Chainsaw Shopping

[islandarb]

Sam 13, running ported 372xp.

 

[islandarb]

Appreciate a person who shops both sides of the aisle

I love them both. Each has great offerings for different scenarios.

 

[southsoundtree]

I use 32" pretty often tbh. Used it about a dozen times since the new year already. Our average tree removal size keeps increasing.

I used the 261 where I can for stumping, but like yesterday it wouldn't go near halfway through the tree.

Being useful and being necessary are different things.

Sometimes, it's both useful and necessary.

With joint issues, I lean toward lighter saws and patience.

 

[27RMT0N]

Besides 'just' the saws, do yourself and your crew a HUGE favor and only run lightweight bars. It makes such a difference in wear and tear on your body, and I use them on all of my saws.

 

[southsoundtree]

Ported saws will definitely get you more power in a lighter package. As long as oiling isn't a limitation, it's going to get you more bar capacity in a lighter package. With a lighter powerhead, a longer, lightweight bar should (from my armchair) balance better. Be sure to keep your bar groove cleaned out to help the oil flowing.

 

[Matias]

T542i w/ 14"
Ported 550xp w/18"
572xp w/24"
592xp w/ 36"

That's my current setup. Unlike a lot of guys I wasn't a fan of the 562xp. It just didn't fit in anywhere for me. A ported 550 will get closer to the 562 in power while being significantly lighter and more nimble. Great for in tree cutting. And then by the time I'm ready to swap out my 550 I might as well make a 20cc jump instead of the 10cc. So I grab my 572. Same logic with going from the 572xp to 592xp.

The 550 and 572 stay on the truck at all times and I carry a 28" bar and chain that I can swap onto the 572 if a situation comes up where I feel I need the extra bit. The 592 rarely leaves my basement. I had it out less than 10 times last year.

People preach the 395xp and rightfully so, but having upgraded to the 592xp I feel it's a better package.

This is what I am going for, but with multiple options in the top handles

 

[Boomslang]

This is what I am going for, but with multiple options in the top handles

I have a gasser T540 mk3 that keeps the 592 company in the basement as a backup top handle. I don't do much pruning, so I never saw the need to get into a lighter topper.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Besides 'just' the saws, do yourself and your crew a HUGE favor and only run lightweight bars. It makes such a difference in wear and tear on your body, and I use them on all of my saws.

That's good to know. I've not ran the light bars much.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Ported saws will definitely get you more power in a lighter package. As long as oiling isn't a limitation, it's going to get you more bar capacity in a lighter package. With a lighter powerhead, a longer, lightweight bar should (from my armchair) balance better. Be sure to keep your bar groove cleaned out to help the oil flowing.

Are oilers upgradeable?

 

[chiselbit]

16”- ported stihl 201
20”- stock husqvarna 550
24”- ported husqvarna 550
28”- ported stihl 400 and ported husky 562
32”- ported stihl 500i and ported stihl 462
36”- ported stihl 500i and 661
Light weight bars on everything 24” and longer

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Another thing to mention is the cold. I remember our old 550xp ran terrible when temps dipped below 32 fahrenheit. We're seeing -30 with wind chill today.

Are battery saws no bueno in extreme cold (we will work to -10 or -15 if there's no wind)?

How does cold temps affect improved saws, be it oiling or just running?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

16”- ported stihl 201
20”- stock husqvarna 550
24”- ported husqvarna 550
28”- ported stihl 400 and ported husky 562
32”- ported stihl 500i and ported stihl 462
36”- ported stihl 500i and 661
Light weight bars on everything 24” and longer

What kind of longevity to you get out of the ported saws???

 

[chiselbit]

When done right they should last just as long or longer. I clean them frequently, run clean filters and sharp chains, change the spark plugs, the most common failure I see is greenhorns pinching the bar and breaking the av systems when they yank on them. Which since I have a small crew and we do intense saw training it only occurs briefly. Edit to add: the greenhorns don’t get to play with the ported saws until they’ve gotten all their stupid saw behavior out of their system

 

[Boomslang]

Another thing to mention is the cold. I remember our old 550xp ran terrible when temps dipped below 32 fahrenheit. We're seeing -30 with wind chill today.

Are battery saws no bueno in extreme cold (we will work to -10 or -15 if there's no wind)?

How does cold temps affect improved saws, be it oiling or just running?

Batteries will drain faster in the cold.

You may have had a 550 mark 1 which had problems with the autotune. The new versions fixed that issue.

If you're working in cold conditions frequently do your crew a favour and get some heated handles.

 

[southsoundtree]

I don't use a ported ms460 as much as I used to. I got it used from a residential tree guy about 12+ years ago. Used to belong to a logger before him.

Never gives a problem.


Woods-ported run cooler and last, whereas racing-ported saws burn up faster, from what I hear.

I've typically got a 28 or 32" on that 460.

You might find good info on bar oil thinning for extra cold conditions.

 

[Matias]

I don't use a ported ms460 as much as I used to. I got it used from a residential tree guy about 12+ years ago. Used to belong to a logger before him.

Never gives a problem.


Woods-ported run cooler and last, whereas racing-ported saws burn up faster, from what I hear.

I've typically got a 28 or 32" on that 460.

You might find good info on bar oil thinning for extra cold conditions.

I didn't know their were different ways to port saws like that. I will definitely be looking for a woods style port job.

 

[southsoundtree]

Eat plugs and eat muffs for me.


I'll go for the old 460 over my low hours 461 and low hours 661 most of the time.
The 661 has its place, for sure.

I'm 51. I don't have joint issues, just trying to pace my myself and avoid them.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

When done right they should last just as long or longer. I clean them frequently, run clean filters and sharp chains, change the spark plugs, the most common failure I see is greenhorns pinching the bar and breaking the av systems when they yank on them. Which since I have a small crew and we do intense saw training it only occurs briefly. Edit to add: the greenhorns don’t get to play with the ported saws until they’ve gotten all their stupid saw behavior out of their system

That's a really good point. I hadn't thought of it. Keeping a few standard saws around for folks to learn with. You can hurt someone in a hurry with an overpowered saw and full comp chain if they don't know to expect the difference.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Batteries will drain faster in the cold.

You may have had a 550 mark 1 which had problems with the autotune. The new versions fixed that issue.

If you're working in cold conditions frequently do your crew a favour and get some heated handles.

Do normal saws have heated handles? I'm all game for that. My hands get cold, I don't want anyone to have it worse than me on my crew. Lol.

Side note: anyone had a heater in their lift? Saw a post on FB about having the dealer install a heater in the CMC.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I don't use a ported ms460 as much as I used to. I got it used from a residential tree guy about 12+ years ago. Used to belong to a logger before him.

Never gives a problem.


Woods-ported run cooler and last, whereas racing-ported saws burn up faster, from what I hear.

I've typically got a 28 or 32" on that 460.

You might find good info on bar oil thinning for extra cold conditions.

I run the equivalent of atf for bar oil. Stays mostly thin to -20. I'll have to start thinking about thinning. Not something I'd worried about before.

Glad to know the longevity is there. I'm happy to splurge on good tools for the crew. Haha. I'm mean to myself, but I'll give to others happily.