Old timer needs to replace old timer with what?

[man1nvan]

I have killed my 254xp 🥺 i bought it new back in the last century and used it professionally for 10 years and it has done farm work ever since it was run over by the tractor and a land rover but I finally did it in by forgetting to put oil in the petrol....idiot.    Anyway what is going to give me the same happy hacking experience?  I like Huskies but have little Stihl which has been brilliant as well. Battery would be ok too. Advice from young whippersnappers gratefully received 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[aswales]

Rebuild it...if you really really love it...!!!

[Mick Dempsey]

30 minutes ago, man1nvan said:

I have killed my 254xp 🥺 i bought it new back in the last century and used it professionally for 10 years and it has done farm work ever since it was run over by the tractor and a land rover but I finally did it in by forgetting to put oil in the petrol....idiot.    Anyway what is going to give me the same happy hacking experience?  I like Huskies but have little Stihl which has been brilliant as well. Battery would be ok too. Advice from young whippersnappers gratefully received 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 560 is the obvious replacement. 
You could drop a category and get a 550. 
254 was a great saw, had a few, got unlucky with the 357,  both blew up rather early, but the 560 soldiers on. 
 

[Conor Wright]

As mick said, hard to go wrong with a 560.  stihl 261 if you're thinking of changing brand.

 

For occasional use the makita/dolmar offerings are well regarded but not sure about availability anymore. Echo make good saws, 501 would be comparable to 550. anti vibe isn't as good as stihl or husqvarna but I've found my few to be reliable saws. A step down from the big two but not bad machines.

 

If you want to cheap out and take a chance on chinesium the holzforma brand copy some of the older saws, mate of mine has the stihl 660 copy and it's a good grunty saw for occasional use, maybe they do a 254 copy?

[aswales]

My go too saw is my battery husqvarna 536 LiXP which I've been using for 5 years...only bring the petrol stuff out if there's a lot of thick timber to cut and need the extra power

[man1nvan]

Thanks guys,  i decided the 550 would do the job.....but if you think tomatoes are hard to come by  at the moment try buying a new husky!😂After another 10 minutes on the phone add the 261 to that list.  looks like my only option is to rebuild the old 254 after all

Edited February 27, 2023 by man1nvan

[aswales]

If you are having trouble sourcing a Husqvarna saw try some of the North Yorkshire dealers, Gardner Engineering in Scarborough, Steam and Moorland in Pickering, Sam Turner's

 

[Brushcutter]

Husky 550 is 50cc and not too far away from the 254. The 560 is 60cc and a bit heavier than the 550xp. If you want a Stihl a 261 and a 362 are the direct counterparts. Personally I'd have the ms400 which is 65cc or so.  All of these are a lot of money now. Maybe cheaper to do an aftermarket pot and piston.

[adw]

13 minutes ago, Brushcutter said:

Husky 550 is 50cc and not too far away from the 254. The 560 is 60cc and a bit heavier than the 550xp. If you want a Stihl a 261 and a 362 are the direct counterparts. Personally I'd have the ms400 which is 65cc or so.  All of these are a lot of money now. Maybe cheaper to do an aftermarket pot and piston.

Aftermarket cylinder on a 254! sacrilege.

[spudulike]

You could clean up the cylinder and fit a new piston. There has been a fair bit written on this subject on a number of chainsaw threads on this site.