in the market for....

[snaponman1526]

hey guys....awesome site. i burn firewood for heat from usually october to april. ive been getting by with an old stihl av029. awesome saw but has a lot of time on it. so after talkin to the wife ive got the okay to purchase a new saw. i stopped by the stihl dealer and of course no professional saws in stock. but the 441 magnum really caught my eye. big bucks. i also stopped at the husky dealer and saw a brand new 372xp. of course both salesmen ranted and raved about their own saws but i was wondering out of these two choices which saw is a better choice for firewood and lot clearing. biggest tree i encounter is prob 36 in diameter. usually cut 8cord a year. thanks benn

[tonto]

I own a MS441 with 18", 20" and 25" bars. Best saw I have owned. Low vibes and less fuel consumption. Geat saw. Tonto.

[Cut4fun]

JMO grab the 372xp while you can. They are being discontinued for the millionth time it seems. This month and only old stock is being sold from what I understand.

[fishpharmer]

Snapon, welcome to the Forestry Forum.   Can't really give you an opinion on those two models.  I lean toward Stihl, since I have a great dealer and support.  Husky sell's lots of saws too.  The 441 magnum will be a big jump up in size and power (I think).  Lot's of folks on here that know a lot more about chainsaw's than myself have been talking about the new emission regulations causing the discontinuation of some very good machines.  I really like my 361 for cutting firewood all day long.  They too have been discontinued, my dealer had 4 last week for +/- $600.

[windthrown]

Both saws are going to set you back about $900. From my reading and limited use of the two saws, it is pretty much a coin toss. The 372xp is a winner all around. Husky is redesigning the 372xp/xpw this year to a startified air injected (strato) design though, so they are apt to be heavier and bulkier. The 441 is already redesigned with the starto engine. Both are smooth saws. I have all Stihls, so I might lean toward the 441, but I do not have one, nor do I need or want one. I would probably get the 372 Husky because like the 361 Stihl, its the last of the best of the non-strato engine design saws, and there are not many new ones left.

The existing non-strato 372xp plain model is not available locally any more. Only the non-strato 372xpw. As said, sales are limited in the US to existing saws on the shelves. No new ones can be made in the US or imported for 2010 EPA laws that are requiring the redesign of all saws (actually all small 2-stroke engines, not just chainsaws) to far stricter smog requirements. This is mainly happening becasue of a huge lobby effort by John Deere, who shot themselves in the foot. They owned the patents to a clean burning 2-stroke engine technology and pushed for tougher smog laws, hoping to corner the market. Then Stihl came out with an alternative clean burning engine, and JD figured that they could not dominate the market. So now JD is out of the hand held tool market completely, and sells Stihl and Honda small engine tools. Husky has also had to comply and is redeveloping their saws. Dolmar is also changing their saw models to comply, mainly by adding cats to their mufflers. 

[snaponman1526]

the stihl support around here in my opinion is awful. i dont mind paying for quality parts or service but i dont think that the stihl people i deal with are worth what they are charging. from what i gather from the local husqvarna dealer is that the 372xp was discontinued then was back in the making and now they're discontinued again. either way the dealer has 8 instock and says he sells way more smaller saws to the homeowners so i have no worry of missing out on one. i have a couple of weeks before i plan on starting for the next winter so i guess i just have to put some thought into it. also the 372xp could be mine for $804 out the door which i thought was a deal. i didnt even inquire about a cost of the stihl 441 magnum. decisions decisions

[JohnG28]

From what i gather, it sounds like your decision is already made...go with the 372xp, ive heard a lot of good things about it, and if you have better dealer support that should definately be the way to go...i personally have good stihl support, and like them, and was lucky enough to get last new 361 in my area, i really wanted to get a new saw that didnt have the new strato engine tech, and those saws are fading fast, as is the 372...if you can get a deal, then all the better...also, might check on discounts, i got $40 off the 361 because it was discontinued model

[beenthere]

the stihl support around here in my opinion is awful. .............

Where is "around here" ?

[snaponman1526]

pennsylvania...where nj, ny and pa all join together

[thecfarm]

To me it would not make a difference.But dealer support would.

