts. But cheap tools indeed break more often and the worst thing about it imo is the break of "workflow". All that time spend for repairs, maintenance, adjustments, the tool won't start properly so you need another 3 minutes to manipulate the starter or gaspump or whatever...
It's the time you spend NOT doing the work you intended to do, so you have to make your worday longer, then loose the scheudle , come back home more exhausted, even demotivated ...
Stihls also break, but once properly repaired you forget about repairing them for long time.
Having ran both a real 660 a 661 daily and having the farmer tec 660 at home. To me the biggest difference is the 661 has the spring antivibe instead of the rubber grommet antivibe. Also I think the 661 leans a little more into the hp/ revvy side than the torquey side compared to the older saws. For the price it’s hard to beat the Chinese saws if you don’t mind working on them a little more
This comes down to the design of the engine, aspects like blowdown degrees, transfer port height, exhaust port height, when they created the 361 they shifted from low rev torque to high rev power because of one thing... emmisions, the changes they made directly influenced the amount of low end torque they made, on the 361 it really works but on the 461, 661, 462, 662 it turned the ol great torque monsters into "you better not get bound otherwise you wont have the balls to throttle out of it"
Stratified transferports are the big one, lower transferport velocity requires lower muffler flow and a late tranfer port opening just to keep some unburnt fuel from going out the muffler they completely changed the entire way these saws are designed and every change is in a harmful way for how a saw should be designed. Ignition timing must be advanced due to the leaner mixtures and poor piston blow down
Mufflers became much more restrictive ( not only do they harm your low end torque but the muffler limits your top end dramatically)
Couldnt pay me to use one of those saws... i love my 361 because knowing how it runs i can keep up with my buddy with a farmertec 660 yet use less gas, less vibration and a lighter saw. I also ported and practically blueprinted this 361 and the 660 farmertect is bone stock lol
This man is a saint. He has very high production value yet, he still shows you all of his mistakes. He buys all the products he tests to avoid biasing the test results. He's ingenious with some of the ways he tests things. There's a big difference between lab testing and testing out on a farm.
Thanks!
Crazy how a carb tune can pit up a 75% cheaper saw so competitively! I would love to learn about how you went about adjusting the carb.
I tune the carb on every small engine I own. Chainsaws, blowers, lawn mowers, dirt bikes and rc cars. You can greatly improve performance and efficiency if you know what you are doing. Then you can get into replacing the jets on certain carbs. I notice with high performance or modded engines (like the ported Zenoah brand engines in my rc cars and rc boats) that even temperature and air quality greatly effect the tune. Or change in elevation will effect any engine.
I try to reduce things in my diet, like potatoes and bread! (bad joke, I know)
@@anthonycomeaux1804 get out
Todd adjusted the carburator AND used the Stihl chain.
You can adjust a carburator and the ignition timing by listening as long as you have some experience in tuning. 😉
U just have two jets u can adjust. Every new saw will need this to run at its best unless u get a new saw with auto tune
In addition to all the testing I appreciate the priority that Todd puts on having fun with it. Cousin Eddie's participation is always welcome
Thanks!
I think these tests are even better than factory tests. Brilliant as always.
Thanks!
I use a chainsaw occasionally and have a Homelite 16" that ~20 years old. With the exception of a few primer bulbs, plugs, and chains it's been exceptionally reliable. I use non -ethanol and synthetic 2 stroke oil. If I needed a saw this big (arms stretched way out) I'd snap up that off brand in a second! What a fantastically thorough and brutal test!!! Once again you have our undivided attention!
Thank you very much!
Hom-lites are junk
@@LitheInLitotes oh obviously.
Still running and working perfectly after 20 years in the state of Florida. Total garbage.
You must be some kind of Super Jenius.
@@LitheInLitotes Old Homelites were great saws
@@_BAD_MERC_ 33 year old Homelite XL. Great little saw--has never failed me. Have replaced the fuel lines and rebuilt the carb once, that's it. Crazy thing is that it's lighter than my Makita rechargeable.
I've had the farmmac for about 8 months now. Had a few problems with it and replaced those parts with Stihl parts. All I use it for is milling. Considering it's 1/4 the cost, it's a workhorse. Hundreds of boardfeet with very few issues.
