Factory Reconditioned Homelite ZR10560 16-Inch 38cc 2-Stroke Gas Powered Chain Saw With Tool-Less Chain Tensioning

Comment: This is my first chainsaw although I've used one occasionally in the past few years on my dad's farm and I've had two stroke engine blowers and weedeaters for many years. I moved to a heavily wooded lot two years ago and need to clean up around the house so I decided to get this saw as a learner saw with enough money left over to buy a wood chipper for the clean up.

Received my Homelite ZR10560 today from CPO Homelite. I paid $88 including shipping. It was shipped out of Athens, GA and came in two days. The box contained a slightly used chainsaw and a manual. The tool-less bar system was new to me and it took a while to get it together even reading the manual. There was no bar/chain oil so I had to use motor oil. Putting on the bar and adjusting the chain is tricky as just a little is too tight and just a little is not tight enough. The manual is pretty clear how to adjust it correctly and how to maintain the saw.

The gas cap was tricky to get on, too. I had to use the trick of turning is backwards until it seated and then closing it or it would leak. Maybe the previous owner cross threaded it? Starting involved making sure the chain brake was back (the mechanism has some slop in it and doesn't really stay back in one place) and priming the carb by pressing the bulb 7x. You then pull the choke out and pull the starter cord 5x, then push the choke in and it starts. You have to put you foot on the plate below the trigger to hold down the saw because there is a LOT of compression in this little motor. There is a hold up mechanism that puts the gas to the mower until you pull the trigger throttle and then it will idle down. Restarting a hot saw is a little tricky too but I did it ok after refilling the gas tank.

The chain was dull but I still felled a 6" x 20' sapling and raised the canopy on another tree without too much problem. The saw handled well, was light weight, and the anti-vibration system worked good and keeping the tingle out of my hands. I'm very impressed by the power of this saw. It handles easily but doesn't seem to cut as well as my dad's saws which are very sharp and have high quality bar and chains that cost as much as this whole saw does.

Overall it's ok and I don't expect too much for the price I paid so I'm happy. I'll post another review if something weird turns up but based on past experience with many different two stroke power tools I don't expect a problem from this one.

Comment: This ZR10560 saw may work but don't plan on being able to keep it running without having your local service center handy. The machine I received only got about 1 1/2 hours on it and decided it didn't want to run except for idle. I called tech support and found out I had to take the saw to my nearest (90 miles away) service center to have the carb adjusted as the adjustment screws require a special tool.