Husky Vs. Stihl

[Fire Bug]

Hi Woodcutters,
Checked out a couple Husky models at a local Lowes Store today, just to get the feel of the saws.
I looked at a 350,(18" bar-$329.00) model and a 455 Rancher,(18"bar-$364.00) model. They both felt like great handleing saws with the Rancher a little bit heavier.
I also talked to Husky service dealer who says that the Husqvarnas have to be brought back after a break in period to adjust the throtle adjustment so the saws do not over rev. I never heard of this before, has anyone else? He said many owners have ruined the engines on their new saw because this was not done. He said the Huskys are very, very, high reving saws.
I am going to try to hit a Stihl dealer tomorrow to check out the 029 Farm Boss and the MS310.
I think I might be headed to a little bigger saw because of the extral power.
Any Stihl MS310, or Husky 455 Rancher Owners have any comments on these models?
Fire Bug

 

[bruce]

yes its trur, my dealer told me to burn 2 gal of fuel and bring it in for a tune up, did it while i waited,, dealers will give better deals than lowes,,example,husky 350 4 chains 2 files, the oarngehard shell travel case gal of oil and a 4 pack of 2 stroke. 300.00$,, wont get that at a retailer

 

[Roospike]

What is the difference between a 2001 and 2005 346XP?

My Husky has a tag that says Made in USA. Does the Makita?

When did Husqvarna start making saws in the lower 48?

I believe some bars are made here but the saw?

The Husqvarna chainsaws that are made in the USA are made by Poulan ( the smaller saws 100-200 some of the 300's ) The real Husqvarna made saw are made in Sweden , 345 & up . Are for a good bar lenght would be 20"if you only own one saw , 16 -18" for othe smaller saw if you own two and a larger bar for your bigger saw. My chainsaws are Husqvarna 346XP 2001 model , 346XP 2005 model , 372XP 2005 model . I cut wood for myself and not for a living and would suggest anybody cutting wood needs to have at leat 2 chainsaws. 1 smaller for limbing and smaller wood and 1 bigger for the felling and the bigger wood. I have owned Poulan saws and would never go back to them after owning Husqvarna Sweden made chainsaws.

The 2001 is non - EPA the 2005 is an "E-TECH" and has the cat muffler. All my saw have the muffler mod i have done to them and richened up the carb. about 15% + extra power i would say.

 

[Roospike]

Hi Woodcutters,
Checked out a couple Husky models at a local Lowes Store today, just to get the feel of the saws.
I looked at a 350,(18" bar-$329.00) model and a 455 Rancher,(18"bar-$364.00) model. They both felt like great handleing saws with the Rancher a little bit heavier.
I also talked to Husky service dealer who says that the Husqvarnas have to be brought back after a break in period to adjust the throtle adjustment so the saws do not over rev. I never heard of this before, has anyone else? He said many owners have ruined the engines on their new saw because this was not done. He said the Huskys are very, very, high reving saws.
I am going to try to hit a Stihl dealer tomorrow to check out the 029 Farm Boss and the MS310.
I think I might be headed to a little bigger saw because of the extral power.
Any Stihl MS310, or Husky 455 Rancher Owners have any comments on these models?
Fire Bug

The 350 is a great saw but would also look into the Husqvarna 353 . alsmot the same saw but the 350 have a plastic case and the 353 is a steel case and made a little bit better. the Stihl 290 is getting less than good reviews for the extra weight and not the best of power for its class. Also about the chain saw needing to be adjusted it a good idea. Once the chain saw goes through it break in period they run faster and lean out a bit and the carb need to be richened up for best power output and longer lift of the saw.

 

[Roospike]

I am buying a 357xp husky and own a 260 Stihl, love the stihl, will let you know about the husky, heard all good things about them. How much more hp do you get by mod the muffler? How is it done? Any adverse effects.

