hillbillypolack
ArboristSite Lurker
Hi-
Been lurking a while, and thought I'd formally join, see what I can learn from the more experienced in the room.
30+ years ago, I did landscaping, mostly heavy fill, agriculture, no forestry or clearing. I've been finding that wrestling with our house here, an afternoon of moving wheelbarrows leaves me aching for a few days. . . . Plus with a second small property, I thought it's better to saw instead of swinging an axe (!)
Anyway, I've been trying to make do with an older Poulan 14" saw, have been gravitating to something more stout and reliable like the Husqvarna 545 or 550xp. I'd been hovering around these for two years, so I was mostly familiar with the lineup. We have three dealers near me, so hoping to support brick and mortar, I visited each. Great saw, impressive balance. I'm very much looking forward to a new saw after nursing the wee Poulan these many years.
My question is. . . what happened to the quality control on Husqvarna's paint and plastic? Or maybe it's the shipping? Each 545 at any of the three dealers was scratched on the back of the chain brake (side toward the handle), scuffs on the outside of the clutch cover, enough on one to show metal, and the front of the magnesium case (below oil cap). Last observation was the castings beneath the chain run weren't consistent 'smooth', looking rather ragged instead of the smooth I saw last I examined a 545.
I'm fully expecting to receive a clobbering from the members here, and I completely understand chainsaws are a 'tool', and for sure it's gonna get a few scars. But one of the 545s pulled directly out of a box at the dealer showed this kind of paint & plastic scuff - no bag over the saw to protect it at all. It almost looked like it had been refurbished? Or previously used? Is this maybe standard operating procedure? Just wondering what to expect for a purchase of $500 - $530.
Been lurking a while, and thought I'd formally join, see what I can learn from the more experienced in the room.
30+ years ago, I did landscaping, mostly heavy fill, agriculture, no forestry or clearing. I've been finding that wrestling with our house here, an afternoon of moving wheelbarrows leaves me aching for a few days. . . . Plus with a second small property, I thought it's better to saw instead of swinging an axe (!)
Anyway, I've been trying to make do with an older Poulan 14" saw, have been gravitating to something more stout and reliable like the Husqvarna 545 or 550xp. I'd been hovering around these for two years, so I was mostly familiar with the lineup. We have three dealers near me, so hoping to support brick and mortar, I visited each. Great saw, impressive balance. I'm very much looking forward to a new saw after nursing the wee Poulan these many years.
My question is. . . what happened to the quality control on Husqvarna's paint and plastic? Or maybe it's the shipping? Each 545 at any of the three dealers was scratched on the back of the chain brake (side toward the handle), scuffs on the outside of the clutch cover, enough on one to show metal, and the front of the magnesium case (below oil cap). Last observation was the castings beneath the chain run weren't consistent 'smooth', looking rather ragged instead of the smooth I saw last I examined a 545.
I'm fully expecting to receive a clobbering from the members here, and I completely understand chainsaws are a 'tool', and for sure it's gonna get a few scars. But one of the 545s pulled directly out of a box at the dealer showed this kind of paint & plastic scuff - no bag over the saw to protect it at all. It almost looked like it had been refurbished? Or previously used? Is this maybe standard operating procedure? Just wondering what to expect for a purchase of $500 - $530.
