I've run both. I have no complaints about either. My Sthil ms290 has only failed me when I neglected it. But like a good rifle, what works for me might not for the next guy. Either way..a nice video.
I have had several of both brands over the years (I cut a LOT of wood when we lived in Siskiyou and Humboldt counties). Generally like the Stihls a little more but both brands are good quality.
I may be going over to Echo after many years of Huskies . I got one last year and so far I love it . Cuts a cord of wood for around a third of the fuel as my Huskies and 4 year warranty without buying their expensive mixed gas. I have two retired Stihls and the ignition went kaput in both . No more Stihls for me .
I've run two Echos recently, and was impressed with how well they cut. In the past I've used Sthils and several others including an old Poulan bow saw that was a very good cutter. I'll have to borrow the Echos again this weekend as someone stole my nearly new Husky 455 ( which I was very happy with, except I think it was louder than the Echos). I can't split large rounds any more, so I am ripping them into slabs about 4" thick then splitting. The Husky cut fine that way, but the chips would pile up inside it and try to bind the chain. That was my only gripe about it.
I will probably buy an Echo to replace the stolen Husky as it is a good price on a good saw. If you buy one, they do have "P" model that is a "pro" saw. One of the ones I run is a 680P. It has enough power to override the brake though ( about 80.00 to replace).
I have a Husky 455 rancher and a Stihl 211. Both good saws. The Husky is for dropping big trees, stihl for smaller branches. Being a seasoned citizen I like the Stihl because it weighs a lot less than my husky, I replaced the factory carburetor on the Husky a few years back but otherwise it’s been great on pre-mixed fuel. I cut 10+ cords a year for my hungry wood furnace (big house...). No preference for either brand, both work great. Easy to setup the chain sharpener for either brand.
I inherited a pro series Stihl. It was gummed up and I had to put a carb on it. It ran once and needs another carb. I also have a 30 year old Poulan 25. It starts on the second pull every time and I have had to replace the fuel lines because the got hard and cracked.
I've never used a Husqvarna. I have about a 1-year-old Stihl with a 20 inch bar. There's no way, no way I could cold-start the Stihl the way he did. He has a lot better build than I do, which is part of it, but also, I *have to* hold the gas trigger full on while starting. That means I set the saw down, put a knee with most of my body weight on the saw body, holding the handle with my left hand, finger on the trigger, and pulling the starting cord with my right arm. It gets cold after about 15 minutes. Other than being kind of a pain in the ass to cold-start, it's a good saw.
re: Throttle full open while starting. I never thought about it before, but that's how I've always started a saw. If it's a short bar I hold the grip, throttle wide open, and pull the starter cord. If the bar is long enough to hit the ground when starting I lay the bar on a limb or down tree and pull the starter. Either way, I had never thought about the fact that I don't start a saw while it's at idle. Learn something new every day.
I like them both. I was all about Shihl for many years, since the 60's. I bought a Huskie in the 90's and was sold on them. Both great saws. I started with the Mccullah. Ran like champ but don't shut them off. I graduated to the Homelite. Both these saws had the ol thumb button for oiling the chain. Then as said in the 60's I bought my first Stihl.
I've been running Stihl pro models only for many years, including as a timber faller. Take care of them, be very picky about your gas and the mix oil, and they will run for a very long time. His MS311 is not a pro model. Now I'm going to watch the video.
I run Stihl's, treat them like red-headed step kids and they won't die. That being said Husky's are great too. I love chainsaws. I have cut tens of thousands of trees, blow out the air filter, don't let crap get into the tanks, keep a sharp blade and they will earn their keep.
I bought a Makita saw off of Amazon last year...the price was too good to pass up. Those that know, know that Makita bought a German company called Dolmar a few years back, so if you buy a Makita saw, you're actually buying a Dolmar.
I had a Stihl of some variety. It would run fine as long as you ran it every couple of days or it would not start and back to the shop. This with expensive pre-mixed can gas too. I finally said to the shop, eff this, what really works? They sold me a Dolmar that's been bullet proof for like five years now. Hit the choke, pull it a couple times, flip off the choke and fires right up. It wasn't cheap, but cheaper than paying to keep that Stihl running.
Your mileage may vary. I'm pretty sure the Stihl was never right from the get-go, and that most of them are fine or they wouldn't still be in business, but one and done for me.
Used to use Jonsered back in the old days but have used chinese Baumr for about 7 years now . Cost me $150. Had a coil fail ($30) but that's all. Treat it hard, leave it outside on a woodpile covered by a plastic bag! Estimate about 20 or so face cords with it so not bad!
Husky XP....been running them for years and they sound great. My 372 idles like a tweaked dirt bike....love it. If you know how to run a file they both get the job dun. Kinda like Ford vs Chevy. R
My repairman says it's a wash. Both good quality stuff. I own both. One of the neat features on Husky's four cycle stuff is that you never have to change the oil. It burns it up in use and you just have to keep it topped off.
