What Chainsaw do you run?

Alright, made the mistake of going to Lowe’s a few years ago for a husky 450 rancher. It’s done fine, stopped running yesterday while bucking some firewood though. Going to further investigate and make sure it’s not just a silly fix.

In the mean time, I’ve been eyeballing replacements, a 20” bar is about perfect as I try not to cut wood that is a pain to handle for firewood. I’m looking at the Echo CS620P and the husky 460 rancher. Both of those saws are approx 60cc, which would be appreciated as I’d routinely get frustrated with 50cc and 20” bar. The stihl equivalent looks to be the MS362, but about 200 more dollars than the echo or husky.

Any input on the above saws, or something in the 60cc range, 13ish pounds? I want this saw to last another 20 years of firewood cutting. I’ve only ever run huskys, and haven’t had fantastic experience with them, so I’m leaning towards the echo. A buddy does tree work for a living and only runs echo, and several friends with echo.

 

Did you look at the husky 550xp? Have had mine for a few years and it gets used 5 days a week and never had a problem yet. I use an 18" on it but it will run a 20" no problem. Weighs around 10 lb

 

It's probably been mentioned...I didn't read the whole thread, but I'd say get one from a dealer instead of a big-box store. I use a Stihl MS271 and I really like being able to work with a local dealer for tune-ups, issues etc.. I'm chainsaw-clearing a 40 acre homestead and I have had awesome luck with the 20" Stihl.

I'd say the same for Husky, Jonsered, Echo...etc...if that's what my dealer had. Those guys deserve the support.

 

i hadn’t looked at the 550XP, I just did though. It does look like a very nice saw, I’m just leaning towards a 60cc-ish saw, as the 50cc saws that I have experience with seem to bog down with what I’m cutting. Hardwood, 16-24” across.

 

Take a look at the Stihl MS261 (CM is the better version). It's a professional line saw so it's lighter and more durable than the farm/ranch line saws. Weight matters a lot if you have long days. 20" bar will handle anything you need. You don't need a huge saw to take down a 24 in tree, and a hug saw is just a pain to lug around for most cuts. (If your saw bogs down a lot, you're either pushing too hard (just let the saw do the work), your rakers are too short or you need to use your wedges.) I use one (and MS461s) for disaster recovery work, with lots of complex cuts, hang ups, leaners, snags and the like.

 

The oldest fucking stihl in the world, and it runs like a boss cuz it is. It's a "farm boss".

 

362 is a great saw. I run one with a 25” bar and it throws chips no problem.

If you do go STIHL keep it basic. Stay away from the gimmicks - ANYTHING with a C is a bust: computer regulated choke / engine management / tuning is a nightmare. Q is just another thing to break: quick stop when you release the palm trigger.

FWIW I loathe Husky saws, furthermore my hands will only run a STIHL saw. I typically carry a 440 or 460 on my back 90-ish days a year.

 

I guess I never posted in here, so here it is.

I started following this post over a year ago when I was looking for a chainsaw. A little less than a year ago, bought my second house and needed to get a chainsaw within the first 3 month. Moved into a house with a dying willow.





Picked up a 251 Wood boss after the first storm/downed branch.



My buddy's Echo; nice saw but it jammed up for about 20 minutes while I went at it with my Stihl. No issues with my 251 and I love it. Only wish I went with a 271 over the 251. I might toss a 20" bar on the 251. Otherwise, I might pick up a Farm Boss in addition to the 251 or sell the 251 and grab a Farm Boss. Not sure what I want to do yet.

 

Ive run the shit out of my Echo in the last 4 years and its still going strong. Been through several bars and chains and has even had a tree fall on it. I'm looking at picking a second Echo up here soon.

 

Imma guess a Sawyer for the feds... we'll go with a hotshot.

 

Gotta give my old Canadian made Pioneer 1074 all my love. It’s funny listening to that thing when cutting with a group of Stihls. They’re whining and the ol’ Pioneer is growling like a beast that has emerged from the deepest pit in hell. Very solid, nostalgic and dependable saw.

