Chainsaw Review! Logging With The Makita 7900P! 

its reassuring to see that even the pros can get there bar pinched from time to time

Jacob, send that anemic thing to me to port. They are actually pretty impressive with a little go-fast work.

I've been running the 64cc version of that saw for 8 years, mostly for firewood with occasional tree felling. I live in your neck of the woods, (Skagit County) so mostly fir, cedar, and other softwoods. Bought it because most considered it a pro level saw at a homeowners price. I run a 24" bar and a full comp chain, I've been very happy with the saw, just recently got a set of Westcoast dogs for it and fell my first tree with them, supper happy with the dogs and the saw!

The 7900 is hindered by the crappy muffler. If you gut the muffler it runs much better

You should get that Makita ported and take us through it. I have the 7900 and would love to see the process. Another great video Jacob. Thanks .😊

Years ago I needed a big saw and bought a Makita 6400. Nice, but I got a cylinder and piston, did an amateur port and polish and a muffler mod, making it a built 7900. I love that thing. I'm East coast, so all hardwood. I run a 32" full-skip and use it for bucking big stuff into firewood rounds, then noodling them to a workable size to lift onto the splitter. The Makitas are actually Dolmars, from what I understand, and Makita provides electric stuff for Dolmar. Dolmar is German, and is actually an older chainsaw company than Stihl. They lose lots of points for US marketing, though!

Makita bought Dolmar and sold the saws with both Makita or Dolmar branding with different names. I think the one u got is the Dolmar PS7900 in origin. I love Dolmar saws and run them for years. My workhorse ist mit Dolmar PS6300. Unfortunatly, Dolmar/Makita announced earlier this year, that they won't produce two strokes anymore. Keep the saw, it gets better with time. Dolmars need to be worn in for a long time, but once the run properly they run! The're a bit oldschool. P.S.: afaik, Dolmar invented the Chainsaw

These saws are VOILENT once they're ported. 7900 is my go to 32 inch bar saw 🤘

On one hand it's sad to see these huge trees get cut down, on the other hand, it's soooo fun to watch. Good work Jake!

I run all Stihl for my main saws and FarmerTec(with minor replaced OEM Stihl parts) for my back ups. If u find the weaknesses of each of the FarmerTec saws and swap them out for their brands OEM parts, they are good reliable, cheap saws for back ups. I have the G111 that I use everyday when I give my MS200t a break and also use the G666 Pro with a 36” bar for bigger stuff and my guys use the G255 for back up or extra saws for ground work. Maintenance is the key for any of ur equipment and saving a few bucks to get the jib done safely and correctly is key as well.

Dolmar makes a really good engine, when I was a dealer we had alot of mount and clutch issues but that was 20 years ago. I really liked those saws.

15 years residential tree work and small scale logging. Ran 395’s and 660’s on the daily. Both great machines, but neither could hold a candle to my dolmar 7900! Best power to weight ratio of any carb’d saw in my experience!

I bought a 7900 as my 1st real saw because I had to chop up a 5’ diameter silver maple. The 32” bar was barely long enough…ended up buying some ripping chain from Granberg. Anyway, the saw was awesome. I don’t own any other ‘real’ saws to compare it with, but I love it! Keep up with the great videos!

Hi, I am a Stihl user, but I really enjoyed this video. It was great to see something different getting an honest review. Keep up the good work 👏

In my country when they still made them, the makita was literally like 1/2 the price of the husky/stihl equivalent, great value!

I've got a blue 6401 that I put a mild ported 7910/ea7900 jug onto along with a port matched muffler with dual outlets and the Poleman carb mod. Really rips through the wood and sounds great. Love it so much I bought a new red ea7900 and did the same mods to it. The ea7900 I had to open the muffler and pull the SLR bit out; wasn't difficult, just tedious to heat up the crimps and pull it apart. I also swapped the coil on the ea7900 to one from a 6400/7300/7900 to get the higher limiter... 12,800 to 13,500. A modded 7900 can hold its own against a 500i and cost quite a bit less.

