What saw am I looking for?

[ZR900]

I have a couple Huskys. One is a 261. The other is a 262XP. I just smacked the 261 with a tree and the 262 is very well worn. What new husky or jonsered compares to these? Thank You

[sawguy21]

What are you doing with it? If a pro tree service the 562XP would be a good choice. The 555 has a lighter price tag but a little less power.

[ZR900]

Annually clearing 30+ miles of snowmobile trail and bucking up 40 cords of fire wood. The fire wood is a mix of 20" popple and jack pine primarily. For smaller work I have two jonsereds. One is a 2149, the other a 2152 (I think). Both turbos. They are very similar to each other except one is newer.

What's the longest bar I can put on the Jonsereds? The chain is smaller on them and they are pretty quick through the wood. They don't lose out to the Huskys by much but a longer bar would be nice.

[ZR900]

Let's say horsepower and weight at the factors. The 261 and 262 are very similar to each other. Which Husky or Jonsered is most comparable in the pro line and the nonpro?

I picked up a Stihl yesterday at a store and it felt heavy. Is there another brand of saw I should consider?

Any experience with an Efco?

Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[ZR900]

Is the 555 the same saw as a 562xp except smaller? It's a true pro saw?

[JohnG28]

The 562xp is the pro model of the two.  The 555 is a semi-pro construction.  They both have auto tune carbs.  If just firewood then the 555 would probably work well.  If daily commercial type use then the 562 might be the better choice.  The 562 will have a little more power and cut a bit faster.

[celliott]

The 555 has no rev-boost, and a little less power.
The Jonsered equvalent to the 562 would be the 2260, which might make more sense for you as it takes the small mount bars, which your other jonny's use, while the 562xp takes a large mount bar. Keeps things simpler.

EDIT:
Before Sawtroll corrects me, the exact Husqvarna equivalent to the 2260 would be the 560xp (small bar mount)

[ZR900]

What about a dolmar 5105?

[celliott]

That would compare more likely to your Jonsered saws, 50cc class.
In the Dolmar lineup, I'd say the 6100 would most closely match your 261\262 Husqvarna's.
Stihl would be the MS362.

Are you looking to get a smaller saw or replace your 262 with another 60cc saw?

[sawguy21]

The longest bar commonly available for your jonnyreds with .325 chain is 20", they have the small mount. 24" is available in 3/8 but those guys will never pull it, if you want that go with 65cc or better.

[ZR900]

That would compare more likely to your Jonsered saws, 50cc class.
In the Dolmar lineup, I'd say the 6100 would most closely match your 261\262 Husqvarna's.
Stihl would be the MS362.

Are you looking to get a smaller saw or replace your 262 with another 60cc saw?

I am looking for the same weight, hp, and 20" bar as the 261/262.

[celliott]

262xp= 4.8hp, 12.8lbs,
2260= 4.7hp, 12.3lbs
Dolmar 6100= 4.5hp, 13.2lbs (not sure if that's PHO or not, it says NET weight)
Stihl MS362 = 4.7hp, 12.8lbs

Those are the paper specs, how they actually feel and run can be different. All are pretty close.
I'd want the 2260 personally, though.

[ZR900]

I really like the 2149 and 2252 jonsereds. I never thought of looking for a bigger one as the 261/262 are so good however the specs on the 2260 are exceptional. Does it have one of those carbs that you have to bring in to get reset every time the temp changes? I realize that's an exaggeration however a buddy has a new jonsered and hates that carb.

[Spike60]

The proper saw that would be considered a replacement for a 262 would be the 2260/562XP. Cellliot is right in that the 2260 would be a better choice if using the same bars as the 262 is important. Otherwise the 2260 and 562 are the same.

It is wrong to refer to the 555/2258 as "semi-pro construction", as these saws are built on the same chassis as the 2260/562. Same concept as the 261 and 262. The performance oriented differences are: The rev-boost coil, which might be nice for trail work. And different transfer port covers. Unlike the 2166/2172, they cannot be altered to "upgrade" to the more powerful saw. The 2260/562 cover is simply bigger and allows more air flow. The 2260/562 also has a full circle crank.