My little Stihl Farm Boss with a 20" bar runs like a raped ape. If I have to pull the cord more than twice to start it, I know something's wrong - usually need to clean or replace the air filter or replace the in tank fuel filter.
Just have to keep the chain sharp and lubed...
Brother-in-law has a Husky that's never been right from the day it was new. He always wants to borrow mine. Nope. I don't loan out a chainsaw. No way. No how. As soon as someone else runs it, it will never run the same again.
Was riding motorcycle on a back road about 7 years ago. saw something in the ditch. Went back and found a Stihl MS 440. About 50 foot farther up the ditch was a Stihl 038. Both had broken handles. MS440 also needed the breather cover, breather, and breather mount. Ran add in local paper. No one every claimed. $278 for parts at the local Dealer. Have two excellent saws. Also have Husky 455. The 038 and 455 run head to head in oak wood. The 440 walks off from both.
I fought fires all over the US on IR crew back in the eighties, if the saw manufactures saw how we started their saws one handed they would have banned us. Hand grip on-yank rope- go to town. They would have been happy for sales because we threw several saws in the fire when the fire blew up on us and we had to run for our lives straight up a 20 foot cliff in the dark at Big Sur. Fire was right on our ass, burning holes in my shirt, melting parts of my hard hat. After being sent 3 times down into that hole and being chased out 3 times we threatened to kill our boss if he sent us back down in there. He left us alone all night after that. The boss was a lifer Idaho forest service guy who got canned after that fire. Good.
Either one in a pro or prosumer grade will get my jobs done
ReplyDeleteI've run both. I have no complaints about either. My Sthil ms290 has only failed me when I neglected it.
ReplyDeleteBut like a good rifle, what works for me might not for the next guy.
Either way..a nice video.
OMG, I have a Husqvarna Topaz embroidery machine. You can imagine what went through my mind.
ReplyDeleteI have had several of both brands over the years (I cut a LOT of wood when we lived in Siskiyou and Humboldt counties). Generally like the Stihls a little more but both brands are good quality.
ReplyDeleteI may be going over to Echo after many years of Huskies . I got one last year and so far I love it . Cuts a cord of wood for around a third of the fuel as my Huskies and 4 year warranty without buying their expensive mixed gas. I have two retired Stihls and the ignition went kaput in both . No more Stihls for me .
ReplyDeleteMy Echo 16" is no slouch.
DeleteI've run two Echos recently, and was impressed with how well they cut.
DeleteIn the past I've used Sthils and several others including an old Poulan bow saw that was a very good cutter.
I'll have to borrow the Echos again this weekend as someone stole my nearly new Husky 455 ( which I was very happy with, except I think it was louder than the Echos).
I can't split large rounds any more, so I am ripping them into slabs about 4" thick then splitting. The Husky cut fine that way, but the chips would pile up inside it and try to bind the chain. That was my only gripe about it.
I will probably buy an Echo to replace the stolen Husky as it is a good price on a good saw.
If you buy one, they do have "P" model that is a "pro" saw. One of the ones I run is a 680P. It has enough power to override the brake though ( about 80.00 to replace).
My dealer quit selling Stihl,said they wanted $50,000 franchise fee.
ReplyDeleteThe husky is running great,second one.
I have a Husky 455 rancher and a Stihl 211. Both good saws. The Husky is for dropping big trees, stihl for smaller branches. Being a seasoned citizen I like the Stihl because it weighs a lot less than my husky, I replaced the factory carburetor on the Husky a few years back but otherwise it’s been great on pre-mixed fuel. I cut 10+ cords a year for my hungry wood furnace (big house...). No preference for either brand, both work great. Easy to setup the chain sharpener for either brand.
ReplyDeleteNice video!
I am on my third MS271 in less than 6 years.
ReplyDeleteIve got one of each. They both do good jobs. Just bought one of those Stihl chain sharpeners and that thing kicks ass. Pricey but rocks.
ReplyDeleteSkipperdaddy
I inherited a pro series Stihl. It was gummed up and I had to put a carb on it. It ran once and needs another carb. I also have a 30 year old Poulan 25. It starts on the second pull every time and I have had to replace the fuel lines because the got hard and cracked.
ReplyDeleteHusqvarna also makes guns.
ReplyDeleteI've never used a Husqvarna. I have about a 1-year-old Stihl with a 20 inch bar.
ReplyDeleteThere's no way, no way I could cold-start the Stihl the way he did. He has a lot better build than I do, which is part of it, but also, I *have to* hold the gas trigger full on while starting. That means I set the saw down, put a knee with most of my body weight on the saw body, holding the handle with my left hand, finger on the trigger, and pulling the starting cord with my right arm. It gets cold after about 15 minutes.