I really like your journey brother! I've been in the tree business going on 23 years but if I could fall every day that's what I'd do! Nothing like tipping trees in my opinion a distant second is a perfect crane pick!

I just bought a new Makita 7900P for $640. Doesn't have a full wrap handle nor the big air filter though. If I really wanted those two things I guess I'd have bought from a shop instead of private party. Not sure I want to spend a grand though on a saw that is out of production. I have a 6400 too so I bought a spare 79cc cylinder and piston plus a few other parts. I have not yet run the 7900 yet. First need to braze the muffler back together, after removing the restrictive parts inside.

I has one of the older Makita 7901 and that was a cutting machine it would cut anything you stuck it in and never bogged down!

One thing about Dolmars/Makita is they dribble oil. Rather than the oil line clipping over a nipple, the oil inlet line from the tank simply sits flat against the pump face. This leads to leakage between the pipe and the pump when fine dust inevitably works it's way in and disrupts the seal. Other than that Dolmar made good saws. An edit: coming back and picking up watching again after being interrupted, you mention bar mounts. Sachs-Dolmar used to use their own mount on their larger saws from the 60s/70s (Oregon mount code D033) including the 133, 143, 153 saws from 85cc to 100cc but moved to using Husqvarna large mount (Oregon code D009) for the large saws in the 80's with the likes of the 120/120si and 116si.

The saw was a little fat on the high jet, but probably good for it being new. Good potential there for a stock saw. Might have to ask Santa for one. Great video!

They are really stout saws ! But to comply with emissions have an “SLR” chamber in the exhaust also known in the saw mods world as the embryon or crackpipe 😂 don’t ask me why just what I’ve seen it referred to on the chainsaw mod forums ! You need to take the exhaust off, peel the folded seem, grind off the “slr chamber” dremel the remains off the support flange. then remove the spark arrester and while the muffler is in half grind the stock outlet port out from under the deflector to the size of the inner edge of the deflector ! Reinstall the spark screen, re fold / crimp the two muffler halves back together and retune ! Will be a completely different saw ! The mufflers on all the Makita / dolmar and echo saws are ridiculously clogged up from the factory. The ignition coils one the ea73/7900 Makita and ps73/7910 dolmars are limited to 12800rpm digitally within the ignition coil. You can’t do anything about it unless you can find an old unlimited coil (gold dust) or fit a husky 272 coil with some mods. The other thing besides porting is get rid of that high top air filter and replace it for the low top ! They actually rob power contrary to popular belief that a larger filter cover must mean more air ! It certainly gives more filtration performance but at a cost of reduced air flow and power ! Keep hold of that by the way ! Makita dolmar ceased production of all petrol / gas products in the 1st quarter of 2022 😥. Really jelly you guys can still get 372s, 390s, 395s etc in places ! They discontinued them years ago. We’ve only got the 5 series in the uk now 😔 always wanted a 372 ! We’ve got loads of used 365s in this country as they where the “farmer saws” but 372s are quite rare ! I’m also partial to a 346xp ! Also did you know dolmar made a pre production run of true 4 stroke chainsaws ! Around 50cc the dolmar ps500v

I finally fired up my new Makita 7900 this last weekend. Couldn't find my tri-mix gas bottle to mig weld the muffler back together (stainless) but got that handled. Removed the crack pipe inside. Runs pretty good with my 32" bar and full comp chain but I didn't push it hard. Anyway, I think it is illegal to run these 7900's without first gutting the muffler. Next I'll order another Zama carb and drill set to work on the carb. Sounds like carb mods can really pay off. That and maybe build an Ironhorse style muffler for it.

Dolmar builds the saws for Makita. Dolmar has been building quality saws for years and years. I have 6401 that I have been using for a long time. I was going to build it into 7900, but it is doing great as a 6401. I bought it lightly used. It was a Home Depot sale. It had a 20” bar, and I thought I bet I can go to a 24. Now it has a 32, and is doing great. BTW, Dolmar owns the oldest patent for a chainsaw. I thought that was an interesting factoid. Great video Jake!!

