I'm a big fan of the chain brake on Stihl chainsaws.

[anymanusa]

I've been using my husky 435 and Stihl ms280 for several months now and I've had a number of hours to play with each and figure out what I like about them. The chain brake on my Stihl is of superior design. I can pop on the brake between every cut and reach one finger up and click it off very easily. The husky is considerably more awkward, the design doesn't allow for such easy manipulation.

This is something that will influence my decision a great amount when I buy a larger saw (a 441, 460, or a 372).

I will give the sideways balance thing to the Husky though.

I didn't start this thread to start anything between the brands, but I think the greatness of the Stihl chain brake deserved it's own thread.:lifter:

 

[TreePointer]

I didn't start this thread to start anything between the brands....

You do realize this is the Chainsaw Forum, right?

Although it's not a major issue for me, I do like the feel of Stihl chain brake when it pops, but it's probably just a familiarity issue for me.

I'm also a big fan of Stihl flippy caps and especially their chain tensioning screw. That screw is a little bigger and easier target for my scrench than what I've experienced on Husqvarna saws.

 

[RutStrut]

I like the chain brake, filler caps, tension screw and wanted to add the way the chain fits around the sprocket and cover area along with the way it discharges wood chips. The design on my MS280 is far superior over my old husky 350. I am sure husky has improved their design in this area, but these are some of the major improvements I have noticed and appreciate.

 

[John R]

Stihl has the best saw out there.
Other saws are good too, but none are better.

 

[anymanusa]

I like the chain brake, filler caps, tension screw and wanted to add the way the chain fits around the sprocket and cover area along with the way it discharges wood chips. The design on my MS280 is far superior over my old husky 350. I am sure husky has improved their design in this area, but these are some of the major improvements I have noticed and appreciate.

oh yeah, this is an awesome part of the stihl design as well.

 

[TK]

The inboard mounted clutch makes it easier to remove and/or replace the chain, sure. What it also does is make the overall machine larger. The MS290, comparable to the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is 3 inches wider, yes!!! 3 inches wider!!!

Another thing is on a plastic bodied saw, I see it as a bad thing. Chain brakes get locked up, yet people don't realize what has happened. Most people don't even know their saw has a chainbrake on it. Thank you dealers/big boxes who just take money and push product. Heat + Plastic = Melted mess. A chainbrake contained in a metal housing has its advantages.

As far as the ability to flip it on/off with a couple fingers, I would like that. I don't use a chainsaw on a regular basis, but when I do it's for an extended period of time. I don't recall having the chainbrake activate on me more than just one time, and I've never had to manually activate it for any reason so it's not of any concern to me.

 

[atvguns]

I am not seeing how the clutch being mounted inboard or outboard could make the saw wider or narrower

 

[wyk]

I like the chain brake, filler caps, tension screw and wanted to add the way the chain fits around the sprocket and cover area along with the way it discharges wood chips. The design on my MS280 is far superior over my old husky 350. I am sure husky has improved their design in this area, but these are some of the major improvements I have noticed and appreciate.

How odd, those are some of the reasons I went to a 372xp and sold off my 046mag. Easier to swap bars and chains on the husky - it discharges chips better, the brake fits my hands better(bucking large trunks would have me occasionally accidentally activate the brake on the 046 near the bottom of the cut), it's easier to adjust the chain tension, better AV, more fuel efficient, I prefer the husky caps to flippy caps(though the 046 mag didn't have them, but my ms250 does), it's a bit lighter, slimmer, and is easier to work on.

 

[sunfish]

I'm not seeing putting the chain brake on between each cut...

 

[anymanusa]

I'm not seeing putting the chain brake on between each cut...

Anytime you have to move, as in "walk", you don't need tone carrying a live chainsaw. Its simply just not safe. Especially if you are walking on anything less than flat stable ground, like on a huge pile of logs or out in he woods.

 

[Anthony_Va.]

I hav'ent really noticed the chainbrake thing y'all are talking about. I think they're both about the same but I only use them when I'm walking with the saw running.

I do like flippy caps better than any other cap and I feel strongly that the chain tensioner on Stihl is superior. I just don't like the husky tensioner and think it's a cheap design. JMO.

 

[sunfish]

Anytime you have to move, as in "walk", you don't need tone carrying a live chainsaw. Its simply just not safe. Especially if you are walking on anything less than flat stable ground, like on a huge pile of logs or out in he woods.

I gotcha, guess I spent too many years with older saws and no brakes, I never use em.