I've seen people do the same thing with the icon tools from harbour freight, they will put snap on guts into the icon ratchet and it works great.
Thanks for sharing!
@@bdkj3e snap-on will not fit the icon.
@@shawnthomas7404 maybe it was a different brand, it's been a while since I saw that vid but it makes sense to me cuz the guts are what take all the abuse.
Dang, You're using the clone for milling and it's lasted 8 months? That's awesome, brother
GOLD standard for testing . Great work project farm!!!
You've got the best channel on youtube. Your thorough testing leaves no doubt and it's greatly appreciated. Another very nice touch is you read responses and actually reply.
Thanks for sharing!
~18% lower performance, for ~25% of the price, pretty impressive indeed!
Thanks for the feedback.
Bingo. This is exactly how I looked at it too. Certainly a lot of value for the money.
I don't think the Chinese saw will last long though.
@@jerryschneider145 I hope to see some data on that in the next couple years.
Yea, it would be interesting to see.@@joshuagibson2520
I've been running chainsaws for 30+ years and in my humble opinion...... you can't beat a Stihl
Next to no experience with chainsaws here, but I had a Stihl concrete handsaw for over a decade, which is basically the same machine with a different cutter attached.
Not only did it cut well, I don't recall a single instance in all that time, even though it might be MANY MONTHS between uses, where it took more than a handful of pulls to start.
All the issues I had with it in that time were either normal wear components like the fuel bulb, or actually my bad, cause I got mud from the cutting into something like the pull start mechanism.
Thanks for the feedback.
I have a little stihl saw at home for firewood, I can toss it in the shed for the entire spring/summer months then drag it out when the cold sets in and it still fires up on a couple of pulls, that saw, which wasn't new when I got it, has never missed a beat, I still use it to this day and its older than my children 😅 cheap knock offs are probably perfectly fine short term but I doubt they'll out perform my Stihl.
As my Grandad used to say you get what you pay for❤️
Having electric is so nice, no exhausting pulling at all
Old Husqvarnas have a very solid reputation. Can’t comment on newer ones, as my 30+ year old Huskys are still working like new, just with lots of visual wear and tare.
I just bought the ms250 because of the other video you did showing it as the winner. I love it! had a stack of firewood from a fallen tree in no time. Thanks for your great videos!
You are welcome!
Awesome video, have used a farmertec 660 saw for about 2 years now and has never skipped a beat. Will always take my stihl 660 as back up just incase. I found with the farmertec the carb was a bit off as mentioned, so I put on a stihl 660 carb from an old saw and goes good as new. Definitely vibrates a bit more than the stihl. But for firewood cutting and beating on a saw the saw the farmertec is the go
My farmmac took some adjustment from the get go and made a world of difference. After a few weeks of running it seem like it started to get broke in and run better. I would like to see this retested after more break-in and more adjustment
Thanks for the suggestion.
Seems to be the issue with many Chinese import gas tools. I hate the ones that have the smooth-headed carb adjustment screws with the admonition that "this engine is not adjustable". BS--after a little twiddling the thing runs tons better.
@@tubastuff It's so they can credibly claim that you voided the warranty, even though it's absolutely necessary for it to run properly.
Might be a good idea to run it a little rich for a couple of tankfuls then lean it out.
i agree. The factory tune is really rich on the farmmac. I had to lean it out after the break in and the saw came to life. My neighbor brought over his Stihl 660 and I had my G660 and it we were both impressed. These saws do need some work over time. I had to change my tensioner and I broke a clutch spring. But as long as you are handy you can have fun with the saw and put it to work
A compression test would have been interesting here. Thank you project farm, as always you're the best!
Thanks for the suggestion.
Longevity: Stihl 20+years. Farmmac 20- weeks
Not the case at all actually
Your ability to engineer test methods and operate the instrumentation while recording the results accurately is absolutely amazing. This world needs more men of your caliber.
Thanks!
I grabbed a 92cc clone just needed to adjust the high and low fuel adjustment and it rips through 20" trees making a mess of curly chavings under it, it's a holtzforma with 20" bar full chisel, love it for $400
Thank you for sharing!
Same, that thing rips.
