Husky confusion

[WoodViking]

Hi guys (and girls?)

First of all thanks for a great site


Been a long time lurker, but find myself in a bit of a dilemma and that is the reason for my 1st post here.

My story short is I used to work in a forest some 10 years ago. I quit after a couple of years and sold my saws. A couple of years ago we bought a house with some land and a small bit of forest. The place is heated with wood so I picked up an ms 192rh for pruning, and an ms 250 for firewood at a local dealer. The 250 broke recently so I started looking here for advice for at decent replacement. To make a long story short I now have a ms 361, ms 260EU (allmost same as the US pro-edition) and my 192rh.

The dilemma part (besides the fact that I am allready infected with that CAD thing!) is that I have been looking at the husky 346xp. Prices are just so insanely high here that I have to pay equiv. of 1400 US$ for a new 346xp NE. I've got at great offer to buy an old edition for 500$. I could import one from the US which would cost me about 700$. So I have just about 4 choices.

Keep my ms260 and be happy (by the way - here they are 3.5 bhp stock)
Buy 346 xp NE here - which is waaaay too expensive
Import 346xp NE from the other side of the pond
Buy slightly used (2007) 346xp Old Edition

The saw will mostly be used for limbing.

So I guess my question is: how significant is the difference in power + torque between the new and the old 346xp?. Is there any other differences that should be taken into consideration?

Thanks

 

[brinkwolf]

I luv my NE346XP, but you already have a MS260 so I would just keep it and save the money for something else maybe bigger than what you have already.

 

[husky455rancher]

you know what you have to do......346 baby!

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Depends on how bad is the CAD.

Sell one to finance another?
How much could you get for the MS260? At the prices you've quoted for a 346XP, the MS260 in decent shape should bring good money. If you get a new 346XP-NE you probably won't be using the MS260 much anyway. The 346XP-NE is an upgrade, but not a huge one. My opinion, and remember how much you're paying for it, the original 346XP and the MS260 would be close to the same in performance, with little noticeable difference.

I guess it's up to you.

Take Care

 

[WoodViking]

decisions decisions

Well I guess the CAD has just started to kick in. I am quite satisfied with the size of my 3 current saws. They cover my needs so it is not like I really really need that 346.

To be honest I am just a teeny tiny bit dissapointed with my 260. It is doing ok - but not really good. That is the reason for my search for something just that little bit better. And then I just like that sound of the small screaming huskies.

Selling the 260 to finance the 346 is what I considered at first - but what if the 260 ends up beeing the better saw for me:fart: And a new 260 goes for equiv. of 800$ here - so close to half the price of the husky. What is up with that anyway Husky saws are cheaper in the US than Stihl? Here the huskies are far more expensive than the Stihls.

I could sell or swap the 260 for approx. 500. And it is only a few months old, so I would prefer keeping it.

Thanks for the replies guys

 

[rmh3481]

Howdy and Welcome. If the price difference is that much from the US to there, why dont you consider buying a new saw from one of the dealers on the site?

You sound like you know how to take care of a saw but consider that some people do not. A used two stroke engine is a big chance these days, unless you know who used it and that they knew how to take care of it.

Best wishes,
Bob

 

[WoodViking]

Exactly what worries me

Hi rmh3481

You allmost read my mind about bying from one of the dealerlinks on this site. Only problem is to find one that sells the saw and wants to ship it across the atlantic.

You are also spot on about bying used. I do not have a clue how the used saw has been treated.

Even though you posted my initial thoughts it is still a help to hear it from somebody else - so thanks for the reply.

 

[excess650]

The MS260 is a fine saw, and non-US spec is more powerful, so lessens the difference with the NE346XP. Have you experimented with chain pitch, gauge, and bar length on the MS260?

The 45cc original 346XP is more of a screamer than the NE, and the 242XP even more so. They might be down in power a bit, but for limbing, that really isn't an issue.

I'll admit that I do find the bright, shiny, orange 346XP a thing of beauty!

Buy what YOU like.

 

[WoodViking]

no experiments

My 260 is wearing 15" bar (standard over here) and it's 0.325 RMC chain. I have tried it with RSC chain but didn't like it for limbing - it felt kind of grabby. The RSC did make a significant difference for bucking small stuff but the saw was bought for limbing, so i returned to the RMC.

I guess it's down to old used but cheap 346 or an NE imported. So now I have a problem finding a store that will actually ship it. . . but who said it was going to be easy!

I am still wondering about the difference between the old and the new husky - even though it seems that the old one is more of a specialist at limbing while the new one is more of an allrounder? (like the 260!?).

 

[cjcocn]

Save your money and buy up.

