Jonsered 930 Power Issue

[Johnwell]

I have a question about the Jonsered 930 and other large saws: should the power of this thing really ‘wow’ me? Or is something wrong with mine?

I have a few other saws, including a 550xp and a slightly modded CS590. I picked up the 930 to do some hardwood milling; and while it is a torquey brute that milled 20” cherry and walnut quite well, albeit slowly; it doesn’t seem to have the oomph I would expect over my CS590 considering it’s ~50% larger.

I don’t have a compression tester but it starts and runs well. It’s honestly hard to pull over. I have it tuned by ear to get four stroking at the higher RPM’s.

It cuts through wood faster than other saws listed; maybe my expectations were just too high? I have a 7 tooth sprocket now, should I go to more teeth to get higher chain speed? I guess I expected this to be like when I went from a husky 445 to a 550xp, but it was more like going from the 550xp to the cs590.

 

[NSEric]

I doubt there's anything wrong with the 930.
The bigger saws are only noticeably faster in big wood, if you bury a 28 or 32 inch bar on the 930 and the 590, the 930 will be a lot faster, in 12 inch wood they're likely the same speed.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

What size timber is being cut in order to wow you?
If you are using the old 930 to cut timber the 550 could easily handle- then yes, the 550 will do so better and more comfortably.
However, if you were to fit a say 28 inch bar to both and run them with the bars buried- then the 930 wins.
Horses for courses.

 

[Johnwell]

What size timber is being cut in order to wow you?
If you are using the old 930 to cut timber the 550 could easily handle- then yes, the 550 will do so better and more comfortably.
However, if you were to fit a say 28 inch bar to both and run them with the bars buried- then the 930 wins.
Horses for courses.

I do have a 28” bar on the Jonsered (couldn’t imagine running anything over 20” on a 550); the logs were probably 18-20” in diameter (which is about average for me). I was just expecting it to really rip through; but I guess that makes sense. I just always hear the arguments for larger saws even in smaller wood and assumed there would be a more noticeable difference.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

You are also comparing a couple of generations of design difference- 2186 will cut faster than a 930 same for same.
Compare your 930 to a Husqvarna 50 Rancher rather than the 550 and see what you think?

 

[Johnwell]

You are also comparing a couple of generations of design difference- 2186 will cut faster than a 930 same for same.
Compare your 930 to a Husqvarna 50 Rancher rather than the 550 and see what you think?

Absolutely fair enough; I know the 930 is a bit long in the tooth. But it usually gets compared to the husqvarna 288xp so I assumed it would be close to the modern 80-90cc saws, perhaps just a bit heavier and worse on emissions/fuel consumption.

 

[cbfarmall]

Always possible someone stuck a 920 or 820 or 830 topend on it. It would be less of a saw that way. Have to compare to another good 930 to be sure. Mine would get some looks from the uninitiated. I always liked that saw.

 

[Johnwell]

Always possible someone stuck a 920 or 820 or 830 topend on it. It would be less of a saw that way. Have to compare to another good 930 to be sure. Mine would get some looks from the uninitiated. I always liked that saw.

I suppose it’s possible, but I kinda doubt it. They guy I bought it off of had this saw since new, as well as a 920 that I probably should’ve bought for parts.

He said (and I know, don’t trust previous owners) that he never had to replace anything on it other than the bar and chain. It was pretty beat up, but it looks all original. Maybe I should pull the jug and check though.