Husky 455 Rancher or 359?

[Coldfront]

I bought a new Husky 350 w/18" bar last fall it did ok on a loggers truck load of oak last year but I think I want to go a little bigger, some of the logs were all the 18" bar could handle. It seemed like after about 2 tanks of gas it needed sharpening bad. I guess it doesn't help cutting frozen wood, but it keeps me busy in the winter when I'm laid off from work. Anyway I was looking at getting a new Husky 455 Rancher with a 20" bar but heard from someone I should just spend an extra $100 and get a 359 with a 20" bar, what do you think? Like the local Husky dealer told me "yea people say I'm just cutting fire wood" but man lets face it that is a lot of cutting, I might also be selling fire wood this winter I hear the price is now about $70 for a pickup load of cut and split hardwood, for extra cash, so cutting 2 or 3 logger loads is no walk in the park. I can get a logger load for $300 oak, ash, hard maple. I'm leaning towards the 359.

 

[nikocker]

359

Between those two I'd opt for the 359. Built better and will handle better . . .not to mention more power.

BTW welcome to the site!

Al

 

[scotclayshooter]

If you go for the 359 you will have the option of improving the power at a later date IF you get the chainsaw bug like many of us here.
If you get the 455 you will be stuck with it stock forever.
You may also get bored with filling the fuel tank on the 455 as its a bit small

Welcome to AS:biggrinbounce2:

 

[LumberjkChamp]

Coldfront, how about a 357xp? I was also looking into the 359, but then the 357 jumped at me for some reason. I dont own either, or have used them but if I were to buy something in the range of a 60cc saw the 357 would be it. (the xpg with the heated handles though because I also cut in the winter and you have to have warm hands when running a saw -so you can focus on the handfull of razorblades in front of you flying by at 60mph.)
The 357 is comperable but really isnt at the same time. The 359 is a homeowner saw, the 357 is a pro saw, and it turns out 0.5 more hp. As for the rancher? well...some guys like it, but it may not be what you want.
I've not heard bad things about the 357 but some say the 359 is not what is cracked up to be.

Good luck with it and see what everyone else says.

Oh yeah, 300 bucks for a log load -darn good- here it just went to 750 for 5 cords, and then you have to cut, split and season it.

 

[jeeptj19992001]

get rid of the stock chain, and put on a real chain....
a 30rc from baileys will wake up your saw a bit....

http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=woodlandpro+30rc&catID=833

 

[STLfirewood]

I would go bigger if you can afford it and get a 372 or a used 046. Those are great saws. I run a 046 with a 20inch bar and a 8 pin sprockets. It works great. I don't think you are going to be happy just jumping from a 50cc saw to a 59cc saw. I would got at least 70cc.

Scott

 

[STLfirewood]

Also if your not dead set on a husky and your wanting to stay around the $400 range I would take a good look at the Echo 6700. I had one and it was a great saw. It's 67cc and has good power. The switches are simple and easy. The air filter is easy to clean. My saw lasted a long time and was never in the shop. It only died because I don't know how to adjust a carb and leaned it out. They can be had on e-bay for $389. The only complaint I had was it needs bigger spikes. You'll have to make a set. For the type of cutting your doing and the amount I think this saw would work really well for you.

Scott

 

[scotclayshooter]

Hell guys were slipping no one suggested getting a MS361 in 7 posts!!!!!!

It seems to me he likes the 350 so wants to stick to Husky and has narrowed it down to 2 saws 3cc apart.
A 357XP is a fair bit more money! But they do cut well
I raced a 350 with a 455 and was knocking off 2 blocks for 1 so he should notice the difference going up 9cc thats nearly a 20% increase without going to 70 cc and the extra weight of a 372

 

[Swamp Yankee]

If those are the choices definitely grab the 359.

I don't know if you have a Jonsered dealer near you, but if there is, they have the 2165 on sale. They're running about $575 around here, more than a 359 less than a 357XP. They're built on the large frame and a bit heavier than the 359, but being a large frame opens the door to performance upgrades. I also believe and someone correct me if I'm wrong, please, the 2165 is free and clear of the EPA add ons. Just another option.

Take Care

 

[Ole Farmerbuck]

Get the 359 and put a non cat muffler on it. Heck maybe even open it up some. They are good saws.

 

[husky362]

consider bigger saw

i have owened a 350 & 359 i bought mine with a 24" & 18" bar's it's a ok combo i used mine for clean up's both saw's will do half what the other will do, i think a 455 is to close to what you have ,the 359 would be a tad better i found a 362xp for 350$ barely broke in it really pulls a 20" bar...... the 350&359 are just to close in power....... the 50 & 70cc saw's make better combo's

 

[Coldfront]

Now I'm thinking about keeping the 350 for light use and getting the 372xp with a 20"bar. I think the big difference with the Rancher is the 350 has the .325" pitch chain, and the rancher has the pro 3/8, .050 gauge chain. But the Rancher is a little cheesier, plastic handle etc. than the 359. The Rancher is 12.8 lbs and 3.4 hp, the 359 is 12.1 lbs. and 3.9 hp, and the 372xp is 13.4 lbs. and 5.3 hp, only about 1 pound heavier but that is almost 2 hp more than the Rancher, and 1.4 hp more than the 359. I was at the local dealer today eying them up, he said all the local loggers around here like the 372xp. So I think I talked myself into a 372xp. It should pay for itself if I sell wood this winter, with the cost of propane a lot of people are going to burn wood this winter but don't like all the work. BTW the local dealer told me all the saws he sells are non epa compliant I guess that means non cat mufflers? I guess the laws here are not so strict yet.

