272 or 372

[sac]

Hello, I tried a search for the pros and cons of both of these saws but couldn't find what I was looking for.
I know that the 372 is a newer design saw, but does the 272 give that much up to the 372 when using a 24" or 28" bar?
I have a 61 now and a 55 that I am looking for parts to put back together, and in the future would like to get a 288. I figured that with those saws I would have all my saw needs covered. I said needs not wants :msp_tongue:
Just looking for honest opinions, and yes I would like to get which ever one ported a little, I think I have someone to help me with that.

Thanks Scott

 

[Boleclimber]

A 372 slightly out pulls a 272 and the 372 has better anti-vibration.

 

[Treefarmer85]

Model C.I. C.C. H.P. LBS. Idle Speed Max RPM[/B]

272XP 4.4 72 5.2 13.7 2,500 13,500

372XP 4.3 71 5.4 13.4 2,700 13,500


So as you can see the 272 is a little bit heavier and has a litle bit less HP than the 372, really its all about what you are doing and what your comfortable with, if you can, try to find a saw shop that lets you demo saws or at least try em out in a piece of wood out back. I personally have 4 372's all are ported and I love them, cant run a stock saw over a ported saw the difference is extremley noticable.

Try to find an older model 371, single ring piston over a double ring piston, IMO single ring revs quicker and seems to run better all around. But agian thats my opinion.. Have you thought about jonsered? They make a great saw as well I have a 2186 (stock) runs good but needs to be ported I'd take my ported 372 over it any day!

Well best of luck to you in your quest for a new saw...IMO the new ones with the blue coils suck, take that blue coil out and throw it in the trash :msp_tongue: replace with black coil to get rid of that rediculous "break up"...

Let us know what you find!

 

[trappermike]

Both are excellent,you couldn't go wrong with either one,but I'd pick the 372 for a lot of reasons,the only advantage I'd give to the 272 is the carb. While the 372 is stuck with a smallish HD carb,the Tillotson HS on the 272 is the same basic carb as on the 288 or 2100,it can be bored out even larger quite inexpensively and give a good power boost to a modified saw and has a substantially larger venturi than the 372 carb.
But then the 372 has a much better cylinder,chain brake,etc.,etc....

 

[Stumpys Customs]

not much more to add other than you'll be good to go with either one.

 

[trappermike]

Right,and who wouldn't feel lucky to find a good 272? You're a winner with either one...

 

[weimedog]

I have plenty of 272XP saws to play with, a stock 365' and a 365/371 hybrid I built for kicks..I love my 272XP's but they aren't in the same league as that 365/372 or even my pure stock 365. The newer saw design has more power, more RPM's, less vibration. My fastest 272 doesn't cut as fast as my stock 365 all things being equal with bar & chains. The 365/372 is a generation ahead of the 272's and it is obvious when you run them side by side.

 

[srcarr52]

Model C.I. C.C. H.P. LBS. Idle Speed Max RPM[/B]

272XP 4.4 72 5.2 13.7 2,500 13,500

372XP 4.3 71 5.4 13.4 2,700 13,500


So as you can see the 272 is a little bit heavier and has a litle bit less HP than the 372, really its all about what you are doing and what your comfortable with, if you can, try to find a saw shop that lets you demo saws or at least try em out in a piece of wood out back. I personally have 4 372's all are ported and I love them, cant run a stock saw over a ported saw the difference is extremley noticable.

Try to find an older model 371, single ring piston over a double ring piston, IMO single ring revs quicker and seems to run better all around. But agian thats my opinion.. Have you thought about jonsered? They make a great saw as well I have a 2186 (stock) runs good but needs to be ported I'd take my ported 372 over it any day!

Well best of luck to you in your quest for a new saw...IMO the new ones with the blue coils suck, take that blue coil out and throw it in the trash :msp_tongue: replace with black coil to get rid of that rediculous "break up"...

Let us know what you find!

I think those are dry weights or they are incorrect. My 272 feels quite a bit lighter then my 372, it may just be the more compact design. The 272 is a good saw but the 372 antivibe and power is much better. I have both in a ported version and as much I'd hate to say it but the 272 stays in the truck most of the time.

 

[rickyrooster]

I feel the 272 is a simpler design compared the the 372. Easier to work on and if your building a parts saw yourself, it can be done for less money. Muffler modded and a little woods porting the 272 is no slouch. I know a 372 is a more modern and more liked saw but I like the 272 and will always have at least one or three. :msp_tongue:

 

[rupedoggy]

I have plenty of 272XP saws to play with, a stock 365' and a 365/371 hybrid I built for kicks..I love my 272XP's but they aren't in the same league as that 365/372 or even my pure stock 365. The newer saw design has more power, more RPM's, less vibration. My fastest 272 doesn't cut as fast as my stock 365 all things being equal with bar & chains. The 365/372 is a generation ahead of the 272's and it is obvious when you run them side by side.

If your hopped 272 will not cut with your stock 365 get another person to work on your hot rod saws! Something is wrong!

