Need more than a top handle in a tree

Little buddy

Little buddy

Location
Monroe
Hey everyone. I'm newer to tree work looking to get an 18 to 20 inch saw up in a tree. What would you all recommend? I figured id get some experienced input rather than a salesman's.
 
I like my 241C-M with 18" full chisel, but it seems stihlusa no longer lists them! did they quit making them?
Perfect light little saw, use it with a semi-chisel for limbing on the ground too.
 
We use a Stihl 362 with RSK chain on a 20” bar. Really aggressive cutting, plenty of power, and not terribly heavy. That’s the saw I start out with when I’m on a crane, and go up from there if the cuts get bigger.
 
A lot depends on your trees and your in-tree strength, positioning, and prowess. I do a lot of conifers, and will double-cut the spar/ chase a cut around the spar on the way down if I have fuel left. Faster and easier than changing saws to pop a few logs, then ready to get into bigger wood.


What kind of trees are you dealing with? What kind of work?
 
Small operation for me. I'm going to be climbing with a ground guy, or felling. I will only be doing trees that do not need machines to move. I will not be doing crane work, and limited bucked work when it is an unsafe tree that I can't rig into something else near by. I'm starting out with what I already have, and will replace/upgrade (and get backups) as jobs need them or I can work into the budget. I have a 14in top handle as of now. I'm looking for something light that can double for in the tree and ground work. I currently use a poulan 18in, and I want to get a saw near that size that has a chain break and can withstand longer hours of use. I have a larger saw for dropping trunks, but is a little large to maneuver while breaking down stuff. The huasqavarna 550xp is a saw that a local shop recommended. The price is right, and like the size. However I'm not totally sold on the electronic carburetors. I also wanted more input rather than just relying on a sales man. I hope that
 
Little buddy said:
Small operation for me. I'm going to be climbing with a ground guy, or felling. I will only be doing trees that do not need machines to move. I will not be doing crane work, and limited bucked work when it is an unsafe tree that I can't rig into something else near by. I'm starting out with what I already have, and will replace/upgrade (and get backups) as jobs need them or I can work into the budget. I have a 14in top handle as of now. I'm looking for something light that can double for in the tree and ground work. I currently use a poulan 18in, and I want to get a saw near that size that has a chain break and can withstand longer hours of use. I have a larger saw for dropping trunks, but is a little large to maneuver while breaking down stuff. The huasqavarna 550xp is a saw that a local shop recommended. The price is right, and like the size. However I'm not totally sold on the electronic carburetors. I also wanted more input rather than just relying on a sales man. I hope that
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That was why we switched to Echo, they dont have the electronic carburetors. We had a lot of starting problems with the saws that had them.
 
Fuck all the silly arborist Stihl or Echo recommendations. Go get a Husky 550 XP with an 18" or 20" bar. Break it in properly and learn how to properly run a chipped saw and you'll thank me later. 50 cc's of angry ass whoop that will make a 18-20' sing like a bird, and there is simply nothing like it in its weight class. The fact that guys are recommending 60-70 CC saws to run a 20" bar tells me they are running the wrong saw. In this day and age a 60 CC saw should pull a 28" bar like a mofo. If not it sucks.
 
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I hated the idea of these auto tuned Husky's when they first came out, but after some very good reports from folks I trust I bought the 550XP and the 562XP. These saws run like a mildly hot rodded saw out of the box, and if hot rodded fucking forget about it. Been through a couple of each and I grin every time I dig those dawgs in.
 
rico said:
Fuck all the silly arborist Stihl or Echo recommendations. Go get a Husky 550 XP with an 18" or 20" bar. Break it in properly and learn how to properly run a chipped saw and you'll thank me later. 50 cc's of angry ass whoop that will make a 18-20' sing like a bird, and there is simply nothing like it in its weight class. The fact that guys are recommending 60-70 CC saws to run a 20" bar tells me they are running the wrong saw. In this day and age a 60 CC saw should pull a 28" bar like a mofo. If not it sucks.
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When swinging limbs and wanting Max chain speed 60-70cc is not a bad choice as you don’t have to pull full throttle each time to quickly get the chain speed up, plus climbing with a 28” in the tree when you don’t need it can be unwieldy in certain situations.

I have borrowed and used some Husky electronic saws that run with same complaints as some have with 201’s and I would have traded straight away as down payment on 390 or 395 for use in the tree...

Reading Facebook it’s seems some have had a complete turnaround of these saw’s by simply changing the wire harness as it seems the electronic saw wire harnesses may be faulty. No idea on proportional of saws affected, but may be a cheap fix for anyone with a questionable running electronic saw.
 
rico said:
Fuck all the silly arborist Stihl or Echo recommendations. Go get a Husky 550 XP with an 18" or 20" bar. Break it in properly and learn how to properly run a chipped saw and you'll thank me later. 50 cc's of angry ass whoop that will make a 18-20' sing like a bird, and there is simply nothing like it in its weight class. The fact that guys are recommending 60-70 CC saws to run a 20" bar tells me they are running the wrong saw. In this day and age a 60 CC saw should pull a 28" bar like a mofo. If not it sucks.
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50cc with a 20” bar in Aussie hardwood will make for a very long day, a 462 runs good with a 20” here and is maxed out with 25”
 
rico said:
I hated the idea of these auto tuned Husky's when they first came out, but after some very good reports from folks I trust I bought the 550XP and the 562XP. These saws run like a mildly hot rodded saw out of the box, and if hot rodded fucking forget about it. Been through a couple of each and I grin every time I dig those dawgs in.
Click to expand...
Are you still using the .325 chain on your 550XP? I was advised to change to .375 by one cat but the guy that sells the Sugi bars said don't. Your thoughts? Mine runs so good I hate to screw it up!
 
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