Stihl or Husqvarna

[bigbull338]

i priced the stihl pro logger saws as well.an they was a tad under $1200.an i didnt need that big of a saw.

 

[s219]

I can understand a de-comp on a 660 or 880, but I never even use the one on the 361. I used the one on my 660 some, but not always. I just don't think they are needed on small saws. I guess what I am saying is put your purse down and go cut some wood:laughing:

I always thought like that too, but my Stihl MS-261 has a decomp, and it'll dang near tear my arm off if I forget to push it! The 261 is only a 50cc saw, but has some hocus-pocus in the cylinder design to make it outcut older/larger Stihls, so maybe something about that requires a decomp, not sure. It's definitely much harder to pull than any 50cc saw I have run before.

 

[LD1]

The newer saws, especially pro saws, have some more agressive port timing and naturally run at a higher compression. Thus the need for a de-comp. Kinda the same way high-compression racing motors need a high torque starter.

Also, another thing has to do with the gearing of the recoil starter. More specifically, the diameter of the pulley the rope goes around. The way some are made, just dont have as much mechanical advantage as others.

Some of the older dolmars like the 116si, 120si, and a lot of other saws between the 111 and 120 have a starter that has a good bit of mechanical advantage. A saw that pulls 180psi compression is still really easy to start.

But my new 6400 (now 8400) will jerk the rope clean out of your hand if you forget the decomp. Even at 64cc's and 180psi compression new, it would pull MUCH harder without the decomp than a 68cc 120si, even after rebuild and a low squish (high comp mod)

 

[burnieman]

It was

 

[burnieman]

I went to the saw shop yesterday and Dropped off the 036 for whatever it needs. I started looking at the saws and I think I'm gonna buy one. Kinda pricey but how often do you buy a new saw? It feels as heavy as my 036 which feels like an anchor after using it for awhile. Getting older sucks out loud. My 170 feels like a feather after using the 036. Anyone heard any negatives about the 441?

 

[CompactTractorFan]

In my experience, Echos are consistent, reliable, easy starting saws. I have one Echo, and it has never let me down whatsoever. For 40cc and under, I don't think they can be beat.

Our Echo trimmer and blower have been great so far. :thumbsup:

 

[MotorSeven]

The 441 is a great saw and I have never read anything bad about them. For me and my firewood needs I just don't seem to have a need for anything bigger than the 361. I hear ya about the weight, that's why I grab that 192T a lot & use a 170 for carving.

 

[LD1]

I went to the saw shop yesterday and Dropped off the 036 for whatever it needs. I started looking at the saws and I think I'm gonna buy one. Kinda pricey but how often do you buy a new saw? It feels as heavy as my 036 which feels like an anchor after using it for awhile. Getting older sucks out loud. My 170 feels like a feather after using the 036. Anyone heard any negatives about the 441?

You dont like the weight of the 036, I would say the weight of the 441 is going to be a big negative for YOU.

 

[tnmike]

The Husky XP saws are very good. I have a Husky 395xp and my son who is a professional logger in Idaho has a Husky 372xp he bought for home use and loves it. That being said the logging industry in Northern idaho is Stihl country. (Mostly 044 and 066's.) I have a Stihl 029 that I consider to be a great homeowner saw. I also have a top handle Echo that is an older model of the saw below. I just love the thing. It is light , easy starting and is a dream to carry and climb. If mine broke I would buy another tomorrow.

ECHO CS-330T 32.6cc Top Handle Chain Saw - ECHO USA | ECHO USA

 

[Chilly807]

I went to the saw shop yesterday and Dropped off the 036 for whatever it needs. I started looking at the saws and I think I'm gonna buy one. Kinda pricey but how often do you buy a new saw? It feels as heavy as my 036 which feels like an anchor after using it for awhile. Getting older sucks out loud. My 170 feels like a feather after using the 036. Anyone heard any negatives about the 441?