@ProjectFarm holzfforma pro. I hear mixed opinions on it. Supposedly they're parts are interchangeable with stihl. If you ever do another saw video that'd be a good one to see
We found out that when a tree falls on Cousin Eddie..........Cousin Eddie doesn't make a sound. 😳😵💫🤣
It was definitely running too rich. 1/4 turn adjustment on the carb was probably all it needed. You can not test a saw if it's that rich. Not to mention neither is broken in yet,which also makes a significant difference... More on some engines than others which again makes comparisons unreliable.
Great job of testing as usual but once again. reliability and longevity are valuable qualities which are very difficult to measure.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Considering that you could buy 4 of the knockoffs for a single premium brand, it's probably worth the gamble.
I have a ms 250 that I bought right around the turn of the century, use it on the farm regularly, never once failed to start and do a good job.
@@chrimony Don´t be so sure, maybe if you work with the chainsaw for only a couple of months a year, but if you work every day with the chainsaw reliability is a big thing, not to mention situations where you can not carry a spare chainsaw
@@antoniosemedo5640 Horses for courses. But even in the professional setting, it's probably worth having a backup saw, and putting a cheap one through its paces could be a worthwhile test.
What is never mentioned is how the Stihl makes you feel. The pride of ownership. Makes you want to go out and work. It is motivating. Feels good in your hands. This cannot be measured, but it still matters. Everything in life has this element. Plato said this somewhere in his writings.
Thanks for sharing.
Cousin Eddy and the Farmabago crack me up.
Great test as always! The Farmmac saw is definitely a ok saw for the price and its great saw to have for those trees that are to large for your regular saw.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Very well done! I am glad you swapped the bar and chain around and fixed the tune. Nothing really debatable left on the table. That is what my chainsaw dyno shows, the clone 660 are always a fuzz behind where the oem 661 in power output. They have a place for sure. Even after porting and modification the clone 660 struggles to match the 661 in power/cut speed. Thank you for doing this test.
My pleasure!
This guy knows what he is talking about!
Have you matched the clone’s compression/squish to the 661? Just based on the pull cord it seems that the 661 has that advantage going for it. It would be interesting to swap parts back and forth and see exactly which part of the Stihl offers the extra power.
@@athhud Generally the squish is larger on the clone saws, they do wake some if the base gasket is deleted.
out of curiosity, have you dynoed a clone 660 against a 660?
I've got a smaller still, I have romatoid arthritis and couldnt cut firewood with my kids anymore. After researching a lot of saws. I Bought the still. 3 pulls to start max, after warm 1 pull start the rest of yhe day. very little bar and chain vibration a well balanced tool. A long with that I have all still equipment say what you will. Spare still blades, still oil and gas, and spare stihl air breathe. I love it I can use the saw all day and for days. Keep up the great work PF. LOVE YOUR TESTS. 😊 THANKS DUTCH.
Thanks, will do!
I love Project Farm! And love when the Farmabago is included. And the cows.
One test I'd like to see added to all chainsaw reviews is how much bar oil is leaked over maybe a weeks time. Especially with small handheld cordless 8-12 inch pruning saws where you may be hauling them around in a vehicle. Keep up the awesome reviews!
I have several 40 volt Greenworks tools. The little chain saw is the most impressive but for years I've been annoyed at how much it lets the oil run out when stored. Only recently i discovered their instructions say to pour the chain oil out after use. I guess i can up my rating to 5 stars now
Cousin Eddy needs a raise. He is doing some very high risk work.
Lol, great point!
I appreciate the amount of information and detail that is included in all of your videos. Thanks.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Another fair and equitable study. Thank you. Since this is subject is about cutting wood how about one for splitting wood? A lot of the ranchers and small lad owners around here are looking at electric lof splitters. No PM requered to speak of, a lot smaller footprint and lighter than the big gas splitters that you have to tow, and a few can really can split the standard 16-20" logs just fine. The key things I look at are cycle speed, amp requirements (I put a small generator in the back of the UTV) ability to split seasoned wood along with hard woods.
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
This guy deserves likes and subs he's doing us all a favor
Thank you very much!
Yes, and he is objective, taking into consideration things that matter, unlike some other big publications, like consumer report for example..occasionally, he will fail to take a point into consideration or miss the mark, but it is rare, and usually corrects any failings...
