Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[Jstpssng]

Stick with the 550 XP, and do NOT "upgrade" to the Husky 562 XP; what a junk saw!

I not-so-affectionately call it my "rattle box" because so many bolts and parts have rattled off the saw. Really under-powered; barely tolerable when it is razor sharp, but the second it even begins to dull, a person would be better off with an axe.

I will admit it was my own fault as even the dealer tried to talk me out of buying it, calling it a "disposable saw." "Buy it for $750, run it for a year, then trade it in at $350 for a new one".

Pretty soon though she will be out in the woods everyday, because like an old Partner Chainsaw my father had, when I finally get mad at it and toss it headlong over a brush pile; that is where it will remain.

I have the 545, which is virtually the same saw except not an XP. A couple of my coworkers have the 550. All 3 saws have had new top ends within a short period of time after buying them- mine only had 8 hours on it- one of the features of the autotune carb is that it stores engine hours.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Stick with the 550 XP, and do NOT "upgrade" to the Husky 562 XP; what a junk saw!

I not-so-affectionately call it my "rattle box" because so many bolts and parts have rattled off the saw. Really under-powered; barely tolerable when it is razor sharp, but the second it even begins to dull, a person would be better off with an axe.

I really get a kick out of post like yours... I bet you with a little "looking" I can find one with the same message for just about every saw built! lol

I know LOT's of guys that have 562xp's and love them... I in fact have a 562xp and so far it's been a great saw, working perfect every time we use it...

Now, you say they are junk and fall apart, well I also have a Jonsered 2260, (it's really a 562xp with Johnny cloths on it) and it's been working hard for me day after day, including this last Saturday,

Nothing has needed attention on either saw, both work hard and I have nothing but good things to say about them including my 550xp...

Now, I have heard of "some" problems with very early 550's and 562's but that's been corrected long ago...

SR

 

[Jstpssng]

I really get a kick out of post like yours... I bet you with a little "looking" I can find one with the same message for just about every saw built! lol

I know LOT's of guys that have 562xp's and love them... I in fact have a 562xp and so far it's been a great saw, working perfect every time we use it...

Now, you say they are junk and fall apart, well I also have a Jonsered 2260, (it's really a 562xp with Johnny cloths on it) and it's been working hard for me day after day, including this last Saturday,

Nothing has needed attention on either saw, both work hard and I have nothing but good things to say about them including my 550xp...

Now, I have heard of "some" problems with very early 550's and 562's but that's been corrected long ago...

SR

I didn't say they were junk and falling apart; I just stated problems which we are having with them. In my (deleted) post last night when I merely asked if others were having problems; you chose to respond by replying to another, telling what a great saw it was. Would it have been that difficult instead to say; "No, I have not had problems with my saw."? My 545 is obviously running way too rich; to the point where the rings didn't even seat when it was new. I am trying to decide if the problem is with a dealer who simply doesn't understand how to work on a computerized saw; or with the product itself. Out of 3 saws purchased there, all have had new top ends replaced. It isn't quite safe to be running a saw which won't idle, instead stalls when you are trying to limb a tree; and in order to start it when it's warm you must lock the brake, hold the throttle and drop start it, sometimes taking several attempts. This gets rather hairy when the notch is cut, the bore cut is made, wedges are set, and the saw dies as you are about to make the back cut.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I didn't say they were junk and falling apart; I just stated problems which we are having with them. In my (deleted) post last night when I merely asked if others were having problems; you chose to respond by replying to another, telling what a great saw it was. Would it have been that difficult instead to say; "No, I have not had problems with my saw."? My 545 is obviously running way too rich; to the point where the rings didn't even seat when it was new. I am trying to decide if the problem is with a dealer who simply doesn't understand how to work on a computerized saw; or with the product itself. Out of 3 saws purchased there, all have had new top ends replaced. It isn't quite safe to be running a saw which won't idle, instead stalls when you are trying to limb a tree; and in order to start it when it's warm you must lock the brake, hold the throttle and drop start it, sometimes taking several attempts. This gets rather hairy when the notch is cut, the bore cut is made, wedges are set, and the saw dies as you are about to make the back cut.

Did "I" quote YOUR post? I didn't accuse you of anything...

You need to pay better attention... lol

SR

 

[KenB2920]

No tractor in this but the tractor moved these making it possible to. It and split. Had the boy chip in again. How amazing the speed with an extra set of hands. And he loves doing this (for now at least)

Nothing professional here, but this was one hour of time

 

[Jstpssng]

Did "I" quote YOUR post? I didn't accuse you of anything...

You need to pay better attention... lol

SR

Did I say that you did? I don't think so.

 

[Jstpssng]

No tractor in this but the tractor moved these making it possible to. It and split. Had the boy chip in again. How amazing the speed with an extra set of hands. And he loves doing this (for now at least)View attachment 545695

Nothing professional here, but this was one hour of time

I like the hearing protection. When I was his age we had never heard of it, which is one reason my hearing is lacking today.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Did I say that you did? I don't think so.