I've got an 044, which is the predecessor to the MS440 and now the MS441.

Pluses first: I've NEVER used anything that cuts like this thing does, simply pure power. Fast revving, good balance with 20" bar, great acceleration. Sweet, sweet saw. Very smooth cutting, good anti-vibe. That's with 20 year old bushings, too. No decomp on mine, so you need to be on the right part of the stroke before giving it a pull.

Minuses: It's heavy, light for the power it produces, but still heavy. Nothing you'd want to limb with for more than 10 minutes. Other than that, and a thirst for fuel, there are NO minuses. I'm 47 and in reasonable shape, it tires me out working with it for long periods. The good part is that the job that would normally take 2 hours is done in less than 1.

A friend of mine has a Husky 440 (40cc), we were blocking up a big spruce together. He has an appreciation for performance cars, so I thought he'd get a kick out of trying the 044. I think the look on his face was the best part.

I'd have a tough time parting with the cash for a new one. Mine was $25, it was apart in a cardboard box when I got it.

Sean

 

[burnieman]

You dont like the weight of the 036, I would say the weight of the 441 is going to be a big negative for YOU.

So what is going to be more or as powerful as the 036 with less weight? It's not like I'm crippled and can't handle the 036 but it does get heavy but I need every inch of the 25 inch bar on my oaks. No offense to cripples.

 

[Bigfoot62]

The MS 362 seems to be the new number for the old 036. That would give you comparable power and weight to what you have now.

BUT, for an additional 24 ounces, why not step up to the 440 Magnum, or better yet, the 460 magnum. Like Chilly said,

The good part is that the job that would normally take 2 hours is done in less than 1.

I have a 046 Magnum with a 28" bar. It's a beast. :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

Yeah, the MS-362 is the closest to the 036, and it has some techno-goodies that should make it easily out-cut your old 036. I'd say go and heft a 362 and 441 (be sure they have the bar length you want to run) and see how they feel in terms of weight *and* balance. Sometimes a bigger heavier saw is easier to run if it balances out a long bar better. When a saw gets nose-heavy, that's annoying to me, regardless of the gross weight.

I had a hard time deciding between a 261 and 362, and sometimes I wish I got the 362. But notice I said "sometimes". For typical stuff I cut, the 261 is the right saw about 90% of the time. The 362 would have been better for the other 10%, but then it would have been too big and heavy for the other 90%. You can probably use the same logic deciding between the 362 and 441. Buy the saw that's best for the *majority* of your work, knowing that you can still use it for the other stuff even if it's not optimum. Maybe it's the 362 or maybe it's the 441, or maybe something else. Think about that 90% need/use scenario.

That said, if money was no object, I'd have a 261, 362, and 441 M-tronic!!

 

[peterc38]

So what is going to be more or as powerful as the 036 with less weight?

Husky 562XP

 

[BlacknTan]

I've had Husqvarna all along. Still have an old 257, and a 576xp with the auto tune.. What an animal! I'd love a new 562 xp, mainly because I passed up the 262 xp years ago... I'll have to see what Santa brings me for Christmas.

 

[LD1]

I'd have a tough time parting with the cash for a new one. Mine was $25, it was apart in a cardboard box when I got it.

Sean

I am not a stihl fan, but I think I would have jumped on that deal too. You want to double your money on that and I'll pay shipping:laughing:

So what is going to be more or as powerful as the 036 with less weight? It's not like I'm crippled and can't handle the 036 but it does get heavy but I need every inch of the 25 inch bar on my oaks. No offense to cripples.

Hard to really answer that question. Cause I am not sure what the specs on your old 036 are as I am not a stihl buff. But I think the old 036's were 61.5cc's, but I dont know about the weight or power.

