Husky 181 SE Vs 281 XP

[Dan Forsh]

Simple question, what are the differences, is one better than the other?

Cheers,

Dan

 

[Stumper]

Love the one you're with.

 

[Dan Forsh]

Stumper,
No need to start quoting song lyrics at me. I assume you remember that I have a 281, but the reason I'm asking is that some guy is selling one of each on the bay. He says that the winning bidder gets one with the option to buy the other one for the same price. He doesn't say which one is first, so I'm wondering if there is a choice is one better than the other, all things being equal.

FYI
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7715597212&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

 

[066 stihl]

They are the same, but the 281 would be alittle newer.

 

[Dan Forsh]

So that would be the non-cammo'd one in the picture then?

 

[066 stihl]

I would say, the green one would be the 181. It's has the metal chain brake on it. They also, are the same as the 288, but the 288 has a 54mm jug and piston.

 

[rupedoggy]

If the 181 is original it may be the thin ring piston and small combustion chamber model. That was a very powerful 5 cubic inch chain saw. Rings are no longer available and if you put the late model thick ring piston into an older model, the compression is way up there. The first 181 also had the two piece ignition. The coil was up near the plug and the trigger was at the fly wheel. Mike

 

[Husky288XP]

Love the one you're with.

Ok Stumper,
"If your down and confused, and you don't remember who your talkin' too..."

CSNY ring a bell.

 

[Dan Forsh]

If you're down and confused... follow the link

http://home.comcast.net/~emailsforpay/rockZ/C_D/crosbystillsandnash.html

disk 2 track 3

 

[Lawn Masters]

The camo one you see, served the military of the UK I believe. the box tells me so, as does the shade of green on the saw, and all that. odds are its a great deal to buy both.

 

[Dan Forsh]

I like the green one, it suits it, just don't put it down in the woods or you might never find the bugger again!

 

[SawTroll]

As far as I can find out, 281xp was the replacement for the 181 in the model lineup. Both were 52/38 bore/stroke and 80.7 ccs.

If you want to look for more differences than already mentioned, I suggest that you look at the IPLs thas is available at the Husky website.

http://www.husqvarna.co.uk/

There are several of them for each model, so exactly which one applied to the saws in question depends on when they were made.

 

[Mange]

Go for the Army style, better collectors value.

 

[SawTroll]

The discription says: "typical ex-army well serviced and looked after". Beeing an Army man myself (admittedly in another Army), I would not trust that, and I think you should try to look closer into it.
There has to be a reason that the Army has ridded itself of these saws. The pictures aren't too good, and doesn't tell much. Usually Army equipment has been through a series of users, which does nothing good to the equipment.
(1) It could be over-stock due to reorganization - in that case chances are they were among the more worn saws in the inventory.
(2) If the Army has changed out the whole inventory with a new model, they could be in any state of repair/wear.
(3) It could also be that the Army has classified them as not worth further investment in repair.

If the bids are not sky-rocketing the last days of the auction, I would probably have taken my chances anyway, if the auction had been here!

 

[Stihl Crazy]

Would a 181 be stronger than newer 372?

 

[SawTroll]

281xp is rated at 4,2 kw (5.7 hp) at 9000rpm - max rpm 12500.

I don't know about the 181.

 

[SawTroll]

....... I don't know about the 181.

My memory slipped a bit;
CSCC list 4.0 kw/ 5.45 hp at 8400 rpm for the 181.