Best all-around sub-$300 saw w/ 16" bar for homeowner?

[RED-85-Z51]

Found the Husky 350 for $299 online with free shipping and am close to pulling the trigger on it. That is with the 18" bar and $309 with the 20" bar. Which is a better match if I go this route?

Also, are the Huskies in the 50cc range true Huskies or Poulan or such in disguise? I think it is the Echo or the Husky right now as the Craftsman/Poulan is what I had and the Shindaiwa and Stihl are a little high for the same specs.

John

Id take a CS-440 Echo over a Husky 350....Good slid saw either way, but The Echo warranty just does it for me.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

If money is an issue...........it always is...........then Echo isn't a bad choice. Some will tell you that they are junk and that Stihl is the only saw to consider. That is pure Bunk.


Stihl is better than Echo............but that doesn't mean Echo is terrible!!!

 

[forestryworks]

i wanna jump in at the last minute and say i've really enjoyed my MS 210... first saw i ever bought... it's homeowner enough, but a tough one at that

 

[grawil]

After tuning it up, having a dealer look at it, and buying 3 chains, I have less than $300 into my 038 Super that I bought used (locally). Removed the muffler to look at the piston and checked the compression before I bought it.

@Kratos: what about the 028 for sale locally?
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/for/403389784.html

 

[Kratos]

Does the 28 on Stihl 028 mean it is only 28 cc? That is why I didn't check that one out. I thought it was too small for some of the big trees I need to cut up.

By the way, does cc's relate directly to HP in a chain saw? I notice the Echo 440 is 45 cc and the Husky 350 is 52 cc. The Husky says that is 2.7 HP I think, but cannot find out what the HP on the Echo is. I personally do not care how big the engine is, I want to know how much work it can do.

John

 

[aRBy]

No bigger than an 18" on the 350!
The 345 and up are Huskies, below that I am not sure?

The 340 up are really husqy’s

Does the 28 on Stihl 028 mean it is only 28 cc

My 028 is a 47 cc saw.

 

[grawil]

Does the 28 on Stihl 028 mean it is only 28 cc? That is why I didn't check that one out. I thought it was too small for some of the big trees I need to cut up.

Nope, it's just under 50cc. Specs for older saws can be found here. It would be happiest with a 16'' - 18'' bar.

 

[rb_in_va]

Does the 28 on Stihl 028 mean it is only 28 cc? That is why I didn't check that one out. I thought it was too small for some of the big trees I need to cut up.

Is the 028 still available? I thought those were supposed to be legendary for long life and reliability.

 

[Kratos]

I emailed the guy with the 028 to see if he still has it, but no response yet. Does anyone know if the 029 is as good or better? This one is on ebay at $149 with $50 shipping, but is within driving distance for me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stihl-029-Super...ryZ79669QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

John

 

[Kratos]

I know it is risky to buy on ebay, but this seller has 100% good feedback and they are offering a MS290 Farm Boss Stihl for $225 in "like new" condition. With shipping about $60 less than the new Husky 350. What say you all?

 

[peter399]

I know it is risky to buy on ebay, but this seller has 100% good feedback and they are offering a MS290 Farm Boss Stihl for $225 in "like new" condition. With shipping about $60 less than the new Husky 350. What say you all?

Used MS290 on ebay for 60 bucks less than a new 350 ??
Do a search on this forum and you will find the 290 to be the most hated saw on AS. The 350 is a very popular saw, not many has anything negative to say about it. Go buy the 350 and you will never regret it, you cant't go wrong with that one. The 290 is a heavy and underpowered boat anchor.

 

[Kratos]

Peter,

Thanks for the quick response. I think I will just buy the 350. My wife just wants me to make a decision because she knows I won't do anything else until I do. Which seems like a better deal to you if getting a Husky?

350 with 18" bar for $300
455 with 18" bar for $330
455 with 20" bar for $340

I notice the 455 is 2 lbs. heavier and has the X-TORQ engine for more power and less fuel consumption, but may not need the extra for my intended use.

John

 

[peter399]

Peter,

Thanks for the quick response. I think I will just buy the 350. My wife just wants me to make a decision because she knows I won't do anything else until I do. Which seems like a better deal to you if getting a Husky?

350 with 18" bar for $300
455 with 18" bar for $330
455 with 20" bar for $340

I notice the 455 is 2 lbs. heavier and has the X-TORQ engine for more power and less fuel consumption, but may not need the extra for my intended use.

John

The 350 hands down. The 455 is a MS290 type of saw, heavy and underpowered.)