Best "super glue" test.
Thank you for the video idea!
Just keep Cousin Eddie in the Farmerbago while you do that one . Might end up with the " shi&#$ " being fuller than anyone would ever want .
Excellent. Thanks for fixing the carb adjustment on the clone!!
Thanks!
I just got a Chinese saw . 62cc saying 5.3 hp with converted 2600 W . At $114 and my 2 saws down I had to get something.
Like yours has slot of vibration. Carb settings are way off. Came with 20" bar and chain it is working for me and is very lightweight.
I like it other then the .325 chain link i have all my saws with the 3/8 pitch
Thank you for the video.
Keep up the great work.
Hope you and your family had a good Christmas . Let's hope we all have a better new year.
Thanks again!!!
Your friend Happy
Thanks and you are welcome!
Was very impressed that you re-did some tests after stalling the saw and even went further than that. Adding more accurate data to these tests by doing multiple passes to reduce the user error, very good stuff. Keep it up man!
Thanks, will do!
I've got two of these "knock-offs" - a 38 and a 66 for about 5 years. Both want the first couple tanks at higher oil for brake-in. The 038 I have had no problems.
The 66 is very temperamental. Had to mess with ignition multiple times.
If considering any of these types of saws, do these two thing first. Toss the spark plug that came with it. Get NGK or BOSCH.
Then check the wiring and the air gap of the ignition coil. The 66 was way too close and caused a lot of headaches.
Thank you for sharing!
I enjoy your tests!! Semi-real world test with results and 1 to 1 comparison. Let the viewer decide but point out the quality differences. It would be great to have a long term test. i.e. after 100 hours of running service compression/cylinder/bearing wear. Keep up the great experiments!!
I'd really appreciate it if you could provide a review of suitcase-style mechanic tool sets. I'm planning to buy one for a friend who's just starting to work on his car, but the options are overwhelming. Your reviews are my go-to before making any purchase, and I can't thank you enough for saving me time, energy, and giving me hours of enjoyment. Thank you for what you do!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Looks like some wonderful epoxy coated tables could be made from those large cut off log slices.
Thank you for the video idea!
I was thinking the same thing, and those usually bring in a pretty good price as well, depending on where you live.
@@EvrttGrnThey should... Epoxy isn't cheap.
Epoxy is the greatest thing ever invented.
Seal that beautiful slab up until a proper woodworker can get to making something useful out of it.
😂
@@jhart7304 Pour hot wax on the slabs, it saves the wood for years. And its easy to remove.
It would be interesting to compare the longevity of the 2 saws. Using the saws multiple times a week for 6 months to a year. The Stihl, especially pro saws are made for hard and consistent use. I wonder if the off brand saw could stay with it long term.
3 month warranty with Stihl if used professionally. No doubling it by purchasing their oil like a homeowner can do.
No way. I would have also liked to see the difference in fuel consumption.
You could purchase 4 of the Farmac saws and have 3 spares.
The "funny" part is you could replace anything that failed on the Chinese copy with a true Stihl part. It would be interesting to see how it faired over the long run, and what costs in parts builds up over a year or so.
Some years back I somehow ended up watching a lot of videos about these Chinese copies. I remember that the Farmmac saws were among the better and most compatible copies. But there were are few parts that they recommended replacing immediately with a Stihl original. If I remember correctly the fuel lid and the plug for the chain oil tended to break or leak. There might have been some problems with the return spring or the entire mechanism. But the carb, cylinder, piston and all that seemed mostly fine.
On one hand I think it's interesting to see and compare a copy like this to the original, but at the same time it's pretty scummy that they sell such close copies.
Now something I found interesting was that a few years back there were some talk about them not being able to import the complete saws, so you could buy a complete "spare part" set for the saw in question. It included a crankcase, cylinder, piston, crank and every single gasket, screw and bot needed and you got to build your own saw from the parts kit. Now I could actually see building one of those just to see how it all go together. For me that would be fun even if I never actually used that saw again once I had it running. It would also be an opportunity to check the machining quality and the fit and finish of everything.
I saw several videos of people building these kits and most seemed to get them working without any major problems.