Other than being kind of a pain in the ass to cold-start, it's a good saw.
re: Throttle full open while starting.
DeleteI never thought about it before, but that's how I've always started a saw. If it's a short bar I hold the grip, throttle wide open, and pull the starter cord. If the bar is long enough to hit the ground when starting I lay the bar on a limb or down tree and pull the starter.
Either way, I had never thought about the fact that I don't start a saw while it's at idle. Learn something new every day.
I would rather a Shindaiwa, over that crap.
ReplyDeleteI like them both. I was all about Shihl for many years, since the 60's. I bought a Huskie in the 90's and was sold on them. Both great saws. I started with the Mccullah. Ran like champ but don't shut them off. I graduated to the Homelite. Both these saws had the ol thumb button for oiling the chain. Then as said in the 60's I bought my first Stihl.
ReplyDeleteMeh. Kinda suspected how that would turn out. One word: torque. Sthil doesn't specify it. Why not?
ReplyDeleteMy 575XP works for me.
ReplyDeleteAs does the 38" snowblower and riding lawnmower from the same company.
I've been running Stihl pro models only for many years, including as a timber faller.
ReplyDeleteTake care of them, be very picky about your gas and the mix oil, and they will run for a very long time.
His MS311 is not a pro model.
Now I'm going to watch the video.
Tim in Alaska
I run Stihl's, treat them like red-headed step kids and they won't die. That being said
ReplyDeleteHusky's are great too. I love chainsaws. I have cut tens of thousands of trees, blow out the air filter, don't let crap get into the tanks, keep a sharp blade and they will earn their keep.
I bought a Makita saw off of Amazon last year...the price was too good to pass up.
ReplyDeleteThose that know, know that Makita bought a German company called Dolmar a few years back, so if you buy a Makita saw, you're actually buying a Dolmar.
I had a Stihl of some variety. It would run fine as long as you ran it every couple of days or it would not start and back to the shop. This with expensive pre-mixed can gas too. I finally said to the shop, eff this, what really works? They sold me a Dolmar that's been bullet proof for like five years now. Hit the choke, pull it a couple times, flip off the choke and fires right up. It wasn't cheap, but cheaper than paying to keep that Stihl running.
DeleteYour mileage may vary. I'm pretty sure the Stihl was never right from the get-go, and that most of them are fine or they wouldn't still be in business, but one and done for me.
H
Used to use Jonsered back in the old days but have used chinese Baumr for about 7 years now . Cost me $150. Had a coil fail ($30) but that's all. Treat it hard, leave it outside on a woodpile covered by a plastic bag!
ReplyDeleteEstimate about 20 or so face cords with it so not bad!
I used both in the FD mostly to ventilate roofs and ran the wheels off of them after the hurricanes. I'll be happy to use either.
ReplyDeleteHusky XP....been running them for years and they sound great. My 372 idles like a tweaked dirt bike....love it. If you know how to run a file they both get the job dun. Kinda like Ford vs Chevy.
ReplyDeleteR
My repairman says it's a wash. Both good quality stuff. I own both. One of the neat features on Husky's four cycle stuff is that you never have to change the oil. It burns it up in use and you just have to keep it topped off.
ReplyDeleteHusky, hands down.
ReplyDeleteMy little Stihl Farm Boss with a 20" bar runs like a raped ape. If I have to pull the cord more than twice to start it, I know something's wrong - usually need to clean or replace the air filter or replace the in tank fuel filter.
ReplyDeleteJust have to keep the chain sharp and lubed...
Brother-in-law has a Husky that's never been right from the day it was new. He always wants to borrow mine. Nope. I don't loan out a chainsaw. No way. No how. As soon as someone else runs it, it will never run the same again.
Was riding motorcycle on a back road about 7 years ago. saw something in the ditch. Went back and found a Stihl MS 440. About 50 foot farther up the ditch was a Stihl 038. Both had broken handles. MS440 also needed the breather cover, breather, and breather mount. Ran add in local paper. No one every claimed. $278 for parts at the local Dealer. Have two excellent saws. Also have Husky 455. The 038 and 455 run head to head in oak wood. The 440 walks off from both.
ReplyDeleteI fought fires all over the US on IR crew back in the eighties, if the saw manufactures saw how we started their saws one handed they would have banned us. Hand grip on-yank rope- go to town. They would have been happy for sales because we threw several saws in the fire when the fire blew up on us and we had to run for our lives straight up a 20 foot cliff in the dark at Big Sur. Fire was right on our ass, burning holes in my shirt, melting parts of my hard hat. After being sent 3 times down into that hole and being chased out 3 times we threatened to kill our boss if he sent us back down in there. He left us alone all night after that. The boss was a lifer Idaho forest service guy who got canned after that fire. Good.
ReplyDelete