Yes, actually you did when you quoted my post "above" and said this to answer it,

I didn't say they were junk and falling apart; I just stated problems which we are having with them. In my (deleted) post last night when I merely asked if others were having problems; you chose to respond by replying to another, telling what a great saw it was.

That's accusing me...

I was answering broken tracks post...not anything YOU said...

Anyway, no big deal, I just think you weren't paying very good attention to who said what... lol

SR

 

[BrokenTrack]

I have the 545, which is virtually the same saw except not an XP. A couple of my coworkers have the 550. All 3 saws have had new top ends within a short period of time after buying them- mine only had 8 hours on it- one of the features of the autotune carb is that it stores engine hours.

Hey thanks, it is good to know that I am not the only one having issues. I would put a smiley on that, but when your saw rattles itself apart halfway into a twitch, it makes a logger say bad words and not post smileys or LOL's I can tell you that.

It is a $750 chainsaw so you get what you pay for, that is for sure, but even then it is supposed to be a professional chainsaw; even if it is on the smaller end of the cc side.

I just checked to see how many cord I have on this saw, and sadly it is only about 200 cord. Not really a whole lot for the amount of rattling it does. I don't think the autotune, or whatever they call it, can quite keep up with premature detonation. It is almost like its harmonic balance is off at certain rpms' or something.

Stihl is coming out with a new autocarb MS 462, and it will be interesting what that saw is like. I miss my old MS 461 dearly, but its demise was my own fault: 16,000 pounds skidder on top of an 8 pound chainsaws does not match up well. I might try one, but am afraid of the price, the pictured MS 461 was $1023 out the door, so I bet the new MS 462 will be over $1200.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I got back to this wagon load of scrounged wood today,

And got started splitting it,

Having a good 4-way wedge sure speeds things up,

If they were too heavy, they got ripped with my 268xp and then put on the splitters beam,

And S N I had a nice pile of oak, about 2 cords in all!

Now it's time to get that wagon loaded again!

SR

 

[Oldpath05]

BrokenTrack where are you buying these $1000.00+ saws at? That sounds on the high side of saw prices, no way I can afford paying that much.

 

[BrokenTrack]

BrokenTrack where are you buying these $1000.00+ saws at? That sounds on the high side of saw prices, no way I'll be paying that much.

I bought that one at Hammond Tractor in Fairfield, but it was actually on sale. I know it seems crazy, but that is what they go for.

Of course all those crazy prices sound high, but if we are all honest with ourselves, a chainsaw is one of the best investments a person can make. Even though I can honestly say I HATE my Husky 562, it paid for itself with the first load of wood that went to the mill. I can say the same for the MS 461, so while I had hoped it would have lived a much longer life than only 1 year (it died as an infant in Stihl terms), it more than paid for itself too.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I got back to this wagon load of scrounged wood today,

And got started splitting it,

Having a good 4-way wedge sure speeds things up,

If they were too heavy, they got ripped with my 268xp and then put on the splitters beam,

And S N I had a nice pile of oak, about 2 cords in all!

Now it's time to get that wagon loaded again!

SR

There is no way I would pick up big wood like that, that many times. Holy crap, my back hurts watching you! You need to flip your woodsplitter over and bring the woodsplitter to the wood. Looking at what you have for tractors and splitters, it would be really easy to do.

I have a homemade woodsplitter, but once I got my log loader I realized I had been splitting wood backwards for 43 years. I flipped so it was upside down, and can now swing my woodsplitter out to my round, pinch it, but not split it, waiting until it is over my dump trailer. In that way I never have to pick the wood up again until I lug the wood into the house. I don't even stack it in the woodshed, just push it in with the tractor.

I am going to firewood chunking now, but it is the same premise; let the equipment do the work instead of me. I am TOO OLD to be lifting wood, constantly in danger of blowing out my back, just to turn it into ash. LOL

 

[BrokenTrack]

Oh the best part: I even built it with a cup holder since I never have to get out of the seat!

 

[Oldpath05]

I bought that one at Hammond Tractor in Fairfield, but it was actually on sale. I know it seems crazy, but that is what they go for.

Of course all those crazy prices sound high, but if we are all honest with ourselves, a chainsaw is one of the best investments a person can make. Even though I can honestly say I HATE my Husky 562, it paid for itself with the first load of wood that went to the mill. I can say the same for the MS 461, so while I had hoped it would have lived a much longer life than only 1 year (it died as an infant in Stihl terms), it more than paid for itself too.

