Chain saws...which one?

[John Mc]

thanks for bumping this old 2004 thread

Is it just my imagination, or have we had a whole lot more of that going on lately. I've noticed a several threads that have been dormant for 5-10 years suddenly coming back to life. Some of them are ones I had posted in during their first time around. It's interesting seeing what I was thinking back then.

[Gary Davis]

I like my sthl 460 with the rap around handle and a 32 in bar , It was a hand me down from a friend  that's a logger when up graded to the 660,  don't know any thing about husky there isn't any serious husky dealers around me to compare  

[HolmenTree]

thanks for bumping this old 2004 thread

Is it just my imagination, or have we had a whole lot more of that going on lately. I've noticed a several threads that have been dormant for 5-10 years suddenly coming back to life. Some of them are ones I had posted in during their first time around. It's interesting seeing what I was thinking back then.

Yup, when I look at posts I wrote years go when I first starting using a computer I sure didn't  "say it very well" :D

[gaproperty]

I own a 562xp  huscavarna and old 560 johnsered and a ms 261 sthil.  All are good saws but I find sthil has some annoyance like the gas covers and the oil cover and there is an oil cover guard which collects dirt. Every time I put chain oil in the dirt goes into the reservoir.  I kinda like the handle ergonomics on the Johnsered best but man that huscavarna is smooth and has great power.  I have an 18 inch bar on it. I suppose you could get away with 22 but that is as much as I would like to go with any 60 cc saw.  

[HolmenTree]

Still have my 562XP and for the first time today I stuck a 24" b/ c on it.
Had it converted over to .325 for the last few years but decided to run 3/8" again.
I got a good collection of 24" bars in both Husky and Stihl 3003 mount and a pile of half used 3/8" chisel chains.
So I thought a half filed back 3/8" chain will cut a narrow kerf like a new .325 chain so let's give them a try on the 562XP.
Well today I got some work from a customer to fell 8 large spruce around his cottage.
The 562 impressed me with the 24" half used chain. But when I tried a new 3/8" 24" chain on the 562 I was not so impressed  :D

My new little MS261CM I used today also and that saw is developing  more impressive power every new day I use it. With a max 20" b/c it's a keeper.

[knuckledragger]

Every time I read a post that boasts about how impressive a 064 is I smile inside. Truly one of the best saws ever manufactured. Mine was manufactured in '92 or at least that is when I bought the saw. The saw is still a beast of a saw, a beast. Twenty years from now I would put it against any saw of the same cc. Anyway, I was reading this thread and couldn't help myself

[HolmenTree]

Yep love my 064 too. My first year 1986 model pictured here. I put a 084 carb on it 30 years ago.

In 1988 I entered it in a lumberjack competition on the west coast of B.C.
Ron Hartill 7 time Hayward Wisconsin World champion was there with his 100cc Poulan 655.
I had my 064 modded up real nice in stock appearing form.  Didn't have the 084 carb on yet. I did that later on in the year.
But anyways at this time in 1988 the 064 and 084 were making head waves in the logging industry. As my last pic shows with the perforated fire code muffler front, one of the judges at this event Husqvarna dealer Bob Walker owner of Walker's Saw Shop  Nanaimo B.C. stepped in and tried to ban me for having holes in my muffler when I was up warming up my saw. :D
I did of course have an extra outlet under that perforated muffler cover but it was still stock appearing.
The guys could see I wasn't priming my carb with a primer bottle and my choke was still functional, so it was go ahead.

We were doing cold start hands on the log with 3 cuts through a 16" round cotton wood. Opposite to me was top contender ? Herlihy with his 2100 Husqvarna.
By the time I got into my 3rd cut Herlihy was just starting his 2nd.
The 064 was motoring, I was about an inch left at the bottom when I tried to push my saw through. Being my first time cutting wet western cottonwood the chain jammed up with chips in the bottom of the last cut.
Instinctively I rocked up the 24" b/c to free up the chain but I lost close to 2 seconds on my time.
Ron Hartill joked later I almost got a haircut :D

In this level of competition 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th place was decided in 1/100ths of a second. I didn't make 5th ;D Came in 6th.
So later on back home I was going to make a comeback with a vengence by putting on the 084 carb for the 1989 Sayward, B.C. 100cc and under event.
But I never made it, summer of 1989 Stihl hired me and my plans were out the window.

