Husqvarna 592 xp vs Stihl 661

Walnut Beast · January 05, 2023, 01:20:32 AM

Ehp are you running a 661. Do you have a 500 ? Still trying to decide between a Husky 592, 500, 661 and 881. Have some big walnut on the hit list. Looking for a all in one saw that's my go to. I've cut some big walnut with my Husky 371 with the 28" bar that I really like and I don't even use the smaller Husky 55. The 500 everyone loves but if your getting into big wood what would everybody grab that has both. I'm not worried about manhandling the 881 and the flexibility of some bigger bars but I'm wondering if it would get to clumsy compared to the others. The guys that have the 880/881 your thoughts as well as all others

customsawyer · January 05, 2023, 01:27:04 AM

I don't own a 880/881 but I have ran a couple of other guys. I feel like my 660 will cut faster as it seems to have higher RPMs. I have no doubt that it has its place in certain jobs in the big timber of the PNW but that would be the only place that I could see it needed. My 660 with a 48" bar will cut anything I come across.

teakwood · January 05, 2023, 07:19:02 AM

You definitively don't want a 880 for you go to saw. they are tiering, and that was back in my 20's. they good for CSM but for freehanding you need to be a beast to work the whole day with one

Bostonstrong · January 05, 2023, 03:09:14 PM

For what's it worth.....
New member here and new to milling with a bandsaw mill. But, have run both Stihl and Husqvarna professionally and recreationally for decades. Now retired and happy to toss in a few cents. Both have made great saws and not so great ones.
Generally, I prefer saws with manually adjustable carbs. Why? I am old school and prefer to manipulate my own settings based on chain type, wood species, temperature, etc. I have had too many experiences with computer controlled saws not adjusting properly for the conditions. (You can still get a 661 with manual carb. The 585 Husky is manually adjustable but has a design defect with the upper dog bolt mount breaking). The 661, depending on the DOM has had hot start issues.
I ran a 592 and loved the feel/ergonomics. But, it, like about 20% of the 592's (per dealer feedback) has a factory defect of a kinked pulse line due to the line being too long (easy fix, nipping off a bit of it to prevent the kink). It just felt better to me from a manipulation standpoint than a 661.
At the end of the day, it boils down to comfort level in use and chain condition. I have seen countless situations (keep in mind I am referring to work saws, not loud and fancy cookie cutters) where rakers were not properly maintained, poor filing technique (or grinding), and the operator always said it was the saw. If I was buying right now, and looking for a work saw at that power level, I would lean toward the Huskys for comfort/ergonomics.

Walnut Beast · January 05, 2023, 06:50:44 PM

Welcome! Thanks for the feedback! And you other guys! Decisions! Calling around today. One of Stihl dealer has all three models in stock I'm looking at. The Husky dealer doesn't have the 592 in stock but called back and can get it in about 3 or 4 days

Woodfarmer · January 05, 2023, 08:55:36 PM

Quote from: Dave Shepard on March 25, 2022, 11:58:21 PM
500i guys spend all their time trying to keep their air filters clean. Never have to touch the 395xp. Don't know about the 592. I'd like to try one.

All lies, I don't even touch my filter.
I was so impressed with the 500, I sold off my 066 and ported 046&460.
I now have 3.
Cut 4' maple with a 32" bar no issues, no filter problems either.

<brut

So as you can see, lots of sawdust but nothing gets through to the carb throat

ehp · January 05, 2023, 09:04:10 PM

I'm lucky to tap my filter out on my 500i once a week and its never dirty , If your chain is sharp your filter does not get dirty , I have owned alot of saws in my days playing with them, If I could only take one home to use out of a 592 or the 661 and the 500i it would not even be a question as it would be the 500i , Or to put it another way if I could only get a 592 or 661 at a saw shop I would go to a different saw shop , now thats just me , I'm sure you will find some guys that love them but I do not

