Husqvarna 455 Rancher

HRS · Sep 25, 2006

Looking at the Husqvarna 455 Rancer 18" chainsaw. Any owners or those who know of it?

browns40 · Sep 25, 2006

I have that saw, and it's a nice saw... plenty of power. Heavier than some of the others, but has been really easy PM, reliable. Have only gone through 3-4 cords with it, but no complaints. Good all-purpose saw, but not one for primarily limbing or climbing with. Best bang for the buck.

CharlieTR · Sep 25, 2006

Husqvarna is a good as they get!
I have the 350 and no complaints. I do wish chains and such were easier to find though.

kenmac · Sep 25, 2006

I have a 55 rancher . Mine has a 20'' bar . Great saw !! don't know about the 455 but, you can't loose with a husky

GregE · Sep 25, 2006

I have the 455 Rancher w/ 20" bar. It has been a work horse for me. Haven't had a problem as of yet. I'd buy another one.

kenmac · Sep 25, 2006

455 maybe the same as my 55 except with newer mod. they changed the # s ?

HRS · Sep 25, 2006

Thanks for the replies. Already had an ACE guy print an estimate for me on saw, case, sharpener, etc. But wanted to hear what the experts thought first.

kenmac · Sep 25, 2006

I bought mine on line for less than I could get it in the store & no tax !

Ductape · Sep 25, 2006

I too have the 455..... been great so far. My only problem was buying a replacement chain. Be aware there are two versions.....the one sold at big box stores have a more idiot friendly chain/bar combo. Ones sold at saw stores have a more agressive chain/different bar. I just bought the more agressive chain/bar combo but have not installed it yet. The 455 has plenty of power, and should take a longer bar/chain in the future if you should need. It is definitely not the saw you want to use for cutting small stuff though... gets heavy after awhile.

sgrmtndrone · Sep 26, 2006

I have the 460 rancher as well as a 137 for limbing . Both are good saws. I cut around 20 cords a year . We feed 5 outdoor furnaces here on our place . 4 in home's and one on my shop/office . Not to mention the best guarantee out there 2 years on the saw and lifetime on the ignition .

MikeD74T · Sep 26, 2006

CharlieTR said:
Husqvarna is a good as they get!
I have the 350 and no complaints. I do wish chains and such were easier to find though.

Go to Bailey's Husqvarna Chainsaw, Logging and Woodsman Supply

HRS · Sep 26, 2006

OOps! I stopped by Ace again today and came home with an ECHO shaft hedge clipper. Wanted that saw, but the 40 or so bushes around the house that need trimming are looking a little hairy. I didn't feel like using the hand powered shears again. Ohhh! I should have purchased this thing years ago. I've been using muscle power to keep them trimmed for the past eight years. Completed in minutes what would normally take an hour. Money well spent. I'll get the saw next month.

johnk · Sep 26, 2006

You have to buy the right tool for the right job and many hours will be saved for other things in your life!!

smitesmash · Sep 29, 2006

I have the 455 as well. Mine came with the 18" bar. I also got a 24" bar to use on some bigger stuff. the 18" bar is a little small for the amount of power this can push. Apparnetly the big box stores are selling them this way.

I had gone to my local husky dealer trying to get a replacement chain, and the clerk had never heard of the 455 having such a small bar on it.

I have A LOT of small 3-6" DBH trees that I need to cut. Mostly to thin out. The suggested spacing for Red alder is about 1:12 - 1:20 depending on conditions (1 tree every 12 to 20 feet in any direction) what I have is about 1 tree every 2 feet. I expect to get a lot of use out of this saw

Ductape · Oct 1, 2006

smitesmash said:
I have the 455 as well. Mine came with the 18" bar. I also got a 24" bar to use on some bigger stuff. the 18" bar is a little small for the amount of power this can push. Apparnetly the big box stores are selling them this way.

I had gone to my local husky dealer trying to get a replacement chain, and the clerk had never heard of the 455 having such a small bar on it.

