NEW Makita chainsaw

[openspaceman]

3 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I’m saying this is not a replacement for a petrol 550.

So where does it sit in the range of saws or is it just for next to the chipper?

 

You cut 3 logs on the video but would it cut half a cubic metre bulked on your 300Wh battery?

[Mick Dempsey]

7 hours ago, openspaceman said:

So where does it sit in the range of saws or is it just for next to the chipper?

 

You cut 3 logs on the video but would it cut half a cubic metre bulked on your 300Wh battery?

Good question, and at the moment I don’t know.

[Peter 1955]

14 hours ago, Mark_Skyland said:

. Stihl state that you need to use the AP 500 S. Although you can use other batteries their machine will only run a power level 3 with the 500 S. I think husky need to be more clear if certain batteries produce less power or not.

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely correct. However, personally, I haven't found any advantage running at level 3, and I didn't think I could detect a performance improvement. I've seen Youtube videos where it cut faster on level 2, and I wonder if it's a question of the battery needing to be absolutely in tip top form to cope with the presumably higher current drain. Again, it's only empirical, but at level 2 it seems to me to almost pull in extra power when it's made to work hard. 

I've seen cordless drills where simply putting a higher capacity battery on allowed higher performance, which seems to fit that theory. 

As an aside to what someone posted elsewhere, when using my MSA 300 in cold weather, the battery performance went through the floor. Enough to make me change to the 261 for a time.  

[Stubby]

I watched Micks vid of his saw going through some smallish dia stuff and it looked fairly quick . Does anyone think that because you don't hear an engine screaming away it seems slower when it actually isn't ? Just an observation . Without timing them side by side its hard to say for sure . 

[Mick Dempsey]

Update, frankly it’s crap, slower than the 542i, to my mind it’s because they put a different bar chain combo, they’re using a chain that needs the 4.8 file (like the petrol 550) which it cannot drive through bigger wood.

the 542 uses a thinner chain (4mm file) which zips through.

 

I’ll get a replacement sprocket/chain/bar put on, hopefully not at my expense and report back.

[Mark Bolam]

Why don’t you put a bigger blade on it to make it more powerful?

[Stere]

Looking at few videos on YT it seemed to stall crosscutting in the bigger stuff unless nursed.

 

 

You can get  a bigger battery that makes it "like a 60cc saw"

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Josey Wales]

Looking at your video you have the older BLi300 battery. The newer BX series have an orange trim. I think Kram and Mark Skyland are spot on in that the full potential of this saw can only be judged with the batteries designed for it. Attached a screenshot from Husqvarna that basically repeats what Mark Skyland has already said.

Not sure personally if putting 1.3 chain, like the 542i has on it, will make any difference. I could be wrong. It won't be the first time nor the last. 

Used a 542i with the new BX battery in it. Very impressed, the clutch made a huge difference. Does the 550i have a clutch? Everything i have read does not say.

[kram]

23 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Update, frankly it’s crap, slower than the 542i, to my mind it’s because they put a different bar chain combo, they’re using a chain that needs the 4.8 file (like the petrol 550) which it cannot drive through bigger wood.

the 542 uses a thinner chain (4mm file) which zips through.

 

I’ll get a replacement sprocket/chain/bar put on, hopefully not at my expense and report back.

I doubt theres a huge difference between .325 and 3/8" chain if you compare two of the same gauge and chisel type. Both saws use 1.3mm 0.050" gauge, full chisel chain?

Some new chains are supplied a bit blunt (Panther for example). Sharpened it?

[markieg31]

Been using my husky battery stuff for a couple of years recently the pole saw, one cut it worked the next it did not, same battery fine in the hedge trimmer so battery seemingly okay. Saw climber used it for one cut, then went to gob another piece and it just stopped again. These things are great when they are going but somewhat frustrating when they stop with no warning or reason.