[windthrown]

Around here Husky dealers are few, Dolmar dealers are non-existant (except on their web site) and Stihl dealers are on just about every corner. If you do not like one dealer, go to another. I do. I have over a dozen Stihl dealers here to choose from. And far more if I want to drive farther. I do that for buying some rare types of chains or odd parts. I think I have been in over 30 different Stihl shops in the west. There is only one that I flat refuse to deal with (Roy-Boys up in Portland, OR). They charge more for their saws than other dealers, and the puke behind the desk would not even look up a part number for me on a saw, becasue he claimed that the one I had was not the model that I had. I am used to knowing a lot more about Stihl saws than most dealers do here, but to refuse to look up a PN when I had an IPL in hand to contradict him? Well, that's just stupid and lost business for them. I buy a lot of Stihl saws too, and in this economy, I wish them luck. There is only one Husky dealer that I will buy from locally, and they are pretty good. They are also my local Kubota dealer. There are other Husky stores around here that are bog box, ranch supply, or lawn mower shops that do not really deal with pro size chainsaws. I try to avoid those places. JD dealers are selling Stihl saws here now and some older Stihl dealers are going under as a result. In some cases that has been a good thing though, becasue the only other place that I did not buy Stihl saws or parts from is no longer there becasue the JD dealer is just down the street.

[des170stihl]

 Of course I would always pick a Stihl. Have.nt much faith in Husky products since they have sold out to a vacume cleaner co. named Electrolux. Hard telling where it,s built anymore. 

[windthrown]

Electrolux is no longer the parent company of Husqvarna Group. If anything its the other way around. I tried to figure out the corporate structure of Husqvarna once, and it is mind dizzying. About like General Dynamics was when I worked there. Several splinter companies, parent companies, US and 'rest of the world' divisions, and the like. If anything, I think that Husky sufferes from having chainsaws split amung different major groups of the company. Also the fact that they own many other name brand chainsaw companies, like Poulan. In fact, the Husky Group owns these chainsaw trade labels: Husqvarna, Jonsered, Zenoah (J-red in Japan), Poulan, Weed Eater, Partner, Flymo, Dasmant Baort and Gardena. Oh, and they bought up the McCulloch name. MAC is now Husky!

The exact relationship with Husky and Electrolux is foggy, but the last US recall of Husky lawn equipment was made by Electrolux Home Products Inc. Also on the Husqvarna Consumer Products pages, they have (or had) a photo of a vacuume cleaner on the Consumer Products division group. I believe that the parent company has controlling or a complete ownership interest in Electrolux, at least in the USA. I do not know about the 'Rest of the World' division.

[Rocky_J]

Well, General Electric builds everything from appliances to light bulbs to jet engines to television shows and movies. Big deal. Just because Husky is owned by a multinational conglomerate doesn't mean they aren't any good. I don't particularly care for most of their stuff but they make a half dozen really good saw models.

[ford62783]

i could have had a 372 for 699 outthe door i chose the newer model 576 for 739 cant beat the price and the quality a pund moore and 3 cc more and they cut great n problems and a 2 year warrenty im a big husqvarna guy but i had a stihl pay a lil more for them but i dnt think they are worth the price just went up 40 dollars here and a ms460 is around a grand already and i cant tell a diffrence in quality but it depends on how u like them to handle id look at the 576 husky before makeing a decion but id say use what u like the feel of

[Cut4fun]

Just so you know. I seen  the  baby brothers could be bought right now for $499. The 365 special.

[567paloggger]

for idk were your shopping for stihls i get ms660 magnums with 25inch bar for a grand out the door stihl are alot cheaper than huskys i have 8 saws only 2 huskys a dealer i went to yesterday has 3 ms361s im gonna grab 2 more monday ill have 5 361s now

[Cut4fun]

dealer i went to yesterday has 3 ms361s im gonna grab 2 more monday ill have 5 361s now

What do you use the 59cc saws for.    I have sold my 361 and 357 off because they fall in that in between class  I call bastard size and I either grab a 50cc or a 70cc first depending on job at hand. They were just setting so they had to go.

[quietrangr]

I've been using a 361 for two and a half years. I just bought a new one when the oiler quit, and will fix the old one for a spare. Had about 4000 hours on the 361, and still runs fine, though starting to cost me some for parts, (starter rope pulley, clutch, now oiler). I used my spare Jonsered 2171 for a couple of hours (same saw as a 372); the vibration wore me out. The 361 is a little slower but less tiring to run.

[Rocky_J]

The 460 oiler is a direct swap and will allow you to turn the oil flow up further if you like. Stihls have always been stingy on oil, but then they also sell overpriced bars and chains to make up for it. 

[ford62783]

i looked at 4 stihl dealers from saratoga ny to warrensburg ny and 2 husky dealers al the stihls where around the 940 to 980 range and the husky was from 729 to 850 for the 576 and 699 to 899 for the 372

[quietrangr]

The 460 oiler is a direct swap and will allow you to turn the oil flow up further if you like. Stihls have always been stingy on oil, but then they also sell overpriced bars and chains to make up for it. 

Seems like my 361 gets enough oil when turned all the way up for an 18 inch bar. I pay $58 for an 18 inch es bar, and $270 for a hundred foot roll of chain. Not much different from Oregon. I know the single chain price at the Stihl dealer is way high, though.

