Makita 40V XGT 20" Chainsaw (GCU08E) Full Review: Perfect, But There's a...
Hey everyone,
I recently put the Makita 40V XGT 20" (GCU08E) through its paces using the massive new 8Ah battery. Overall, the ergonomics, build quality, and balance are pretty much flawless—it genuinely feels like a pro-grade saw.
However, I ran into a really weird issue right out of the box and I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this.
During my first few cuts (testing on different types of lumber), the saw really seemed to struggle. The chain constantly wanted to grab the wood and stall the motor out entirely. It honestly felt like it was severely lacking low-end torque.
But here is where it gets weird: I didn't change my technique, but over the course of draining three full 8Ah batteries, the performance noticeably improved. The stalling stopped, and it started chewing through the wood much more smoothly.
- Is there a known break-in period for the electronics on these XGT tools?
- Does the new 8Ah cell technology need a few cycles to output max current?
- Or does this saw just natively lack the torque it needs for a 20" bar?
I actually documented the whole thing on video showing the exact cuts where it stalls versus when it finally smooths out. If you want to see the footage of what I'm talking about, you can check out my full review here: https://youtu.be/rhM81Ex0eR8
Would love to hear from other XGT users if this is a common quirk or if I'm just crazy. Thanks!