husqvarna 550xp or 550xp

[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.

[Charlieh]

560xpg all the way unless your doing a lot of first thinnings and brashing, I run 13" and 18" sugi hara lightweight pro bars on mine with an 8pin sprocket and its the best saw I have run, I very rarely take my 346 or 372 out at all now as I prefer the extra go of the 560 to the 346 and its not far behind the 372 unless your in big timber.

 

My 560xpg got run over on site last week, took a ballasted and wheel weighted roof mount valmet right over it with both wheels, Its required a new front handle and chain break and a set of clutch springs and its basically good to go again. Not many saws would stand up to that level of hurt. I managed to keep using it for a couple of hours afterwards until the clutch spring gave up.