The more I see of mine the better I like it.
Another board member came over to the farm today to run some saws..like a mini GTG. I provided a 24 inch ash log and a 13 ft long X 9 inch Diameter beach log to test a few saws. He needs to test run some of his mods.
He provided a Dolmar 7300 with his modded muffler (mufflers built by him on all his saws), a Husqvarna 350 with his muffler mods, a Husqvarna 55 with a muffler mod, and a McCulloch 610 for a vintage flare. Oh yea..he has a neet digital Tack.
Me? I wanted to tune on my stock Husqvana 455 and Husqvarna 440e, and for vintage flare my old Homelite 903.
What did we learn?
1) The Husqvarna 455 is a really nice saw to run, even with its extra "baggage" weight...it out runs a husqvarna 350 and 55 pretty handily. A lot more midrange grunt than I expected. I have mine where it likes to be at around 8500-9000rpm in the cut. gets over 11,000 no load.
2) That Dolmar 7300 has power to spare with a 24 inch bar in Ash..really nice running saw. Rivals the 272 and 372's I've run...of course this one has a muffler mod and puts out a bit more noise.
3) That funny vintage Homelite 903 tached out at just over 10,000rpm's "no load" and cuts best at 7000-8000rpms. I didn't think they would twist over 7500rpms even with no load! Suprise! These old 82cc Homie saws are runners and yet again reminds me today in that 24inch dia ash log, there is no replacement for displacement!
4) That modded 350 really is a practical saw and also has lots of mid to top end power for a 50cc saw. More than the 55. Its an education and shocker to run it back to back with other similar saws.
5) The Husqvarna 55 would have been a really nice saw if you never ran other saws of of similar size as we did today..just when the 350 and 455 were run back to back with the 55..the 55 just looked and felt weak as compared. Runs clean and crisp, revs out nice....
6) That Mc 610 is a nice saw as well. Likes to be at 7000-8000 rpms in the cut. Had no problem with its bar buried in that big ash log we had today.
7) My 440e is a nice quiet easy starting saw...not a real powerhouse. Certainly couldn't keep up with any of the other saws...but it has a reason to exist. Smooth. Easy to start. Enough power for limbs and small trees. Light. the lightest saw here today. Perfect for the bride.
So...my message to those 455 haters....yea its no light weight for a 55cc class saw..but it cuts in stock form really well. For the average farm its the best choice over the others we had here today...and I am beginning to think its just generally under-rated. AND if it lives up to claims for fuel usage..its even a better farm saw than my Husqvarna 365...the more I run it the more I like it.
440e? Nice, quiet, and smooth little homeowner saw. I would recommend one to a homeowner looking for a saw for around the yard maintenance with NO hesitation. My bride likes how light and quiet it is in stock form. NO mods for this one! We will run it until it doesn't run anymore on this farm....then I will tell you if its durable or not, I guess.
Another board member came over to the farm today to run some saws..like a mini GTG. I provided a 24 inch ash log and a 13 ft long X 9 inch Diameter beach log to test a few saws. He needs to test run some of his mods.
He provided a Dolmar 7300 with his modded muffler (mufflers built by him on all his saws), a Husqvarna 350 with his muffler mods, a Husqvarna 55 with a muffler mod, and a McCulloch 610 for a vintage flare. Oh yea..he has a neet digital Tack.
Me? I wanted to tune on my stock Husqvana 455 and Husqvarna 440e, and for vintage flare my old Homelite 903.
What did we learn?
1) The Husqvarna 455 is a really nice saw to run, even with its extra "baggage" weight...it out runs a husqvarna 350 and 55 pretty handily. A lot more midrange grunt than I expected. I have mine where it likes to be at around 8500-9000rpm in the cut. gets over 11,000 no load.
2) That Dolmar 7300 has power to spare with a 24 inch bar in Ash..really nice running saw. Rivals the 272 and 372's I've run...of course this one has a muffler mod and puts out a bit more noise.
3) That funny vintage Homelite 903 tached out at just over 10,000rpm's "no load" and cuts best at 7000-8000rpms. I didn't think they would twist over 7500rpms even with no load! Suprise! These old 82cc Homie saws are runners and yet again reminds me today in that 24inch dia ash log, there is no replacement for displacement!
4) That modded 350 really is a practical saw and also has lots of mid to top end power for a 50cc saw. More than the 55. Its an education and shocker to run it back to back with other similar saws.
5) The Husqvarna 55 would have been a really nice saw if you never ran other saws of of similar size as we did today..just when the 350 and 455 were run back to back with the 55..the 55 just looked and felt weak as compared. Runs clean and crisp, revs out nice....
6) That Mc 610 is a nice saw as well. Likes to be at 7000-8000 rpms in the cut. Had no problem with its bar buried in that big ash log we had today.
7) My 440e is a nice quiet easy starting saw...not a real powerhouse. Certainly couldn't keep up with any of the other saws...but it has a reason to exist. Smooth. Easy to start. Enough power for limbs and small trees. Light. the lightest saw here today. Perfect for the bride.
So...my message to those 455 haters....yea its no light weight for a 55cc class saw..but it cuts in stock form really well. For the average farm its the best choice over the others we had here today...and I am beginning to think its just generally under-rated. AND if it lives up to claims for fuel usage..its even a better farm saw than my Husqvarna 365...the more I run it the more I like it.
440e? Nice, quiet, and smooth little homeowner saw. I would recommend one to a homeowner looking for a saw for around the yard maintenance with NO hesitation. My bride likes how light and quiet it is in stock form. NO mods for this one! We will run it until it doesn't run anymore on this farm....then I will tell you if its durable or not, I guess.
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Some are way too lean out of the box. My friend fried his in three days.
