353 or 346XP

[pbtree]

For what it is worth, I agree with the statement about the 365 - it is a great saw with plenty of power and very forgiving, with a fairly broad power band. It is priced more competitively than the 372XP, which is also a great saw.

But then again, that was not your question.

From what I hear, the 346XP rocks. Then again, I also agree that it is going to be more high strung than the 353, and also require more attention to keeping everything set up correct (clean air filter, sharp chain, technique that allows the saw to do the work, etc. )

Seeing as you know your father best, and he will have his own thoughts on the matter, the decision is probably best left to you. I would, if pressed, suggest the 353 might be a better choice for him...

 

[glens]

Let me say it this way, Rich.

If the old fellow is used to the middle-aged-model Stihl, and his decision to "try" a Husky after all these years is based on recommendation, I think that between the 353 and 346XP he'll be happier with the 353, at least initially, but he may not be happy with <i>either</i> initially.&nbsp; His first impression may well be not , well, but bad instead.&nbsp; Be prepared for the (unwarranted, naturally) possibility...

Glen

 

[jokers]

Glens has a point on the old saws and the new saws they are different animals The new saws use rpm and hp and the old saws use torque and low rpm

I could be mistaken, but I believe that the 032 made peak power between 8,500 and 9,000 rpms, right in the neighborhood of the 353.

Russ

 

[RDP]

If he has always used a saw with torque and brawn at lower rpm he may find it difficult to get use to a higher rpm whining saw that dies in the cut, if he does not quickly master a different operating technique he will be very unhappy. He may well need re-training to help him maximize the saws potential.

 

[trimmmed]

All the stihl "commission" guys can predict his first reaction to a husky, Lmao!

There is the off chance, that he might be more than thrilled with the difference in the new saw. Maybe it's got what he's been missing all this time

 

[tony marks]

ill agree .. u dad got to re learn bucking his fire logs..hes got to learn high rpm lite wt sawing, versus low rpm with enough wt to take the saw dn without much pressure.. this assuming he used an sharp chain.
if it were me id find an 028 in good shape..little of the best of both worlds an
if its rite to start with with, he lll never wear it out...jmo

 

[sedanman]

My Jonsereds 49SP came to me after original owner, a man in 70's when I met him, siezed it. He was heating his house with wood and needed a new saw. He got a Stihl 029 (down boys, it was his choice). Anyway, he HATED the Stihl for the first few loads of wood he cut with it. When I found the parts and re-built his old Jonsereds, he told me to keep it as he liked the Stihl by then.

 

[RDP]

What is needed are saws powered by very small Wankel engines.

4 or 5 parts only to the engine, torque adjustable and high revving if desired, these will last forever or just about. :Eye: :Eye:

 

[RDP]

Wankel in operational mode

http://www.keveney.com/Wankel.html

 

[Crofter]

Wankel used to have some bad problems with rotor seals and meeting polution control targets. Has anything changed in their technology? It seemed they would take the industry by storm, but it is slow coming.

 

[sedanman]

Sachs Dolmar built a wankel engine chainsaw, the KMS4. I had one in non-running condition. I traded it for a brand new Dolmar 7900 with 3 bars and chains!

 

[RDP]

I know back a while several German companies had entered in to shared cost R&D project to improve rotary engines and resolve some of the issues. As seal materials are getting a whole lot better quickly who knows what will come of this in the future. Stihl and Dolmar were part of the group if I remember correctly.

Hi revving saws with lots of torque and grunt in the complete bandwith would be real nice to use.

 

[glens]

All the stihl "commission" guys can predict his first reaction to a husky, Lmao!

There is the off chance, that he might be more than thrilled with the difference in the new saw. Maybe it's got what he's been missing all this time

Condemn me for making a prediction (such as I might have) and then suggest essentially the same thing (he <i>might</i> like/dislike it) yourself?

hahaha!

 

[T_Bone]

Hi DanMan,

You might also consider a MS 361 or 260 Pro. I just bought a 361 two weeks ago with the same idea in mind as this will be the last saw I buy. Coming from the Pro Mac 610 after 22yrs, this 361, about 12.5lbs, doesn't weigh anything like the old heavy weight 610. A very easy to handle saw as it's well balanced. Starts cold on the 4th pull, 3 pulls on full choke and 1 pull on idle with the decompression valve. First pull on idle when warm with DV.

The 260Pro comes in at about 10.5 lbs if your thinking weight is a factor.

 

[Lawn Masters]

Yes, BUT money is an issue, since the huskies are less expensive than the Stihls.
I dont think anyone has asked this yet, so I should ask. Danman, what is your budget for a saw?

 

[glens]

Why does that keep getting stated as if it were a universal truth/fact?

 

[sedanman]

Glen, Because those who state this are comparing the price of a Husky that they can get online from someone with selling saws out of his basement to the price of a Stihl bought from a real dealer with overhead and employees, how silly of you not to know this.

 

[trimmmed]

Those rat-bastige basement saw sellers....grrr..

Glen, Because those who state this are comparing the price of a Husky that they can get online from someone with selling saws out of his basement to the price of a Stihl bought from a real dealer with overhead and employees, how silly of you not to know this.

Hmmm... well I just ordered a 372XP to put on ice from those scoundrels at Baileys. Where do they get off selling 372's for $509 anywho? Why is Darin allowing these folks with no overhead or employees to be a sponsor here? They even threw in a set of free dawgs. The horror of it all :angry2:

 

[canguy21]

Please don't offer your unsolicited offers here unless you are a sponsor Based on what I see here, I would like to try the 346xp but our distributor doesn't bring them in.

 

[NeTree]

Bailey's ROCKS!