ehp · January 05, 2023, 09:19:27 PM

Sorry WB I did not see your post , I have owned 661's and they were ok but I like the 462 or 500i alot better for falling timber and bucking up . I have used up to a 36 inch bar setup cutting walnut on my 500i but that tree needs to be very big for me to run that long of a bar , Most times I use a 28 inch bar setup on bigger walnut so tree needs to be around 60 inches in diameter . Walnut is quite soft so you donot need a ton of power but if your 371 is doing a good job then a 500i will do a great job with very little weight difference as it has quite abit more power than your 371 , As far as the big saws goes in 99% of the cases its just for show , A 880 or 881 or 3120 running .404 chain is going to cut slower than a 500i using 3/8 chain, weigh alot more , cost alot more and sit in the back of your truck cause its a pain to use . My back tells me I donot need to run a big saw , I get paid by what I produce not how I look and at the end of the week I prefer the smaller lighter saws as I cut every bit as much volume of timber per week and I'm not worn out as bad

barbender · January 05, 2023, 09:29:30 PM

I've barely used, the barely used 500i I bought about a month ago. The muffler isn't even purple yet😁 But I do really like the way it feels in the hands, and it sounds like my old Ski-Doo MX-Zx race sled. It accelerates really fast, and has a deep throaty intake sound. Unfortunately, I haven't even buried the bar yet (and it only has a 20" on it). It does not feel like an 80cc saw weight wise at all. All of that said, I can see this saw becoming my go to.

Walnut Beast · January 05, 2023, 09:34:49 PM

Ehp appreciate the in depth feedback!!!

Dave Shepard · January 05, 2023, 09:47:23 PM

Guys at work have the 500, and love them, but yes, the air filter is an issue if you are used to the Huskies from the last 30 years.

ehp · January 05, 2023, 11:30:15 PM

The only issue that I can see with the 500i is if you are falling timber in deep soft snow where your going to have the power head down below the snow level . Where I cut now we normally donot get that depth of snow but up north does and I'm sure the filter would plug in seconds like the 660 or 460 did so you had to put a winter kit on saw to stop the snow getting to the filter

Bostonstrong · January 06, 2023, 06:52:01 AM

I have run a 500i when I was still working and they just came out. The dealer gave me one to sample. I never had any air filter issues. The guys still running them daily in tree service have had only one general complaint, and that is less durable plastics, particularly the filter cover. A few have told me the cover occasionally loosens and comes off during use. Other than that, in my realm it gets really high marks.

ehp · January 06, 2023, 05:07:21 PM

I got 5 of the 500i and zero problems ,

Walnut Beast · January 06, 2023, 06:14:29 PM

I value everybody's opinions and feedback. I've decided to get the 500. Even know I haven't run that saw the power to weigh ratio seems like there is nothing that can touch it. Plan on running the 28" bar and more than likely later get the 592 with a 32" bar. That saw is one full horsepower but two pounds heavier than the 500 and the 881 is about 6 pounds heavier than the 592 but one hp less.

Walnut Beast · January 06, 2023, 06:19:41 PM

Ehp are the springs on the 500 just fine with a 32" bar. Thanks.

ehp · January 06, 2023, 08:19:14 PM

I have had no problems but then again I never seem to.. I treat my saws very well where I have seen guys pulls their saws in half but blame the saw company . The newer saws are alot nicer to run than the older saws to me . Easy on your back and hands .

ehp · January 06, 2023, 08:22:34 PM

But you will need to run the lightest weight bars you can get to help stop the saw from being nose heavy . But you must be cutting huge stuff to need a 32 inch bar setup . I cut from both sides and make sure I bore the guts out of the tree so no stump pull

BargeMonkey · January 06, 2023, 08:36:57 PM

I think it's going in a bigger box before it makes its trip to Costa Rica on Monday.

ehp · January 06, 2023, 10:05:52 PM

He will love it , run her like you stole it lol

Skeans1 · January 07, 2023, 10:46:01 AM

Quote from: Walnut Beast on January 06, 2023, 06:19:41 PM
Ehp are the springs on the 500 just fine with a 32" bar. Thanks.

Been running them for two years with 32's and 36's the springs are so so, I don't rip on the saws either. When you flip the saw on its side with a light weight 32 it will nose down some. The filter could be better in the older Doug fir we see the dust bypass on even the husky filters but it's nothing like the Stihl filter.

Dave Shepard · January 07, 2023, 01:49:41 PM

Ran a 500i today. Nice saw. A lot of out of position cutting on crane picks, so a light saw was nice. For logging and firewood, I'll stay with my 395XP.