Stihl 241 vs Husqy 550

[Joe Newton]

So I've been doing thinning work for the last couple of days, dropping and snedding hardwoods.

 

For the felling I've been using my 357xp 15" that had been send to Spud for some work, and when it returned it was properly angry. I never asked what he did to it.

 

Thing is, the 357 is a tad heavy for snedding in dense undergrowth. A touch aggressive too, but that might be down to my enthusiasm with the depth gauge file.

 

Looking at a smaller saw, to run either 15 or 13" bars. What would you recommend? Doesn't look to be much between them.

[V6 WRA]

Def 550 for snedding, great power to weight! It's got the rev boost / x torq or whatever they call it that picks the revs up much quicker

[Stubby]

Best saw for a 13" is an old Husqvarna 242xp preferably spud ported .

Edited January 27, 2015 by Stubby

[wyk]

I have a 241, and I just wanna say - get the 550.

[Joe Newton]

Best saw for a 13" is an old Husqvarna 242xp preferably spud ported .

 

 

Hmmm, looked online and it appears they stopped selling them in 1902!!!

 

I have a 241, and I just wanna say - get the 550.

 

 

Any reason in particular Wyk? I'm inclined to go Husqy but the 241 looks like Stihl have accidentally made a decent new ground saw!

[JaySmith]

I've just got a 550xp with 15 inch bar. Normally use a 341 at work and love the 550 so light and flickable and good pick up/power for a 50cc. I've got a 15inch and it feels well balanced wouldn't go any bigger than 15 though

[Joe Newton]

I've just got a 550xp with 15 inch bar. Normally use a 341 at work and love the 550 so light and flickable and good pick up/power for a 50cc. I've got a 15inch and it feels well balanced wouldn't go any bigger than 15 though

 

 

Cheers Jay. The 357 is a joy to use on a 15" bar. Spud ported it and I geared it up on the sprocket. It's fast, so much so in fact that I almost fully severed a hinge today before the tree was committed!

 

Problem is that when flicking it through brash it can flick up at you if you're not careful, and is a bit of a lump at full arms reach. Hence a lighter saw is on the list.

 

The 550 seems to tick the boxes. I'll probably whack a 13" bar on it, and I've got a spare 8t rim lying around somewhere.

[woodwizzard]

There is a lot between them. The 550 is a different animal to the 241. Almost the same weight as each other, but the power difference is huge. I liked the 241 for small logging work though.

[div_h]

I have a 241, and I just wanna say - get the 550.

 

o no! I was really wanting to get a 241😞 what's up with it?

[woodwizzard]

I found you need to blip the throttle to let the saw clear its throat before cutting all the time, don't think Stihls auto tune is as precise as huskys'. Not that much cheaper than a 550 and hardly any weight difference and noticeably less grunt. I know it's a 5cc less saw, but in my mind it's worth spending that little extra.