Another one of those Husky vs Stihl questions...

TonyD · December 01, 2004, 07:38:18 PM

My Pioneer P-28 finally broke after 25 years (how's that for getting your money's worth?), and I'm looking for a new saw. I usually cut a couple of cords a year from my lot, all hardwoods, usually taking down trees that are 10" to 14" (sometimes bigger). The Pioneer had a 16" bar; I think I'd like to run an 18" bar on the next one. I've looked at the Stihl and Husky lineups, and have narrowed it down to the Husky 350, Stihl 250, or the Stihl 270. (Desperately trying to avoid buying way more saw than I need.) I like the light weight / power / price of the 350, but also like the more user friendly features of the Stihls - 'toolless' gas and oil caps, easy access to the air cleaner and plug, and the quick chain adjuster. The 250 is down on power a bit compared to the Husky, which is why I'm also considering the 270. They all 'feel' about the same to me balance wise (althought the 270 has that extra pound or so), so there's not much to choose from there. Anybody have any opinions on the reliability of that quick chain adjustment feature on those Stihls? Seems to be a good idea, but it's a lot of plastic. Also, is there anything that the two companies do differently with the engine internals at this price point that would suggest one would be more reliable / longer lasting than the other? Any advice would be appreciated.

Avalancher · December 02, 2004, 04:56:16 AM

I have the Husky 350, and I love that saw. You cant beat the warranty that comes with all Husky saws either, far better than any saw that I know of. My only complaint is the muffler bolts kept rattling out, so I finally put some locktite on the threads and a lockwasher. Took care of the problem. I often run a 20 inch bar on it, I think 18 is standard. Even with a 20, I have cut a 36" oak without a wimper. Its light enough that when climbing up into a tree I can leash it on to my belt and it doesnt tug my drawers down :D
I find the side chain tensioner on it flawless as well, the only bummer somtimes is the small screw gets buried in sawdust sometimes, so you gotta dig it out with a scrench, but you gotta get the scrench out to adjust the chain anyway so no big deal.
Best $250 I ever spent

tony_marks · December 02, 2004, 05:56:01 AM

well the fact u pioneer was 25 yrs old kinda hints u mite be getting older u self... id plan for future strength losses and opt for the 361 stihl.. buy one time and make life easy..or just as good an well set up 346xp.or 357 xp,. then u can be working an hr. or so longer without feeling it..
however the saws u mentioned will all do fine i would expect..
that quick adjust stuff is not something ive done.. they seem pretty easy to adjust like they are..jmo good luck

TonyD · December 02, 2004, 07:33:23 AM

"well the fact u pioneer was 25 yrs old kinda hints u mite be getting older u self" Ain't that the truth!!! ;D That Stihl 361 is probably more saw than I need, but I'll have to think a little more on that 346XP - nice and light, just a little more than I was planning on spending. Avalancher - sounds like that 350 is treating you pretty good. It does look like a great saw - especially at the $250 price point. Was that an internet purchase? The local dealers here are all sticking to the $299 price.

Bushwhacker · December 02, 2004, 09:09:45 AM

TonyD
I have a Stihl 250 that's just getting broke in and I like the saw. It has lots of power for its size and easy to run. My opinion would hinge on how good the dealer is. Here there is no Husqvarna servicing dealer. (Just Lowes and Sears)
Therefore, I have no experience with Husqvarna. My experience with stihl has been good. 018,MS250,MS360 & MS460. Good Luck and I hope your new one is as good as your old one was.

TonyD · December 02, 2004, 12:19:18 PM

Bushwacker

The 250 also sounds like a good saw. What size wood do you use that on? Does it have enough oomph for a 12" to 14" log? Also, is that the 'C' model, with the quick chain adjustment feature? Just curious as to what you might think of that, as far as whether it would be prone to break.

SasquatchMan · December 02, 2004, 04:02:50 PM

I was impressed with the Stihl 270 I ran a few weeks ago. Nice weight and decent power - the anti-vibe is really plush - very soft in cut.

I'm a big fan of the new Stihl caps, and I like the Stihl switch/choke system a lot better than the Husky design.

That said, the Husky 350 has a pretty solid record, and the new stihls don't have enough track time to compare....

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those saws...

