Husky 346xp or 550xp?

[Daniël Bos]

I'd go straight for the 550 - mine IS a 2011 one (mid december built) and will kick a 346 properly in the goolies. I was very very dubious of going for a new generation saw but having had a 560 on demo, the bar had been raised enough to take a bit of a risk.

 

There's no doubting the 346 is a good saw, but it just didn't inspire me enough to part with the cash for one. I'd been needing a new little saw for a while to replace my old 353 and was even considering rebuilding a 242 with shiny new gen barrel/piston instead but the 550 is like a 242 on steroids

 

I'm finding I'm using my 550 in timber I'd previously have been taking a 357 into and so far it's been faultless (warm starting was a bit of a knack but I should have read the manual first ). It seems to whip through a tank of fuel a bit quicker than a 346 does, but it'll usually be a couple of trees ahead by then anyway.

 

The way I looked at it, was that if it plays up I'll finish the day off with a spare saw and then drop it in to our dealer on the way home and they'll sort it under warranty. So far I haven't needed too.

 

I found that with mine, even though it claims to use 25% less fuel. Then I put them side by side, put equal amounts of fuel in and cut them against eachother, both with the same bar/chain. the 550 was empty only just before the 346, but a cube of firewood ahead:thumbup1:

[Timbermcpherson]

I will have to give the 550 a spin, I have a ported 346 and a few standard ones. A starter,muffler, clutch springs and a brake handle is all they have needed over the last 7 years. Great saws.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

550 definately. Not a fan of the 346. Fed up with it constantly being compared to a MS260 (should be ms261) as well. I reckon:

 

1st choice) Husq 550xp

2nd choice) Dolmar PS-5105

3rd choice) Stihl MS261

4th choice) Jonsered CS2153

5th choice) Echo CS-510

6th choice) Husq 346xp

 

[posch jon]

Recently had a 550xp,

The best saw i have used so light and powerful!!!

Loads of torque, plenty of power for felling, light and nimble for snedding...........Perfect.

 

Another good feature is the on/off switch resets itself so its always ready to start.

 

The stihl ms341 stays in the truck now:thumbup:

[Big Bolt]

If god had a chainsaw !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spudulike]

If god had a chainsaw !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've seen the future and the future is Silver and Orange:biggrin:

[chainsawdom]

550 all the way but yes the 346 is still a good saw but lets go forward not backwards.

[Stubby]

Used my spud tuned 346 to day for a couple of hours , nothing short of awesom

[Big Bolt]

why go forward all this teckno is only costing us more ££££££ the 346 is a good saw

why change it a lighter saw eat more fryup's a more powerfull saw keep what your got tuned and sharp

[spudulike]

why go forward all this teckno is only costing us more ££££££ the 346 is a good saw

why change it a lighter saw eat more fryup's a more powerfull saw keep what your got tuned and sharp

 

Yup - my tuning is done with a £1 screwdriver - God alone knows what is going on under the top cover of these new saws, it will be dealers prices on these saw repairs if the computer goes tits up:thumbdown:

 

Not sure the auto tune is worth it, a couple of lads off this site are going to give my ported saws a run up against the latest 560XP - it will be very interesting to see how both the 346XP and 357XP compare to the 560!!