New Husqvarna 346XP Yikes

[6thgpSF]

I bought a sthil ms-250 three years ago and have cut 150 posts and more than a few cords of firewood ,it sure beats those poulans I used to buy. russ

 

[CHDinCT]

If you like Stihl, try the Stihl MS260, it is around $100 more than the MS270 and pro grade saw. If you can wait, my local dealer Farmington Valley Equipment has a 10% off MSRP sale every Spring and Fall. That is when I purchased all my Stihl equipment. I am looking to get a MS361 this Spring. Husky makes great saws to so a lot depends on your local dealer support. All the local dealers around me carry Stihl.

Too late! I decided to go ahead and use the MS270 and besides, when I looked at my receipt it said 15% restocking fee for returned items. Maybe they wouldn't have charged it if I traded it for another Stihl, but if I did bring it back, it would have been to get the Husky xp. Anyway, after moving up from an 012av, it was quite a jump in performance. I was pretty impressed with it and I know it's not broken in yet. I was cutting some 20"+ rounds. I think it dulled a bit by the end of the day as it seemed to be taking longer to get through some of my cuts, or I could have just been getting tired. Anyway, it's good and used now, so I guess it's mine. Hopefully, I see a step up in performance after 10 or so tanks of gas.

 

[amigauser]

I think it dulled a bit by the end of the day as it seemed to be taking longer to get through some of my cuts, or I could have just been getting tired. Anyway, it's good and used now, so I guess it's mine. Hopefully, I see a step up in performance after 10 or so tanks of gas.

All the Stihl saws ship with "safety" type chains. I switched my saw over to - OILOMATIC Stihl Rapid Super (RSC) full chisel chain. My saw cuts it seems like almost twice as fast with the better chain. You just have to be real careful working with the end of the bar as the full chisel type chains do not provide any kickback prevention.

You can get the chains off eBay. I deal with - rmsceo1675.

Here are some of the chains that Stihl offers -
http://www.mystihl.net/chainsaws/types.html

 

[JimR]

Chisel chains are the only way to go on any saw for the best performance and cutting speed. They are also the easiest to dull.

 

[CHDinCT]

Funny you bring up the swap out to RSC/Chisel chain. When I bought the MS270, I got them to throw in another chain. Yesterday I pulled the 2nd one out of the box and I can't tell for the life of me what type it is other than it doesn't have a green link like the one that came on the saw. I know the green link signifies reduced kickback chain. (I thought the non reduced kickback chain had a yellow link in them?) I couldn't find any markings either on the box that indicated the chain type. Is there a way you can tell looking at the chain itself? Both chains note .325 pitch on them and a C, which I think means comfort chain, whatever that is.

 

[JimR]

Chisel tooth is a square tooth on the corner of the cutter.

 

[peterc38]

The XP saws are all top notch. In my area the MS 260 Pro is less money not more than the 346xp, $450 vs. $480 respectively and I have a Stihl dealer that I trust so when I was in the market for a 50cc saw I went with the Stihl. I cut about 30 cords of firewood in the last year and I also have an MS 361 (which is an outstanding firewood saw), but the next saw I hope to buy is a 372xp .

 

[Raw Dodge]

the next saw I hope to buy is a 372xp .

You wont be dissapointed in the 372xp. The day I got mine I was like a kid in a candy store.Thats saw is the perfect balance of power,speed,and weight.You can run it for hours no problem,yet it cuts like a hot knife thru butter,esp ported,muffler modded,and w jug dropped.

 

[scoutcub]

I've also run chain saws all my life, many different brands (yes Stihl also) but I've never found a saw that will cut like my 385XP. I have a Husky 41 and 61, but absolutely no contest. I have property out in WA with BIG trees, and it RIPPED thru them. I'm now clearing a homesite in Ohio and this thing making mincemeat out of the smaller trees. My FIL just bought a new 455, again no comparison. The saw is a workout if you're cutting all day, but talk about saving time....I've never seen/used such a great saw!
I bought mine on Ebay, save some good $$$.

 

[JimR]

You can't compare any Pro saw against the homeowner saws. It is like day and night between the two.

 

[scoutcub]

Jim;

yes, you're absolutely right. It's amazing what a difference there is!

BTW, I'm headed to your part of the woods next week for T-giving....I grew up in Uxbridge and the folks are still there.....

 

[wallace]

That is way too far to drive for a test run. I think any good saw place should have some test saws and logs kicking around for people to try out saws on. What better way to sell a saw than by doing that. I would think that once you use it, you own it. I would get that in writing before using it.