Scott

The muffler mod is where the exit port of the muffler is opened up more or an extra hole is added to let the exhaust out fro more free flow. to do so the carb will need to be richened up afterwards. the exhaust as stock will cause extra heat in the motor . doing a muffler mod will add good extra power at 10-20% and keep the engine cooler. The 357XP is a great chainsaw. you will be very happy with it. Keep the revs up on the chainsaw as the horsepower is at the top end on the pro XP chainsaws. the non XP Husqvarna tend to be more of a wider range of power band and not quite as fast . my first muffler mod chain saw is 13 years old and runs great and was modded 13 years ago .

 

[minesmoria]

I have husky 359 with 24" bar and dualport walkerized muffler which gives you an extra 1/2 hp and engine runs 20 f cooler.

This replaces my older 55 husky saw.

 

[carpniels]

Hi dwarf,

I thought the manual said NEVER to modify your chainsaw or loose your warranty?

I also have a 'standard' Husky 359 and it is a great saw. 18" bar is good enough for me, it is rather light, starts right up and when I properly sharpen and tighten the chain, it works wonders. Never needed anything else.

I have noticed a big change in my cutting work. Now I spend most time looking and planning the work and not cutting itself. The saw is so good and fast, I am done in a zip. A 16" diameter tree 50ft long takes me 5-10 minutes. Then I spend hours splitting and moving the wood.

Carpniels

 

[minesmoria]

The newer mufflers on these epa saws are much more closed than before thats why i got the muffler done more power less heat.

Go to the walkerized section

(broken link removed)

 

[stoz]

I just got my husky 357XP out of the package last night and went to the woods with it, WOW, This thing munchs wood. I like the 260 stihl but I think it is going to get alot less use now. This saw makes the big stuff alot less work, alittle heavy compared to the stihl but alot more horses, I think I can get used to the weight diff.

Scott

 

[wg_bent]

This thread is killing me....I believe I'm getting serious chainsaw envy.

 

[Corie]

Me too!!


I was just at my local stihl dealer yesterday and I was asking about the stihl 290 versus the husky 350, among other things.

He told me that the stihl 270 was a better saw than both of them, even if the power numbers are lower than the 290. He says the saw has great torque and he liked it much better than the 290 and the 350. He did say though, that between the 290 and 350, the husky wins in his eyes.

Any opinons on this before I plunk down some serious cash?

 

[elkimmeg]

A local small engine dealer sell both Shihl and Dolmar chainsaws. He claims the Dolmar ( actually Makita) out sell the stihls.
They are a little lighter per same HP and cc comparisons. I did not check price comparisons. I was rushed for time and did not have time to demo both, which he offered me. Dolmar, have been the choice in the logging industry, for a long time, made in Germany

 

[stoz]

I talked with a logger that is working a peice near my house that I am taking the tops for firewood from and he said the same thing about the Dolimar saws, he has all husky's right now but just picked up the Dolimar and was impressed with it. I got my 357 xp out for a test run this weekend and man this thing chews wood! I have the 24" bar on it which does great but you have to keep it wound up as long as you are high rpm's its great, I have a 20" bar coming for it, I think this saw with 20 bar on it will be the #1 saw for me, anyone looking for a 260 pro Stihl low hrs?

Scott

 

[Corie]

yes, I am scott.

I pm'ed you!

Corie

 

[pinetop]

i bought a stihl 029 in '95 and have cut up approx. 55 cord with it in 11 yrs. so far it has been trouble free... i think its rated at 3.2 cu. in. and if i were going to replace it i'd step up one size as far as engine displacement. i can only compare it to my first saw which was a jonsreds 49.. and that would be apples to oranges..i don't think an 18" bar would be a good fit in larger hardwood it bogs down and you have "nurse" through ..i know husquavarnas have a good reputation

 

[Fire Bug]

Hi PineTop,
Sounds like the 029 served you well. Like you, I think that I am going to go one size better in the engine size than the 029. I am leaning toward the Stihl MS 310.
I stopped by a Stihl and a Husky Dealer and they both said the 029 Stihl and the 350 Husky might be a bit small for my use. They recomended the Stihl MS 310 or the Husky 455 Rancher, which is a smaller motor than the Stihl. Both have 18" bars.
Actually, the MS310 is a better buy at $349.99 verses $365.99 for the Husky which is a smaller displacement motor, (MS310=4.0 HP, 455 Rancher 3.2HP)

FireBug