400k and a sweet logging job well done sir that Marita is running richer than most of the Hondas in the area but looks like a pretty promising saw

Would love to see how the logs get taken to the landing and the process there

I love your climbing videos but I think logging is really suiting you. You look more relaxed and confident doing it now. Maybe Thuline and Gordy can make a west coast logger from a top tier climber. Either way I support your path forward my friend.

That is my favorite saw of all time to fall with. I run a Tsumara 32 lite weight Stihl mount w the spacer.

Hey brother, would love to see some footage of them using machines to get the wood out!

My brother just bought one of those saws. Can't wait to use it🌲

I run an old (1983)64cc Dolmar saw for my firewood and it still cuts like a champ, every bit as good as my modern Stihl of similar capacity. I'll be very happy if the Stihl lasts as long. I'm very wary of autotune anything whether it's chainsaws, dirt bikes, toothbrushes etc.

Interesting comments on the Makita saw. I share a similar attitude towards my smaller echo chainsaws a 400 and a 490 CS. Both of them were about 300 to 350 apiece and I use them all the time. True when I am wanting to get serious on bucking, Bigwood or falling, I break out my 462 or my 362, or if I really want to get crazy the 881 magnum, but there’s something to be said about an inexpensive chainsaw like that that just keeps working day in and day out on the job. The other thing about those two echoes is there so easy to start one pull pretty much every time! Keep up the good videos buddy, loving it.

Love mine! Tons of power but hard to start sometimes.

Sachs Dolmar Were 'the' saw - a good port and a sharp chain and little could touch them- I did my Chainsaw ticket on one back in the '80's.. Makita bought Dolmar out quite some time ago... The upcoming 2 stroke ban- hotly contested here in Europe has changed the playing field. with E saws and all. I miss my old ported Dolmar The EA6100p Makita I have now is ok but bone stock.. But does all I ask of it.

Pretty cool that both you and Buckin Billy Ray did a video of a Makita on the same day.

Love that sound of the holding wood just slowly creaking controlling that big tree all the way down.❤❤

Makes me feel a little better about myself when I see that even pros get their bar pinched every once in a while 😅. Looks like a pretty nice saw though, I'd like to see more about Makitas. From what I understand they're basically Dolmars. I'm a through and through Husky guy but I'll give anything a fair shot

All that Makita (Dolmar) needed was a tiny inwards turn on the "High" carb adjusting screw, Probably such a slight inward turn that would be only just enough to know it had moved. She is too rich on medium-to-full throttle. That tiny adjustment would make that thing really cut.

Whenever you see someone else get the bar pinched you immediately think, hey I'm not the only one!

As I understand this class Dolmar was a joint venture between Solo chainsaw and Dolmar. The Solo’s are very similar. Both made in Germany and each not producing them any longer.

Super cool guy to be learning from you and definitely getting a great opportunity there working with that fella!!!!

I picked up a 6421 on the cheap from home depot's tool rental years back. ( Still an amazing saw just heavy) I have a 7900 kit for it waiting in the garage. I really want the handle off yours XD

The camera angle at 12:40 I believe of the giant tree being wedged over was sick, that Makita needs a muff mod and you’d be surprised

Bro when I saw you making that cut at 3:30, I was like ' no way he's bringing it over this side.

Those Dolmars are no joke. Even the 64cc version is a monster once you gut the muffler.

stopped watching tree videos for awhile and now im back to watching all your videos lol, sure makes me miss working with trees, hopefully get to pick up a saw again soon

If you take that saw and do a slight muffler mud Take the baffles out of the inside of the muffler by peeling at the park and putting it back together And you get it tuned in you'll love it

Weird. Same day billy ray bust out a Makita

I've got the EA6100P I had it tested by a retired bushman he came back saying it was very good, surprised him. He swears by Stihl though :-).

Looking forward to building my 6401 into a 7900 or so. Goes damn good with a muffler mod and a proper tuneup!

Always wanted to try a Makita or dolmar. I'm amazed nobody has mentioned keeping a lead to you yet. Generally we lay everything parallel to each other, that way it lays neat and flat, and nothing is crossed up. That's the part that makes a cutter, anybody can figure out how to make a pretty stump and put the tree on the ground, being a cutter is about making a neat strip, not one nice stump

Nice saw! Smokes like a bingo hall though.

