550xp, my new favorite saw....

[Freakingstang]

I bought a lightly used 550xp from a member here a few weeks ago. It only had 5-7 tanks thru it and a muffler mod when I got it. Everyone here knows I'm not a fan of the 346. I did love the dolmar 5100. Did was the key word... This saw is absolutely amazing. It is a full pound lighter than the Dolmar 5100 (dolmar with a 13" carlton bar, where the 550xp had a 16" windsor bar, both saws full of fuel/oil. This thing is amazing. Not any video can compare/do this saw justice. It is a little bit heavier than a top handle, but has muffler modded 365 power. I grew up running 70cc saws as firewood saws, so I've never really been a fan of the little "home owner/firewood" pro saws.. Times have changed. This thing ripppppppppps. Honestly it is strong upper 60cc power with the weight of a 40cc saw... I'm very impressed. I'll try to get some video of this compared to the 5100 this weekend, but real hands on says it has a ton more power, and a ton more toque. I don't care what the specs say saw troll. I don't care about sideways balance when I'm limbing (I never have been a fan of outboard clutches, but maybe I'll make an exception on this one) My first two tanks of fuel were ripping 36" oak rounds that were full of knots...bar buried, the thing just spun to the moon in the cut... The last week I have been cutting slabwood bundles. I'm up to 12 bundles this week and will probably get 3-4 more yet. It is so much narrower and sleeker than the dolmar. The rev Boost, or whatever it is called is pretty cool.. idle to WOT in 1/3 of a millisecond. Husky got it right and then some with this one... i will not own a saw other than a top handle that won't run 3/8 chain...I don't like .325 period. This saw will run a 20" 3/8 just as well.I threw the 20" on it the other night to see how it felt. Ran amazing good although it was just a slight nose heavy. I believe an 18" would be perfect.

balance is pretty darn good...

3

 

[Rokon]

Cool!!

Is that local saw mill scraps on the trailer?

 

[Freakingstang]

I will also add, that i have never run a stock saw with only a muffler mod that screams like this thing does.. I don't own any stock saws and i might just leave this one alone.. it doesn't need anything other than a little muffler work. The thing seems to get twice the "milelage" that my old 346's or my 5100 gets. I have about 8 more tanks run thru it so far and it seems to get stronger each tank. Again, i'm thoroughly impressed.

 

[Freakingstang]

Cool!!

Is that local saw mill scraps on the trailer?

Yes, they are from an amish saw mill. For 10 bucks a bundle it is worth it.. i have 5 cord of green oak and maple for next year, but being new to the house I don't have any seasoned wood so I will burn this. It was cut in the early spring. Normally i'd say screw slabwood, but for the price of it, I'll take as many as I can cut. three bundles yields about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cord. That's cheap firewood...

 

[Rokon]

Nice. That's how I get all my cedar. Local guy with a sawmill.

 

[mt.stalker]

Nice aquisition Freak :msp_thumbup:

And , the new XP's are so sexy . Those Dolmars look like big FisherPrice toys to me :hmm3grin2orange: