climbing saw...husky or stihl?

[chukarhunter]

Hey all...I've been using Stihls...020 or 200 at my job...for climbing saws. I finally get to use a friend's Husqvarna 338 xpt this weekend for a side job. Just wondering your thoughts on the two models. I'm in the market for a climbing saw, but it probably won't be used like my stihl at work gets used (five days a weeks for the stihl at work, versus a personal saw about once every two weeks?). should i go for cheaper or for better? (and the chainsaw debate will get riled up again)...

I'm very familiar with the Stihl lineup because that's all my boss uses. I'm not familiar with Husqvarna.

Think I could pick up something used, and in good working order (!), for $250?

I'm sick of posting on Craigslist for a specific type of saw and getting responses for Echos, saws I'm not interested in, ???? saws, etc.

Thanks

 

[chukarhunter]

husky or stihl...i forgot...

my buddy's saw isn't in the best working condition...it's like he's forgotten to clean it for the past two years...the air filter is ridiculously dirty and i'm sure it needs a new plug, so I don't know if I'll get a very good comparison by using it this weekend. I'm taking it to our shop tomorrow and blowing out all the gunk and debris...

I started it up tonight, and at least the chain brake still works.

 

[TDunk]

I'm not sure what to tell ya, I use a 192t. I'm a Husky guy myself but everyone says the 200t is the way to go.

 

[lxt]

STIHL 200t/020, hands down nothing else compares!!!!!

LXT.........

 

[hornett22]

the husky isn't bad but it's not an ms200.

i have not t ried the new edition 338.a few have stated they like it.i waiting for a demo from two dealers.

 

[ronnyb]

Bought a 338 about 2 years ago. Didn't oil quite right. Took it back to the dealer, he said " Your saw looks dirty" He cleaned it, and said that fixed it. I told him that wasn't going to fix the problem. He changed the bar oil filter and the tank breather and said the problem was fixed. I told him the oiler was bad. Brought it back 2 days later; the problem was not fixed. He said again that the saw looked dirty, and that must be it. By now the saw was barely oiling. I told him that since Husqy has a warranty I wanted the saw fixed, a new saw, or my money back. Got the saw back a month later. Total rebuild. You have to split the cases on a Husky to replace the oiler. Guess what? Saw still hardly oils. Now it sits on the shelf as a last resort backup, or to cut brush where there is alot of rocks, garbage, etc. The only saws we buy now are Stihl. Wouldn't take another Husky if they were giving them away. ( We buy on average 4 saws per year, various sizes)

 

[tree md]

If you have already got used to working with an 020/200T you'll not be satisfied with another saw. I used to use 020's at work when I worked for someone else and bought Huskies for myself to use on the side. If money is an Issue, the Husky is an economical way to go. Last one I bought was like back in the late 90's. I think it was like a 142 or something. Didn't have a very good experience with it but could have bought 3 of them for the price of a Stihl. It didn't last long and the air filter cover kept falling off while I was in the tree. It still served it's purpose and made me money. Plus, I could care less if I dropped it out of a tree. I also used to use the older green Poulans for a climbing saw back in the early to mid 90's. The older Poulans were not bad climbing saws but they had a tendency to not want to start after they got a little hot. Nothing sucks worse than spending 5 minutes or so trying to start a saw in a tree or worse, Have to switch out to a bigger saw while your climbing saw cools down enough to start. This was not an isolated incident either, it happened with every older poulan I used. Have also used an Echo for a climbing saw. Pretty decent little saw but it doesn't have the power of the 192 or the 200T. I have to say that the little Echo saws are reliable though. We call our backup Echo climbing saw 1 pull because it fires every time on the first pull. I just don't like the fact that it oils continuesley while running and it tends to bog a lot in heavier wood and while cutting forks or crotches. I also have a 192T that I bought back in the beginning of Summer and used until just a couple of weeks ago. It's a decent climbing saw as well but it is kind of finicky on cold starts (even though I have no problems starting it), I had to tell my entire crew to leave it alone and not try to start it to warm it up for me before they sent it up. I had to warm it up myself because I got tired of my guys flooding it. I wasn't crazy about how it would bog in heavier wood or crotches either. The 200T starts every time on the first pull, is built tougher than any of the other saws I have ever climbed with and it never bogs on me (which can be critical on some cuts). If you are used to using the 020/200T, you won't be happy with anything else.

 

[Treetom]

For more see "Want to switch to Husky climbing saw."

After you run the 338xpt this weekend you'll know which you prefer. I'm anxious to see your comments. Work safe.

 

[yibida]

Huskys, nice motor but....