Got myself a low top 7900 on cyber Monday for $755 shipped.

Those dolmar /Makita saws work great both stock and ported

So Incase you didn't know Makita bought dolmar years ago and changed the name over a couple years ago. I run their 33.5 cc 4 stroke trimmers in my lawn care business. I have thousands of hrs on them. I am mad they discontinued that size. I also have their 6400 saw. It has been abused and put up wet and washed twice in 10 years. I don't use it like you do. I will say when it's blowing as much blue smoke as that 7900 it's leaving power on the table in my experience. I've switched to amsoil saber oil running 80:1 as directed. It has made a world of difference on everything I've ran it in. I used to use Opti-2 and echo oil here and there.

Thanks for the video. Nice saw, nice wood 👌. Curious about Dolmar 9100 😉

Im sure there are other videos but could you do a video on the different chains? like full comp, semi skip, full chisel stuff like that?

I've got a 7910 done by tree monkey and I absolutely love it. Wish it had an unlimited coil but as far as I know you have to do a good bit of mods to put a 272(I believe) coil on it. I run a 24" with an 8 tooth sprocket in hardwood and it just don't care.

I miss my 6400 dolmar I might be on Amazon soon. Man I know this saw is new but that's really rich, needs the muffler opened up!

I just bought a7900. It's a nice light saw. I am just q firewood cutter in Ohio. I would recommend it also!

Nothing like the smell of 2 stroke smoke and fresh man glitter in the morning!

That saw needs ported, they come alive.

I love all my makita stuff, but makita need to improve access to parts and more dealers. I bought a stihl because the dealers always keep parts on hand unlike having to wait a week for one to be mailed in

Good to see the old dolmar design still alive and kicking under the Makita brand

I hear your saw, you know like jumping when your cutting. I was Just wondering how much you file down the rakers? You could hear the saw jumping but still not heavy and the bite is awsome. Its a fine line there.

I got a Dolmar PS 7910 with an Cylinder head from Solo, adds about 3 ccm, runs and pulls like a beast. Absolutely love this mocheen even tho Dolmar isn't liked that much here in Germany By the way, love your work keep it up 👍👍👍work safe

doing a great job there Jake. great vid also

Jake my boy I'm a bit jealous of you. I know that is some fun. I love felling trees and beating on wedges but I've never had the opportunity to do it in such a beautiful setting. It's always in the customers yard. I would love to be out there felling trees in that beautiful setting

Makita's are excellent saws, that model I think has the best power to weight ratio.

My 6400 with a 36" RSF just barfs chips, my main falling saw. I never use the decompression, but wish my 80cc 181 had one! Notice how clean the air filter stays, compared to Stihl.

I like this saw, i flipped the switch so its like old husky. I learned i have to on my saw pull it without the choke at first because it floods. Also i bought an old stock dolmar muffler to mod.

Saw sounds a tad rich to me or just not bed in either that or you're high up.... I agree the slr muffler does hold the saw back a fair bit get it modded. Nice felling, though J👍

I've had the 5000 (50) for awhile. It's great. Since they are discountinued would you recommend grabbing one? I know other channels love them

it's nice to look at the work of professionals.

Can really tell the difference between a stock saw and one that's bin tweaked. Nice work

It’s nice to see the struggle is real with getting the chainsaw pinched

Built different, wherever this is!

saw sounds RICH

Thank you for showing that even the pros get their saw pinched sometimes! :)

I have a dolmar 7900 with a custom muffler and it opens the saw up alot id look into having one made for your saw

Careful at 16:28 y’all almost touched tips you don’t ever want anyone to catch you touching tips in the woods

That saw is a sacs dolmar grieves, of Germany bought out by makita of Japan

this is actually a rebrand of a dolmar and dolmar made some awesome saws really good power i have a 5105 its compareable toa stihl 261 only problem is the small size bar mount

73 and 79 from makita are bad ass saws!

Computer operated saws are great until the technology fails. I have one and it’s great, however nothing beats a screwdriver, and a well tuned ear.

