What is the better chainsaw brand?

[Boog]

I think most will say Stihl is the best, but the fact is they are very hard to obtain inexpensive parts for because they hold us hostage to dealers only. with that said... i agree with fabsroman totally!

They try and hold us hostage to dealers only, but as we kicked around in the "Papa Stihl" thread recently, there is an abundance of good inexpensive new and used OEM parts on the internet by "unauthorized" dealers and other "front" folks who are bucking the system. By the way................ I creep around over here mostly................

 

[Paulywalnut]

I ran a Poulan from the early 80's. Excellant saw.
They used to advertise them during all NFL games.
Anyway... could not get parts anymore and 30 yrs old.
Got a stihl 250 and really like it. Lightweight but powerful enough
for me.

 

[greg13]

OK

Husky owns and builds Jonsered and Poulan saws, so they are lumped here together. They even own the MAC brand now, but the MAC in the 'others list' here predates them buying it.

Last I knew they were all owned by Electrolux, but in today's corporate world they could be owned by anyone.

 

[Thistle]

I ran a Poulan from the early 80's. Excellant saw.
They used to advertise them during all NFL games.
Anyway... could not get parts anymore and 30 yrs old.

The older Poulan's up to mid-late '90's were very well built (all magnesium cases,not plastic clamshell w/metal inserts around the crankshaft like one's sold now) & were almost bulletproof. You can still get parts for them,both NOS & used.Takes a little searching though.My fav local small engine/OPE/saw shop has to order most of them unfortunately.Ebay is a good place to look,normally a bit cheaper & time wise is about the same.

 

[Boog]

Yeah I know. They only made rifles for ~275 years...

I just hope their chainsaws don't get as expensive as their sewing machines

My ex has one of those, I still remember the sticker shock when we paid for it......................., I thought my tools were expensive! It was a dang nice machine though, I even used it!

 

[WhitePine]

Last I knew they were all owned by Electrolux, but in today's corporate world they could be owned by anyone.

Electrosux cut Husqvarna loose a few years back. I'm not sure how much control they still have through stock ownership, though.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Thanks Thistle so much for that info. I'll persue that. I would like to get it working again,
Thanks again. Paul

 

[samdweezel05]

Chevy vs Ford Vs Dodge. I run Stihl because it's what I know and what I have owned. I have a couple of hot rod Mac SP's and a couple of un-killable Homelite Super XL's but my go to is my Stihl 440 with the 20" or 32" bar. I run an old heavy mac 1-50 because I like to run it. My next new saw will be a Stihl 461.

 

[amateur cutter]

I'm in the Stihl camp as well. Inboard clutch, good resale value, good local dealer here, & pretty good parts availability both new & used. That being said, my next saw is gonna be 372XP or 395XP. I run Stihl's because I know them better as well, but I'll learn the Husky quick enough I suppose. A C

 

[fabsroman]

I didnt know the brand was still out there,I thought BMW bought them out in the mid '80s.Remember reading growing up in the early-mid '70's how Husqvarna pretty much ruled motorcross overseas.Set all kinds of records.

Wow, I learned something new tonight again. Probably never heard of Husqvarna bikes because I don't pay much attention to the off road bikes. My brother might know about them. Will have to ask him the next time I talk to him.

 

[Freakingstang]

I'm in the Stihl camp as well. Inboard clutch, good resale value, good local dealer here, & pretty good parts availability both new & used. That being said, my next saw is gonna be 372XP or 395XP. I run Stihl's because I know them better as well, but I'll learn the Husky quick enough I suppose. A C

Better get a 372 soon.....they will be going by the wayside with all the autotune saws coming out.... you have the ultimate list of stihls though.... the 372 is like a 440 as far as weight and size, although alot smoother to use and run with 460 power, but it doesn't have the torque that you're used to with an 046.

 

[MasterMech]

Wow, I learned something new tonight again. Probably never heard of Husqvarna bikes because I don't pay much attention to the off road bikes. My brother might know about them. Will have to ask him the next time I talk to him.

They have a Super-motard that has been quite popular here in the States for the last few years. Only streetable Husky I've ever seen here.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

The average Stihl guy: Stihls are the best

The average Husqvarna guy: Stihls are over rated

 

[firefighterjake]

Honda!

 

[tbuff]

This Honda Jake??

