Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 41
 Nice product with limitations January 14, 2008
William F. Dausses (Bartlesville, OK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have six mature trees in my yard that need trimming from time to time. I bought the pole saw with the hopes of avoiding the cost of a professional trimmer. The need to trim was accelerated by a recent ice storm that left damage on many limbs. I have used the saw twice in the cleanup.
The good points about the saw is that it is sturdy, rugged, and when operated as directed, cuts through green wood quite effectively. The saw can also be used as a freestanding device to cut up limbs up to about 7" in diameter. Unfortunately, this all comes at a price of bulkiness and weight. Additionally, the pole only extends about 8-10 ft. at max and there are repeated warnings about not using it on a ladder or while climbing in the tree. Hence, it is difficult to get very far up mature trees. Still, I am glad I made the purchase as my trees need frequent prunning on lower levels.
It works - but understand its quirks! July 18, 2007
Christopher Beardsley (Finger Lakes region, NY)
I've had one for about 2 years now, using it to prune various trees on 5 acres of land. It does stop intermittently as others have reported, but after a brief 3-5 second pause, the tool is ready to work again. Typically it happens on branches that may be bigger than the machine was intended to cut...
The other issue is the bar clamp. My version had the flip type clamp, which broke this spring. I decided to use a hack saw to cut off the plastic flip clamp part, and put the a hose clamp over the plastic collar. That clamp now works better than it ever did - rock solid - with just a quarter turn of the screw.
The last issue is the oil leakage - do not put very much in the reservoir and store with a towel or something to soak up the oil. No doubt about it - whatever is left in the storage tank will leak out.
Overall, I can deal with the issues... its a functional machine that is pretty handy.
** I'd also recommend sharpening the chain once or twice a season. sharpening kits are 10-30 bucks and 10 minutes to sharpen, but it makes a huge difference in cutting performance.
 Works great, but owner's manual(s) falls short. July 8, 2007
Gerald N. Yorioka (Mill Creek, WA USA)
As others have commented, the owner's manual leaves something to be desired, and it is confusing that I received two different manuals, one 28 pages, and the other 52 pages. What made it more confusing is that the three languages seem to jump back an forth within each manual. Initial cuts were great, but the chain eventually became dull, needing sharpening. The manual indicates a 30 degree angle for use of a 5/32" round file, but the drawing looks more like 45 degrees, which make it difficult to know whether the 30 degrees is from the guidebar or 30 degrees from a perpendicular to the guidebar. The file is only to be applied only in one direction. There is no mention on how to use a Demel rotary tip to file this angle and if the angle is reversed for the teeth with the top plate pointed the other way. The tools needed for this sharpening are listed 6 pages after they are first shown in the figures. I think I will start by getting a second chain.
 The most awkward way to prune a tree June 22, 2007
Dan A. Arnold (Canon City, Colorado USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My Sister bought one of these a couple weeks ago thinking it would help with pruning the 35 year old Globe Willow tree at our Fathers house. I was the one that had to try to use it tho. First of all don't put any oil in it until just before you use it! The thing leaks really bad and I suggest that you only put a little bit of oil in it at a time as you use it.
As for using it, you better have some strong arms, shoulders, and neck. The thing is very awkward to hold onto and very heavy on the end and gets worse the higher try to reach with it. I'm 6'4" tall and a little over 210 pounds and it was quite difficult for me to handle this thing. It would help a lot if it had a D handle like on a Line Trimmer and a shoulder harness to help support the weight of it.
After using it for about 1/2 an hour I gave it up as a bad idea. I decided it would be safer and better to just go get the step-ladder and the other chain saw instead. As I said before, it is very awkward to hold onto and harder to hold the farther you try to reach with it. If you can lay it across a lower limb to get to the one that you want to cut it helps a lot. It's quite dangerous if you use it to cut anything larger than an inch or so in diameter. I cut a couple of larger ones around 3 to 4 inches and I had a hard time trying to stay out of the way as they fell. After cutting just a few limbs my neck and shoulders had enough. If I didn't already have another chain saw to use for the rest of the job I would have took this one off of the pole and tossed the pole on the scrap pile.
If your looking for a pole saw and really want one I suggest getting one of the expand-it saws that will fit on most line trimmers with the split shaft. The expand-it saw is a little heavy too but not as much as this one and the motor on the other end helps to balance it. That and the two piece extension shaft gives you more of a choice on the length and it also costs a lot less.
 pruning made easy January 10, 2007
Gerald D. Cleland (Sacramento, Ca. USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I recently purchased a reming 104317 pole chain saw with 8" bar. I find it easy to use, especially with a detachable chain saw. We recently trimmed a 40 foot olive tree in our front yard. It was a snap. Thank you for this wonderful product.
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