@@blahorgaslisk7763 very interesting. China are known to be excellent at taking existing designs and making exact copies, some things they make can be high quality.
Great entertainment with some good hands on knowledge as a bonus. Thanks!
Thanks and you are welcome!
You have to love the Dedication of project Farmer! Thank you
You are welcome!
Windshield washer fluid has really gone up! Love to see you compare different brands with each other and then compare them to homemade concoctions. Thanks for all the wonderful education!!!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
By me the cheap stuff is $3 a gallon and the expensive is $4.
@@libtrs838used to be 2 for a dollar
Not long ago!!!
Include the gallon jug that Dollar Tree sells, for $1.25 (If it's available at your local store)
you also have the tablets and the concentrates
I bought the farm mac because it was a big cheap chainsaw. But after two weeks i returned it. It was just too unreliable. I felt like I spent more time messing with it then running it. I eventually saved up enough to buy the Stihl one, I haven’t had a single problem with it since I bought it.
Cut dozens of cords of firewood with my Stihl. Never a hiccup. Amazing reliability over many years.
A poor man pays twice
with that video released 2 month ago you planted a seed in my mind. i always thought that some of the firewood i made was way to good to be thrown in an oven. at the same time i didnt want to invest 1500 euro in a 3rd stihl saw (i own a 025 and a 264). yesterday arrived my new saw, a holzfforma g660 with a 63 cm bar. now i am planing to build my own portable saw mill with this chainsaw and use that slabs for furniture.
thx for alle the vids, expecially this one.
greetings from germany
Greetings! You are welcome!
Thank you for your detailed, and hard work!!
You are welcome!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ideas and videos. Having used Stihl chainsaws in the past I can definitely testify that final chain speed can make a big difference. Was wondering if you tested the chain speed after the tune, was it improved or just more power. If the speed is limited by governor action makes me wonder if the knockoff was detuned to increase lifespan. Can it be sped up and if so would be interesting to see a side by side comparison running to destruction. Which saw die’s first. Wishing you and your family the best
A lot of 2 stroke engines come from the factory running very lean, causing significant power loss, plus terrible overheating issues....right out of the box they need adjusted for best performance...its all about satisfying the EPA idiots so they run them as lean as possible.
Run both saws on regular gas and see which lasts longer LOL.
One of the only tool-testing videos you have made that did not involve destroying the tools :)
Always entertaining; Always eductional
Thanks!
@@ProjectFarmwould it be possible for you to put a clean stihl intake onto the Farmac and do a brief test? Like maybe even just an RPM test? I would love to know if it makes a significant difference! And it would test the cross-compatibility of the product! Annnddd it would make a good UA-cam short 😉
@@smallingkyle I don't know about these Farmmacs', but my Farmertecs' come with legit Walbro carbs. Almost No port matching to the cylinder needed..which btw is an Italian made Tech Nikasil Cylinder, & a Meteor Piston & Ring by Caber 😎👍
I work in electronics repair and would love to see comparisons on the various double sided tapes such as tesa 61395, tesa 51965, 3m 4194 vhb, amongst others. Useful things to know would be initial tacking strength, initial repositionability (sometimes repairs are fiddly and misalignments happen), bond strength after 10 minutes, 1 hour and 24 hours. How they respond to small shear forces over extended periods of time (such as a curled flex cable acting as.a spring trying to push the bond apart), whether heating can improve the bond, and finally if they can be removed/reworked with heat (for future repair jobs)
Thanks for the suggestion.
Another great video and all the Cousin Eddie references are freakin hilarious, keep it up Clark!
Amazing video. My suggestion would be comparing hatchets/ axes / splitting mauls. And another video comparing fencing pliers. Might not be a tool used a lot in the States, but here in the UK they are fairly prevalent.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you for the video idea!
Yes to the fencing pliers! The ultimate universal tool. I keep a set in my car and use them for everything!
I bought a long hatchet, nearly an axe, that was all one forged piece of metal. Worked great, but it disappeared. :( Probably fell in a barrel unnoticed. Worked much better than the legacy stuff my dad had in the workshop. The neck was narrow up to the grip, which works great when you miss by a bit. It is not going to go clunk and break the handle or lose the head.
