Thinkin of goin HUSKY!!! Some advice pls...

[Drew78]

Ok everyone I am thinking of buying my first Husky saw. I currently own a Stihl MS360 PRO at about 62 cc w/a 20" bar and RS chain. Good solid saw. Want to add a newbie to the arsenal and thinkig I want something a bit bigger than the 62 cc I have now. I was thinking of the 372 xp in particular.

Now I just got off the phone with Walkers (just ordered a new modded muffler for the 360), and mentioned that I was thinkg about a new Husky saw. The guy from walkers said I should possibly for go the 372 xp and get a 365 which is $200 less than the 372 and have the 365 Wakerized. Now I was not really looking to mod out an entire saw, just do a new muff with the Husky.

What are everyones thoughts on a Walkerized 365 vs, a 372 xp stock.
Also being new to Huskys, what is the actual stock diff. between the saws, in other words what do I get for the "xp" designation? I want to run a 24" bar on here and use it for bucking, and then possibly drop my 360 down to an 18" for a little better balance and let it rip.

any thoughts would be appreciated!!! thanks in advance

-Drew

 

[Weatherby]

If you want a bigger saw than your 036, Id take the next step up from the 372. The 372 just seems too close to your 036. I dont have much experience with the 365, but I dont think id want it over a 372, especially since your 036 is so similar in size.

Go with the 385, or send your 036 to one of the builders on this site and enjoy it.

 

[Drew78]

The 372 is 10cc larger and a 4 cu saw vs the 360 so it is bigger, but marginly. When I looked up the 365 noticed that it basically has the same displacement as my 360. The only prob with the 385 w/24" bar from Southwest is that it is a whoppin #691.00!!!

More than I want to spend I guess. The 372 is $566.00 which is far more reasonable for now. Maybe I should save up and go for the 385, I am sure its a great saw and will pull a 24" bar W/ no effort, but I was looking for something in the middle, kinda like the Stihl 460 at 75cc, but you know more orangy,.... dare I say more Husky???

-Drew

 

[jokers]

Weatherby, there is no comparison between the 372 and the 036, I know this first hand. I do however agree that Drew should consider sending his 036 to one of the builders here. Then it would cut like a 372!

Drew, I don`t want to second guess Walkers on this issue but I am skeptical. I don`t see any advantage to taking two saws that weigh the same and modifying the cheaper one to cut like the more expensive one when the money is going to come out about even. Now if you were to have a 357xp modified(or your 036) by one of the builders here you will have a lighter saw that really revs and will outcut a stock 372. I have a Dennis Greffard(ized) 357 that I am extremely impressed with and I currently do and have had many other saws for a reference point. Dozer Dan or Ken Dunn would also be good choices.

Walkers are reputed to build a less potent woods saw than these other guys, but keep in mind that they charge alot less also. I have a Walkerized 346xp and I`m very happy with it although I have never had a 346 built by any of the other guys. The consensus seems to be that most of the gains from a Walkerized saw come from the muffler. I will say that I enjoyed dealing with the Walkers as they are very nice people and their service is extremely quick. I placed my order and had the saw about 5 business days later, and that`s going through customs.

I just want to warn you though Drew, once you have a modified saw, stock will never be good enough again and given that you are enough of a chainsaw freak to search out forums to talk about them, you may find yourself buy many new ones, LOL.

Russ

ps: just want to footnote that Gypo turned me on to Walkers and professionally modified saws in general.

 

[Oregon_Rob]

If money were the main point, why not send the 036 to a builder and get more power out of it than a stock 372?:angel:
If wanting a new, bigger saw is the main point, wait an extra month and get the 385. Just think of all the anticipation you time you get by waiting an extra month! It would be like a month long Viagra trip!


I have never run a 036, but I really like my 372 with the muffler opened up!

 

[Drew78]

Rocky-

Thanks again for the info. You seem to be a man in the know! If I could just get a hold of that pesky Dozer we may be able to work a new 372 out in the next few months. From other posts I have searched, I think the one where Tony ended up with a free one for being a good guy) those Dozered 372's are quite a setup! That would probably be the route I would take when its time.

-drew

P.S. I wrote this reply up and forgot to submit it so it should be further up on the list! Sorry...

 

[Drew78]

Thanks everyone!

I am not sure what to do!!! I kinda had the same feelings about moddin out a 365. I was hoping by getting a Dozered 372xp that I could fall between a stock 372 and a stock 385. Thats kinda where I think I need to be. The 385 is heavier and prob more saw than I need, but who know, maybe I am wrong! I am a few months out on this decision, but I like to beat it to death within my brain so I will be sure when I go for it.

To address the "why not mod the 360" point, I guess I like the saw where it is, plus have a walkers muff comming for it and it really boils down to me wanting another saw!!! Like Jokers said, I am becoming a freak. I think I have lost sight of that chainsaw bug as it is burrowing further and further up my a$$!!!