I know everyone has a preference as to what saw they have used wether they are a climber or part of a ground crew but i still have a problem with the day to day maintenance of huskys, the vibration springs on many models bearly fit the long term use senario,the Stihl saws (professional series) have always taken a hammering and have always been easier to maintain and use in all conditions i have experienced, this has given me a firm opinion as to Stihl tenasity and durability ( and no i dont sell em).

Apparently you can bury a Husky in a bucket of saw dust as as rep once showed me and it dosn't stop idleing but it doesn't mean you can change or maintain a component any better.

I am yet to jump into a barrel of saw dust with logs to see if it really is a viable method of cutting up lenges of timber. Reps of various brands dont actually maintain saws or use them on the job, they only crap on about the latest innovation that is currently copywrited to thier company, good bad or irrelivant.

Bottom line, use it, maintain it and replace it, then you will know if you've been misinforomed.

:greenchainsaw:

 

[treejunkie13]

To each their own! I have likes and dislikes on various stihls and huskys. Saws are constantly changing in order for Engineer's to maintain a job. If you find something that you like it probably wont be around long. I have been told (anonymous) flat out that (they) don't want saws to last years, it's bad for sales. Part of the reason of rising prices for replacement parts, certain fixes are more feesible to just buy a new saw. A good example is like T.V.'s and DVD players, (the repair man has faded) the american way buy it, use it, throw it away, and buy another.

I had a saw crap on me in the middle of a big golf course project, served me well for some time (paid for itself) but like a rope it was time to retire. So there I was in a pinch with limited shopping resources. The super sent me in the direction of an ECHO dealer (that was their choice of equip.) I was kind of surprised. Anyway's that dealer wasn't around and I came across another.

REDMAX, for $200 I had a brand new 38cc climbing saw. I thought yeah right this thing probably won't last, but if it finishes the job it's paid for itself and I can always get another saw. WELL that has been over two years ago now and that little REDMAX is still swinging from my saddle. We've shared countless cut's, aloft many a trees. I keep it at 8" dia. and smaller, and I don't like where the on/off switch is at. But hands down I would not hesitate to buy another.

If your just a weekend warrior in the price budget, then maybe husky or stihl may not be the best choice.

 

[chukarhunter]

I never got a good feel for my buddy's 338xpt. I used it for a couple hours on a pretty large willow removal today and yesterday, but like i said, it hasn't been maintained very well. It kept bogging down on me and wouldn't stay running without my finger constantly tapping the throttle trigger. I opted to just take a little shindaiwa with a 20 inch bar up with me that we rented. It worked fine, flew through the willow, which was half rotten anyway (it was a pretty sketchy tree...).

I have used the same 200t day in and day out at work for many years and the thing has performed flawlessly. I'm hesitant to buy anything else. I think I might even see if my boss will sell the thing to me. By this time, I've realized that a saw that craps out on you during a difficult/dangerous removal or a job that just NEEDS to be done by a certain time is one of most frustrating things...

I think I can trust even a used stihl. Especially if it's one I know.

 

[neighborstree]

i have a few 338xpt's forsale. lol

 

[chukarhunter]

Haha...not quite perfect timing. I think I'll work on acquiring a Stihl. Thanks anyway.

 

[neighborstree]

huskies are junk, thats why im selling them lol.

 

[chukarhunter]

Well then...that's all I need to hear.

 

[frashdog]

I've got both saws. ms200t and 338xpt . Scored the husky for a deal so I had to try it. I was not impressed with the performance (wind up) until I opened up the exhaust, as I do with all my saws, huge difference.

Both weigh the same(I weighed them)....but the husky has more displacement. That's called better power to weght. You know what they say about displacement. Open up the exhaust on the husky, just like most do with the 200's, and she'll scream.

Husky tips foward, more reach (hold both out in front of you, you'll see). Nicer on my wrist cutting limbs chest high, as a climber does. 200 holds level, seems like it's better in a bucket or cutting below chest.

That said I'll always have a 200t on hand, right now it's my one handed ground saw.:greenchainsaw:

 

[gavin]

sorry to hijack, but is there any science to opening up the exhaust, as in how much to open it up? i just picked up a 338xpt and am thinking about doing it. if there's a decent risk that me messing up will hurt the saw i'd probably rather drive up to nanaimo to get it done at the walkers saw shop. if anybody has any good close ups of a well modded 338xpt muffler it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

sorry to hijack, but is there any science to opening up the exhaust, as in how much to open it up? i just picked up a 338xpt and am thinking about doing it. if there's a decent risk that me messing up will hurt the saw i'd probably rather drive up to nanaimo to get it done at the walkers saw shop. if anybody has any good close ups of a well modded 338xpt muffler it would be greatly appreciated.

Go to the saw forum for that. A lot of guys just open it up, but I've heard that that is too much loss of back pressure.

There are some after market mufflers out there that increase performance.