husky 394xp or 066 stihl?

[rahtreelimbs]

Here ya go!

385XP

Cylinder displacement 5.2 cu.inch / 84.7 cm³
Power 6.3 hp / 4.6 kW
Maximum recommended engine speed 13 000 mm
Fuel tank volume 1.9 US pint / 0.9l
Oil tank volume 0.9 US pint / 0.5l
Oil pump type adjustable flow

Weight excl. cutting equipment 15.4 lbs / 7.0 kg

 

[usmc50bmgsniper]

ya that looks likes like what i'm looking for, i'll have to check them out, thanks rich
sniper

 

[earache]

Sniper, the 385 is a full 2 pounds lighter and only 8/10 of a horsepower short of the 395.
Semper Fi

 

[YUKON 659]

Sniper, I think you'll find that a used 066 will bring a little more than a used 394. At least that is what I have seen.

Jeff

 

[Ryan Willock]

I have had two 066's and just happen to like them. My currant one has been Grefferdized and cuts like a banshee. I highly recomend the 066, pound for pound its the most reliable stock saw ever built with the best power to weight ratio! 36'' bar in hardwood? not a problem!!

 

[artwood]

Just to throw in my two cents, I've got an 066 and a Jonny 2094, same size as the 394. When I've timed 'em both were equal pulling 30" bars. Have to say I like the antivibe & air filtration much better on the Husky & its brothers.

 

[tony marks]

i would worry about an saw this big used.. u know whoever used it.. was probably.a pro.. dont wont a saw after a pro logger has used it up..jmo

 

[Ryan Willock]

I'll second that Tony!!! I don't want a saw thats been in a loggers hands or an arbo's hands unless I know him!!! Most guys don't take care of their saws, that drives me nuts!!

 

[Qatanlison]

I've been running the 385XPG for a few months now and I am more than pleased; First of all, Air injection. Stihl's intellicarb doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence. Vibrations, the Husky is far better (less vibrations).
Also, I sometimes run it with a 18" bar and it really feels agile! Well , not like a 346XP obviously but it doesn't feel like the quite big saw it is.

Highly recommended!


/Ola

 

[Wolfcsm]

Have a 66M and is it great for those times when I need to cut into 24 inch or larger wood. Too heavy to run all day cutting firewood - which is my thing. Use a small Husky and a 310 Stihl for the majority of my cutting.

I have had two 66s. One was used from E-bay and only lasted about six months before it seized the piston. No, I didn't cause it. Use the same fuel mix now in my 66 and works fine. The saw came from one of the more respected sellers of saws on E-bay. Decided I really had to have a new one and bought one from the local dealer where I was in Texas. He had only sold two other 66s in the ten years he had been selling Stihls. The saw is a monster right out of the box. Put a 36 inch bar on it last summer to cut up a large Pecan tree there and it walked right through it.

The only problem I have seen with the saw is that when it was really hot in Texas (100 plus degrees), the saw had a vapor lock problem that made me rotate saws more than I wanted to.

Bottom line: the 66M is a great saw!

Hal

 

[Koa Man]

Originally posted by Wolfcsm

I have had two 66s. One was used from E-bay and only lasted about six months before it seized the piston. No, I didn't cause it. Use the same fuel mix now in my 66 and works fine. The saw came from one of the more respected sellers of saws on E-bay.
Hal

I have been real lucky with the 2 used saws I have bought off Ebay, 066 and 039. My Walkerized 066 is going on 2 years and I use it quite often pulling 28 to 32 inch bars. It runs real strong and cuts quite a bit faster than my friend's stock 066. My saw is the older model too, no compression release. The 039 gets used several times a week and it is going on over a year. I don't intend to buy anymore used saws off Ebay.

 

[Wolf66]

I own a 394 that I purchased new in 1997 and have put alot of hours on it. I can tell you that it is reliable and screams running wide open. I also have a 066 that I picked up 2 years ago, and I am also very happy with. I think that the 066 has more torque and fits my needs for cutting large trees better.
A fair comparison would be a two stroke motor in a new YZ 250 dirt bike -vs- the new Yamaha YZF 450 dirt bike motor. Although the saws are both two strokes, one has more torque than the other. Either saw would be a good choice though. Keep in mind though that the 066 and the 394 (or newer 395) are big saws for 36" bars, do you need something that big? My next purchase will be the Dolmar 7900. I hear alot of good things about this saw and company. It is made in Germany as is the 066. I am going to get mine with a 24" or 28" bar. I will wind up using this size saw more than the larger 066 or 394.

 

[Ryan Willock]

Wolf, the 066 is an awesome saw with a 16'' bar, its great for those little trim jobs and limbing trees

 

[Toneman]

I agree Ryan, my only complaint with the same set up you have, would be the weight of the saw, but with the 066 you don't need to use it long to get the job done

 

[Ryan Willock]

Weight??? With the rpm's I'm turning you don't notice it!

 

[Typhoon]

My vote is going to go to the 385XP. I used one for about a week last summer. All I can say is WOW!!!! What awesome power, and extremely smooth. I also am a big fan of the Husky's air filtration. I cannot count how many times I have cut in REAL dirty conditions for a full day, and go to clean my air filter and its surprisingly clean! To me it is unsurpassed. But by the same token, I am not discounting the 066. In my neck of the woods, the 066 is the preferred saw for loggers. It is a workhorse and hard to beat. But if I were personally buying a new saw, I would go 385. Good luck!

 

[Wolf66]

I did cut some limbs with a 20" bar on the 066, but would normally use a smaller saw for this size chain. I see that the above thread mentions the Husky 385, what about Dolmar, what are your opinions on the 7900 and other Dolmar saws? I am considering opening up a chainsaw/ arborist supply shop and Dolmar would be my #1 choice for the saws because Stihl and Husky have to many local dealers around already. + There are no Dolmar dealers around my area.

 

[jokers]

Hi Wolf,

The Dolmar 7900 is a very nice saw, for all intents and purposes the power equal to the 385 at about two pounds less weight.

The problem might be whether or not this one model is going to be enough to make Dolmar your primary line? Nevermind the fact that brand recognition for Dolmar is weak in most areas, but Husky and Stihl have much better rounded out lines with the other size saws. I` d say pick up Husky or Stihl, or maybe even Jonsered(brand recognition problem again), and Dolmar. Once the word gets around about the 7900 they will sell themselves and you will have another brand for the other sizes. Eventually people will make side by side comparisons between the better known brand an Dolmar, and you may start selling more Dolmars.

Russ

 

[Wolf66]

Thank you for your reply. The problem that I am facing is that there are to many Husky and Stihl dealers in my area already. In other words they will not approve me to be a authorized dealer.I have not tried to contact Jonsered yet , that will be my next step. I am using the idea of opening up a store as a backup idea. I am being processed for NYPD right now but some old and new injuries to my back and knees might stop me from this carreer opurtunity. Opening up a store/ shop in my area is a expensive propisition, and it will take me awile to raise the proper funds to do this.

 

[bandmiller]

All dealers are not created equal,a few extra miles means nothing if that dealer stocks parts.Find a dealer that is a good saw mech. even if you fix your own.You can pick his brain,and at least talk to someone coherent in saws.