550xp or 562xp

[treesmith]

Hi all, going to push the boss to buy me a new small saw for my truck. I'm in Oz so want a 50cc or 60cc for a 16" 3/8 bar. Currently using my saws which is either 346, 261xb or 357xp but bored of them getting bashed up. We have ms362s and to be honest I'm not a fan, I like the idea of a light weight limbing saw and thinking husky so that means 550 or 562. My preference is probably 550

So, my question, is the 550/562 tough?
Will they take being thrown in a toolbox with a 461 thrown in on top or do bits start falling off. Im not always in this truck so whichever saw we get needs to put up with the occasional moron who doesn't treat things nicely.


Cheers all

Andy

 

[Dave27483]

550. They are amazing little saws and there every bit as durable as a 362.
If you muffler mod it it's even better!

 

[KenJax Tree]

I'm loving my JRed 2260 and with the 346 and 357 you already have the small mounts bar for it

 

[Dave27483]

That's true kenjax but in Australia we do not have johnsered at all. Unfortunately!
Unless tree smith is willing to purchase one from the U.S.

 

[treesmith]

It will be a company owned saw so will need its own bar. I've got a cannon bar 3/8 .063 on the 357 and a gb pro .325 .050 for the 346 which I'd rather was 3/8 .063 too All the roll chain the company and I have in 3/8 is 36RM/RS(.063) and nothing in .325 of any gauge. I'd rather not donate my cannon to the company plus my saws need it. I'm guessing husky don't do a 16" 3/8 .063 bar so the other option is running 16" picco on the 550, we've got loads of that. I'm not faffing around buying loops, pretty sure the boss would not be impressed either

Do husky make a bar that runs stihl picco?

 

[treesmith]

I'll ask but I think he'll prefer buying in Au

I love Jonsereds, dunno how I haven't got one any more

 

[Franny K]

Do husky make a bar that runs stihl picco?

The bar is the easy part (at least in the mount for the 550) the sprocket is the complicating factor. Only Stihl currently offers anything besides a six tooth spur sprocket that I am aware of. The rims that fit on those saw's splined drums are not ideal, they seem to work well enough for me on less powerful stuff. Why 1/4 inch rim sprockets to fit on small spline drums are offered but not picco ones is kind of odd to my thinking.

 

[weedkilla]

Can't go wrong with either - but if you want to run 3/8 063 I'd go a 562.
Tsumura sell husky mount solid bars - mcw will sort you out - for sensible money in 3/8 063 large mount husky, or you can run a stihl bar with an adapter.
Small mount on the 550 makes finding a suitable bar for sensible money a bit harder.

 

[weedkilla]

Why not a stihl 261?

They're no husky, but they still cut wood.

 

[treesmith]

That's exactly what I'm thinking, trouble is a 562 isn't much smaller than the 461, ideally need something between a 200t and a 461

My 346 was perfect, that's why I'm thinking 550

 

[sunfish]

550xp is the one.

 

[treesmith]

Why not a stihl 261?

They're no husky, but they still cut wood.

I've got a ported 261cxb of my own, love it

Are the stock 261s alright? Never ran one

 

[weedkilla]

I've got a ported 261cxb of my own, love it

Are the stock 261s alright? Never ran one

They go fine, and quite well with a muffler mod.

 

[Full Chisel]

550xp would be my choice. The 562 is a bit big for limbing.

 

[pro94lt]

550 and 562 are great saws, well built. Yes they will take being thrown in tool boxes. I've been running them for several years in my tree service. Very pleased... crushed a 550 it was 16 inches in the mud from a tree all it did was bend the bar and break the chain tensioner... we just threw it in the bed thinking it was trashed I looked it over and found it was good... I still love my 346 though...

 

[porsche965]

I would make sure the 461 isn't set on top of a 550 if possible. They are not as durable as Stihl, especially that gray cover that will look terrible in no time in a tool box.

The 550xp is one saw I never leave behind when heading out to the landing....they are a great big saw hiding out in a small body

 

[Dave27483]

I will agree about the paint, surely husky could do something about it!

 

[KenJax Tree]

They did do somthing about it....its called Jonsered

 

[treesmith]

Is a 562 pretty similar to the 357? I've got it in my head that the 562 is bigger, 357 seems pretty small to me

 

[weedkilla]

Is a 562 pretty similar to the 357? I've got it in my head that the 562 is bigger, 357 seems pretty small to me

I went from 359 to 562 and had both for a while. The 562 is lighter, but not enough to really care.