NEW Makita chainsaw

[Mark_Skyland]

2 hours ago, Stere said:

You could put a LP   .325 chain on the same bar and sprocket for a narrower  kerf

 

 

I reckon worth a go for £15 or whatever.

 

 

 

SP33G is the "pixel"  .325 husky C33 is standard .325 husky chain i think.

 

Weird they didn't spec the pixel?

 

Maybe a wider chain clears chip faster?

 

 

 

The SP33G is a semi chisel chain. The C33 is a 1.3m gauge but full chisel, I don't know if the width of the C33 is the same as the SP33G.

 

[Josey Wales]

The 542i comes as standard with X-Cut SP33G semi-chisel chain at .325 pitch and the groove width/drive link thickness is 1.3mm/.050". 

The 550i, it would appear as per Mark Skyland's post, comes as standard with X-Cut C33 full chisel, also at .325 pitch and 1.3mm/.050" groove width/drive link thickness.

The only difference between the two is the cutter profile. Otherwise they are interchangeable between the two saws.

If it was me i would be seeing how the 542i runs on the full chisel chain whilst waiting for the BX battery.

I would also politely suggest as per your post on Thursday that you reevaluate your use of a 4mm file on the 542i's chain. Both the SP33G and C33 need a 4.8 mm file. Sorry.

[Josey Wales]

One amendment i would make to the above post is that the 542i seems to be sold as standard in the UK with SP33G in 1.3 gauge needing a 4.8 mm file, that is how i have seen it and used it.....however.....it can come with SP21G in 1.1 gauge needing a 4 mm file. That may, perhaps, be the standard sold in France so bear that in mind as regards my last point above and my apologies if that is the case as it undermines some of the last points made as regards the bar and chain set ups between the 542i and 550i being interchangeable. They are...but only at 1.3 gauge.

Personally having used the 542i with the 1.3 gauge chain, the clutch gave it the grunt to chog through what i was cutting with no problems at all and i think a 1.1 gauge on it is a waste on a saw of that calibre. 

 

[Josey Wales]

For completeness....here are the bar/chain specs for the 550i if anyone is interested. Four different bar/chain combinations, two in full chisel and two in semi-chisel in either 1.3 mm or 1.5 mm gauge.

When Mick gets his bigger battery, technically it could carry a 20" bar and chain!!!!

For how long though....who knows? 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Anyway, to give closure.

 

I went and picked up the battery (€700) and tried it out, firstly very heavy, heavier than a 550 petrol, it cut well for 10 seconds then the battery was flat, so I went to charge it and realised I’d need a new charger to go with my two others.

This was the straw that broke the camels back, so I took the saw and battery back to the dealer, said I didn’t want them, did a deal for an Echo 2511 and left it there.

 

Conclusion: unless you’re not spending your own money ie. you purchase saws for a council or the like, don’t get this saw.

 

[5thelement]

1 hour ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Anyway, to give closure.

 

I went and picked up the battery (€700) and tried it out, firstly very heavy, heavier than a 550 petrol, it cut well for 10 seconds then the battery was flat, so I went to charge it and realised I’d need a new charger to go with my two others.

This was the straw that broke the camels back, so I took the saw and battery back to the dealer, said I didn’t want them, did a deal for an Echo 2511 and left it there.

 

Conclusion: unless you’re not spending your own money ie. you purchase saws for a council or the like, don’t get this saw.

 

I had a quote from a dealer in Bellac for the same saw, it came in at €1900 with the unit, charger and the bigger battery.

I went and had a demo, first thing that struck me was the weight, it actually weighs about the same as my 572xpg. 
The performance was pretty impressive to be fair, certainly the best battery saw that I have used, the new large battery IS essential though. 
Unfortunately, gunning it through bar length hardwood sapped a fully charged battery in around the same time it took for the oil tank reserve indicator to flash on, so I would need at least 3 batteries and the ability to charge them to do a days cutting, I left with a 592xpg. 

[Mark_Skyland]

On 23/01/2026 at 14:38, Mick Dempsey said:

Anyway, to give closure.

 

I went and picked up the battery (€700) and tried it out, firstly very heavy, heavier than a 550 petrol, it cut well for 10 seconds then the battery was flat, so I went to charge it and realised I’d need a new charger to go with my two others.

This was the straw that broke the camels back, so I took the saw and battery back to the dealer, said I didn’t want them, did a deal for an Echo 2511 and left it there.

 

Conclusion: unless you’re not spending your own money ie. you purchase saws for a council or the like, don’t get this saw.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

That is disappointing, I didn't realise that you needed a specific charger for the 540 battery! I think that I will give stocking that saw a miss. When you are looking at over £2000 just for a couple of batteries, charger and the machine then it is getting a bit silly. As you say those batteries are very heavy, nearly 3kg so you wouldn't want to use them in many other machines.

 

Maybe we should stick to hedge trimmers, top handle battery saws and a small rear handle saws for now until battery tech moves on.

 

 

 

 

 

[kram]

To put it in perspective, those large batteries are being asked to output the same power or more than the maximum a 13A plug can handle. It is quite amazing but nowhere close to petrol.

 

4 hours ago, Mark_Skyland said:

I didn't realise that you needed a specific charger for the 540 battery!

Thats an odd design decision as they are both 40v packs. With most brands it would still allow charging but just be somewhat slow. Theres not really any technical reason for it.

[Mark_Skyland]

25 minutes ago, kram said:

To put it in perspective, those large batteries are being asked to output the same power or more than the maximum a 13A plug can handle. It is quite amazing but nowhere close to petrol.

 

Thats an odd design decision as they are both 40v packs. With most brands it would still allow charging but just be somewhat slow. Theres not really any technical reason for it.

I thought the same. I would have expected older charger to still charge the 540 but at a slower rate. I would look into it but tbh ica. If the technical info isnt forwarded onto to dealers before the release of these products then I give up. Manufactures are always changing their products and they very rarely relay the info over to us. One day you are selling a certain item, the next day it looks completely different and costs 50% more.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

9 hours ago, Mark_Skyland said:

I thought the same. I would have expected older charger to still charge the 540 but at a slower rate. I would look into it but tbh ica. If the technical info isnt forwarded onto to dealers before the release of these products then I give up. Manufactures are always changing their products and they very rarely relay the info over to us. One day you are selling a certain item, the next day it looks completely different and costs 50% more.

 

Just in case there’s any confusion.

The big battery physically won’t fit on the charger, not that it’s not suitable electrically or whatever.