stihl or husqvarna poll.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

The raging debate continues!

 

I've always been a Stihl man although recently I availed myself of a Husqvarna 242xp.

 

I started out in the late 90's cutting small hardwoods and on my first day turned up with an 036 with an 18" bar. They all laughed at me:- not so much because of the saw altho it was slightly too big for the wood but because of the bar. I soon understood that in forestry you run the shortest bar possible for reasons of nimbleness, weight, balance, acceleration, power etc. I never cut enough softwood to graduate into racing saws with skip chains! I was the only chap running Stihl and noted that my saw had somewhat less down-time than everyone else who was using husky 242s and 254s. The main irritation with the huskies was the outboard clutch. In this small hardwoods situation tho they were better, principally because they were higher revving thus simply faster. They were also better at flicking about in the brash.

 

However, the replacements for the above Huskies are less legendary imo - the 346 and 357xp; problems with auto decompression and other things seem to blight these models.

 

The above mentioned 036 is now 10 years old and has literally only just had its first new part - the chain oil filler seal!

 

Current breed of huskies seem very plasticky; Stihls seem as solid as ever. These opinions are all ground-saw based.

Edited June 21, 2009 by TimberCutterDartmoor

[Mesterh]

Stihl purely for reliability. The difference in power, ergonomics and cost is minimal and insignificant imo. Well apart from the 020 v 338.

[Frank]

Yeah reliability in general, not just enginewise. Everything. Stihls dont fall apart or rattle screws loose, or crack when you reverse over them with a full load of chip.

[alex_m]

gotta be stihl in my inexperienced opinion. the clutch placement is rubbish on husqs... although i prefer the sound of husqy saws- they have more grunt.

[peter_t]

the clutch placement is rubbish on husqs...

 

the 020 is also rubbish:001_tongue:

i meen how long does it take to get around that?

 

pete

[tractor dave]

Got to be stihl, reliable, well balanced machine and seem to have better quality materials. I'm not a fan of the new husqy design- having the fuel tank built into the rear handle, better if you can replace specific parts rather than large components!

[adamread]

blody hell nuthing better to do than discus brands? i have used them all some are good some are bad you pay for what you get old days husky for softwood and stihl for the big hard stuff all the same this new stuff thank god ps if you are felling a 500 qubed beech the 090 is the boy

[testcricket01]

since when where Husqvarna "alot cheaper" than Stihl????

 

just gotta look at the price lists for stihl and husqvarna stihl r more expensive just look at the 880 vs 3120xp nearly 200quid difference in them

[MasterBlaster]

[tractor dave]

You'll have to give me bit more of a clue which saw you prefer masterblaster.....