Which Husqvarna for a beginner/intermediate user- 445, 450 or 455?

[dingeryote]

everybody,
thank you so so much for all the input. right now I'm leaning towards the 450 but I'm going to the dealer tonight to compare the 435 & 450. Looks like I'll have to decide on which one to buy while I'm there. I'm in a bit of a hurry to buy because i need to take out a couple of small trees @ my mother in-law's house on Friday, but i feel like i have enough info to make a good decision, thanks to you guys.

Does the 435 have the same quality parts as the 450? just for my curiosity i don't want the 445 because of the lower power/weight ratio?
bret

Bret,

The 455 makes about the same power as the 450, and handles like a brick compared to the old 350/450.

Ask your dealer if he has any factory refurb 455's as they sell for about 100 bucks under list. The cost difference wont make it any lighter, but might leave you room in the wallet for the next saw.

I bought my 455 after losing a couple good saws, and while I do not regret the thing, it does make what should be fun into work much sooner than with a lighter saw. Heck, my 372 is a smidge heavier and stays fun longer.

On the bright side, the 455 will take abuse like a champ LOL!!
The 350/450 is just more balanced.

Best of luck to ya!
Dingeryote

 

[mowoodchopper]

Bret,

The 455 makes about the same power as the 450, and handles like a brick compared to the old 350/450.

Ask your dealer if he has any factory refurb 455's as they sell for about 100 bucks under list. The cost difference wont make it any lighter, but might leave you room in the wallet for the next saw.

I bought my 455 after losing a couple good saws, and while I do not regret the thing, it does make what should be fun into work much sooner than with a lighter saw. Heck, my 372 is a smidge heavier and stays fun longer.

On the bright side, the 455 will take abuse like a champ LOL!!
The 350/450 is just more balanced.

Best of luck to ya!
Dingeryote

I didnt like mine but I had and the new owner still has had no probs!

 

[weimedog]

My 455 isn't the lightest but it can do real work. Also it lives on my quad for all around cleanup & forestry work of the farm...keep my "nice" saws in the garage!

 

[dingeryote]

My 455 isn't the lightest but it can do real work. Also it lives on my quad for all around cleanup & forestry work of the farm...keep my "nice" saws in the garage!

Mine rattles around in the back of the truck.
What is it about the 455 that invites such pointed abuse? LOL!

For bieng a plastic landowner saw they do seem to suffer the slings and Arrows with admirable grace.

Mines down to 120psi and not a single part replaced other than several bars worn out, and a spur worn down to the nubbins with honest use.

The worst thing about a 455 is that they lack the grace to die a timely death, and ya can't justify rebuilding them when they are plumb wore out.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[Mr. Jimmy]

Husqvarna

The 450 gets my vote due to weight. I bought a 455 originally and got it home to discover that it felt about as heavy as my Echo 670. I then returned the 455 and exchanged it for the 450. I've ran the 450 only briefly with the 18" bar and it has plenty of power and is really light, so far I am very pleased with it. I paid $349 for mine but I beleive Husky is raising the price on these by $20.

 

[andosca]

i think you'd be happy with the 445 as long as you have fair expectations and i think it should do what you have in mind and i think you can find one for under $300 us. i like mine.

 

[mowoodchopper]

The 450 gets my vote due to weight. I bought a 455 originally and got it home to discover that it felt about as heavy as my Echo 670. I then returned the 455 and exchanged it for the 450. I've ran the 450 only briefly with the 18" bar and it has plenty of power and is really light, so far I am very pleased with it. I paid $349 for mine but I beleive Husky is raising the price on these by $20.

I did the opposite, I bought a new 350 traded it in on a new 455, wished I had not , sold the 455 bought another 350,sold it bought a 345 sold it bought a 450, love them all but the 455 not so much!

 

[bretzky]

Hi All,
thanks for all the help. i decided on the 450 from my local dealer. i used it on friday for a couple of small tree (probably twigs to most of you) but it seemed a lot better than my old mccullough saw. it might be a little over kill but i'm planning on having it for a long time and it was $70 more than the 445. The dealer also credited me for the soft bag and i was about to get the orange hard case. now i have to learn how to correct sharpen the chain.
bret

 

[SawTroll]

I would like a 346 to Troll. I cant afford one though. My suggestion was the 450 because its one of the saws he listed. Not knocking the 346!
Did you disagree or agree? Just curious!

It should be pretty obvious from my first post on this thred that I agree!

 

[SawTroll]

Hi All,
thanks for all the help. i decided on the 450 from my local dealer. i used it on friday for a couple of small tree (probably twigs to most of you) but it seemed a lot better than my old mccullough saw. it might be a little over kill but i'm planning on having it for a long time and it was $70 more than the 445. The dealer also credited me for the soft bag and i was about to get the orange hard case. now i have to learn how to correct sharpen the chain.
bret

Good choise - I havn't read or heard anything
negative about that model yet, only positive!

 

[dronzzz]

I owned the 450 and after a year It started running lean so I had to bring it in to get the carb adjusted then after another couple years the oiler stopped working properly it ran a bit dry so didnt cut well and dulled chains quick..also chain loosens up so have to keep checking it to retighten or it falls off... Now drips oil when sitting..and atill runs dry..so go figure...but 10 years later the motor is still fine thats all I can say...biggest problem was the oiler.

 

[Tomos770]

I have 450mk2......OEM oiler is set to eco alike.....no sufficient amount of oil on the bar/chain...

It has non-adjustable oiler!

Took its oilpump appart.....and re-drill oilpump body from OEM 1.5mm pickup/delivery hole to the 3mm....

Just pick up 3mm drill (or your anglo/saxon eqvivalent 1/8in) and drill trough both holes on oilpump body.....!

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I prefer my 359 to any of the homeowner models, simpler to work on, less air leaks, etc. I've rebuilt several of the 455 types and don't care much for the crank seals, as compared to maybe the Stihl MS390.