395xp vs 660 magnum

[troythetreeman]

ive been running a 395xp doing side work for a local landscaper
it revs nice, has nice balance and generally rips
it is not however as torquey as a 660magnum
its a newer saw and in very nice shape, hes mentioned bartering it to me for work
how do these saws hold up?
what kind of mods can be made to increase torque?

 

[imagineero]

a guy i sub for has both these saws. I own a 660 myself and am pretty much a still man, but there's a place in my heart for a 346xp and maybe a 372.

I'd give the nod to the 660, but if you get a 395 for cheap then go for it. They're both good saws. The 395 has better air filtration, even if you jump the 660 up to the HD2 filter. The build quality is pretty ordinary on the 395 - the killswitch is dinky, and often breaks. The fasteners on husky seem to snap more often and they have more different types of fasteners. Not so much a problem if you have all husky so have a box of spare parts, or a husky dealer close by.

The dogs are better on the 660. The plastic shroud that goes over the engine on the 395 gets pushed down by the chain break over the muffler and melts. Small detail, but why couldn't they get it right on a big pro saw? I prefer the chain tensioner on the 660 and the handling in general. The mufflers seem to crack after a year or two on 395. Small issues aside, the 395 is a rugged saw. The 660 will hold its value better.

In case you don't know (I didn't) the high idle on husky is activated by pulling out and pushing the choke lever back in. makes hot starts a lot easier.

Shaun

 

[Nailsbeats]

To me it comes down to handling. The 660 is far superior in this aspect. Its a 90cc saw that handles like an 80cc.

The 395 is much bigger and bulkier.

 

[stihl.logger]

i've ran both, my avatar says it all. 395 is big and cumbersum and to me not as user friendly. dont care much for the paper filter or the cheesy dawgs that come on them and what it has in top end it lacks in most other aspects. 660's have the torque, what most people look for on a bigger saw and for the most part are extremely user friendly. i have a fully ported 660 and a stock one, both wear hd2 filters and are a breeze to clean when needed. maybe its just a matter of personal preferance but i'd work a 660 all day and leave the 395 on the desk holdin the paperwork down

 

[troythetreeman]

ive run a lot of 66/660s, i love them, those and the 46, no one builds a better saw pound for pound
bigger then a 66 tho i say 3120xp, i own one and have run numerous 88s, sorry but the 88 doesnt hold a candle
same with the smaller saws, i have a husky 350, which, in its time will be replaced by a 346xp
believe it or not i climb with an echo cs341, its on par with a 192t power wise and is infinitely more comfortable to me and better suited to my climbing style
the question here really is, is a 395xp, in good shape, worth 10 hours or so of climbing? or am i further ahead to take the 500$
i already know it doesnt cut like a 660, but its pretty close
and can it be made to cut better or is the gain so minimal its not worth the investment?

 

[epicklein22]

I've owned 4 or 5 394/395 and have owned over 6 066/ms660's. So I have some trigger time behind both models. I like both saws, but would run a 066 if I had a choice.

The 395 is faster than a 660 and has better AV and filtration. However, they are quite a bit heavier and feel bulky. Overall, 395's are tough saws and run strong.

$500 dollars will get you a pretty nice 395xp. I have one that I'm about to sell, it has new bearings, seals, piston, and a bunch of other little things, I'm gonna ask $550 for it. So for $500, you aren't doing too bad, but it isn't a killer deal either. Make the trade if you want the saw, but I would just keep the money in your pocket and run the 660.