husqvarna 550xp or 550xp

[CJM]

I've got a 560 and it's one of the best medium groundsaws out there I run an 18in on it it pulls a 20in exactly the same as an 18in I was a tight arse when I bought the bar and chain haha, I've also got a 550xpg and that saw is a cracking little saw specially with a 15in bar on it, I've put an old 18in bar and chain on it at the moment and surprisingly it pulls it well, it's obviously not a 560 but if you need those extra inches for that odd day it'll graft for you

[Breezeblock]

560 15" bar 8 tooth sprocket job done

[Scott Walker]

I've been put of by getting a 550 by the horror story's ive read and heard have they improved now? and should i just go for it?

[Brushcutter]

I've been put of by getting a 550 by the horror story's ive read and heard have they improved now? and should i just go for it?

 

I have a 2013. Wonderful saw but the carb went changed under warranty but its all good now.

[Eddy_t]

560xp, having used a heated saw, I would say if you're ringing up, heated handles is a must in winter, if you're mostly felling, I wouldn't bother as you'll soon get a sweat on

[CJM]

My 550xpg is a 2013 model I got mine very cheap because someone ran over it with a tracked chipper a new fuel tank later and it's been spot on ever since. Not really a fan of heated handles they're a gimmick, if your hands are cold you're not working hard enough

[SawTroll]

XPG here!! For the little extra why not!

 

No way around xpg up here, specially with arthritis in the hands.

[Hodge]

My 550xpg is a 2013 model I got mine very cheap because someone ran over it with a tracked chipper a new fuel tank later and it's been spot on ever since. Not really a fan of heated handles they're a gimmick, if your hands are cold you're not working hard enough

 

 

That's not really true, you should look into white finger and other joint and circulation problems and how heated handles can help these conditions. I know they help my fingers.

[Goaty]

Agree with hodge. It's about circulation. You can be sweating. But you hands and feet can be tensely cold. Which becomes unbearably uncomfortable as the day goes on.

I bought a 346xpg and a 357xpg to complement my existing xp's for this reason.

As for the 550 and 560 I have never used one. But if most work is doable with smaller bar I'd go for 550 .

When i was younger my thinking was 18 inch bar all the time was more capability. Now I have bigger saws if needed and run the 13inch most of the time.

[SawTroll]

That's not really true, you should look into white finger and other joint and circulation problems and how heated handles can help these conditions. I know they help my fingers.

 

No doubt about that - and you can of course turn the heating on and off as you wish.