But the new MS362 is 59cc, 4.6HP, and 13.0lbs I just thought the way you were talking about the weight of the 036, that you certainly wouldnt want to go bigger. My apologizes. I will have to say though, if you spend much time cutting 25" oak, I would certainly want a bigger saw than the 036/362

Here is kinda a list of saws and specs that have been mentioned in this thread. Now keep in mind that a tenth or two HP or a half pound or so arent really going to be noticed. More important than that is saw ergonomics and which feels the most comfortable to you. So you need to go to dealers and give them a feel.

SAW..............CC's...............HP.................WEIGHT......HP/weight ratio
MS362................59.................4.6....................13.0.............0.35
MS440................70.7...............5.4....................13.9............0.38
MS441................70.7...............5.6....................14.6............0.38
MS460................76.5...............6.0....................14.6............0.41
357xp.................56.5................4.4....................12.1............0.36
562xp.................59.8................4.7....................12.57...........0.37
372xp.................70.7................5.3....................13.4.............0.39
576xp.................73.5................5.7....................14.55...........0.39
PS7900...............79..................6.3....................13.6.............0.46
PS7910...............79..................5.9....................14.7.............0.40

THat should help out. keep in mind also, that specs arent always right. Case in point the new dolmar 7910. Shows it being heavier and less power, but guys I have talked to that have used it say they cannot tell a difference in power (cut times) and that it also feels lighter to them.

And in all honesty, you cant go wrong with any of the saws just listed. But you are doing yourself a big dis-service if you dont at least visit one of each of the dealers and lay your hands on each of the saws listed. And if it is a good dealer, he will have a demo saws of these models and a log out back for you to try.

 

[tnmike]

The 372xp is the sweet spot of the Husky line in a bigger saw. It is lighter than a Sthill 440 and has the same power. None of the pro saws are cheap. That is the problem.

 

[art]

TO be using a 25 inch bar and finding that is the minimum I'd be going up in the size of saw! I'd be looking at the 440 at a minimum to have good power.
My initial firewood cutting I went with smaller is better as advised from the weight perspective. I later found that the bigger, heavier saw had it's benifits. Some of the wood I was cutting I was using the 24" bar on a 041 super and still needed to make two cuts to get through although 18" worked just fine for the 90 percent rule. I later switched up to a 44 and found that my cutting time to fill my trailer was greatly reduced and of coarse, more beer time when done and was still feeling good as I cut my time in half to load the trailer!!!! I'd lay much of the tired coming from being bent over holding the saw up so it didn't loose RPM's from the load, the larger engine had so much more torque kind of felt like I could even lean on it a bit and still not loose rpms!

 

[burnieman]

TO be using a 25 inch bar and finding that is the minimum I'd be going up in the size of saw! I'd be looking at the 440 at a minimum to have good power.
My initial firewood cutting I went with smaller is better as advised from the weight perspective. I later found that the bigger, heavier saw had it's benifits. Some of the wood I was cutting I was using the 24" bar on a 041 super and still needed to make two cuts to get through although 18" worked just fine for the 90 percent rule. I later switched up to a 44 and found that my cutting time to fill my trailer was greatly reduced and of coarse, more beer time when done and was still feeling good as I cut my time in half to load the trailer!!!! I'd lay much of the tired coming from being bent over holding the saw up so it didn't loose RPM's from the load, the larger engine had so much more torque kind of felt like I could even lean on it a bit and still not loose rpms!

You're right. Bending over holding the saw is what kills my broke up contractor back! I miss being young

 

[aczlan]

Have used Stihl and Kusky saws and like both. Stihl dealer is closer and is also the Kubota dealer, so we have more Stihl stuff.

For those with issues starting, my trick for starting pull start power equipment (like a saw, weedeater, etc) is the following:
1. Set it to full choke and (if applicable) put into "start" position
2. Hit the primer bulb 3 times
3. Pull till it kicks (usually 2-3 pulls for our Stil saw or weedeaters)
4. Set to half choke
5. Pull again until it starts (usually 1-2 pulls for our Stihls)
6. Warm it up and run it

Aaron Z