New member, I just bought a Husqvarna 445 and have a few questions.

chadweasel · November 19, 2012, 07:12:35 PM

I had a Poulan Pro that started giving me some problems so I broke down and purchased a Husqvarna 445 with a 16inch bar yesterday. It was a difference of night and day compared to my Poulan. I plan on using this for small jobs around the house and maybe cut up some trees in my fathers woods to make firewood. I've read some bad things about the 445. Is it not capable of doing a little bit of hard work? Also I'm having trouble finding an aftermarket bar and chain for my 445. I was thinking about maybe getting an 18 or 20inch for bigger jobs if my saw can handle it. Could you guys steer me in the right direction on finding a bar and chain?

Ianab · November 19, 2012, 08:19:08 PM

"Bad things" are probably folks comparing the little Husky to a "pro" grade saw. For lopping a few tree around home and a bit of firewood gathering it will "Get R Done" just fine. Some of the guys here do more sawing in a week than you will in 10 years, so they would kill that little saw pretty quick. For you, it will last for years.

Forum sponsor Balieys (The LucasMill link on the right side of the screen) would be able to sell you a bar and chain). But with a 45cc saw you are probably better off sticking with the 16" bar. It wont be at all impressive with a 20" bar on it. Anything you can't take down with the 16" bar you should probably be leaving alone anyway. Cutting from both sides is common enough, and that gets out up to 30" dia trees, without doing anything fancy. That saw will take them down, as long as you are careful and patient.

If you are setting out to take down 24"+ trees all day, then you will want more saw. Saturday afternoon firewood cutting? That saw will be fine, keep the chain sharp, the gas fresh, and be careful.

Ian

chadweasel · November 19, 2012, 09:07:41 PM

Thanks for the info Ian. Saturday afternoon firewood cutting is exactly what I would do with it at the most. I'll post back after I do some cutting. Thanks again

thecfarm · November 19, 2012, 10:52:46 PM

chadweasel,welcome to the forum. Must be getting the firewood out with a tractor,ATV? Chaps are a good thing to wear. Hardhats are good too
Probably don't help,but some guy at work brought a Poulan. Only used it a little for about a month and could not get it to run right. He told me tried a new plug,but knew that wasn't it. Ran like a new one again. he was surprized they put a real cheap plug in it.

shelbycharger400 · November 20, 2012, 05:23:06 PM

I had a brand new pouland toy saw...spun the rod bearing in it in less than a month.
I limbed way over 400 pine trees that were 12 or better in dia . I outlived its life in a few weekends and weekdays a few hours at a time. The 30 + old saws I used for dropping them..still run like a top except one that needs a carb kit.
I used a 50cc saw with 3/8 chain cutting most of them down with a 16 in bar, a few of the trees I had to use the craftsman 917 (60 cc) with the 20 in bar but has .325 chain. I also took down a few red cedars 20-30 in across with both saws.

Cutting the bigger trees it pays to have a HIGH reving saw!
The craftsman is an old beast, but I use a Jonsered 630 that takes its place in the fleet.

hamish · November 20, 2012, 09:13:11 PM

Quote from: shelbycharger400 on November 20, 2012, 05:23:06 PM
I had a brand new pouland toy saw...spun the rod bearing in it in less than a month.
I limbed way over 400 pine trees that were 12 or better in dia . I outlived its life in a few weekends and weekdays a few hours at a time. The 30 + old saws I used for dropping them..still run like a top except one that needs a carb kit.
I used a 50cc saw with 3/8 chain cutting most of them down with a 16 in bar, a few of the trees I had to use the craftsman 917 (60 cc) with the 20 in bar but has .325 chain. I also took down a few red cedars 20-30 in across with both saws.

Cutting the bigger trees it pays to have a HIGH reving saw!
The craftsman is an old beast, but I use a Jonsered 630 that takes its place in the fleet.

FYI your 917. Craftsman is a rebadged Poulan. One cant compare Poulan to Poulan with knowing what Poulan one is referring to.

To the OP, any small mount .325 Husqvarna bar will fit on your 445. But is will feel happyest sporting a 16" bar.

shelbycharger400 · November 20, 2012, 09:50:06 PM

hamish.. my craftsman 917 is a roper saw, NOT poulan!
btw, in parents fleet their is 1 early 80's poulan. They in no part compare to whats made today. The old poulans were tough! That one has a manual oiler, early 80's it was used in parents tree service, and though the years cut Many many chords of wood! out of their biggest saws, id take it over the stihl 031 or the husky 455, Their is a testy 95 vintage craftsman that is a 60 something cc saw that is ok most of the time, rips the cord out of your hand first pull! .. that one is a poulan

chadweasel · November 23, 2012, 02:56:33 PM

Will any of the Oregon bar or chains fit my Husqvarna 445?

jcbrotz · November 23, 2012, 05:53:12 PM

Click on the baileys line on right or baileysonline.com and in the top right of the of the page is a link for bar selector then select your saw from the dropdowns, it don't get any easier.

kenskip1 · November 24, 2012, 09:07:03 PM

CW, as an owner of this same saw may I advise against using a larger bar. The power is somewhat limited.Not only this but your bar and chain may not receive enough oil.I would just stick with the 16 BC. This is not a professional saw. If you want to move up look at the 455.Mine pulls the 16 just fine but it is not overly powered.JMHO, Ken

chadweasel · November 25, 2012, 10:02:58 AM

Thanks for the advice. I think the 16" should do everything I need. I'm very happy with the performance of my saw and for the cutting that I will do it should be more than enough.