Buying advice

[Brushcutter]

I have been offered a second hand Husky 357XP, what are peoples opinion on this?

 

Good alternative instead of buying new for my first saw?

 

Used and abused many a 357xp. One lad dropped a tree on my own broke off two cylinder fins, never did it any harm. It also had the bit above the choke broken off. That got glued on with epoxy.

 

They're very good saws not as chuckable as a 346 but has more grunt. It will pull an 18" bar but its not very lively. At home on a 15" bar but stick a 13" on it and you will fly through stuff and love it.

 

From my experience of them owning them. My one at least ate needle bearings. Although not expensive it was a PITA and greasing didn't seem to adjust the critical failure rate. After a few years of good use the need a very good carb cleaning or even better a replacement. They run very rough then score the piston and die if you dont do that (guess how i know that).

 

Bottom line they're solid professional saws that will take a lot of abuse both physical and mechanical before being sentenced to the scrap pile. If it looks good and the price is right might be worth going for it.

[SawTroll]

....

MS 271 Husquvarna 545

MS 291 Husquvarna 555

 

In those cases the Stihl saws are much lower quality than the Husky saws you compare them to - "homeowner" class with plastic case etc. vs. semi pro. The 271 also is large, heavy and clumcy compared to the 545.

 

MS 271 vs. Husky 450, and

MS 291 vs. Husky 455 would be a more relevant comparison.

 

There simply are no Stihl counterparts to the 545 and the 555.

 

 

 

MS 261 Husquvarna 550xp

 

.....

 

In that case the Stihl is large, heavy and clumcy in comparison - both are pro saws though.

Edited January 30, 2014 by SawTroll