 

[peter399]

But I would choose 15-16 inch and 0,325" for the 350. Will reduce weight and add hp to the cut.

 

[Kratos]

Thanks again. I am ordering the 350 now. I am buying online so do not have the option of anything but the 18" or 20" bar so am going with the 18. I may change it out later though.

John

 

[peter399]

OK. Very good choice! Take good care of that new puppy.
Consider a smaller bar later.
/Peter

 

[THALL10326]

Used MS290 on ebay for 60 bucks less than a new 350 ??
Do a search on this forum and you will find the 290 to be the most hated saw on AS. The 350 is a very popular saw, not many has anything negative to say about it. Go buy the 350 and you will never regret it, you cant't go wrong with that one. The 290 is a heavy and underpowered boat anchor.

Oh really. Lets be honest with the man Peter. The 350 is a better saw than a 290, yeah right. I don't see 290's with mufflers falling off, chainbreaks screwed up and oilers not working. Why not tell the man the truth how Husky mounts the beaings on that 350 right into the plastic crankcase like the cheap Poulans do. If you lock a bearing you lose the crankcase too.Tell him it has no oil pick up in the oil tank, its gravity fed just like the cheap Poulans. Tell him he better not try to remove the bar mount cover with the brake on unless he has something to pry it off with. Peter if your gonna be a salesman you have to be honest or some SOB like me will come along and point out what you don't tell your buyers. The 290, tell him the truth, the best selling saw in America, must be a reason why,hehe

By the way buyer, if you want the 350 hell don't order it, just go to Lowes or Sears and get it, they got plenty of sitting on the shelf, no need to order one, they're prices are as good as anyone.

 

[peter399]

Oh really. Lets be honest with the man Peter. The 350 is a better saw than a 290, yeah right. I don't see 290's with mufflers falling off, chainbreaks screwed up and oilers not working. Why not tell the man the truth how Husky mounts the beaings on that 350 right into the plastic crankcase like the cheap Poulans do. If you lock a bearing you lose the crankcase too.Tell him it has no oil pick up in the oil tank, its gravity fed just like the cheap Poulans. Tell him he better not try to remove the bar mount cover with the brake on unless he has something to pry it off with. Peter if your gonna be a salesman you have to be honest or some SOB like me will come along and point out what you don't tell your buyers. The 290, tell him the truth, the best selling saw in America, must be a reason why,hehe

By the way buyer, if you want the 350 hell don't order it, just go to Lowes or Sears and get it, they got plenty of sitting on the shelf, no need to order one, they're prices are as good as anyone.

Thall, Thall…. Why so upset? Because Husky sold a saw and Stihl didn’t?
Because someone finally came to his senses and turned the boat anchor down?
The guy wants a good saw that won’t kill his back, a saw that revs, a saw without aPOS filter system, without POS anti vibe system , a saw that looks nice, that sounds nice, that radiates performace evolution and R&D work, and for a price only 60USD more new than a underpowered, overrated, ugly, vibrating, fuel consuming, dust sucking monster that suffers from severe overweight, bought on EBAY!. We’ve had the discussion before Thall and every time anyone says something negative about the 290 you put your Stihl dealer hat on and starts barking and yelling. I think people have seen it before…

I turned the 455 down too you know? This is no Husky/Stihl thing, it’s someone having a rotten attitude...

 

[rb_in_va]

I saw the Baileys sale ad had the 353 for $344. Might be too late though.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Thall, Thall…. Why so upset? Because Husky sold a saw and Stihl didn’t?
Because someone finally came to his senses and turned the boat anchor down?
The guy wants a good saw that won’t kill his back, a saw that revs, a saw without aPOS filter system, without POS anti vibe system , a saw that looks nice, that sounds nice, that radiates performace evolution and R&D work, and for a price only 60USD more new than a underpowered, overrated, ugly, vibrating, fuel consuming, dust sucking monster that suffers from severe overweight, bought on EBAY!. We’ve had the discussion before Thall and every time anyone says something negative about the 290 you put your Stihl dealer hat on and starts barking and yelling. I think people have seen it before…

I turned the 455 down too you know? This is no Husky/Stihl thing, it’s someone having a rotten attitude...

As much as I dont like Stihl...290>Husky 350

The Husky is a plastic saw if I ever saw one, and Ive got a Wild Thing.

Bearings in the plastic case, dinky plastic choke and kill switch...

At least the Echo uses a metal kill switch, and the Choke pull is shielded from the recoil handle should you release it early.

LOL, even my Wild Thing uses superior Choke and kill switches...