Sun Joe 24V-PS8-LTE Cordless Pole Chainsaw Review

The kit ships with the pole saw, a 2.0-Ah battery, a charger, an auxiliary handle, a telescopic pole, an oil tank and a blade sheath. Everything needed for a first cut is in the carton, so there is no separate battery to buy before you start.

The battery belongs to the brand's 24V iON+ line, which is shared across its outdoor tools. If you already own compatible packs from that line, the tool-only version, the 24V-PS8-CT, comes without a battery or charger. If your batteries come from another maker, there are no adapters, so the kit is the only route.

The figures below are the ones that change how the saw behaves in your hands, not a full data sheet.

The 24V label is peak voltage; nominal voltage under load is 21.6V. The motor is brushed rather than brushless, which is the honest explanation for both the saw's pace and its runtime. Replacement parts are named in the manual: chain SWJ-8CHAIN, bar GTS-8CBAR and bar oil SJWB.

The saw cuts, but it cuts slowly, and the numbers show where the time goes.

Cutting speed

Measured figures put it at roughly 11 seconds through a pressure-treated 4-inch by 4-inch post and around 41 seconds through dense 5.5-inch hardwood. Premium cordless pole saws clear the same 4-inch by 4-inch post in 2 to 5 seconds. In practice that means 2- to 4-inch green limbs are fine, while dry hardwood is slow and tiring.

Chain speed

At 2,800 rpm the chain runs at the low end for cordless pole saws. Chain speed, not wattage, is what you feel in the cut: a faster chain clears chips quicker and bogs down less in dense wood.

Balance

The motor sits near the handle, which keeps the head light to hold out at arm's length. That makes overhead work noticeably easier than motor-at-the-head designs, and buyers on Amazon most often praise the saw's functionality, with the balance holding up despite the 7.7 lb weight.

Noise

It measures around 77 dB, quieter than most saws in the class but still loud enough to warrant hearing protection over a long session.

Battery runtime

A full charge is rated for up to 32 cuts of 4-inch by 4-inch pine. Real runtime depends on wood diameter and the number of cuts, not clock time. A 2.0-Ah pack on a brushed motor is a short-session battery, and a full charge takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Oil

The auto-oiler feeds roughly 0.14 fl oz (4 ml) per minute, so the 2.7 fl oz (80 ml) tank covers about 20 minutes of continuous cutting. Refill when the window shows a quarter tank left.

The 14 ft figure is not 14 feet of pole. It combines the 7.2 ft fully extended pole, your height, your arm extension and the bar length. A 5'9" user cutting at an angle gets roughly 11 to 12 ft of cutting height, and less when the head is tilted.

That comfortably clears small ornamental trees, fence-line brush and low canopy. It does not put you 14 feet up a tree. Plan to reposition the pole rather than overreach, which keeps the head steady and the chain on the bar.

Buyers on Amazon are divided on quality and cutting capacity, and reviews of its durability lean negative. The recurring themes are specific, and each has a fix.

Chain derailing or damage

This is the dominant complaint. Set the chain tension cold: the chain should sit snug with no sag on the underside of the bar and lift only 0.12 to 0.16 in (3 to 4 mm) at mid-bar. Re-tension a new chain often as it stretches, and check the chain faces the right way, with the teeth pointing away from you per the arrow on the bar.

Plastic head and pole joint

The joint is the structural weak point, vulnerable to drops and to levering the bar. Treat the saw as a precision tool, not a pry bar.

Oil seepage in storage

Seepage is normal for this design. Empty the tank after each use to keep your shelf clean.

Battery or charger faults out of the box

These happen, and the 2-year warranty covers them. Inspect the telescoping pole and its joint for cracks before your first cut.

This model has no chain brake, so the bar should never touch anything but wood, and the sheath stays on between cuts.

Power lines

Treat every line as live. OSHA working distances run from 2 ft at low voltage to 15 ft at transmission voltage. For a homeowner, the practical rule is not to cut within about 10 ft of any line and to call the utility first.

Cutting angle

Do not cut directly overhead. Cut at roughly 45 degrees to the limb from the side so the limb falls away from you and the bar.

The three-cut method

For anything big enough to tear bark, make an undercut, then a top cut to leave a stub, then a final cut just outside the branch collar. Never cut flush.

Protective gear

Wear eye and hearing protection, gloves, long pants and non-slip boots, and add a helmet if you work under the limb.

When to call a certified arborist

Call one for anything above about 15 ft, anything over about 6 inches near a structure, anything near wires, and any climbing.

Timing

Dead or damaged wood can come out any time. Prune live wood in dormancy for most species, and respect local oak-wilt and elm-pruning windows.

A few habits keep the chain on the bar and the oil flowing.

• Check cold chain tension before every use, and re-tension often while the chain is new.
• Fill oil to the top of the window, refill at a quarter, and empty the tank after use.
• Turn the bar over periodically to even rail wear, and clean the oil holes and groove.
• Sharpen with a 5/32" file on an Oregon 91PX-type chain, or replace it with SWJ-8CHAIN. At this level, replacement is often the sane call.
• Store the battery indoors, off the charger and partially charged.

Replacement sprockets are not sold separately, which matters for long-term repairability.