After reading my quote I started thinking some could take it the wrong way so now I got back from super I changed the wording a little so's you wont take it on the wong way, as in I cant afford that much for a saw.
How come you didn't go down Union at that JD Hammond dealership? my son bought a Stihl down there 2 years ago, they had a good selection.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

There is no way I would pick up big wood like that, that many times. Holy crap, my back hurts watching you! You need to flip your woodsplitter over and bring the woodsplitter to the wood. Looking at what you have for tractors and splitters, it would be really easy to do.

We don't do much lifting, I use the tractor to lift logs and cut them right over the wagon...

Most times the rounds can be rolled right off the wagon right onto the splitters beam, really it depends on if I have a helper or not...

I don't pick up ANYTHING off the ground if I don't have to!

BTW, you need to find a NEW place to buy chainsaws... I have $495.00 into my 562xp WITH bar and chain and yes I did buy it "new in the box"... NEW production too (2016) and that's probably why I'm not having any issues with it.

SR

 

[Oldpath05]

I got back to this wagon load of scrounged wood today,

And got started splitting it,

Having a good 4-way wedge sure speeds things up,

If they were too heavy, they got ripped with my 268xp and then put on the splitters beam,

And S N I had a nice pile of oak, about 2 cords in all!

Now it's time to get that wagon loaded again!

SR

Nice looking firewood, to bad to take it off the trailer at waist high then it's back on the ground again, looks like you could use another trailer to throw the wood on. How much firewood do you put up for yourself as in under cover?

 

[BrokenTrack]

We don't do much lifting, I use the tractor to lift logs and cut them right over the wagon...

Most times the rounds can be rolled right off the wagon right onto the splitters beam, really it depends on if I have a helper or not...

I don't pick up ANYTHING off the ground if I don't have to!

BTW, you need to find a NEW place to buy chainsaws... I have $495.00 into my 562xp WITH bar and chain and yes I did buy it "new in the box"... NEW production too (2016) and that's probably why I'm not having any issues with it.

SR

That is definitely the way to do it! I use my log loader with grapple to hold the trees up waist high, finding I get about 3-4 times more done jut because I am perfectly situated to run my saw. It saves on moving the rounds around to get at the ones under the pie too.

I remember how we used to cut firewood, and it was insane; up and down, up and down, up and down! My Grandfather would DIE if he could come up out of the grave and could see how easy we had it today, and at how small the equipment is. Years ago we used to load 4 foot wood (going to Bucksport) and had to put the big sticks up high on the pile so people thought we had a log loader. Today I can load 6 cord in half the time with that tinker-toy log loader I have, and only use a 6 HP lawn mower engine to do it.

Nice score on the chainsaw. I cannot buy a new Husky 562 around here for that little money.

 

[BrokenTrack]

After reading my quote I started thinking some could take it the wrong way so now I got back from super I changed the wording a little so's you wont take it on the wrong way, as in I cant afford that much for a saw.
How come you didn't go down Union at that JD Hammond dealership? my son bought a Stihl down there 2 years ago, they had a good selection.

Thanks for the explanation regarding the wording, though I was not offended, and on my end at least, it was not required. I am the easiest to get a long with guy there is, and seldom get upset.

As for Hammond Tractor-Union: I really do not know. I really don't get down that way often, though I do most of my tractor purchases at Union Farm (like me, you must have known old Rick, probably before he retired...or even owned the place when he was the head mechanic!). I just bought a tractor there a few weeks ago, but have never stepped foot in Hammond Tractor-Union. I do however remember when they were Hammond-Tilton on College Avenue in Waterville! I am not trying to name drop on you, just hoping another old duffer remembers the good ole days!! In any case, I just do not seem to get down your way often (Union direction) but am in Waterville weekly.

I noticed your signature and commend you for it, as I am a believer myself. I know a lot of people that go to the Palermo Church though there are many churches and I am not sure where you attend. Myself I attend church with your Fire Chief; a great guy for sure!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Nice looking firewood, to bad to take it off the trailer at waist high then it's back on the ground again, looks like you could use another trailer to throw the wood on. How much firewood do you put up for yourself as in under cover?

Thanks OP, I do have other trailers, but this firewood is being cut a year + ahead and I sure don't want to tie up a trailer for more than a year. I like to have 10 cords ready for winter...

What I do, is to leave it uncovered/piled to dry out much of the moisture, then in the dry time of summer of my burn season, it get's put in "half cord boxes" to finish drying.

My wife has a stressful job and she absolutely loves to go out on a nice day and fill these boxes at her own speed and absolutely refuses to let me help her...

Anyway, the splits finish out nicely in the boxes and they are easy to move with my tractor,

Usually a few weeks before we need the boxes, they get covered with a blue tarp that I pretty much get for free and those tarps last two or three years as I keep them out of the sun when not in use.

In the winter, it's easy to sweep the snow off and move the box to the house, to be thrown down through a basement window...

It all works out perfectly and the splits burn hot and creosote free......

SR