Stihl or Husqvarna

[burnieman]

I own 2 Stihl chainsaws. An older .036 with a 24 inch bar and a small limbing saw. I've had no problems with the .036 for 14 years. It is tired though. I'm thinking about a Husqvarna just not sure if it can match my Stihls for durability. Any recommendations?

 

[CurlyDave]

I have both Stihl and Husky saws, and find few real differences.

When I bought my Husky, the big deciding factor was that it had a compression release, which makes for easier starts. To get that feature on a Stihl, I would have to go up a couple of sizes.

Of course, a lot of young strong guys never find the compression release and they still get the saw started just fine. I am getting older and am glad to have it for me.

 

[dave1949]

I have a 20" 455 Rancher Husky, about 3 years old, big box store model. It has worked well for my fairly light usage. Starts easy, has great power. Ditto on the compression release, that is a nice feature.

My other saw is a 019 Stihl which I have more hours on than the Husky. It could benefit from comp. release. For such a little saw, it can kick like a mule when starting it. I usually have to pull the cord slowly until it feels right, then give a good pull.

 

[Combustix]

Have a husky 355 that is about 17 years old and have never had any issues with it starts in 2 to 3 pulls. Gotta love that compression release. I cut 4-5 chords a year

 

[scaredychicken]

gas Husqvarna brush cutter 323L - (blade) I have more hours on this thing than the ATV and the Lawn tractor combined - very useful
gas Stihl chainsaw MS180C - 16 inch blade I think, small and lightwieght, just what I need
gas Echo trimmer GT225 - plastic prongs - not a big fan of the string, so the prongs are perfect for the country acreage

I like them all

 

[chkntrktr]

I don't have a Husky but two friends do. One friend has an older one and a newer one, loves the older one and says the newer one is OK, but has had a few problems with it. I spent a day cutting firewood with the other friend about four years ago and his Husky was new then, he head trouble cranking it all day long. At that time I had an older Stihl that I had bought used from a logger, no problems that day with it or any other day until the clutch gave out. I have a newer Stihl and the only problem with it is a plastic piece (don't know what it is called) that is part of the pull start, the first one broke and the new one doesn't always engage. I like the Stihls. BTW. like scaredychicken I have an Echo trimmer. This things gotta be 25 yrs old and never a problem.

 

[carmedic310]

I have had stihl saws in the past good saws.I have 2 huskys a 350 and a 455 rancher good saws also.The husky's seem to cut a bit faster than my stihl did.but like others said the commpression release is a well deserved break as we get olderDon't think you would go wrong with either saw

 

[MotorSeven]

I currently have 9 Stihl's....what's a Husky?

The larger Husky's are great saws, but stay away from their smaller stuff, they are re-badged Poulans and the quality is not anywhere near the standard of the "real" Husky's. Stihl makes all their own saws and even the small home owner saws are decent. I'm still running my first Stihl, an 024Super that I bought new in 1984 and that is the saw that sold me on them...it's never needed anything that was not my fault.

Your 14 year old 036 is a great saw, why not have a qualified tech go over it? You may find it's not really tired, but only needs a fuel line, impulse line, filters and a plug. Of course if the cylinder is scored it will need a complete re-build w/bearings.

 

[LD1]

I agree, the 036 is a good saw and I wouldnt jump too quick on retiring it.

But if you want a saw just to have another big saw, dont forget about dolmar. If you have a dealer. The PS6400 matches up pretty nicely with the 036/360/361, with a slight edge an tad lower price going to the dolmar IMO. And it you want about the BEST BEAST of a firewood saw without getting really heavy and big, the PS7900 is a beast, and eats 460's and 372xp's for lunch.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I currently have 9 Stihl's....what's a Husky? . . .

That's funny! :laughing:

I agree, that the in the larger saws, both are good machines.

In my part of the world, Stihl is king. I rarely see anything else in commercial use. (loggers, tree service, electric company, etc) In all fairness to Husky, I think that dealer support may have something to do with that.

BTW, I'm partial to Stihl, myself. I have three Stihl saws, plus a Stihl string trimmer/limb saw.