"Bobcat",
Some dos & donts about clearing saws:
There are numerous brands of clearing saws available today. But in my opinion Stihl makes the best.
The reason I say this is because Stihl makes theirs with a primer bulb.
The Husky version (i think it is a 165) does not, and after a while using it, it will be harder to start.
1. Stihl makes the biggest "three point" cutting blade on the market today.
This blade is by far the most versatile of the attachments available.
when using this blade, maintain rpms and strike with the blade, dont hold it against the material to be cut and saw at it.
Of course, as with anything be aware that you are shock loading the saw, angle gears, housing, shaft etc etc so make sure you strike in small bites on bigger material.
Pampus grass, berry vines, broom etc all have different hardness levels and will cut differently.
2. when using the whip head attachment get the manual adjusting kind, the automatic whip length adjustment heads break real soon or get so clogged up with junk they dont work.
3. Dont get the 'super delux' harness. It is not as adjustable as the plastic harness (it has air holes throughout with fabric sleeves over the shoulders) and the waist belt on the super delux model holds the maching too tightly against your body.
4. Keep the angle gear housing grease level at the proper fullness.
5. Dont hold the handles too tightly when using the brush blades, strike but let the machine bounce back a little. If you muscle it you will break the gears or the casing will get out of alignment.
6. Adjust the harness correctly, the machine head should float just above the ground, and the head should be level to the ground.
7. DONT lug the machine using longer and longer whip. The whip head is the only attachment where you can lug the engine and it causes problems. You will be using the 550 and want a bigger and bigger swath but rein yourself in cause the engine will suffer and you will be repairing it soon.
Enough? wait there is more:
Husky pioneered the clearing saws and made the best angle gear housing in the industry. Used by the swedish to thin stands of trees to promote straighter stands of timber.
I dont like the Huskys because of the air cleaner set ups, the lack of primer bulbs.
Also the Stihl has more holes to hang the saw from your harness. Until 10 years or so ago, Stihl only made clearing saws with very unbalanced shafts. They have taken care of this now.
The fs550 is the largest but it has a shorter shaft which equates to your body being kinked over to get the head to the material.
I have the fs550 and the fs350. The fs350 has the longer shaft so I use it for lighter work.
Both run like a champ and I've had them for several years
Good luck
Frans