Husqvarna 372xp Original Edition vs. 372xp Current Edition "X-Torq" Saws.

[weimedog]

They are completely different saw designs, share the names and superfluous "support" stuff like chain brake guts, pull starters, bar oil pumps etc. But little else....

A common question see talked around as if they are the same, even similar saws. Figured while I have a junk pile that has to be turned into running saws I could do a few video's articulating the major differences...first video some of the more obvious parts. ( Subsequent video's on running characteristics, ignition differences, weight, and other observations running them side by side. )

Husqvarna 372xp X-Torq"vs. Original Edition. Some Differences in Parts + Assembly Notes - YouTube

[wild262]

    Good morn. Weimedog;  This is the video I have been hoping to see from you.  I'm fixing to start on a couple of 372's shortly.  Thanks a million for pointing out the differences.  As always, I love watching your videos and the vast knowledge from you & Bob on the subject of saws in general.  I like to tinker as well.  Mainly with Huskys, and a few Stihls.  Love the Jonnies too, esp. the older ones.  Sure wish I lived a bit closer to you guys, as I would be delighted to met you folks.   Were all the same age and old school about a lot of the same things, motorcycles, chainsaws, small farm operation, ect.  We would have a lot of fun together.          Watching the weather, it looks like your getting hammered by a bad nor-easter up there.  We don't get those of course in NE Missouri.  But once in a while we get a dousy of a snowstorm, mostly in spring.    Best just hunker down and stay inside till it ends.  Go opportunity to make a new video or to isn't it?  Bet your doing that right now.  I've rambled enough, but thanks again to you and Bob for sharing your knowledge and ideas and keep them coming.  I'm a big fan! 8)

[Spike60]

We are in the 14-20 inch forecast for today's storm, but from what I'm seeing, we are going to be getting the low side of that. Still, a foot is a decent storm to run the old Ariens in.

Original 372 is one of the best saws designs ever made. Walt and I differ a little bit on how far the XT has strayed from the original though. I think it's pretty close; he thinks they kind of ruined it. Did take me a while to warm up to the XT myself. But a 372XT is better than no 372 at all.

[weimedog]

I think where we differ is simply terminology. You call the 372xp XT a...372. I don't, its a 372 X-Torq. A completely different saw! See? Make sense? And I like the 372xp better. Not that the 372xp X-torq is a bad girl...just the 372 is ...better.  8)

[starmac]

The way I see it, all 372's are good, just some are mo better.
I have always heard that the original xp's are better, is that a power curve thing, rpm thing, and do you consider it to be a longevity thing?

[wild262]

We are in the 14-20 inch forecast for today's storm, but from what I'm seeing, we are going to be getting the low side of that. Still, a foot is a decent storm to run the old Ariens in.

Original 372 is one of the best saws designs ever made. Walt and I differ a little bit on how far the XT has strayed from the original though. I think it's pretty close; he thinks they kind of ruined it. Did take me a while to warm up to the XT myself. But a 372XT is better than no 372 at all.
        Wow!  The last time we had that much was about 3 yrs ago in Feb.  I believe it was 16" and drifted due to high winds.  I had to feed my 15 head of cows with square bales on a wooden toboggan.   Terrible day.  I feel for you guys.     Regarding the 372's, I have never run any of them.  I got these two out of a trade deal.  One a original old style, and other is the XT.  The later has a bad crank bearing on the clutch side.  Closest I've ran to it is a 272xp.  Have 2 of them.  I hear the 372's are a heck of a saw.  Guess I will find out, huh.

[wild262]

I think where we differ is simply terminology. You call the 372xp XT a...372. I don't, its a 372 X-Torq. A completely different saw! See? Make sense? And I like the 372xp better. Not that the 372xp X-torq is a bad girl...just the 372 is ...better.  8)
                                                                                                                                                                          

I tend to see that terminology as you do Walter.  Easier for me to keep track on which one were talking about.  Never ran either yet.   So does the X-torq have more low RPM torque, or just a lower curve?

[ButchC]

372, 372 XP, 372 XT, 372 Ex Torq, did they make a 372 Ex Wife too?
I got a 576 because it's less confusing??? ;D

[Woodcutter_Mo]

 Good video, I didn't know there were that many differences between to 2 versions of the 372.

[wild262]

         I think there power may be out due to the storm there having in the northeast since there not answering there posts :-\.   Quite a storm up there.

[mike_belben]

Ive been porting saws (well, anythingg with ports really) for about 14 years.  The one time an X torq came to me i tore it down,  looked real hard, studied up on theory of operation which ive since forgotten and said no, i dont wanna mess this up.  Put it back together with a muffler mod and retune.  

