Newman
ArboristSite Lurker
Hello all that look at this. New member here after lurking through many posts for many months. Great information by the way. OK, I thought I was catching CAD, but I'm just a lightweight. I burn wood for heat, so I bought a new Husqvarna 359 20" bar back in 06. I have used this saw exclusively until July of this year when I bought a new 545. I have lower back issues so I wanted a light limbing and small wood bucking saw. Got a decent deal, so I jumped on it.
Now I know the 359 is famous for being overweight, so I weighed it. Half full of fuel and oil, 20" full comp, it weighed 18lbs. Weighed a Stihl ms360 20" full comp, right after and it only weighed 16.5lbs. So that got me thinking. "If I'm going to pay the price for the weight, I might as well get a more powerful saw".
So I was looking at the 372xp, 576xp, Dolmar 7910 and Stihl ms461. I am not particularly brand loyal, but I do like Husqvarna. Was looking at a used ms461 when a 576xp non autotune fell in my lap. Guy just wanted it gone for $300. Seemed to run great, idles and revs out good, unfortunately, no bar and chain so couldn't cut with it. But I snagged it up. I know, more weight than the 359, but it will out hustle it when I am bucking 30" oak.
Now, I'm thinking about selling the 359 since it will likely not be used now. But might keep it as a back-up, and maybe start modifying it some.
For the 576xp, I am thinking about a 20" bar and a 28" for "big" stuff, but maybe a 24" would be a good compromise. Thinking .058 gauge so I can use my 20" chains from my 359, but .050 seems the norm in my area. Decisions, decisions. I got 130psi on a compression test, thought it would be more? Saw was warm though. Sorry for the long post, but any wisdom or guidance you experts have on my ramblings is appreciated. Thank you.
Now I know the 359 is famous for being overweight, so I weighed it. Half full of fuel and oil, 20" full comp, it weighed 18lbs. Weighed a Stihl ms360 20" full comp, right after and it only weighed 16.5lbs. So that got me thinking. "If I'm going to pay the price for the weight, I might as well get a more powerful saw".
So I was looking at the 372xp, 576xp, Dolmar 7910 and Stihl ms461. I am not particularly brand loyal, but I do like Husqvarna. Was looking at a used ms461 when a 576xp non autotune fell in my lap. Guy just wanted it gone for $300. Seemed to run great, idles and revs out good, unfortunately, no bar and chain so couldn't cut with it. But I snagged it up. I know, more weight than the 359, but it will out hustle it when I am bucking 30" oak.
Now, I'm thinking about selling the 359 since it will likely not be used now. But might keep it as a back-up, and maybe start modifying it some.
For the 576xp, I am thinking about a 20" bar and a 28" for "big" stuff, but maybe a 24" would be a good compromise. Thinking .058 gauge so I can use my 20" chains from my 359, but .050 seems the norm in my area. Decisions, decisions. I got 130psi on a compression test, thought it would be more? Saw was warm though. Sorry for the long post, but any wisdom or guidance you experts have on my ramblings is appreciated. Thank you.