How much of a power difference is there? IMO the difference between a 555/2258 and 562/2260 is not as great as the difference between a 261 and 262. So, being that close brings up the question of whether or not the extra power of the 2260/562 is worth the extra $100. The answer is always yes if that $100 isn't a big deal for you. Nobody ever wishes for less power. But if that $100 is needed somewhere else then don't hesitate to get the 2258/555 because they are so close tthat you'll be just as satisfied as with the other two.

[ZR900]

So the bars/chains off the 261/262 would work on the 2260 but not the 562?

Is $695 a decent price for a new 562xp?

[celliott]

It is wrong to refer to the 555/2258 as "semi-pro construction", as these saws are built on the same chassis as the 2260/562. Same concept as the 261 and 262.

I think a better term would be "semi pro marketing".
For guys in the know, they can get a very solid built saw that does all they need for occasional use\firewood, at a lower price than the "pro" models.
Much the same as the 359\357xp Husqvarna and the old edition 365 special\372xp.
The pro models are highly regarded, but the cheaper models are renowned as great firewood saws and can often be had (used) at much better prices.
Husqvarna\Jonsered does seem to like doing this. Has Stihl ever done this? Or are all their non pro labeled saws clamshell designs?

But I agree, if buying new, spend the extra $100 and get the upgraded model. 2260 still gets my vote!

[Spike60]

You nailed it Chris. And I think Husky has finally figured out the marketing as they are now calling saws like the 545/555/365 "non XP pro saws", which is more accurate than some of the silly ideas like "land owner" and "pro-sumer" that they tried.

These saws are great values that tend to fly under the radar. And they do IMO make for better mid-range offerings than what Stihl has. In the Pro and homeowner ranges it's fair to say that Husky and Stihl offer comparable models. But in this midrange, Husky offers pro construction saws while Stihl makes do with gussied up clamshell models. Not saying they don;t work, and not trying to fire up the eternal Husky vs Stihl debate. But a 555/2258 vs a MS310 or whatever is a bit of a mismatch.

And yes ZR, the 562 uses the wide tail bars as on the 372 and won't take the bars from your 262. The theory there is that many users would want to run bars longer than 20" and it's way easier to find those bars in the wide mount. Plus it was felt that swapping bars with 372's would be important to users who own both models.

[ZR900]

I'm going to find a 2260 eventually. I took my 261 apart, cleaned everything and put it back together. The plate that goes over the muffler is bent out but not bad. Top cover has a chip broken out of it. Saw runs fine. Noisy. Ran it for a couple tanks yesterday and it seems to run fine tho it won't idle as well. I will take the muffler plate off and replace it or bend it back. Maybe turn the idle up a bit.

Thanks for the help!

[Maine logger88]

You could take what parts you need off the 262 to fix that one up it would make a good backup for your 2260

[Maine logger88]

Plus it was felt that swapping bars with 372's would be important to users who own both models.

That's the only reason I chose the 562 over the 2260. All my saws take the same bar so I figured why not keep it that way lol

[ZR900]

You could take what parts you need off the 262 to fix that one up it would make a good backup for your 2260

I'm thinking about rebuilding the 262.

On eBay - ( Ebay linked removed by Admin, please refer to forum rules) Is this any good?

I am going to look into whether there is a helicoil available to fix the stripped threads.

I started a new thread about the 262.

[Maine logger88]

I have not had any experience with that brand kit. I did put a huzl big bore kit in a old 2171 I have and that seems to work decent tho I have not used it much to see how long it lasts I guess all you can do is try it and if it doesn't last very long at least you are only out a hundred

[ZR900]

I bought the 562 off EBay delivered for $695. Coming with a 24" bar and chain. I had hit the frickin' buy it now button. I realize I could have reneged on the deal with no issues but........I did hit the button. Price is very reasonable. I guess I'll buy a couple 24" chains. I wanted to try it anyway.

[ZR900]

Still going to try fixing the 262

[rburg]

I believe you will like the 562. I have only run a few tank through mine, but I like what I have seen so far. I believe your saw will like a 20"bar more but it will pull a 24". Hope you enjoy it.