Buying a new Saw tomorrow quick question

[turnkey4099]

When it comes to chainsaws, stick to the majore brands: Stihl, Husky, johnsered, Echo. All build great saws. Best policy is: Dealer, dealer, dealer. The best saw in the world is useless if you can't get it serviced easily. Don't buy any saw at a big box store.

Husky here was a no brainer to "don't buy". Every dealer I went to in a 50 mile radius was a rental shop and if you weren't renting something they didn't have time to talk to you. Saws seemed to be a "fall back" item "when we don't have something better to be doing". I am of the same opinion of any brand being sold at rental outfits - Echo is also off my list because of that.

Of course Stihl is on the "must buy". the dealer is only 1/2 mile from my house .

Stihl 310 is a a great homeowner saw, jusst a smidgeon below a pro-grade. I got mine right at $300 IIRC back when they first came out.Dunno what they are now but well above that.

Harry K

 

[Scooby074]

BlackRaptor that would be yes!

+1

absolutely

 

[DT86]

...I am of the same opinion of any brand being sold at rental outfits...

That's crazy talk. With in 15 miles of me there are at least three Stihl dealers, the best out of them all is the rental place. They also rent about every piece of Stihl equipment known to man, so stuff like a pole saw that I might use for 4 hours a year I'm able to rent instead of buy.

 

[stormpetrel]

I think i might have found a dealer who i can get a Husky 550XP for right around 500 bucks. Worth the extra hundred to get the bottom pro line saw?

That's an excellent price for a GREAT saw......don't think it's the bottom of the line though. More power than the 55, much lighter and easier to handle. And, as an XP it will last the firewood-cutting homeowner a lifetime. I have one that I have run almost 20 tanks through. It took several tanks for the saw to break in and develop it's power; it got stronger and stronger with each tank of gas. It's a little beast of a saw, eats whatever I throw at it and loves it. I did a muffler mod on it (warranty be damned!) which picks the power up quite a bit and takes about 10-15 minutes. You will not be sorry you got a 550XP!!!

 

[BlackRaptor]

I wanted to thank everyone who helped me make my saw choice. I didnt end up going pro saw.
I looked over my land figured out how much i will cut a year give or take. I have a ton of trimming and clean up to do but no dropping any full size trees for a long time. But the limbs I'm dealing with can be 22" thick.
I ended up with a Rancher 460.

Austin Power and Sports in Austin MN has awesome prices ANYONE looking for a saw go there its a small shop owned by a family. Nicest person I've ever dealt with.

Here is what i ended up with.
Husqavarna Rancher 460 with a 24" bar. (I needed the big bar for a couple big projects) I paid 430 for it brand new. SUPER happy.

They also have the Rancher 455 with a 20" bar for 350.
I"m going to pick up a 18" bar this spring for it that way i have the best of both worlds. Big bar and small fast limbing bar.
I've attached a picture of it when i picked my son up from his grandmas today.
I know its not pro but i didn't feel i cut enough to step up anymore. i dont heat the house with wood its just for cleanup use.

Thanks again everyone i'm super happy. the 460 is lighter and more powerful than the 455 win win.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

The Misses let you bring that thing in the house? Looks like a great saw. I am a big fan of Husky's myself. Just remember to run the fuel out before letting it sit for long and it will last you a long time. Consider chainsaw chaps safety glasses and ear plugs while you are at it if you haven't already.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Nice looking saw.

 

[xyz123]

Nice. You have some great prices at that dealer.

Actually the 460 should weigh about the same as the 455 PHO. Same saw just bigger bore cylinder.

460 60.3 cc Weight (excl. cutting equipment) 12.79 lbs

455 55.5 cc Weight (excl. cutting equipment) 12.8 lbs

Lot better then this though.

290 56.5 cc POWERHEAD WEIGHT (13.0 lbs.)

 

[xyz123]

The Misses let you bring that thing in the house?