 

[anymanusa]

I hav'ent really noticed the chainbrake thing y'all are talking about. I think they're both about the same but I only use them when I'm walking with the saw running.

I do like flippy caps better than any other cap and I feel strongly that the chain tensioner on Stihl is superior. I just don't like the husky tensioner and think it's a cheap design. JMO.

Here is a picture for comparison:

See how the brake placement is considerably closer to the wrap handle? That allows much easier manipulation of the brake for me. That is a big plus for my preferences. I'm a big guy and have big hands, but on the Husky I can't hold the wrap handle and use just one finger to disengage the brake, but with the stihl I can, and I really have grown to like that feature.

Here is another picture just because the saws look good on the floor:

 

[anymanusa]

The inboard mounted clutch makes it easier to remove and/or replace the chain, sure. What it also does is make the overall machine larger. The MS290, comparable to the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is 3 inches wider, yes!!! 3 inches wider!!!

Another thing is on a plastic bodied saw, I see it as a bad thing. Chain brakes get locked up, yet people don't realize what has happened. Most people don't even know their saw has a chainbrake on it. Thank you dealers/big boxes who just take money and push product. Heat + Plastic = Melted mess. A chainbrake contained in a metal housing has its advantages.

As far as the ability to flip it on/off with a couple fingers, I would like that. I don't use a chainsaw on a regular basis, but when I do it's for an extended period of time. I don't recall having the chainbrake activate on me more than just one time, and I've never had to manually activate it for any reason so it's not of any concern to me.

My buddy has a rancher, I'll do a comparison with my 280 and get back with you.

 

[TK]

My buddy has a rancher, I'll do a comparison with my 280 and get back with you.

Are you comparing more than just the width? The one I had today measured approx. 12" wide at the widest point whereas the 455 measured approx. 9" wide. One saw in each hand and the weight felt somewhat comparable, granted the 455 had a 20" bar while the MS290 had a 16".

I'd be interested in a side by side performance comparison. I've never been let down by a 455, then again I haven't used a matched Stihl counterpart. Worked on plenty, just haven't logged many hours with one.

 

[anymanusa]

Are you comparing more than just the width? The one I had today measured approx. 12" wide at the widest point whereas the 455 measured approx. 9" wide. One saw in each hand and the weight felt somewhat comparable, granted the 455 had a 20" bar while the MS290 had a 16".

I'd be interested in a side by side performance comparison. I've never been let down by a 455, then again I haven't used a matched Stihl counterpart. Worked on plenty, just haven't logged many hours with one.

oh i had a cutting comparison, but his was brand new and my chain had cut a few chords... anyway that's the excuse I'm giving my saw for not feeling as fast as his rancher. We're going to rematch soon though, with similarly used chains I hope.

 

[anymanusa]

Just measured my saws, and I can't see where you're getting your measurements from TK. My Husky is 6.5" wide and my Stihl is 7.5" wide, not including the wrap handle. Including the wrap handle the saws are 8.25" and 9.5" wide. My Husky is much smaller than the 455 rancher, and my Stihl is probably very close to the 290, and there is only an inch and a quarter difference at most with my saws,... I'm having a hard time believing that there would be 3" difference with the 455 and the 290.

Anyway, the 290 should in theory be a lot stronger than the 455. My 280 is listed as having more horsepower, and the 290 is higher than my saw is. I'll just have to measure the rancher when I get a chance.

 

[r&r]

I first used stihls at work and then bought a husky for my personal saw and the first thing I noticed was how much easier the chain brake was to set/release on the husky.
Just my opinion.

 

[nmurph]

when i go to move more than a few steps, the saw goes into one hand and i rock the CB against the back of my hand to set the brake. it happens so fast you have to use a high speed camera to catch it...........honestly, you compare the CB's on two homeowner models and declare that stihl is superior???? come on dude, take the rose colored glasses off and put the cream sickle flavored punch down.

 

[anymanusa]

when i go to move more than a few steps, the saw goes into one hand and i rock the CB against the back of my hand to set the brake. it happens so fast you have to use a high speed camera to catch it...........honestly, you compare the CB's on two homeowner models and declare that stihl is superior???? come on dude, take the rose colored glasses off and put the cream sickle flavored punch down.

:drool: durrrr.

You can look at every saw Husky makes in the XP line up and see that they follow the same physical design characteristic, as well as does Stihl. The chain brakes look the same, they are spaced similarly, and I will find out soon enough if the action is the same.

Yes, the Stihl is definitely superior imo in this aspect of the design.

The husky has a taller cb and is more difficult to de-activate with one finger. Just my observation.