Hi, just (re)joined the site after an absence of over a decade. I bought one of the first 550xpg-s on the market back some 6 years or so. I was amazed by the saw's acceleration! I thought it would be a superior limbing and slashing saw, but I soon encountered some issues: Finicky hot start (no need to elaborate as there are countless posts/threads on topic); kill switch/mechanism too easily (inadvertently) activated while slashing in thick brush; lean running, perhaps too lean. I sold the saw and soon afterward the buyer fried it. I suspect the buyer ran straight gas, but not sure. I loved the saw, otherwise, but I much prefer my 346xp (non-cat).