I let customers take a saw home to try it...we have a approx 40" log we use here to test and tune a saw but I will NOT allow a customer to run the saw on my property...Insurance frowns on that.
Most people shopping for saws don't carry chaps, gloves, hard hats and hearing protection with them.

 

[jimmyj]

I have been kicking the tires of new pro saws for about 2 years. My old regular Husqvarna has been a GREAT saw but it is getting pretty old now. It's a 45cc that I bought in 1989 and I have heated my house with wood for all those years using this saw. It still works well but now that I'm buying truckloads of logs I have been itching for a pro Husky saw. This post has pushed me over the edge. I think I know what I'm getting for Christmas!! Can't wait!

 

[Steve C]

I have been kicking the tires of new pro saws for about 2 years. My old regular Husqvarna has been a GREAT saw but it is getting pretty old now. It's a 45cc that I bought in 1989 and I have heated my house with wood for all those years using this saw. It still works well but now that I'm buying truckloads of logs I have been itching for a pro Husky saw. This post has pushed me over the edge. I think I know what I'm getting for Christmas!! Can't wait!

Our local farm supply store has a small supply of factory reconditioned Husquvarna 450's for $299. While not a professional series saw, it sure seems like a nice unit for the money!
I sure don't need any more saws but if I did I would probably grab one of those!

 

[milkman]

I have been kicking the tires of new pro saws for about 2 years. My old regular Husqvarna has been a GREAT saw but it is getting pretty old now. It's a 45cc that I bought in 1989 and I have heated my house with wood for all those years using this saw. It still works well but now that I'm buying truckloads of logs I have been itching for a pro Husky saw. This post has pushed me over the edge. I think I know what I'm getting for Christmas!! Can't wait!

I set on the fence too for about that long, the little 141 was light and dependable and gave good service for years, I just wanted a saw with more guts without a lot of weight. I got the 346 a couple of months ago and can't get the grin off my face. It's just slightly heavier than the 141, but it goes after the wood like an angry animal. Since I've run about 8 or 10 tanks of gas through it, it has turned into a screamer, cuttin' wood is FUN now. You won't believe the difference till you get the pro saw, trying to explain what it's like to run one is like trying to explain what an **gasm is like to someone that hasn't had one.

 

[JimR]

I let customers take a saw home to try it...we have a approx 40" log we use here to test and tune a saw but I will NOT allow a customer to run the saw on my property...Insurance frowns on that.
Most people shopping for saws don't carry chaps, gloves, hard hats and hearing protection with them.

You are so right in today's sue society. I forgot all about that. I hope you have them sign a waiver saying that you are not resposible if they cut there head off with your saw.

 

[JimR]

I set on the fence too for about that long, the little 141 was light and dependable and gave good service for years, I just wanted a saw with more guts without a lot of weight. I got the 346 a couple of months ago and can't get the grin off my face. It's just slightly heavier than the 141, but it goes after the wood like an angry animal. Since I've run about 8 or 10 tanks of gas through it, it has turned into a screamer, cuttin' wood is FUN now. You won't believe the difference till you get the pro saw, trying to explain what it's like to run one is like trying to explain what an **gasm is like to someone that hasn't had one.

Now that is a good way to explain the 346xp. ROLMAO. I just call it a chainsaw on steroids. I've also burned thru about 8 - 10 tanks of gas now. This saw is like day and night compared to my Husky 55. That saw is going on the market soon. I also bought a Husky 362xp yesterday with a 24 inch bar setup for $325.00. I think this is the same saw as my 262XP but a newer version. For the price I couldn't pass it up. I'll be setting this one up with a 20 inch bar while my 262xp has a 28 inch bar on it right now.

 

[scoutcub]

OK, I'll bite....how long has this saw been out?? How heavy is it? What bar lengths can you put on it? It's sounding awful good.....

 

[Raw Dodge]

OK, I'll bite....how long has this saw been out?? How heavy is it? What bar lengths can you put on it? It's sounding awful good.....

Its been around a while,at least 8 yrs that I know of.There was a change a few yrs ago,it went from 45cc, to 50cc,it is called the 346XP N.E.,and identified by a silver chain cover.The 346xp is a great handling saw,with an excellent balance of power,weight,very little vibration,and handling.

 

[JimR]

OK, I'll bite....how long has this saw been out?? How heavy is it? What bar lengths can you put on it? It's sounding awful good.....

The NE version is a year old. It has 3.7 HP which is .5 more HP than the older version. It turns 14,700 rpm's vs the older 13,500 rpm's. You can use a 20 inch bar on it. The weight of the powerhead is 11 pounds. Try one and you will buy one.