I just couldn't stand it and ordered a 50cc (actually is says 52cc) Chinese chainsaw on Ebay. I had to see if it worked or not. I ordered Saturday and it came today so, what did I get? This http://www.ebay.com/itm/chainsaw-52C...3D301943833519. In fact, it looks just like this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Skatco-P...3D301943833519 and this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Asoika-PETRO...3D301943833519. I'm seeing a trend, here. Mass produced, low priced saw sold to different sellers and re-branded. They even come with the same stuff in the boxes.
The first thing I noticed was about 2in of the bar was sticking outside the box saying "chainsaw in here"!. The UPS guy asked if I thought it was ok and after looking at it I told him it was pretty tough to hurt a bar and it looked fine. When I opened the professional chainsaw box, I know it is a professional chainsaw because it says that right on the box, I saw that the box was actually made with a slot for the bar to stick out. That's kinda odd but must let them use a smaller box to save money. It is a decent looking 18in bar with a grease hole at the sprocket end and feels pretty stiff. On top of the Styrofoam was a 500ml plastic bottle to mix the gas up in with handy marks to tell you how much oil to put in. The 500ml bottle is the same size as the tank so mix a bottle and fill. Actually pretty handy.
Took off the top and there is the saw and stuff. The directions are all in English and pretty well written, surprisingly, with a few pictures. The saw itself is about 10.5 lbs and is a gasoline chainsaw. I know that because it says "gasoline chainsaw" on the side in case you missed the "professional chainsaw" on the box . Orange and plastic case looks a lot like an old Husky. Inside was also a chain. .325/.058 semi chisel. Looks ok and at least it's not a safety chain. There is also a tool package with a screwdriver for the idle/high speed adjustment, sparkplug/chain tightener wrench, file, allen wrench I guess for the case and bucking teeth but only one screw to attach them. I don't use them much anyways and its a standard looking allen screw so I bet I can pick one up at Lowes easy enough,
I read the directions and it says to use 10w30 oil at 20:1 for 20 hours then 25:1 afterwards. Odd, on the saw it says to use 90 Oct with 2 Cycle, huh. I'll go with the 2cycle. No recommendation for bar and chain oil so I'll use what I have. It says top end is 7,500rpms. That seems very low and is what is on the ebay sight. I didn't really believe that as who would make a 52cc saw that would do that? When reading the specs in the instructions it says 7,500 again then top end 11,000rpm's. Still a little low but within reason I think.
It looks like your standard homeowner grade saw. Chain brake, on/off switch not a slide, pull choke and pull button that locks the gas for starting. Standard L,H and Idle adjustments, Oiler adjustment and chain adjust. Nice. I put on the chain, tightened it, the screw is right next to the chain like a Husky just on the other side and pulled it up by the cord to check compression. Nice and tight.
Took it outside and mixed up the gas, filled it and the bar oil up (both use standard twist on and off knobs) and tipped it over. No leaks. Alright, does it run? Put on the choke and locked in the gas. 3 pulls and it sputtered. Cut off the choke and 3 or 4 more and it started right up. Idle seemed right so I gave it a couple of revs. Power right there with no hesitation. I idled it for a few minutes and rev'd it to top. Went up and slightly over. Looks like it was set right at the factory. I put the bar near a piece of wood to check the oiler and got some nice drops so that works.
Now, does it cut? I shut it off and went over to an old ceder stump to give it a try. It's all I have handy at the moment. One pull and it started and idled like a champ. Gassed it up and put it to wood. It cut straight and did not bog at all. I pressed it pretty hard and kept cutting full speed. I pulled it, shut it off and after a few minutes gave it pull. Started right up and idled.
Well, looks like I got an $89 saw. Seems to run fine. In fact, it runs rings around the $200 Craftsmans I bought that I've never been able to get running. How long will it last? Who knows but for the money if I get a couple of years out of it I'll consider it good. Looks about as well made as any standard homeowner grade saw. I'm thinking of taking it to my hunting camp and leaving it there for a camp saw. I'd say it's tailor made for that. They also make a smaller 45cc saw for $50 or so. Be a good one to keep in the back of a truck and if someone steals it your not out much.