[Cut4fun]

I pay $34 for Oregon power match or Windsor speed tips 18" and $209 for my Oregon rolls.

[quietrangr]

I pay $34 for Oregon power match or Windsor speed tips 18" and $209 for my Oregon rolls.

Gonna get in trouble here, but I think Stihl bars are better. Oh, oh. But at $34 for Oregon bars, depending on the shipping price, that might be a better deal. Where do you get them for that price? I've seen that $209 price in Madsen's catalogs for square ground chain, which I can't use on hardwood. They quoted me $249 for Oregon LGX. After shipping, not much difference.

[Cut4fun]

I get my bars at the local Dolmar dealer for that price.  Sometimes even cheaper. Got a 20" large husky mount replaceable tip for $30 once last year.

The chain I order is the CL from Madsen's for my uses, it also can be round ground like LG. $209 + $15 ship.

I have plenty of ES bars too, some still new waiting. I just refuse to pay dealer prices for those. So I didnt included them in this thread for my 084's and 066.

[windthrown]

The 460 oiler is a direct swap and will allow you to turn the oil flow up further if you like. Stihls have always been stingy on oil, but then they also sell overpriced bars and chains to make up for it. 

Come on now, tell us what you REALLY think about Stihl...

The 460 plain model oil pump is not much better than the 361. You need/want the 460 R model oil pump. You do not need to replace the entire oil pump on the 361 either. For half the price, you can get the 460 R model control bolt and piston and put them into the 361 oil pump (the oil pump body on the stock 361 is exactly the same as the 460, and the 441 for that matter). Be careful about this 361 upgrade though; if you set the oil pump on high, you can drain the oil tank before the gas tank is empty.

The 460 R model Stihl PN are:

1128 647 0602 oil pump piston
1128 647 4803 oil pump control bolt
or:
1128 640 3250 entire oil pump assembly

If you buy R (or Aussy) model Stihls, they gush oil like the middle east. Mine have and do (044, 066, 460, etc). Most Stihl saws with adjustible oilers will oil a bar fine, if you crank them up. If you leave them set at the factory E setting, well good luck with that. I have three 361s, and they oil a 25 inch bar just fine. Same with all of my fleet of 026s. Plain non-PRO 260 models oil a 20 inch bar just fine. The 290/310/390 oil a 25 inch bar just fine. Now, those little 1123 saws (the 210-250) have these tiny oilers in them that are pretty poor.

I use GB and Stihl bars mostly, and I think they are better than Oregon. Same with chains: I run all Stihl and Carlton/Windsor. Mostly semi-chisel, as full chisel dulls way too fast cutting through the crud that I do. Just my experience, but I have had problems with Oregon nose sprockets and their laminated bars delaminating on me. Never had that problem on a Stihl or GB bar, laminated or solid.

Of course, I run long bars here on all my saws. PNW long bar disease

[ihookem]

I was in the market. I could get a Husky 372 for 799+ tax  A Dolmar 7300 for 695 + tax.  An ms 441 for 750 + tax. I went with the Stihl. All were priced with 24" bars and chains are 15 dollars each. I have to see it to believe it though. I can swap bars with my 034, otherwise It would have been a total toss up. My ussual dealer wanted 859 plus tax for the 441 so I'm a little mad at him. I don't need a 441 but  for 788 out the door I better do it cause our dollar is not going to be worth much in a few years. You might see 441's going for 1,000 dollars in a few years. It will be a huge step up for big logs from my 034. Love the 034 though.

[ihookem]

I got my 441 today with 25" bar for 787 with tax. It is way better than my 034 for ripping big logs. I was surprised at how smooth it was, no shaking or vibrating and it screams without flooring it. Just one question,  how do you guys break the engine in? I didn't  floor it for more than a second or two a few times. and ran it light. Any suggestions?

[Rocky_J]

The best advice I ever got for 'breaking in' new motors was to forget about it. The only thing you want to avoid is running it wide open unloaded for an extended time (over revving) or running under extreme load for an extended time (over heating). But then you don't want to do either of those things with any saw even after it's broken in.

Just run it like a normal saw. Don't baby it or over think it. It will get stronger after several tanks of fuel. If you try to run it at half power then you will end up with a saw that only runs at half power. So use it to its full capacity but don't abuse it.

[Ianab]

Yup, take it out and cut some wood 

Run it full throttle when the bar is in wood and generally use it like normal.

Modern engines need very little 'running in' and what you do should be under normal operating conditions. Get the carb adjusted after about 10 tanks of gas as it will be "run in" by then.

Ian