[redneckman]

I have a modified muffler on mine, but that is all.  For trees up to 24", I would put it against any saw. It will cut a 12" poplar in about 2 seconds with a sharp chain.  The balance is awesome. The Shtilership says that the new 661's are a great saw.  I would like to buy one.  However, I doubt any saw made now would come close to lasting as long as that 064.   In fact, the dealership that I was talking too was trying to talk me into trading it in.  He really wanted it for some reason.  But, it has some sentimental meaning to me.  I call it my old friend.  I will never part with it. 

[knuckledragger]

Now I know with out a doubt I would make a pest of myself if I were living near you holmentree. Also, I can't imagine ever parting with mine. I've lived as much of my life owning the saw as I have without it. To sum up my opinion, if I could only have one saw for the rest of my life it would be a044. However, recommending a saw is a different matter. In this case sir I would recommend a ms640/660, unless of course you could purchase a 064. If you could do that I recommend you do so.

[HolmenTree]

Well knuckledragger you can bother me any time you want :D
I still have my 064 and may even convert it back to factory stock, but then that might be hard to do.
But I just rebuilt my 066mag red light and I may just still put a 064 rewind housing and flywheel on it.
Make it feel like a streamlined 064.

[mad murdock]

It has been good readings through this revived thread. I have a lot of old 10 series macs that run real well and my PM700 is about ounce for ounce every bit the saw my 372XPW is in a smaller more easy to handle package. My 395XPW will be around in 30 years. That is one awesome saw. If EPA or CARB don't prevail and kill 2 strokes all together, there will be s lot of creamscicles and huskys around in 30 years. 

[knuckledragger]

372xp manufactured in '00 is the largest husqy I own, I've got bigger grave yard husqy but I don't count them. I'm almost as fond of my 372xp as I am with my 044 manufactured in '94. The 372xp as I see it is one of, if not the best saw husqy has manufactured over the past two decades. I still have trouble believing it will be discontinued. If in fact the rumors are true. The 372xp is another saw that I would recommend to anyone with extraordinary cutting needs. Mine has been very consistently dependable. A real blue collar, tenacious saw. It is a reflection of the type of people who provide for families with a chainsaw. A 372 is just a good honest saw.

[TIDE-HSV]

Since they're (372XP) actually the same weight, I'd go with the MS460 if I wanted to carry that much around.  Don't believe me?  Walk into any shop which has both on the shelf, remove the bars/chain (only!) and weigh them dry.  Then look at the catalog specs and scratch your head with me...

! I just bought a 372xp. After I mounted a 24" bar and chain, I picked it up and went "whoa!" I weighed it and it was 20 lb even. Looking at the powerhead weight, it would have had to have almost 5 lb in the bar and chain. I ended up buying a 20" TsuMura lightweight bar for it... 

[beauj5]

A new saw without breaking the bank?  That is all relative, honestly. I wouldn't buy a homeowner saw, ever, but, I use the tar out of my saws and ask alot of them, so my advice is that of someone looking to buy a saw that will last a long time under hard use.  Of those small saws, I have an 034 super mag: an 044; and a Husky 562.  I love all of them and they all eat wood, but if I was to buy another new smaller saw, I'd buy another 562 without a second thought.  The sound of that little motor increases my heart rate and it's a little monster. I mated mine with a 24 light weight bar, absolute perfection. And as a disclaimer, I have far more German saws than Swed.  Nothing against the Stihls, but their strength is the 460s and above...just my experience and preferences.

[knuckledragger]

Well stated sir. That is why I read this forum. Diversification of knowledgeable people who make a living with a saw. Makes me wanna run out and buy a 562.