Avalancher · December 03, 2004, 05:18:25 AM

Im ashamed to admit that I bought my Husky 350 at Lowes. I avoid the place like the plague, but the Husky dealer 5 blocks down from Lowes said he couldnt match the 249.99 deal on the same saw, so I bought it there.
He gave me a funny look the first time I brought it in about the constant muffler bolts backing out, mentioned that it would be several weeks until he got it back to me. I went home after stopping at the hardware store for some small lockwashers and fixed it myself.
We became friends again when I spent some of my hard earned wood milling dollars on a new Husky riding mower at his shop :D

Bushwhacker · December 03, 2004, 08:53:12 AM

TonyD
I've been using my 250 on trees up to 12 -14 inch diameter. I cut primarily Mesquite and it's a plenty hard wood. It is amazing what it does (for it's size). Unless I'm going for some big stuff or do some milling, I don't even get my 460 out.
Mine is not the "C" model. The 018 is a "C"model, and the adjuster works great. It's a little awkward to deal with changing chains though. It has not given any problems,but I don't know about the durability on a larger saw. Probably OK

leweee · December 03, 2004, 09:46:07 AM

Tony D wrote
"more user friendly features of the Stihls - 'toolless' gas and oil caps". This feature has been the biggest complaint to Stihl from professtional loggers & arborists. In a perfect world these caps would work fine. Add sawdust & field filling & that recessed lip on quarter turn cap ,you have anything but" User Friendly". Just my 2 cents CDN.

PS Other than those caps I stihl like um. :

beenthere · December 03, 2004, 10:21:24 AM

My old Stihl (041) has the plug-type oil and gas "caps" (also toolless), and the new one (MS361) has the ¼ turn plug with bail to flip up to twist.

I'm puzzled what there is to 'like' or 'not like' about either? ???

The only thing I can think of about the ¼ turn plug is the chance of dirt getting down and around the depression where the bail fits. Is that the 'dislike' referred to? ???

I'm not looking for anything to be 'dis-satisfied' about, but if anything comparing the 'old' and the 'new', I would say the old 041 is a lot better at starting on idle after shutting off, than the new MS361. I don't like to have to set the ½ choke and pull twice to get the saw going again (and then its not on idle when doing that). I prefer to switch 'on', pull once, and be running and ready to saw. Because of that, I use the old 041 over the new.

TonyD · December 03, 2004, 06:13:25 PM

Thanks for all the input! I'll think I'll do some more 'kicking the tires' tomorrow, and hopefully come home with a saw. Time to stop talking and start cutting!

leweee · December 03, 2004, 06:16:14 PM

beenthere.....sounds like you don't like those EPA fixed jet carbs on the newer saws either .Call me old fashioned but I stihl prefer a saw with adjustable jets. Makes them old saws more valuable to me. Just my 4cents CDN. ;D

TonyD · December 05, 2004, 03:31:49 PM

   I ended up getting the Husky 350. After looking at the saws in question again, I decided I did like the feel of the Husky a little more, and also that the the power / weight / price of the Husky outweighed the the features of the Stihls. (If it takes me 45 seconds longer to adjust the chain, well, I could usually use the rest anyways!) I spent yesterday and today taking down and cutting up a half dozen trees. What did I think? My first reaction was, "Holy crap, do these new saws cut!!!" I don't know how much faster these turn than my old Pioneer, but I would expect a least a couple thousand rpm's. The combo of that plus the brand new chain made it seem to cut like that proverbial hot knife thru butter. Big fun!! I'll be taking down a couple somewhat larger trees next weekend, so that'll be more of a test. I expect it'll do just fine. Saw's smooth, too. The anti vibe seems to work really well on the 350.

   So, thanks for all the input. I expect any of those 3 saws would've worked just fine. I managed somehow to stay within budget, which doesn't usually happen when I'm buying 'toys'. That being said, after seeing how this saw cuts, I can't help but wonder what one of those modified 346XP's would be like. Same weight, 4 HP, and another couple thousand rpm's. Hmmm..... Anybody want to buy a very slightly used 350? ;D

leweee · December 05, 2004, 05:21:18 PM

Ahh....nothing like the smell of fuel from them Hotsaws. 8) 8) 8)
A good woods mod on that Husky and you'll think that out of the box saw is slow....but you'll be way over budget then

;D :D :D

PowerNewbie · December 11, 2004, 09:22:55 AM

I got a Stihl 250 a few months ago and I really like it. The dealer, who sells both Stihl and Husqvarna, steered me to it. I opted not to get the "C" model because it looked like a bunch of stuff that might break, plus as someone already pointed out, the quick chain adjuster looked like it would complicate chain R&R. (But I DO like the purge pump primer on my Stihl brushcutter.)

One point about the toolless caps - they aren't foolproof. This fool filled the oil and gas tanks, then carried the saw about 1000 feet downhill to start work. Only then did I realize that I hadn't closed the oil cap and had to walk all the way back up to refill the it.