"Factory reconditioned" for light use

dmonn · Dec 15, 2022

I'm looking for a larger saw than my 16" Husky. I won't need it frequently, since most of the trees I work on are relatively small. My 16" saw is great for wood that's 12-14 inches, but bogs down when I need to bury the bar on bigger wood. It's a rancher model, not a pro saw.

I'm interested in getting a pro saw that will run a 24" bar without bogging down, but the new price is pretty steep for the number of times I'd use it. Right now I'm looking at a couple of willows. One is about 36" dbh and the other is a "double trunk" about 36 x 48. Chipping away at them with a 16" saw just doesn't get me excited.

What do you guys think about getting a factory reconditioned saw? They're about half the cost of a new one, which puts them in my budget, but I don't want to buy somebody else's pig.

Reach · Dec 15, 2022

In my opinion, if it comes with the same warranty as a new saw, and you’re not expecting to use it a lot anyway (though I suspect you’ll use it more than you think, once you get it and see how much faster it cuts, and how much less it vibrates) than you should be fine with a factory recon.

Jehinten · Dec 15, 2022

I don't know the Husky line very well, but I used to routinely run a stihl 391. It's a 64cc saw that I typically had a 20" bar on but can run a 28" occasionally if kept sharp. I still own that saw and after about 13 years of use it still pulls the 28" in hardwood without any trouble and has never had the engine rebuilt.

The only real downside is it's a bit heavy, but for your occaional use and from the sounds of it almost always a ground saw, the weight shouldn't be an issue. When I bought mine 13 years ago it was a $650 saw after tax.

Still not technically a pro saw, but it's at the top end of Stihls farm/ranch saws.

Matias · Dec 16, 2022

I think you're looking for either a 555 or 562. I'd go with the 562 if the extra $70 isn't too much

Dan Cobb · Dec 16, 2022

Just out of curiosity, where do you fund factory reconditioned saws? I found Northern Tool has some reconditioned Huskys at decent, but not huge, cost savings. Only have a 1 month warranty. One out of pocket repair that would be covered by the normal warranty could more than offset the cost savings, but for a reliable saw, that's not a big gamble.

Likewise, I rarely need a big saw, but bit the bullet a while back and got a 462 with a 28". I don't use it very much, but it's good to have when I need it. The saw lasts much longer than the ouch of the purchase price.

flushcut · Dec 16, 2022

dmonn said:
I'm looking for a larger saw than my 16" Husky. I won't need it frequently, since most of the trees I work on are relatively small. My 16" saw is great for wood that's 12-14 inches, but bogs down when I need to bury the bar on bigger wood. It's a rancher model, not a pro saw.

I'm interested in getting a pro saw that will run a 24" bar without bogging down, but the new price is pretty steep for the number of times I'd use it. Right now I'm looking at a couple of willows. One is about 36" dbh and the other is a "double trunk" about 36 x 48. Chipping away at them with a 16" saw just doesn't get me excited.

What do you guys think about getting a factory reconditioned saw? They're about half the cost of a new one, which puts them in my budget, but I don't want to buy somebody else's pig.

My guy just picked up a low hour 562xp for 300$. Great runner has a crack in the plastic top cover. Used deals are out there you just have to shop around. But new saw smell is soooooo intoxicating.