The standard saw, i dont care what brand, is pretty straight forward and porting them is not much different than a banshee, blaster, moped or outboard.  Sorta one size nearly fits all.  Yeah you can refine it to tweak timing and overlap a little different by model or dimensions, maybe it makes more power for real or maybe its only in your head or ear.. that 1* difference in blowdown that makes sense on paper.  

short of a dyno.. Who is to say?  You ever see a chainsaw dyno?  Probably not outside of a manufacturer.  There is no chainsaw nascar or prostock or indy to pay for the equipment.  Cutting cookies on vid with a stopwatch is about as scientific as saw hot rodding gets which is better than nothing, i admit.  

The X torq jug is complicated enough that when i looked inside i said to myself, ill mess up 5 of these before i make it any better.  This aint like the 50 other jugs ive ground on.  So i leave them 100% alone.

[Nate Fether]

372, 372 XP, 372 XT, 372 Ex Torq, did they make a 372 Ex Wife too?
I got a 576 because it's less confusing??? ;D

If you buy the first four you get Xwife model for half your stuff......What a deal.

[HolmenTree]

I really liked my old edition 372XP, main reason why it was the first Husqvarna I ever bought. Very versatile saw from sporting a 16" to 24" b/c.


 

[Maine logger88]

I might be the odd man here but I like the xt saws better than the early saws. The ones I've had the xt had better power and seemed to bog less wot with the bar buried. I also like the fact that I can save 200 bucks by getting a 2166 and making it a 2172 for no money just a little time. 

[HolmenTree]

Yes the old edition 372XP is touchy in the wood. When I switched from the older Stihls (066 064 044) I found the 372 only had good power at WOT. Let off the throttle a bit in the cut while felling with the bar buried and the  chain would seize with chips jammed in the bar rails.
Keep the 372 rpm high and it was a laser in any size wood the 22" b/c could handle.

Interesting thing I  noticed when a few years later when I bought a 272XP which is 13 years older then my 2006 372XP.  The 272XP cylinder design didn't have the top end only high power capability. But more like the modern 372XP X Tork power with some grunt also on the lower midrange revs.

Ideally the older 272XP power band may be more user friendly with room to modify the porting and compression for more top end power, but in the end buying a new 372XP XT EPA regulations rules.

But later this year of 2018 we have the new Husqvarna 572XP available to buy.....Then all we can do is then is say good bye to the 372XP, so the experts say. ;)

[weimedog]

Think the 372xt hangs around for a bit ( probably because they are still in the warehouses) and the 576 goes away..:( I liked the 576's. AND to draw fire.... I can't argue with the saws capabilities. They are heavier than the OE's. Since I've had the 390's w/ light bars  in the truck, for me for the weight & vibration addition vs. OE...just run a 390. Especially with the longer bars. Just my opinion and what I in fact do so don't bother me with numbers.. I do have a variety of XT's as well. So now the work saws in the truck are (2) 562's, a "Home built" 560 for the smaller stuff, and 390's right now. Suspect the 572 will turn all that upside down...but I've got way too many saws...and those 562's are doing everything I need..and I like them. Took me a while to warm up to them.

Two projects on the bench though, building a 441 same as I did the 562's with a increase in compression and a few tweaks to the intake and transfers. And going back to restoring a 375 (372xpw)  with the torque oriented XPW top end with a little compression jump. Goal is to keep the weight down with a light B&C and some other things. even though those Oregon laminated aluminum cored bars aren't "pro" rated or "pro" level strong for bore cutting, think one of those setups will grace both the 441 and 375.

Now please stop the snow so I can get the time to finish these things..

[HolmenTree]

I kept my 562XP as I had some people waiting in line for it.
Going to need it for my tree service spring startup in a month or so when our snow finally vaporizes. BTW the majority of our snow blows in from a Colorado low and a Alberta  Clipper.  :D

I got the MS261CM handling the 50cc chores with a 16-18".
562XP will be running a 22" Windsor Speed Tip in .325 23RS chain.
My 1992 066 Arctic Mag will come out of retirement and sport it's original 28" ES bar.

I'm putting my also retired 1986 064AV back into service . I'll swap its race ported cylinder with 084 carb for a 1995 066 P/C. Will run a 20" .050  bar on it with Oregon 50AL. 404 chisel bit chain.
It will be a super lightweight 90cc powerhouse of a tree service saw, weighing under 14 1/4 lbs powerhead only.

562XP will then be a backup until when the MS462C shows up and hopefully the MS500i shortly after.

[Spike60]

576 goes away with the arrival of the 572. 372XT will continue to be manufactured for a year as the 572 gains acceptance, so it should run through 2019 and that will be it. I glad they are doing it that way, as I don't have to guess as to how many 372's I should bulk up on before it goes away.

Personal opinion: From the experience with the prototypes I had, I think the market changeover to the 572 is going to happen pretty quick. Yes, there will be those "I don't want a computer on the saw" guys, but most are anxious for the new one. Guys who tested them say it's no comparison and they are hounding me with the "when's it gonna be here" questions. And we sell so many 562's that there's a lot of guys who really want the next size up. Going to be fun when they get here. 8)

[HolmenTree]

Husqvarna 572XP looks like a very impressive saw. I mentioned in my last post about a MS462C and MS500i.....but I'm not ruling out a "Official 572XP/MS462C test".
Would be fun in my day to day Tree service adventures :laugh:

I always think YouTube videos of cookie cutting saw comparison is just down right silly.
But for entertainment here's one posted 2 weeks ago from somewhere in Europe. 572XP versus 372XP.