Some of us got it like that. :thumbsup:

 

[BlackRaptor]

Okay now THATS a saw!
Ported and polished?

 

[DieselnHooters]

great price on the 460, the 550xp sounded like a steal also. last time I checked the 557xp (older similar model to the 550) was around $700 bucks up here, add the 15% sales tax and you are talking over $800.

a 24'' bar seems awfully big for a 60cc saw, I suggest you set the oiler at its max setting and rev it some with the nose down so it oils up the whole lenght. BTW an 18'' bar is no limbing bar to me lol

 

[BlackRaptor]

ha-ha 18" bar has always been my ideal limbing bar. its shorter light and is will long enough to get a little reach.

I have a saw with a 12" bar but always favored the 18" for trim work. though for small trim work the 460 is too heavy and big.
But for cutting up small logs on the ground the 18" bar will be perfect.

Good advice on the oiler i'll crank her up. I doubt its a rocket with the 24" bar but the dealer guy said it handles it fine and its rated for that bar.
But thats also why i'll get a smaller 18" bar for crazy hard wood.

 

[BlackRaptor]

Sorry guys one more question in this thread. I'm looking on amazon.com for an 18" bar. and they have two different bars.
I know the workings of the saws but not the chain pitch info so forgive me.

I see two bar chain options.
Husqvarna 531300442 18-Inch FT280-68 Chain Saw Bar, 3/8-Inch by .050-Inch

Husqvarna 531300438 18-Inch HLN250-72 Pixel Chain Saw Bar, .325-Inch by .050-Inch


Which one would give me the fastest most aggressive chain tooth option. Sorry for the stupid question i'll admit with my past saws just kept them with the stock bar and replaced with the same oem chains.
So i have much to learn.

 

[xyz123]

What are your set up with on the 24". 325 or 3/8? full comp chain? I would get a loop of full skip (less cutters pulling down motor in cut) to help the 24" out if running 3/8.

For the 18" I would be running 3/8.

 

[BlackRaptor]

Honestly on the 24" not sure its the stock chain that came with it i'll need to look.
Is the 3/8 .325 marked on it somewhere? i'll look when i get home. like i said lots of learn still.


Thank you for your help. Thanks everyone. Ordered up the 18" bar 3/8 chain will be here Friday.

 

[xyz123]

Honestly on the 24" not sure its the stock chain that came with it i'll need to look.
Is the 3/8 .325 marked on it somewhere? i'll look when i get home. like i said lots of learn still.


Thank you for your help. Thanks everyone. Ordered up the 18" bar 3/8 chain will be here Friday.

Why I ask on the 24". If you have a 325 spur or rim sprocket you will need to change to 3/8 rim or spur to run the 18" 3/8.


I know the 455 I worked on came with 20" 3/8, so maybe your 24" is 3/8 and you wont need to change a thing.

 

[BlackRaptor]

Its a 3/8
24" bar reads
RSN A 24"/60cm .50/1.3mm
3/8" 84DL 92570 TY

So the 3/8th 18 I ordered will be perfect.
Thanks again for all your help. Learn a ton in a few days about saws.

 

[stormpetrel]

That's a nice looking saw! Should have all the power you need, and you can't complain about that price. Good luck with it!

 

[BlackRaptor]

I'm very happy with it. Its my first new saw. All my others where owned by my Dad or Grandpa.
My 2.5 year old Son also got a new saw as well.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I'm very happy with it. Its my first new saw. All my others where owned by my Dad or Grandpa.
My 2.5 year old Son also got a new saw as well.
View attachment 300722

I like your sons saw. That's starting them out right.
That 460 looks very familiar. I actually prefer 20 inch bars as when I let it hang from my hand it comes close to the ground which means less bending over when cutting up small wood. I'm 6 ft 3"tall so a 18" bar might suit you better if your more average size.
Take heed of the advice about not letting it set with old gas in it. Keep your left hand firmly on the grip at all times and never hold your head over the plane the saw would kick back through if something caught. You can look at it from the side just as well.