Bailey's

Greetings - It will run both bars fine. If you bury the 28" is could bog down in some conditions, but it will still run the bar. In addition, if you ever need to do a big job with a real long bar the BBN 7900 kit will give you 84ccs.

Every Makita tool is thoroughly inspected and tested before leaving the factory. If you're not satisfied with any Makita tool within 30 days of purchase, return it and we will provide a replacement or refund. Each Makita tool is warranted to be free of defects from workmanship and materials for the

Every Makita tool is thoroughly inspected and tested before leaving the factory. If you're not satisfied with any Makita tool within 30 days of purchase, return it and we will provide a replacement or refund. Each Makita tool is warranted to be free of defects from workmanship and materials for the period of one year from the date of original purchase. Should any trouble develop during this one-year period, return the complete tool, freight prepaid, to us or one of Makita's Authorized Service Centers. For normal maintenance and repairs, Makita has a large network of authorized repair centers all over the United States. You can locate the repair center nearest you at their website or you can reach their free technical support center by calling 1-800-4MAKITA, Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 6:00pm EST.
(Hide full answer)

See the parts break down for comprehensive part detail.

I've run Stihls and Huskies. Yes, Virginia, I'll confess to even running a lot of Homelites in a former life :-). Poulans or McColloughs, can't say I have. I happened onto a couple of older Dolmars-Sachs and was impressed. That got me looking at the Dolmars and when I saw them offered a couple of years ago on Baileys I tried to get one. Unfortunately, I couldn't because of a tiff about internet sales or something to that effect. So I purchase a PS-5100 elsewhere and was so impressed by this hot little saw that it lead to a PS-7300 and then a PS-6400. The 6400 was a blue and grey Makita. But I still call them my Dolmars. So far I am very pleased. Most of the time I use my PS-5100 for felling and limbing and leave the other two for bucking. Unless it is a fat stick. But around these parts most of the trees are comparatively puny.

I received this saw last week and let it sit since the gasket for the cylinder upgrade head was back-ordered. The gasket finally arrived a few days later. The conversion from the stock 6401 to a 7901 took about 3 hours for me. It could have taken a lot less time had I looked in the supplied tool kit that came with the Makita saw. I wasted a full hour looking for spark plug wrenches and torx drivers around the house (which is already with the kit). The conversion went smooth. Four torx screws for the aluminum cylinder, three for the muffler, and a couple for the handle. There was a spring clamp for the carb that required a needle nose pliers (something better obviously was needed). The bolts going though the cylinder head to the main unit were obviously coated with a thread-lock compound. They were a little difficult to remove torque wise, but did not feel like they were on the verge of stripping threads or hex heads. Blue loc-tite was reapplied to the cylinder head bolts upon re-assembly. The other bolts I left as stock (w/o Loc-tite) for maintenance reasons. Re-assembly went smooth with the exception of a goofy spring around the carburetor rubber boot that didn't like my brand of needle nose pliers. NOTE: I had to compress the ring (one) with a makeshift ring compressor. This venture wasted another hour. My fingers were not strong/skilled enough to do this by myself (although my motorcycle pistons could have been done blindfolded). First Start: I had low expectations on this saw to even get running since I applied a +15cc upgrade without trying it out in stock kit. My first two pulls were with full choke. The second pull produced an ignition. Choke was pushed in. Three more pulls started the saw. It idled just fine which blew my mind. I thought I was set up for failure. After a couple minutes to allow the Makita to warm up, I sawed through about 12 logs that were 6" apiece. The stock chain went 'very slow' though the soft pine that I was cutting. I've used chain that cuts tons faster, and this isn't one of them. This stock chain is set up for June Cleaver. It probably keeps the lawyers and safety nerds off their backs. All in all I would highly recommend this saw to everyone considering a saw above 60cc. It is mellow when you want it to be, yet screams bloody hell at full trigger.

I bought a Makita 6401. It it the best saw I have ever run. Of course I am comparing it to a husky 350 homeowner saw and a husky 338. the Finish and quality is excellent. I have been cutting up 24 diameter eucalyptus with the saw for the past two weeks. I like the log dogs that come with the saw. I set the dog into the wood and push the saw deep into the wood than move the saw back 6 and cut deeper into the wood. I thought about getting Dolmar saws but they stopped internet sales so I got the Makita 6401. I like my saw so much that I bought a 2nd saw and a new 79cc jug and piston. I also like the blue color of the saw. I am not worried about the customer or dealer service I can find parts and help on the internet. I have never taken a saw to a dealer for warrantee work. David

I've owned a number of saws over the years. Mostly Husky and Stihl, and a few of the mag cased Dolmars. I don't even want to mention the Homelite 360 I inherited :-. Last year you had the Dolmar PS-5100S in your spring catalog. After an internet search turned up stellar reviews of this saw I called to order one. Unfortunately, I could not get one because of some dispute with Makita-Dolmar over internet sales I could not get any Dolmar saw. Consequently, I ended up purchasing three Dolmars, a PS-5100S, a Dolmar 7300 I thought about the 7900 but decide I could re-jug the 7300 with the 7900 jug when I wore out the 7300, and a blue Makita 6400. I have been VERY pleased with how these saws have performed for cutting firewood. I use the light and fast PS-5100S with a 20 bar for falling and limbing most stuff. I use the other two for bucking. I still ended up purchasing all three saws on the internet anyway no matter what Dolmar/Makita policy is....wake up Dolmar/Makita. The more you can do to get these saws to sawyers it will be the best advertising you can have. Beware, don't start mass market orange, or blue, plastic junk in every DooDaw store! Or you too will start making junk.

Don't be afraid of this saw, they don't get the advertisement like the big names such as Stihl, Husquvarna, etc... The saw will handle a 24" bar with no problem. I have cut at least 20 pickup truck loads with nothing more than gas, bar oil, cleaning air filter and chain sharpening. Buy it, you will be impressed. 36" logs with the 24" bar, no problem. Hope this will help in your buying decision.

I LOVE THIS SAW! Having graduated from small Craftsman chainsaws, I went straight for this one to deal with my heavily wooded property. Tons of power, easy starting, not too heavy. I can't imagine never having this. Money well spent.

This saw is the business, having owned multiple Stihls, used the other big boys and also used the off brands, I would have to say this is the best saw I've used. I would like to know who makes it though. Unbeatable in my opinion. BAILEY'S NOTE: The Makita DCS 6401 is basically a Dolmar branded as Makita. Makita now owns Dolmar.

Makita has a done a Great Job in making this saw!! I don't own one, but I used a friends about 2 months ago and they had tinkered with the carb and put a performance piston in it and I think that saw would OUTCUT my 371xp Husqvarna (which is the best saw ever made or possibly #2)... The Makita would do a Great job for anyone.

I've owned multiple Stihls and this Makita is by far the best saw I've ever used.

I've owned multiple Stihls and this Makita is by far the best saw I've ever used.