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[tbuff]

I think I am going to get one of these....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=FvAI7-Qa2Io&feature=endscreen

 

[Freakingstang]

I got to meet that guy a few years ago. good dude. that saw is unbelievable. it is a nitrous fed all aluminum buil 225 v8. wicked but I wouldn't want to run it...

 

[tbuff]

I got to meet that guy a few years ago. good dude. that saw is unbelievable. it is a nitrous fed all aluminum buil 225 v8. wicked but I wouldn't want to run it...

Did he wear regular chaps when operating that beast or a full suit of armor!

 

[firefighterjake]

This Honda Jake??

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I was just kidding . . . but sure . . . that would work.

 

[tbuff]

I was just kidding . . . but sure . . . that would work.

I knew you were kidding, so was I...kinda..

 

[amateur cutter]

Better get a 372 soon.....they will be going by the wayside with all the autotune saws coming out.... you have the ultimate list of stihls though.... the 372 is like a 440 as far as weight and size, although alot smoother to use and run with 460 power, but it doesn't have the torque that you're used to with an 046.

So I'm told about the 372, too bad such good saw is going away. In time, I want a 200T & 660 MAG in that line up as well. I'll get the 660 ported as a work saw, & then be happy with my collection right? Then I can start collecting some vintage stuff, first up is the 090 contra. A C

 

[samdweezel05]

Better get a 372 soon.....they will be going by the wayside with all the autotune saws coming out.... you have the ultimate list of stihls though.... the 372 is like a 440 as far as weight and size, although alot smoother to use and run with 460 power, but it doesn't have the torque that you're used to with an 046.

It's strange because every 372 owner that has run my stock 440 has told me that their 372 didn't come close to the power of the 440 and they liked the balance of the 440 better too. Even converted one husky guy to go buy a Stihl.

 

[StihlHead]

Last I knew they were all owned by Electrolux, but in today's corporate world they could be owned by anyone.

Electrolux spun off Husqvarna in a stock deal back in 2006 and no longer owns the company. Husqvarna Group is the parent company in Sweden.

 

[StihlHead]

Better get a 372 soon.....they will be going by the wayside with all the autotune saws coming out.... you have the ultimate list of stihls though.... the 372 is like a 440 as far as weight and size, although alot smoother to use and run with 460 power, but it doesn't have the torque that you're used to with an 046.

What I hear from the local Husky dealer is that the 74cc 372xpw that I had are now long gone for US distribution, and the 371 is back to 70cc and is the Xtorque (smog) model now. Which of course brings up the issue of which 372xp you are comparing. There have been 3 models now? 372xp with 70cc (same as the 371xp), the best 372xp with the 74cc, and now the 372xp/xt X-torque smogged (air injection) model. My 372xp 74cc had a tad more power as my ported 044, but it was smoother and easier to run. I ran a few of the earlier 371xp 70cc saws and they were not as strong as my 044 and I was not as impressed with them.

From what I hear about the autotune saws, they are the best thing since sliced bread. Also the 461 looks like the smogged saw that Stihl has been trying to produce all along; the same power and weight as the 460, with way better AV and they got the air injection right by running the intake ports toward the exhaust side thus avoiding the cold blooded fresh air intake issues like on the 441 and the 362.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

Yeah, learned something new about Husqvarna the other day. Have to wonder why it is not still making rifles, sewing machines, or motorcycles. A new Husqvarna rifle is nowhere to be found, that I know of, or they must be so bad that they are not popular enough for me to have even heard of them. Have to wonder how long it will keep making chainsaws with a history like that with other product lines. lol

Here we come Ash Can but I can't let this go....

Hate to disappoint you but Husqvarna started life in 1689 as the official armorer for the king of Sweden. Look at the logo for Husqvarna, the crown on top of the box, its a depiction of looking from the rear to front thru sites from the shooters view.

Their rifles were made into the 80's, even some by S&W and are some if the most sought out by military collectors fetching thousands of dollars.

They still make motorcycles, mostly motorsport or what folks would consider " dirt bikes" but still well respected in that industry too.

Lastly, they do still make sewing machines too - top of the line expensive ones under the Viking name if you want to buy one for that special someone in your life

Granted, I don't know much about their chainsaws, I don't have one but the rest of their products are top notch.

Anything else I can clarify for you, just let me know, as the woman here I have an obligation to keep ya' all in line HAH!