Can get some really good deals at Home Depot. I got one of the rental 6421s for $250. Hard to find a pro 65cc saw for $250. It looked new and as far as I can tell you can put the 79cc piston and cylinder on that bottom end. From what I have read the bottom end even the carb is the same as the bigger saws so if I ever have to rebuild mine that is what I plan on doing. I know they have aftermarket cylinders and all so you can get I think 84cc but I would only buy the stock stuff. The Makita I have is one of my favorite saws. It seems a bit heavy though so I guess might as well get the 79cc top end might as well have more power if you are gonna carry the weight around. It starts first pull pretty much every time even if its sat for months

I watch this as I wear my GoT shirt, with a GoT sticker on my phone and computer. Hi from the east coast!

I have never run a stock one, but my 7900 ported by Kevin Lavanway is an animal. Vids of it on my channel.

I've got a 7900 Dolmar. Wouldn't trade it for any saw. I use it on all my big jobs. Muffler mod that and iit will sing baby!

Hi Jake I run the same saw. Run a 28 inch bar with a skip chain. Didn’t know it could pull a 36. Awesome video!

Nice Dolmar Saw. funny they sell them as Makita in the USA.

I think those Makitas are the same as the dolmar , I think that’s how it’s spelled anyway , but i know buckin has one he’s had Morgan from Wild West making a muffler for and Morgan used his dolmar for the mock up

You sir have a good saw. Now that people know it's good, see if someone will take it for what it's worth. Then go out and get a great saw. The great saw will make you a bit less tired at the end of the day due to less weight and possibly faster cuts. Not only is the power head lighter, but then you also have the ES Light bar (which has proven to be the lightest and yet still very durable and reliable). The bar is further away from your center of mass compared to the power head where weight differences really change the torque working against you, and that is a big difference when it comes to fatigue if you ask me. If I wanted to carry more, that extra weight could go towards extra water or sports drink to pack in. Finally, the suspension is better on the 500i, and that means a lot for physical fatigue too. Some say it's too floppy. I got used to it quickly and prefer it, even after trying a popular aftermarket suspension kit. I sold the kit and went back to stock. Then there's mental fatigue. Back in the day I often was thinking about tweaking that carburetor and getting it just-so, not knowing if I had it optimized or not. Other times I was unloading all the foul language I had ever learned when searching for dropped non-captive nuts. Then I hated the awkward tensioning screw position on the muffler side of the bar and also didn't like having to keep a small grease pump for the front sprocket. Some of that stuff isn't a problem with the Makita, but some is, and I avoid saws that take the wind out of my sails like that. I'm quite a bit older than people I cut with and maybe notice this stuff more because of my age. If you can find a way to afford it, I'd say buy the best that exists, because some things are worth more than money such as reducing stressors. If you can't afford it, use what you have and find it a new home when you have the money to upgrade. Some workers spend more waking hours with their gear than with anything or anyone else, so it can be important. By the way, great video as always. It takes enormous amounts of endurance, problem solving, and safety awareness to do production cutting, and it appears you did it well. With the well-diversified skill set you have built, I find it hard to believe you'll ever have trouble finding work, and having that stability is worth more than even this absurdly long comment could ever say.

Great video Jacob! I can't believe you both got your saws stuck in the same tree! LOL

The logging is really getting in your blood now. Some of those trees had a good amount of footage. Got a good laugh when you both got your saws stuck. It was really cool that you got to just go and cut, your doing good.

2 saws stuck lol been ther b4 lol it happens to the best of us all.

I sent a email to west coast saw about a year ago asking to make a clutch cover for this saw. The only draw back I have with mine is the chip management and the stock cover getting packed with chips. If west cost saws made a cover for this I would buy three!

i like my Makita,si have DCS900 , EA7900 ,DCS 7300 ,EA 5600 , DCS 5200 ,EA4300 ,EA 3500 , EA 3201 AND A DCS230T

Loved my Dolmar saws. It’s a shame Makita is shelving the gas powered equipment…

00:24 I swear that said "Eatpoop" 😂😂😂