I finally put my new-to-me 2186 into some wood last weekend and, while it wasn't quite the same as the 820 that I used to have, it has soured me on smaller cc saws. I don't know if I will ever use anything smaller than about a 70cc again. I want one of each of the older Jonsereds, but I don't know about using the smaller ones.

 

[dingeryote]

Hi rmh3481

You allmost read my mind about bying from one of the dealerlinks on this site. Only problem is to find one that sells the saw and wants to ship it across the atlantic.

You are also spot on about bying used. I do not have a clue how the used saw has been treated.

Even though you posted my initial thoughts it is still a help to hear it from somebody else - so thanks for the reply.

Viking,

Just a Michigan skinflints(Cheapskate) opinion.
Your MS260 is paid for, is new, and it works fine.

A smidge down on power?
Muffler Mod, and clean up the ports a bit.
It might not be a screamer like the 346XP but will come close.
The guys here can clue ya in on all that.

Selling the 260 to take a chance on a used 346 is silly. Somebody is selling it for a reason. Don't do it!!

New?
What's the price jump to go to a 361 or 357XP over there?

WOW!!! I can't believe your prices.



Good luck to ya however you decide.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[bruiser 1]

Hi guys (and girls?)

First of all thanks for a great site


Been a long time lurker, but find myself in a bit of a dilemma and that is the reason for my 1st post here.

My story short is I used to work in a forest some 10 years ago. I quit after a couple of years and sold my saws. A couple of years ago we bought a house with some land and a small bit of forest. The place is heated with wood so I picked up an ms 192rh for pruning, and an ms 250 for firewood at a local dealer. The 250 broke recently so I started looking here for advice for at decent replacement. To make a long story short I now have a ms 361, ms 260EU (allmost same as the US pro-edition) and my 192rh.

The dilemma part (besides the fact that I am allready infected with that CAD thing!) is that I have been looking at the husky 346xp. Prices are just so insanely high here that I have to pay equiv. of 1400 US$ for a new 346xp NE. I've got at great offer to buy an old edition for 500$. I could import one from the US which would cost me about 700$. So I have just about 4 choices.

Keep my ms260 and be happy (by the way - here they are 3.5 bhp stock)
Buy 346 xp NE here - which is waaaay too expensive
Import 346xp NE from the other side of the pond
Buy slightly used (2007) 346xp Old Edition

The saw will mostly be used for limbing.

So I guess my question is: how significant is the difference in power + torque between the new and the old 346xp?. Is there any other differences that should be taken into consideration?

Thanks

My Friend you have a MS361 &192!!! I believe that is all the saws you'll ever need. Both GREAT SAWS.

 

[Taxmantoo]

Keep the 260, forget the 346 or buy it and resell it for a profit. Watch for a cheap used 242XP, they weigh less than your MS260.

 

[brinkwolf]

Viking, you said you were dissapointed with your 260. Well it is new so you need to run a few tanks a mix thru it and it will run better.

 

[WoodViking]

346xp what....

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I am for sure going to keep the 260 and buy a 346. I want to try both side by side - and then I will keep the one I like the most. My 260 has about 15 tanks through it, so it should be broken in by now.

Any of you who have used both the old and the new 346xp? I would really like to know about differences in power and handling.

I really appreciate your opinions

 

[tree_beard]

the 346xp is a brilliant saw, i much prefer it to the ms260...


if you wanted a slghtly cheaper new edition 346xp i could probably ship you one from the u.k... i paid £440 for my 346xpg last year

 

[bowtechmadman]

I own an old edition 346 and have run a Jred 2153 (same as NE346). Characteristics very similiar you can push the NE a bit more, better torgue. Honestly, difference is about what you should expect for an additional 5cc's. I would believe they are close enough that difference in chain would make the difference if racing.

 

[WoodViking]

The new one

I have decided to try to get a new one from the US. Just having a bit of trouble finding a dealer that ships it internationally. Thanks treebeard for the offer - that was very kind of you.

If i succeed in finding one from the US I will try to post my opinion on the differences between the 260 and the 346xp NE.

 

[tree_beard]

good luck viking, if you have any problem getting one from across the pond, my offer is always open (just shoot me a pm) we should be able to get you a shiny new british one for about $700

 

[WoodViking]

Ordered!

Finally found a new edition 346xp on ebay. Allready got a track an trace number and the saw left the US day before yesterday, so should arrive within a week or so.

Final price ended up being $479+ $105 for shipping and additional approx. $125 for taxes. So total price just around $700 - which is about half the price of one from a danish dealer

Got one without the cat-muffler and with a 16" bar.

By the way - I'm keeping the 260 as well and have allready started looking at a 372xp husky I really have to stop before this CAD thing really takes off!!