Homelite Timberman 45 18

I bought one for 50 bucks because I wanted something light for the smaller stuff. The guy let it sit for 2 years with the tank full. I cleaned the carb flushed the tank and started it up. Tuned the carb and bucked some fir logs 14-18 inches in diameter. It pulls pretty good for a 45cc saw. It still had the original chain which is a full chisel. The chain tensioner built into the bar is a stroke of genius. It's built as well as the box store Saws Echo and Husqvarna sell and the cheap Stihls. I am a retired faller with 28 years experience and build saws for a hobby now. And I collect them. It's not a professional saw, so I wouldn't head out to camp with it. But I can think if only 4 or 5 saws made by anyone in that size range are professional saws. It's a durable low priced saw. It's 17 years old and sat in a shed for 2 years with bad gas and it still runs which indicates some durability.

Mine was actually a freebie. It was given to me by my grandfather who only bought it to use while his Stihl was in the shop getting fixed. He did give it a workout when he had it. He used it to cut up a bunch of dead trees on his property but it has just sat in his shop ever since he got the Stihl fixed. I got it running right after I took it home that very evening. Changed out the fuel mixture, took the spark plug out, cleaned it, dumped a little bit of fuel mixture down the spark hole, slowly pulled the cord a couple of times. Topped it off with bar/chain oil. Fired up on the second pull. I have a landscaping business and I only use it for minor tasks here and there. But it has never shown any signs of quit or slowing down. Very legit chainsaw, has plenty of balls to handle everything I’ve needed it for.

Bought this Homelite Timberman 45cc 18in chainsaw in 2001 to cut trees on my wife's 5 acres that had been clear cut of pines all other trees left standing or were laying down. Cutting trees when home on leave was my hobby and stress relief. Hurricane came through in 2003 I spent 3 weeks cleaning up the mess. I bought 5 chains and cut from sun up to sundown. Sharpened chains at night. These were all hardwood trees about half were 18 inches or more in diameter. Saw worked great with minimum amount of maintenance.

Took the saw with me to my next duty station, wife didn't need it she had enough wood to last her for five years. It sat in the case for the next 14yrs, I did no storage prep. 11yrs in leaky metal shed, last 3yrs in my workshop. Pulled it out today thinking that it was trashed. This it what I did to get it to run.

Pulled muffler off, cleaned the area and sprayed seafoam onto the cylinder. Piston was shiny like it should be.

Took the spark plug off. Sprayed seafoam into the chamber. Pulled several times. Felt great pulling

Took off air filter and cleaned. Sprayed seafoam into the carburetor.

Drained 14yr old fuel out and wiped out. Sprayed seafoam into the tank.

Took off starter cleaned.

Cleaned every nook and cranny with paper towel or with an air compressor.

Put it all back together.

5 pushes on the primer bulb and 4 pulls and it started with what remained of the 14yr old fuel. Awesome!!!!! I did notice when I took it apart parts were stamped with "Made in USA.

After old fuel burned out, sprayed some seafoam into gas tank and filled it up with new fuel. Restarted and let it run at idle for about 20min. I got motivated and cut a dead tree down. It worked. Needs some clutch work but after sitting for 14yrs that's nothing.

If I remember right I paid around 150-160 dollars for it and was purchased at Home Depot. Best money I have ever spent on a gas powered tool.

Bought this saw from Home Depot in 2008, mainly because of the price and nice carrying case that came with it. I needed a a light weight saw for the little jobs on my 50 acres. This is 2017 and I can't wear this little saw out. It still starts, runs and idles great, and I'm still amazed at the power. I continue to push this saw to the limit, and it just keeps coming back for more. I would buy a new one in a heart beat. One thing I've learned about these little two strokes is that fresh oil and gas mix is a must. If you're going to let it sit for more than a month, drain the gas and run the gas out of the carb. Old gas equals hard starting, poor idling, and over all bad performance.

Its a good trim saw .but nothin is goin to work if you dont know how to yous it these other people that has bad reveiws .dont need a saw

I haven't had the same experience as a lot of these folks. The saw is 10 or 12 years old. It weeps out bar oil. There's usually a teaspoon or so in the case. Also I let someone borrow it and they messed up the brake. It was simple to replace. I guess he was trying to cut with it on. I never use it to start the saw, probably why it hasn't messed up on me.

I initially got this to keep from ruining my good saws. I wanted to cut stumps and saplings below the dirt line. Each time I'm done I will spray it out with a water hose. I did do a muffler mod to increase the power and give it a faster rev, but seemed like it had adequate power for the average small job a homeowner would have at 2.5 hp. I initially bought it to abuse. I didn't expect it to last long at all. A lot of the problems I read on this review seemed to be avoidable with knowing how to tune the carb, running a fresh, pure gas/oil mix, not ethanol and having it idled to high with the brake on. Those issues would go a long way in explaining all the trouble. I figure I got a lot more than I paid for. I used it a few days ago to cut some saplings below the dirt line. After the bar heated up too much and the chain loosened to much to cut horizontal any more I trimmed about a dozen branches with the sagging chain. Went back to the house, sprayed it out with a water hose. Tightened the chain and sharpened it. Let it air dry and put it in the case later. Been doing the same for years. It starts quick. Idles fine and has plenty of power. Can't ask anymore out of a hundred dollar saw. It's a good one to abuse or if you are only going to cut up a few trees or do limbing. If you want to cut a good deal of firewood or need more of a medium use saw spend the extra and get a husqvarna or stihl. In a good sized tree 2.5 hp is a little weak. But a fellow on a budget that doesn't need one much can get by with a homelite.

This chainsaw proves the old saying you get what you pay for.

I bought this chainsaw in 2008. It was cheap at $130 and was

not satisfactory. Engine would die after it got hot when idling and constantly require restarting which was difficult when it was hot. The chain brake assy failed had to be removed to operate the saw. Chain automatic oiler failed and the chain and bar had to be manually oiled. finally the carb failed and I got fed up and gave it away and bought a new Husqvarna 18" chainsaw and it is a 100% improvement.

Had this machine for 5 years and apart from the oil pump packing up under warranty have had no trouble with it. When you look at the price of thee saws they are defiantly vAlue for money. If it packed in today I would go and buy another of the same.

This saw worked well for awhile, but then the starter cord broke. Tried putting a new one in. The metal coil would not stay in place,I noticed the plastic sprocket which the coil connects to had big chips in it which made it hard to grip the coil. The side housing has a small plastic knob which holds the coil in place, this had broken off. I now need to replace all of these starter parts. May junk the saw and move on. To the makers of this saw change make the starter parts out of metal and not plastic as this area takes a lot of pressure.

I've had mine for over ten years and have put it through heavy use. It runs absolutely fine and had no problems listed here on other reviews. Just replaced the chain this afternoon and am going to go cut up some logs.