 

[Scootermsp]

ebay

There's a guy on ebay selling the 372xp for $699 with free shipping brandy new

 

[arlen]

Ok my 2cents worth of advice. I own a Husy 350 I like the saw I switched to a 16" bar, and a pro chain form baileys. I like the way the saw preforms now.

I really like my makita 6401 for culling firewood well built and sturdy, at
64 cc's for $ 400. dollars on E-bay came with a stock 20" bar, upgradeable to 79 cc's with a new piston and jug. David

 

[Tracker83]

I have a lot of trigger time with a 359, and I'm confident you will be much more happy with a 359 than you would with a 455. According to Husky's specs the 359 has .4 more horsepower but weighs 1.1 pounds less.

The Jonsered 2159 is the same saw as the 359 and it can be had for a great price on flea-bay right now (item#290254170264):
http://cgi.ebay.com/Jonsered-2159-2...ryZ20538QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Wood Scrounge]

I have the 350 and my father has the 455, the 455 only has slightly more power then the 350 in my opinion, both are nice saws though.

 

[SawTroll]

Now I'm thinking about keeping the 350 for light use and getting the 372xp with a 20"bar. I think the big difference with the Rancher is the 350 has the .325" pitch chain, and the rancher has the pro 3/8, .050 gauge chain. But the Rancher is a little cheesier, plastic handle etc. than the 359. The Rancher is 12.8 lbs and 3.4 hp, the 359 is 12.1 lbs. and 3.9 hp, and the 372xp is 13.4 lbs. and 5.3 hp, only about 1 pound heavier but that is almost 2 hp more than the Rancher, and 1.4 hp more than the 359. I was at the local dealer today eying them up, he said all the local loggers around here like the 372xp. So I think I talked myself into a 372xp. It should pay for itself if I sell wood this winter, with the cost of propane a lot of people are going to burn wood this winter but don't like all the work. BTW the local dealer told me all the saws he sells are non epa compliant I guess that means non cat mufflers? I guess the laws here are not so strict yet.

The true weight of the 359 is about 12.8lbs - not sure of the 455.

13.4lbs is a bit optimistic on the 372xp as well - I believe 13.7 or .8 is closer to the truth. Heated handles and carb (xpg) will add another .4lbs or so.

You can't go wrong with a 372xp though - it is a true performer, well handling, and a true legend!!!

 

[danrclem]

Now I'm thinking about keeping the 350 for light use and getting the 372xp with a 20"bar. I think the big difference with the Rancher is the 350 has the .325" pitch chain, and the rancher has the pro 3/8, .050 gauge chain. But the Rancher is a little cheesier, plastic handle etc. than the 359. The Rancher is 12.8 lbs and 3.4 hp, the 359 is 12.1 lbs. and 3.9 hp, and the 372xp is 13.4 lbs. and 5.3 hp, only about 1 pound heavier but that is almost 2 hp more than the Rancher, and 1.4 hp more than the 359. I was at the local dealer today eying them up, he said all the local loggers around here like the 372xp. So I think I talked myself into a 372xp. It should pay for itself if I sell wood this winter, with the cost of propane a lot of people are going to burn wood this winter but don't like all the work. BTW the local dealer told me all the saws he sells are non epa compliant I guess that means non cat mufflers? I guess the laws here are not so strict yet.

Good decision. I have a 359 (well made saw) and it's not bad and it'll work but I wanted something to get the job done quicker. I bought a 372 but have only cut one tree down with it. Aside from hitting some wire on the first cut (not the saws fault) I think it's gonna be great. I think the 372 will save you time and effort.

I put a non cat muffler on my 359 but haven't run it since. I haven't ever used anything but the stock chain on the 359 so I don't know how much of an improvement different chain would make.

A lot of people swear by the Dolmar 7900. You might consider that one too.

 

[Coldfront]

SawTroll the weights I gave were right off the spec. sheet but do not include the bar or chain because that is a variable. If I can swing the cost I am going to get a 372xp, if not I'll go with a 359, with the muffler mod. they say it can get up to 4.5 hp. out of it.

 

[Coldfront]

I think the 372 will save you time and effort.

That is the main thing I am looking at. I know if I wanted to work harder and sharpen the chain more often, I could get the job done with my 350, but after using it for 1 year now I'll bet the 372 will out cut it 2 to 1 easy.