@@ChessMasterNate Estwing still makes something similar to what you describe.
Recently bought a Splitting Axe. Somewhere between an Axe and a Splitting Maul. Love to see how it compares to the other two.
One of my favorite series of yours was the engine oil championship. Have you ever thought about doing something similar for 2 stroke oils or hydraulic transmission fluids?
He has done one on 2 stroke i think
Very well done. I've been looking at the Neo-Tech which is very similar to the Farmmac. I'm planning on using a chainsaw mill with it. Thanks Quite thorough as usual.
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
That same brand has a copy of the Stihl Ms200t that I would love to get your impression of.
Stihl doesn't make that model anymore and those saws are harder to come by.
I use to have one, and I loved that saw.
I love your no nonsense testing and evaluation.
Great video. 😎👍
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
definitely one of your most entertaining, yet informative videos yet... I'd like to see the fake Stihl put against other brands of saws after it's been broken in some more, to see if it has improved then vs now.
Thank you for the video idea!
I have always used Stihl chainsaws because of their reliability. My oldest chainsaw MS250 is almost 18 years old and whenever I reach for it it starts and performes perfectly. However, buying a saw with similar performance at 1/4 of the price is tempting. Maybe in the future you can compare the two saws and test their reliability and breakdowns.
As always thank you for your excellent reviews.
Fair to assume the clones aren't going to be as durable, and definitely won't have any kind of warranty. I'd go for the name brand if you'll be using a tool professionally, but for casual use, the cost savings here are pretty impressive.
@@dc8836 what's warranty worth these days? I've seen them go from a year to 6 months. Tell them it is pro use and you get nada.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
A comparable Husqvarna in the mix would be interesting. My 345 is 20+ yrs old, and had a lot of use on the ranch. One major ice storm was 14 loads on an 18ft flatbed trailer.. Took two days to clear my 250ft driveway to get to work. That N TX storm took out about a 1/2 mile section of our power lines. No power for 9 days. Further east, and into Arkansas, no power for 30 days. Reinforcement utility folks came all the way from Florida.
1996 stihl 034 runs as great as the when I bought it, same with my 18 year old stihl ms460, great saws, right down to my ms 180s. 👍 to Stihl
I've waited about a year for this comparison. Thank you for this comparison!
You are welcome!
did u tune the carb right on the farmac? I have a holzforma g660 and it says way snappier than that saw and revs higher.
Thank you for the video! I have followed the clone saw market intensely. The clones have been around a long while now and every year they get a little better. The biggest drawback I see is the lack of consistency and seeming erratic quality control. I finally became convinced they were for real and bought into two of the big bore Husqvarna clones from Holzzforma. Knowing the reputation for some of the shortcomings in these saws I determined to tear down, inspect and do upgrades immediately without running them. The upgrade costs were reasonable and I now have powerheads that will easily match the name brand for performance. I did not find significant quality issues with these two saws, I changed the cylinder piston assemblies and carburetors to Aftermarket/Oem respectively since these were areas most frequently mentioned as being a problem. The final cost was modest, still keeping total cost far below the name brand saw. Obviously this all suggests that these saws are probably best owned by those able and willing to tinker where needed. They are not the same as name brand quality out of the box but cost is a big consideration and if you can live with making your own inputs to enhance quality and performance then these saws are a cheap base unit to do just that. To be honest the thing that appealed to me was to be able to get new saws in the second and third generation of Husky lines, a sort of sweet spot in the design and engineering of power saws, gets you away from later designs that incorporate new features that are troublesome and especially the advent of fuel injection and computer controlled saws now on the market in fifth generation designs.Even if you do not go the the level of upgrades that I did a person has to ask themselves...is the extra cost worth a little slower, less powerful saw? Carburetor tuning is everything on the two strokes and I suspect there may yet be more performance in the clone you tested, but even if not the question begs, is the lesser performance worth the cost difference. Longevity seems good over a 5 year span and there are many reports of hard daily use of these clones.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
What will happen to the quality of clones after all of the detail oriented originals have gone out of business?
@@laserflexr6321 they pretty much are anyway. Stihl and husky are likely to die off as most people progress to electric saws in first world countries (in part due to tightening regulations and in part because they are super convenient for most users) and most users in third world countries will be more than happy with the current clones.