 

30 years ago I was in the market for my first saw to cut 8 or 10 cords of firewood a year. I asked my brother, who graduated from the NYS Ranger School, what to get - Stihl, Husqvarna, or Jonsereds. He said they’re all good, pick one based on the dealer. And he said get a 60cc saw. Got 25 good years out of a Stihl 036, which I’d still have if I hadn’t loaned it to someone. Replaced it with a Stihl MS261, (recommended above) a 50cc saw, which I like even better.

 

Leant chainsaws come with operator...me. Did it get run with raw gas, no oil or rock cutting?

 

Well, the guy I loaned it to had a firewood business for years, knew what he was doing, but ran afoul of the law, so I was trying to help him out. Don't know if it was him or his shady partner running the saw, but it came back to me with a scored cylinder. Good point though about supplying the operator with the tool. It won't happen again.

 

Scored cylinder sounds like unmixed gas.

 

I’ve been running a Husqvarna 455 with an 18” bar for a little over two years now. I wouldn’t say I abuse it but it sure sees some rough work. Lots of land clearing, cutting through decades worth of heavy overgrown brush and trees under 12-18” for the most part. It sees a lot of work close to the ground, and has been through a few chains and I’m on a second bar now. Brush work is hard on a saw not only because of the proximity to the mud but also because a lot of the leafy twiggy crap can start to fill the clutch cover so you gotta keep it cleaned or risk running hot or clogging and throwing a chain.

Anyways saw starts right up every time I ask it and hasn’t given me any problems, I’m happy with my purchase, but it is heavy for what it is.
Wouldn’t mind picking up a smaller saw and a bigger saw, thinking husqvarna 372xp for some bigger trees and log building, and an echo 352 for a lightweight knock around saw.

 

For the big jobs I run a Stihl 460 or 440 with a 28 inch bar. For the smaller jobs I grab the Stihl 034 or 034 Super with a 20 inch bar. Every now and then I run the Stihl 038 magnum with a 25 inch bar just to get the dust off of it. Can't wait to run the new Stihl 500i and see if it lives up to the hype, if it ever gets released in the U.S.A.

 

Let’s talk saws shall we.... it’s coming to the point where the weather in the north east is saw weather and it’s calling my name! Anyway looking at the Husqvarna 550xp markII. Went to my local ace which carries Stihl and Husqvarna. Rare but they have both brands so it makes great comparison work.

Ran into a problem though trying to compare! Covid. And stocked units! Haha anyway spent an hour when they first opened this morning. Compared with the 550 was the Stihl 261. Very similar in weight and power. Pricing very close to each other as well. BUT then he brought down a husky 555 which is another level up. 2lbs heavier and 60cc’s of power!

thought to myself, 2 more lbs to work with and trees probably not requiring such a saw to start with.... then he says oh 60 dollar rebate on the 555! So it made it about the same price as the above units..... :-/

I do saw work with brother joe who has the 550xp markII. He had the original 550xp NON markII which had something come loose on him and took the engine out.... several gallons of fuel through it but had bought the “oil” with the saw and extended the warranty 5 years which came in handy and after some time at the dealer... Husqvarna replaced the saw at no charge and handed him the new markII replacement.

Brother joe now a Husqvarna die hard now has almost 10 gallons of fuel through the replacement. He claims night and day performance between the 2. He keeps talking me into buying one and that way we could swap out bars and chains if needed.

sorry for the long winded story. ;-) got any suggestions on saws. Don’t need one bigger than the 20” bar 550xp . Note: in been using the husky 440 to delimb, as he does the main cutting. 440 now won’t run after it gets hot and been at the shop 3 times for the same problem. Need something reliable now have been saving up for such an event ;-)

 

Have a 550 and 550 mark2 and never bad a problem with either of them. Use them 5 to 6 days a week