What Chainsaw do you run?

All the older crowd in forestry are die hard husky lovers. Wouldn’t even think of running Stihl. Anything current day Stihl seems to have less troubles. That’s from people who run pro saws every day for work. 550xp’s in this case

 

Even model numbers have always been “pro” saws
026, 260, 261 are all the same line, just older to newer models

Farm boss falls outside the pro saw category, being odd model number- 029, 290, 291, but it’s large enough they don’t consider it a homeowner saw

I think there are a few exceptions to this rule, like with their top handle saws, but it’s 95% accurate
And yes, their pro saws are built better and will last longer and be more repairable than the rest, but it’s literally for someone who runs a saw every single day

 

Any first hand experience with the Husqvarna 455 Rancher? It looks like it can be purchased at the common consumer outlets, leading me to believe it may not be considered "Pro". Sifting through all of the models and brands is NOT an easy task!

Looking around, new price seems to be about $700 CAD (~$530 USD as of today)

Husqvarna 965030298 455 Rancher 20" 55-1/2cc 2-Stroke Gas-Powered Chain Saw, Orange (965030298)

https://www.amazon.ca/Husqvarna-Rancher-55-5cc-2-Cycle-Chainsaw/dp/B00080MIJI

I ask because there's one for sale locally, pictures look like it hasn't been used much (or cleaned up well) listed for $600 CAD (no tax). Might be able to negotiate this down a little if it sits around.

 

That seems like a good deal.

 

I run a 450, 455, a 460, and a Stihl MS270

The 455 and MS270 are the better Prosumer/homeowner saws.

The 455 is a 55cc saw. And cuts a bit better than the MS270. As a Stihl guy, it’s hard to say that.

It’s hard to bet the 455 for the price.
The 20” bar is a bit too long if you are going to burry the bar in hard woods. But it will do it. Just not “fast”.

Don’t buy a 460 or a MS291.
They aren’t worth the money. I can’t tell a difference in the power. Just go with the 455.

 

I'll try not to ask about EVERY used saw I find... but I'm seeing comments that I should be looking for the "XP" when considering Husqvarnas... like the 266XP seen locally for $375 CAD (~280 USD). It looks older than the 455 rancher above, but lots of good comments on it readily available.

I'm very confused by model numbers. Sometimes it seems a larger number corresponds with a higher horsepower saw, typically with a longer bar.... but not always.

I need a chart.

 

Appreciate the opinion. Hardwood is a rare thing here on the northern west coast. I suspect having a longer bar (while still being manageable), fewer teeth, and a moderate amount of horsepower is probably the recipe I'm looking for.

 

I like 20” bar. I’m only 5’8” so fits me well.
Don’t have to lean over too much when limbing.
The largest bar I have is on the 460. It’s 24”.
The smallest is a 14” MS180 that I bar swapped to run a .050 chain.

The only complaint I have with the Husky’s is they like to leak bar oil when left sitting.
So, I don’t top the take off with bar oil before I store it. I usually try to run it low before storing the saw.

 

Same deal on race day. You’ll find more Huskies.

As far as numbers go, it’s just like American truck models. 150, 1500, etc. Take the 3120xp, 118.8 cc’s. I reckon 3120 rolled off the tongue best and sounded cooler than 3118. 346xp when it first came out used a 42mm piston bore. Stihl 200T, 084, 880, 090 etc. The 090, 140cc’s of pure old school grunt.

 

Just for giggles. 45mm (50cc’s) 346xp Wiseco piston and a 70mm Wiseco to make the 090 a 10 cubic inch motor.

 

I did tree work for a living for well over 20 years. My first saw was a 266xp. It was the best saw I’ve ever owned. Unfortunately it was stolen and is no longer produced. I would give it a serious look. Especially for that price.

 

Iva got a Husqvarna 261. It’s a late 1990’s saw, based on the 262xp. Plenty of power for me. Maybe 12 years ago I cut down a bunch of trees and split (mostly by hand) about 6 cords of mostly oak that I sold to my father. It was a ton of work, but I got a nice big backyard out of it.

 

If you work with power tools, you should give the saw a muffler mod. EPA exhaust ports are tiny.

 

Yes, Husqvarna PRO saws are given the XP designation. For Stihl, it’s a white handle. Non PRO’s get a black or orange handle.

 

I can’t recall well, but I think the difference is the 262 had a flat top piston, and a better flowing muffler. Perhaps different port timing as well. I never compared that.

 

i believe all pro saws intended for forestry use have the black felling line on the recoil side.

 

I keep a black marker in my toolbox with sharpening stuff. Mark a tooth, when you come back to it you're done. Also to refresh the felling line on the saw case.

 

Ran the 261 for a bit today. My neighbors (who are awesome) have a large Norway Maple in their yard (now considered invasive here in Maine). Most of the leaves and twirlies fall in my yard though. They spread like vermin. We have about a 20' wooded buffer between the houses. Every couple of years I walk through and have to thin/cut out all the new Norway maples. Most were 1-3" in diameter, some were 4"...must have been the wet summer. I think I cut close to 40 of them. Tallest was about 12'. Fired up the smaller 210. I've had that close to 20yrs and it's cut things it has no business even attempting. Both fire right up (after the infamous Stihl burp).

 

Yeah. Some people don’t like Stihl for the lack of a fuel primer/purge. But it’s one less thing to go wrong. Nothing like a busted primer. As soon as mine start getting hard on the Huskys, I throw a new one on.

 

Happy forthcoming New Year TW chainsaw fanatics. I need to get myself in serious mode in tuning two 3120’s on 5%. The one in the foreground is 136cc’s, bored and stroked. Hope ya’ll have a great year of swinging them saws.