The small percentage of professional users like loggers that actually need the top end gear just wont be a big enough market to support further development. So expect little to no meaningful improvements in their ranges and for other brands to slowly eat the market share from under them.
Orrr put Biden in another 5 years and we will all starve to death and we won't need tools 😂😂😂
I've tested a LOT of chainsaw brands and wound up liking Stihl the best. I have a Stihl MS290 and 461R and have had them for many years, using them in the harsh wilderness of Northern Maine where I had an old farm.
Thanks for sharing!
Grandpa tought me a very valuable lesson I still head to this day. "Buy once, cry once" spending more upfront often proves beneftial most of the time. One major thing I consider is repair parts avaliablety and if the company has been around long time. This knockoff could be costly if it fails and your out $500 bc the maker doesn't have replacment parts like a major company would
Thanks for sharing.
This was fun to watch and as always I learned so much. Thank you and cousin Eddy
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
The only channel I know that can conduct a useful comparison while being so entertaining and funny! The Farmabago pulling the tree down was hilarious 😂
Thanks!
*spoiler alert* Farmabago didn't pull the tree down.
Great video! Even tho I have no use for a chain saw I love these competitions. How about a wheelbarrow showdown, or even shovels 🎉
Thanks for the suggestion.
I'd love to know which brands of felling wedges hold up the best. Maybe include some homemade from beech, oak or other type of tough wood.
Never would I think I would be watching chainsaw compairisons on UA-cam. Super cool idea.
Thanks! Thanks for watching!
I’m curious what the rpm came up to after the carb adjustment. By the way I want to say thanks for the hard work and time put into your unbiased reviews. Keep up the good work.
I was thinking the same thing. Should’ve tuned the 660 to the same rpm as the Stihl to have a fair comparison!!!!!
He admittedly left more on the table - Said it was still running fat.
@@mikemaddy6710 yes even aside from the comparison question, you should maximize the RPM to get proper tune from any saw.
@@mikemaddy6710 honestly im almost sure its not even possible to tune the 660 to the same rpm as the stihl unless the engine internals were seriously modified. Reason being those cheaper chinese chainsaws usually have not the greatest balancing of engine internals (hint why it vibrated more) and overall usually the heads are poorly ported as well comparing it to a stihl head . A lot of times people really underestimate the importance of how far a proper ported head will take you.
@@thedude2278 I have a farmmac 660 I left the factory tune on it for break in. After a couple tanks I leaned it out it definitely runs over 12k rpm. Not sure how long it will live but I’ve cut over 2 cords so far.
Great video! The rounds that came off that tree look really cool and gave me an idea. You ever thought about testing different brands of pour over epoxys? Testing their hardness, working time, how easy it is to get bubbles out of the finish. How even they spread. How well do they soak into the surface at different sanding finish levels. You could make some cool tables or signs out of those round.
Edit: better idea. Do a comparison of cordless routers (they’re awesome) and inlay some lettering into the rounds. Epoxy over them. Bam. New signs for the channel/shop
Thanks for the suggestion.
Love the antics! I too suffer from goofballitis! Keep the entertainment coming. Tell cousin Eddie he needs a tan!
Thanks, will do!
Love the videos and the 4K quality
As a builder, the 660 is running rich for the break-in. Probably prefer that to the 661. Run a few tanks, tune it, and watch it outdo the 661 like mine did. I did also ported a 99cc top end and it's got a triple exhaust. When a 92cc stock tho, it would be fired up and into it while the rest of the crew would be trying to start it and the thing ran hot. Mine was, and still is, a gem I built from scratch, choosing my own internal components.
Thanks for sharing.
You should test how long the knockoff motor lasts compared to the stihl
This is why I have not bought one of these.
Probably long enough that the average homeowner won't wear it out. But also why virtually every professional tree service company chooses Stihl.
indeed, especially after running it much leaner - likely should have cheeked the temperatures. It was said that the adjustment was still rich enough, so I am positive the channel host did that
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@KreemieNewgatt I only run Stihl and I break them, eventually. By far the best chainsaws ever made.
I know it wouldn't be cheap but, I would love to see a showdown of the best 12" sliding compound miter saws.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Another great comparison video. Thank you for the great content!