I have A LOT of small 3-6" DBH trees that I need to cut. Mostly to thin out. The suggested spacing for Red alder is about 1:12 - 1:20 depending on conditions (1 tree every 12 to 20 feet in any direction) what I have is about 1 tree every 2 feet. I expect to get a lot of use out of this saw

I had been looking at the twenty inch bar to have in my arsenal. My dealer, who seems pretty knowledgeble, recommended i go with nothing larger than a 20. How does the 455 cut with the 24? Is your 24 an .050 , or an .058? Got part numbers on the bar and chain you use handy?

johnk · Oct 1, 2006

Heres my arsenal. Husky 55 and a Husky 385XP with 36" bar and rip chain and a 32 inch bar w/ chisel chain.

HRS · Oct 1, 2006

JohnK, I like that last shot. The saw sure does look small sitting wayyy back at the end of that bar.

Hmmm... sure to get that saw by next month. See, I just took the wife camping this weekend. Spending $20 for wood at the local grocery didn't give her enough wood to keep her little camp fire going like she likes. Now I could spend like $100 or $120 for a truck load, but like I told her, why don't I just put that on the saw. You'll never run out then. Actually, just cutting up the blowdowns through the year would provide plenty. I've got four weeks to decide. Can't run out of that camp fire wood again. It's going to be cooler next month.

johnk · Oct 1, 2006

It's a good investment to get a brand name saw. It'll save you money in the long run. I like the Husqvarnas but Stihl is also a great name. That cracks me up when I see that bundle of wood for sale at the convienient stores for $4.99 or so. Thats about enough wood to last 15 minutes. That last shot is the 385 with the 32" bar....

knute_m · Oct 2, 2006

smitesmash said:
I have the 455 as well. Mine came with the 18" bar. I also got a 24" bar to use on some bigger stuff. the 18" bar is a little small for the amount of power this can push. Apparnetly the big box stores are selling them this way.

I had gone to my local husky dealer trying to get a replacement chain, and the clerk had never heard of the 455 having such a small bar on it.

I have A LOT of small 3-6" DBH trees that I need to cut. Mostly to thin out. The suggested spacing for Red alder is about 1:12 - 1:20 depending on conditions (1 tree every 12 to 20 feet in any direction) what I have is about 1 tree every 2 feet. I expect to get a lot of use out of this saw

I replaced an aging Homelite 360 last winter with a Husqvarna 455 Rancher. I was amazed at how much chainsaws had improved. The 360 was the top of the line when I bought it 20 years ago. I had 18, 20 , and 24-inch bars for the 360.

The 455, with the 18-inch bar cuts amazingly fast. I've been taking out a lot of 16 to 18 inch DBH oaks with the 18-inch bar. I presently have an old 20-inch bar on it because I'm doing some real nasty cleanup work, and I had a bucket of old 20-inch chains. Unless I need to fell some larger trees, I've always preferred a smaller bar, as it usually cuts faster and is a heck of a lot easier to handle, especially comparing 18 to 24 inch.

I was able to buy two extra Husqvarna-brand 18-inch chains from Lowes for under $20 each.

The 455 starts well, it runs great, it has a lot of power, and the vibration damping is great. I was using it in 10 degree weather last winter with no problems, other than I had to put 10-30 oil in the bar oiler so it would flow. What more could a guy ask for?

As for 3-6 inch DBH trees, I have a 20 year old Homelite Super XL with a 14-inch bar. I think it weighs 7 pounds when it is full of fuel and oil. It is still a wonderful little saw, and I use it for all my limbing and all my clearing of trees smaller than about 6-inches. Being so light, it doesn't tire you out.

smitesmash · Oct 3, 2006

Ductape: According to the other dealers price sheet, the 455 comes with either a 18, 20, or 24" bar standard. It cuts easily with the 24, I've had no problems with it. I remember that it said .50, but the chainsaw, and all of the add on bits are up on the property, so not available
But as a caviet, I mostly cut alder, which is very soft, or Douglas Fir, which is soft. If you are cutting oak or maple or other hard-hardwoods.
(technically alder (aldus rubius) is a hardwood, despite being softer than pine and fir)

And yeah, one of my future purchase will be a smaller 14-16" chainsaw, probably husky or stilh.