HUSQVARNA 572XP vs 372XP - YouTube

[starmac]

It does sound like these newfangled computerised saws are working out well. I also know it doesn't matter, we will be forced to go with them in due time, and that time is coming up shortly, so I got to ask you guys that have been messing with them a question.

Some of us old reprobates keep our stuff forever, I mean I still use a 266se, when I could have and probably even should have replaced it with a 372 years ago, how do you see the electronics holding up 20 or more years down the road?
Myself I keep things forever as long as it works, but wince I don't have that many years left using a saw, it is sort of a mute point, but there will be other guys like me that would, if they hold up.

[Spike60]

I agree that cookie cutting is pretty silly, and proves practically nothing. Yet it's amazing how much weight people put in them. I also find myself in complete agreement with your earlier 272/372 post, so I've made an appointment with my doctor to make sure I'm OK. :D

Your tests are indeed interesting, and well done with lots of details, but I don't know about applying the word "official" on any of them.   Nothing all that official when comparing a single example of each saw. What happens, and has happened forever on these sites, is that guys tend to apply whatever happens on one such comparison to every single saw on the planet. That's another downside to the cookie racing. If X beats Y, then guys think every encounter has the same result.

Your test ended with the 261 being the clear winner, which is fine as that is the one you preferred, based on your experience with them. (not to mention the first 550 was a complete lemon) But it's a matter of your preference more than it is any measurement of test data.

At about the same time you were conducting your test, a large tree company near me bought 24 550's as they preferred them to the 261's they had tried. Does their opinion carry more weight than yours does, because they are a big company? No, I wouldn't say that at all. It's still just a matter of preference. The regional manager was up here last week. Lots of storm damage and he had 50 guys and 20 bucket trucks in the area. Came in for supplies and wanted to grab a few more 562's. In the conversation he says, "I'm not a big Stihl fan. I've always been a Husky guy." It's safe to assume that some of his 50 guys would rather run a Stihl, but the boss is a Husky guy and that's what he buys.

Most of us would have to confess to a little bias in our opinions, and I'm certainly guilty myself. Saw brands, truck brands, maybe even Skippy vs Jif. But these saws are all so good that the hair splitting hardly matters.

 

[Spike60]

It does sound like these newfangled computerised saws are working out well. I also know it doesn't matter, we will be forced to go with them in due time, and that time is coming up shortly, so I got to ask you guys that have been messing with them a question.

Some of us old reprobates keep our stuff forever, I mean I still use a 266se, when I could have and probably even should have replaced it with a 372 years ago, how do you see the electronics holding up 20 or more years down the road?
Myself I keep things forever as long as it works, but wince I don't have that many years left using a saw, it is sort of a mute point, but there will be other guys like me that would, if they hold up.

That's REAL good question. And it needs a little thinking cause there aren't any Auto-Tunes that have been around as long as the 266SE. (I have a couple 266's myself.) Could be like any other electronic component, such as the coils in a 266. Most will probably last a real long time, with the occasional screw up. So far the evidence is that I can hardly think of a single AT module failure. Some need to be reset but they really don't fail. The coils in the AT saws are a little more complicated than older saws, and they are connected to the module. The days of a coil with just one wire are over I guess. But even though they are more complicated, the failure rate is no different, and truthfully it's lower than what I see on 372's and the homeowner saws. There have been a bunch of coil changes/updates. I think the 550 is on something like it's 5th coil? :laugh: But the changes were due to improving the starting and running characteristics, not a failure type of issue. There's a lot more to a coil these days than spark or no spark. There's advance curves and start curves and what not. The 576 AT has to be closing in on 10 years and they have been fine. So there's really nothing out there yet to indicate that there will be problems with this stuff down the road.

[starmac]

Good info and insight Spike.  As far as the changes made so far, that is to be expected when they are trying to get a handle on new technology. Like I said It doesn't matter that much for my own use, heck I am getting to where I am having a hard tome starting the 266, so it's days are numbered, through no fault of it's own. It would be nice if they came out with electric start, that has no bulk or weight. lol

[Maine logger88]

Good info and insight Spike.  As far as the changes made so far, that is to be expected when they are trying to get a handle on new technology. Like I said It doesn't matter that much for my own use, heck I am getting to where I am having a hard tome starting the 266, so it's days are numbered, through no fault of it's own. It would be nice if they came out with electric start, that has no bulk or weight. lol

Something like ski doos shot starting maybe?

[starmac]

I have just heard a little about skidoos system, and not 100% sure how it works. My skidoo is electric start, but it is a lot bigger starter than my 4 wheelers and I have modified it to use a full size battery, sure wouldn't work for a saw. lol