I'd love to see more extensive testing of both saws to see how they hold up over time and with more extensive use. Which is the best value over time?
Thank you! Thanks for the suggestion.
I'd love to see you do a video for the best security bar door braces. Who sells you a piece of junk and who makes your door a fortress.
Thanks for the suggestion.
One of the best things you can do is replace the screws that hold the door to the frame with 2” or longer screws
I purchased a top handle Holzforma as a spare for my Stihl 201tc. It's heavier than the equivalent 200t (more iron, less aluminum), but runs well enough with carburetor adjustments. I can't speak for the longevity of the saws, but the China made saw chains are just as good as an Oregon or Stihl chain. I recommend them, especially if you're cutting stumps and ruining chains all the time. Long story short.. these China saws will never replace your German made Stihl or Husqvarna. Cheap as dirt tho!
Thanks for sharing!
Have you ever considered testing household appliances? I think that kind of testing is right up your alley. Toaster ovens, microwaves, fridges, ranges, etc.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Never cease to amaze me with your tests !!! Awesome work !
Thanks!
Glad to see this test, I just picked up the Hoff Pro version, already had a Sugi-Hara 36" bar for it. It would have been nice if you had set the carb on the Hoff at the same RPM or close to the Stihl with a chainsaw tach, you said you leaned it out, but would be interested on how close they were.
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
Agreed
I love the farmabago crud. It's an awesome vid. Thanks
Thanks and you are welcome!
Another great video PF….. I always try to check here before buying ……with that said I’m looking into a lawn machine like the Billy goat KV601 SP ( self propelled) to make life easier for guys under 70… this could be expensive so I understand …..I love project farm , you really do have great content
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Nice test. Did you test the anti-kickback feature (chain brake) which stops the chain to prevent injury?
*Excellent review and your comment on price difference vs performance is so true. We all would like a Stihl in the garage but at $1,100 dollars difference, ya really gotta think about that.*
That's why I have a Troy Bilt 20" chainsaw instead of a Stihl LOL. I don't use it often enough to justify the ridiculous Orange/white price tag. Although, here soon I'll be doing quite a bit of cutting with that Troy Bilt, we shall see how that goes...last time I used it I overheated it. I need to adjust the mixture on it, but didn't have the right tool at the time. They set them extremely lean from the factory to appease the EPA. The problem is you shorten the lifespan of the engine by doing so.
Thanks!
I’ve been looking to get a extension cord retractor setup but nobody on UA-cam compares and contrasts same products like you do and was wondering if you can run a video on some of those. Again awesome videos you produce and I don’t usually make a purchase on something unless I viewed it on your channel first. Thanks in advance.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Hello and congratulations on your video. could you tell me the ratio of oil to used?
Love your videos! Id love to see balancing beads for tires vs tire weights
Thanks. Thanks for the suggestion.
I’ve got the holzfarma g660, pretty much same thing as your farm Mac, and I just recently bought a Husqvarna 395xp. I’ve definitely noticed the torque difference and the anti vibration system is way better on the Husqvarna, but you can’t beat the knock off saw price
I think the anti vibe is better on all the newer saws. I have an older Stihl 038 Magnum a MS250, and a MS361. The antivibe on the MS361 is soooo much better than either of the other two older saws. And as Todd mentioned he could definitely feel the difference with that 661.
That was very entertaining. That's great the farmer Bago is still running and cousin Eddie is still looking young .
Thanks!
Great work. Your reviews are better than Consumer Reports
Thanks!
Excellent product testing as usual PF! Given the fact that the Frammac is one quarter the price of the Stihl and performed pretty well, I would definitely choose to save the bucks and purchase it. Thanks for doing these no nonsense, fair & unbiased videos! 👍👍
Ever wonder why the Chinese military has gotten so great over the past few decades and why the Chinese now have more war ships, and Chinese hypersonic missiles are currently out performing those of the US?
I’d be looking beyond the tip of my nose and viewing my cheapskate ass with great concern if I were you!
My pleasure!
And you'd buy 3 to do the same work as one Stihl. You would also have to stop and fix it many more times. In the long run you would pay more and be supporting a bunch of commies!