Well boys, I got my shipment in on Tuesday as scheduled. J.Walker got the first one, not counting mine. :msp_rolleyes:
Took some pics but.................can't load them in the new shop computer without finding the camera disc. I'll see what I can do about that.
But I did take one into the woods yesterday morning, (before it got HOT), and ran a tank through one. Also brought along a stock 346 for comparison. Both had 21LP chain.
Weight: Don't know what the specs say, but it definitely feels lighter. And IMO it balances better with an 18" than does a 346. Handles real nice. (must have real good sideways balance.
) Haven't put a 16" on one yet to see how that feels, but that's how I usually run saws in this class.
Vibes: Like all of these new Huskys, it's smooth as butter.
Power: By the end of that first tank it felt the same as the 346. We'll have to see what it gains over the next few tanks. Had the 18" bar buried in some maple and it pulled nice. I'd normally be running a bigger saw in that size wood, but wanted to see what she'd do.
Oiler: In decent sized wood, it should be left on full, where it will throw plenty of oil. But the lower settings are pretty stingy. It comes out of the box in the mdeium setting so most of you will want to open it up.
Starting: When doing a lot of stop/start work and always starting a hot saw, I find with all of these new saws that setting the hi idle will always give you a one pull start. Leaving it on regular idle will usually take 3 pulls, sometimes 2.
Ripping: Did a few noodle cuts so I could lift them into the truck and it went through it pretty good. One thing I noticed was that there were as many noodles coiming out the top as the back. The space above the bar at the case is twice the size of that on the 346.
So when you stop feeling and listening for every subtle little difference and you're just working with the saw, what's it like? Pretty close to perfect.................but so was the 346. Keep in mind that I love the 346/2153, and as several of us have said, it's a tough act to follow. But this is one sweet saw to run. It is not the same leap forward ahead of the 346 as the 562 was over the 357. The 562 right out of the box will toast a 357. Even a 555 will at least be equal to a 357. I guess the big question will be what it runs like after it breaks in a little bit.