 

[lfnh]

I feel the 272 is a simpler design compared the the 372. Easier to work on and if your building a parts saw yourself, it can be done for less money. Muffler modded and a little woods porting the 272 is no slouch. I know a 372 is a more modern and more liked saw but I like the 272 and will always have at least one or three. :msp_tongue:

Well put.
Reliable simple guts. Same era as the 288. Nothing wrong with either. ime

Can't speak to the newer saws. probly better off going with the new stuff.

Leave the old stuff to the old folks.

 

[milkie62]

Wouldn't it be better to stick with a 372 over a 272 just from parts availabilty standpoint ?

 

[Saw Dr.]

Why don't you tell us if you have already found the 272 you ask about? Finding a nice 272 is not an easy thing. Those were very popular saws with professionals, and most of them are used up and thrashed out. The weakest link on the 272 series (IMO) is the rubber anti-vibe bushings. Often they are broken or cracked requiring $60+ worth of parts to repair. One does not know this until you take the saw apart, and then the bushings fall to pieces. The clutch cover/brake assy is often messed up on those also, or the brake is assembled wrong (not hard to do.) In a perfect world the 372 is the obvious choice. The 272 seems a little more nimble to me probably due to the outboard clutch. That outboard clutch can also be a liability when your bar is pinched and you are trying to get the powerhead off the bar in a tree. Not that I have ever done this, of course. I forgot to mention, on the 272 and 268 the air intake horn on the topcover likes to break free and then proceed to crack and destroy itself and the topcover around it. With all of that said, I would not pass over a nice 272 for a beat 372.

I say go run both and report back. There are plenty of AS members everywhere with those saws. Once you see how smooth a 371/372 is with the spring A/V, I'll be surprised if you come home with anything else.

 

[Cliff R]

I've ran my 268XP side by side cutting tops with 272 and 372XP's. There is little if any measurable difference in those saws with 18 or 20" bars in smaller material. The fastest saw on any particular day is the one with the sharpest chain on it.

When you move up to the 24" bar in bigger logs, the 372XP really starts to show it's colors. The anti-vibe is excellent, and the engine has a broad/smooth power curve. I've always found my 268XP to be very strong in the upper rpms, but it's noticably more "raspy" than a 372XP, with a narrower power curve and not nearly as smooth in the cut. Just for kicks a few days ago I was servicing it, and checked compression. It was over 165psi, and that saw must have close to a zillion hours on it!

+1 on the anti-vibe bushings. The replacement bushings are noticably harder than the OEM softer rubber. They hold up better, but only make the anti-vibe worse. When I replaced mine, I'm pretty sure that the softer bushings were NLA, at least that is what I was told when I ordered them.

As much as I like the 268/272XP's, if I had a choice between them and a 372XP used, in the same condition, I'd get the 372XP. Better parts support, enough extra oomph for the 24-28" bars, and just a better overall design......Cliff

 

[tallfarmboy]

Hello, I tried a search for the pros and cons of both of these saws but couldn't find what I was looking for.
I know that the 372 is a newer design saw, but does the 272 give that much up to the 372 when using a 24" or 28" bar?
I have a 61 now and a 55 that I am looking for parts to put back together, and in the future would like to get a 288. I figured that with those saws I would have all my saw needs covered. I said needs not wants :msp_tongue:
Just looking for honest opinions, and yes I would like to get which ever one ported a little, I think I have someone to help me with that.

Thanks Scott

If you already own a 61, I really think you could add an aftermarket 272 cylinder onto it and have basically a 272. Someone else correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the 61, 268, 272 were basically the same saw with different jugs?? Might be an option...

TFB

 

[Homelite410]

Scott,

If you would like to run both come on out to Belle Plaine, I have a Mitch built 272XP and my neighbor Mark (hoskvarna), has a Mitch built 372XP. Both are strong saws with the 372 being faster and like the others say in a more modern class than the 272. I like my 272, it is in nice shape and was affordable to put together. I would say run them both with identical b&c on them and then form your opinion. If you want a weekend cookie cutter of a toy then by all means build a 372. I run 24" on my 272 cus a 20" is just a waste of my time!!

Just my.02

 

[pickupporter]

I have a pair of 272 XP's and love them! Here is one I completely rebuilt at work last week.

 

[lfnh]

I have a pair of 272 XP's and love them! Here is one I completely rebuilt at work last week.

Nice looking saw.

 

[Oldtimer]

272 or 372?

To me, asking that is like asking a hungry logger if he wants a bacon cheeseburger with a beer or a tofu burger and a Zima for lunch.

THREE SEVENTY TWO.

 

[CJ1]

I wore out 3 272's one of my faviorite saws but it still is behind the 372 in most ways. Run a 372 for 6+ hours and then the 272 and you can feel quite a difference. For cutting firewood a 272 is great but for day in day out I'll pick the 372. Heck if I was still cutting everyday I am sure I would be in a 576 by now. CJ