Keep 'em commin boys-

Drew

 

[jokers]

Drew, if Dozer`s saws are anything like they are alledged to be, his modifeid 372 will flat out spank a stock 385. I have a Ken Dunn 372 that makes 066s piss all over themselves. Ken da man! but Dozers reputation puts him right up there.

Russ

 

[WOLF_RIVER_MIKE]

but you know more orangy

orangy? personally, I think you can take a modified 357 or 372 or that 036 you got and cut a long time before you find youself needing more saw. But screw that logic right, we're talking new saw here. Get Dan to modify you one of the Dolmar 7900's and just go crazy.

 

[jokers]

Hey, good idea Mike!

 

[Drew78]

Its not that my 360 isnt a performer, its just that I want another saw! I am running a brand new loop of RS on a 20" Rollmatic ES, the first RS loop is in the shop getting brought back from the dull side. I take meticulous care of the saw, I am pretty anal about stuff that costs lots. The saw cuts great, the carb is set ok I think. It idles smoothly, acclerates quickly and screams at full throttle. When I let off I get a touch of smoke so its not to lean or to rich. Dosent smoke while I am in the throttle, just a bit when I release the trigger.

In the cut I just let the saw do the work, no bogging or overfeeding it. I have gotten through everything so far with no problems. I just want to try a Husky and get something a little bigger, in the 4.0 cu class. I anticipate that the 360 will run better yet when I get my Walkers muffler back, and will probably tweak the hi setting a bit when I run it the first few times.

Dose the 372xp have enough of an oiler to handle a 24" bar with no problems or lack of lub?

I am knockin on the door here guys, tryin to get in! Let me come over,...to the dark side!!!

-Drew

 

[Oregon_Rob]

fully adjustable oiler and yes it handles a 24" bar very well.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

IMO the 372 is a good choice and a good jump from an 036. I've never been a big fan of the 036. The 036 just never seemed to have the amount of grunt that a saw of it's size should have. I recently ran a 365 and that saw will walk all over an 036. The 365 had 3/8 chain too! Not the .325 that the 036 has.


I think you would do well with a 372, considering that your budget won't allow anything bigger.

Just my $.02.

 

[Drew78]

Thanks Rich-

I am running a 3/8 pitch .050 ga on the saw now and seems to hold its own. I am leanin towards the 372xp with a 24" as of now. Seems to be the next logical step up in performance in my mind and not to much as I think the 385xp would be.
Thank you for your thoughts.

-Drew

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel


I worked with yet another 'tree company' yesterday. I'm constantly amazed at just how many people out there do this for a living and yet still are unable to show up on a job with a decent running chainsaw and sharp chain.

I see this too!


I had a fellow worker ( the guy who does our chipping ) ask me if I used a chain grinder to sharpen my chains. I told him only if the chain gets seriously damaged by something not visible in the tree. He couldn't believe that I managed to get the chain as sharp as I did by hand. I also mentioned that I keep my chains sharp. I don't reach for the file when the chain is totally trashed!

 

[HUSKYMAN]

I would hit up Dan for a modified Dolmar 7900. I dont know what the price of the saw is, but if you can get it for $100 less than a modified 372, and get more cc's at the same time, I would go for it. If the prices are the same go for the modified 372, since it is proven and parts are easy to get.

The Jonsered 2171 is also a very good saw to modify as it is the same as the 372.

 

[Weatherby]

Maybe its just me, but I wasnt all that impressed with my 372 when I first got it. Even after it had broke in, it still had a tendency to bog down in cuts, and yes my chain was sharp, and no i wasnt forcing it. This was using a 20" bar 3/8" .050. Once I put a modified muffler on it, it was a different story. The saw really came to life when it could breath a little more. Whenever I get enough money, I think it may be taking a trip up towards Dan.

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

Taking the trip to Dan is the way to go,I noticed a big difference after I had him PP my 385xp,it's no doubt worth every penny he charges to do it..Once you go mod you never go back ..Good luck

Rob.

 

[Saw Man]

DOLMAR Dan said the 7900 will run with a 385 right out of the box.
Keeps weight off your back.
So if you want the best power to weight, have Dan work up a Power Ported 7900 and get the best of all worlds.

 

[tony marks]

well ive run the 036 and the pp372.
its my opinion that they compliment
each other perfectly for my wk. the 036 can handle about anything ,and do it well . the 372 pp takes up where the 036, starts to labor some . i never did run into anything,, that gave it much trouble w 20 inch bar an chain . that being my preference,, on my bigger saws.
u would be set as far as my area is concerned. ps in truth,, once i picked up the 372,, id usually do it all,, with it for the rest of the day. smooth and less tiring than most saws