What chainsaw is best for my needs? Husqvarna preferably

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The 357 used the smaller bar mount then your 385 so bars can’t be passed back and forth this also follows for a 555, well a 562 uses the large stud pattern like your 385. Myself I’d be looking at the 562 for those reasons. Heres my 562 and how it’s been used running a 32 in hardwoods as well as softwooods in the PNW.
282d186d9b0e4e691c143164bc16cadb.jpg



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Ah right I get you.
I'd love to get a 550 or 562 but realistically I just can't afford one.
However I do love the old Huskies, so I don't mind getting an old saw at all lol
 
I believe the 2159/359 was the cutoff point for the small mount, bigger than that got the large stud Husqvarna mount, so yes- bar compatibility with the 385 is a no go- but there are also a lot of saw users out there that never interchange bars between saws and indeed only own one bar per saw, replacing it with a same when it wears out.
I would have to go dig out the user manual, but I am pretty sure the factory recommended max length bar for the 357/359 is 24"- but I have trouble finding any 0.058 3/8 bar over 20"here that is small mount. The 20"sits well on the 59 chassis though.

I have a 28” small mount 3/8 .050 gauge bar they were available not sure if they still are or not.


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20in will be fine, if your not regularly cutting 20in or larger logs with it.

I’m in the mindset now to run bigger bars so I don’t have to bend over as much. But I’m also realistic about what each saw can handle. Just because it has an “xx” bar doesn’t mean you can cut “xx” logs with it.

Make sense?
 
You can, if you take your time. I've cut quite some 30" trees with a 15" bar on a 50cc 353.
The softest type of hardwood though.
 
You can, if you take your time. I've cut quite some 30" trees with a 15" bar on a 50cc 353.
The softest type of hardwood though.

That’s not really relevant to this conversation. Your saying the OP would do best to get a Husky 136 with a 12in bar and have at those 20in logs...
 
I believe the 2159/359 was the cutoff point for the small mount, bigger than that got the large stud Husqvarna mount, so yes- bar compatibility with the 385 is a no go- but there are also a lot of saw users out there that never interchange bars between saws and indeed only own one bar per saw, replacing it with a same when it wears out.
I would have to go dig out the user manual, but I am pretty sure the factory recommended max length bar for the 357/359 is 24"- but I have trouble finding any 0.058 3/8 bar over 20"here that is small mount. The 20"sits well on the 59 chassis though.
Thanks man for the help. I'm not too fussed about changing bars between saws just yet :)
 
20in will be fine, if your not regularly cutting 20in or larger logs with it.

I’m in the mindset now to run bigger bars so I don’t have to bend over as much. But I’m also realistic about what each saw can handle. Just because it has an “xx” bar doesn’t mean you can cut “xx” logs with it.

Make sense?
Yeah I get ya. Think a 20" is the biggest I need at the moment. Would be good to have the bigger bar on the 385xp and have an 18" on something like a 346xp or 357xp.
 
Which saw to get?
All of them of course.
Seriously though, just get a Husqvarna rancher 455 or 460. Learn how to properly file a chain and start cutting.
 
Hi all. Been looking at saws on eBay etc. and have found the following. Still not 100% sure on what to go for though. Here's some prices of saws I've been looking at.
346xp - around £280 ($345). There are a fair few 346xp's on the market around that price range.
350 - £200 ($246)
351 - £200 ($246)
353 - around £260 to £300 ($320-$370)
357xp - around the £300 ($370) mark.
365 x-torq - £350 ($432)
266 xp - £350
All these saws are in pretty nice condition both on the outside and on the inside. Got to admit, I'm still liking the sound of the 357xp. Seems the right kind of saw for my needs.
What do you all reckon about the prices. Cheers
 
Hi all. Been looking at saws on eBay etc. and have found the following. Still not 100% sure on what to go for though. Here's some prices of saws I've been looking at.
346xp - around £280 ($345). There are a fair few 346xp's on the market around that price range.
350 - £200 ($246)
351 - £200 ($246)
353 - around £260 to £300 ($320-$370)
357xp - around the £300 ($370) mark.
365 x-torq - £350 ($432)
266 xp - £350
All these saws are in pretty nice condition both on the outside and on the inside. Got to admit, I'm still liking the sound of the 357xp. Seems the right kind of saw for my needs.
What do you all reckon about the prices. Cheers

I only have personal experience with the 353 and 266XP, from the saws you listed,
I Love ‘Em Both.

If you’re cutting Hardwood up to 20”, and a bit over on occasion, I would take a closer look at the 266XP, and consider 18” and 24” Bars for it.

I have had my 266XP for dayum near 30 years, and for about 25, it and a Husky Compact 23, Top Handle were all I had.
The 266XP has Plenty of Power, is Dead Reliable, and is manageable all Day long.


Doug
 
Hi all. Been looking at saws on eBay etc. and have found the following. Still not 100% sure on what to go for though. Here's some prices of saws I've been looking at.
346xp - around £280 ($345). There are a fair few 346xp's on the market around that price range.
350 - £200 ($246)
351 - £200 ($246)
353 - around £260 to £300 ($320-$370)
357xp - around the £300 ($370) mark.
365 x-torq - £350 ($432)
266 xp - £350
All these saws are in pretty nice condition both on the outside and on the inside. Got to admit, I'm still liking the sound of the 357xp. Seems the right kind of saw for my needs.
What do you all reckon about the prices. Cheers

The price someone is asking on an auction site and what a saw is actually worth- can be two totally different things.
A 357XP for 300 quid might be a steal if the saw is like new and has a good bar/chain combo- or it might be a lemon that has more problems than you can list, a worn out bar with a filed away chain.
That is the risk you take in the secondhand market where you are not picking the saw up in your hands and inspecting it before handing over your cash.
Ask lots of questions, expand and go over the photographs of the listing with a very critical eye, before hitting the buy now button.

Keep an eye on your local Facebook buy sell & exchange groups as well.

Best advice I can offer is to not be in a hurry, don't buy the first you see. True, you might miss a bargain, but you might get a basket case as well- might be a 357XP listed next week that looks better for 250 quid- or one where the lister admits it has a cooked top end for 50 quid, but the entire rest of the saw is good and still attached.......... then we get to talk you through adding a new top end to your own first saw!
Honestly, if I were you and found a complete Husqvarna powerhead in any of the models you list above and the seller admits it was straight fuelled, but it was cheap (say under 50 quid) I would grab it. You can buy a running saw as well to get you going right now, but putting a new top end on a saw model you mention to get it going again will teach you lots about saws and will be able to be sold as a running saw not a wreck..... if you do not fall in love with it!
 

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