Stihl 291

[casemx 270]

How do you run an auto tune saw arnt you supposed run them flat out on start up

 

[Lincs Lass]

Yes ,run flat out from start and make it work hard from new to set the memory ,,tend to run a standard carb full on from starting anyway

 

[Simon Chiles]

How do you run an auto tune saw arnt you supposed run them flat out on start up

They run a bit rough to start with if the ambient temperature is a lot different from when it was last used. Two or three cuts at full revs will allow it to re tune itself.

 

[ts115]

I was looking at a 560xp today, shop didn't have a 550xp in stock are they worth a look?, I think the 550 was about €60-70 cheaper, also what size bar would you get for a 560xp, they come with a 18" but can be upgraded to 20". I have an old husky 65 with a 22" bar which I'll keep and it's heavy! Sales man really pushing the 560xp over a 365, it's about €120 more, is it worth it?

 

[Lincs Lass]

The 560xp revs higher ,something like 12,500 rpm and sounds like a swarm of angry wasps,lighter machine and runs the 325 low profile chain,
You can run a 20 inch bar but the oil pump is really only designed to run an 18 for max lubrication ,,the 365 is heavier and runs the 3/8 chain ,it will run upto a 24inch bar with ease ,its a pure brute force machine that runs at 11000 rpm,got alot more torqe ,Ive got one but have swaped the drive sproket from 7 tooth to 8 and have allso swaped the the standard Husky bar to a Sugihara polished bar ,they are phenominaly better as nothing sticks to them.
Yes the 365 is more money but its a tryed and trusted design that been around for years and will outlast the auto tune engines

 

[Land Rover]

I bought a Stihl 391 new and it has been faultless , plenty of power , starts easily and hasn't been back to the shop .
It's had a heap of work on soft and hard with the 20 inch bar and standard chain . Plastics are a bit scuffed and stained at the exhaust etc but it has done very well .
I did want a 361 , but the price was getting too much , plus at the time the 361 electronics were a bit new and untested .
The 291 is about 50 quid cheaper than the 391 .
I don't think there is anything in the specs that drastically separates the 291 and 391 . I have my choice of local Stihl dealers so Stihl it was .

 

[Cooper3075]

Husky 455 here great saw. Have a smaller husky to replace on 017 stihl and it given tuneing issues and currently runs like poo unlike the 455 that runs great

 

[ts115]

The 365 is the cheapest of the 3, just under €700, the 560xp is €800, both with 20" bar and 3/8 chain, so the auto tune engines give trouble?

 

[Lincs Lass]

Personaly ,,if you are only using a saw once a month then go with a standard carb engine ,,,

 

[Simon Chiles]

I was looking at a 560xp today, shop didn't have a 550xp in stock are they worth a look?, I think the 550 was about €60-70 cheaper, also what size bar would you get for a 560xp, they come with a 18" but can be upgraded to 20". I have an old husky 65 with a 22" bar which I'll keep and it's heavy! Sales man really pushing the 560xp over a 365, it's about €120 more, is it worth it?

We like the 560, infact we love it. As Lincs Lass says it is a relatively light pro saw so has lots of power. As she also says it has a narrower chain so coupled with the power will give you performance that will bring a smile to your face. I think the 65 was a semi pro saw so you will definitely notice the difference. Of course we don't know how long an auto tune saw will last as they've only been out for about 3 or 4 years. It certainly would have a long way to go to beat my old 268XP. My guess is that the carb type saws will last as long as that did if looked after. However for the same type of performance it will be a heavier saw. The choice is whether the weight and power is important to you balanced against how long it may or may not last.

 

[Simon Chiles]

The 365 is the cheapest of the 3, just under €700, the 560xp is €800, both with 20" bar and 3/8 chain, so the auto tune engines give trouble?

Lincs Lass had trouble with hers, ours hasn't had a spanner on it apart from changing chains and bars.

 

[Simon Chiles]

Personaly ,,if you are only using a saw once a month then go with a standard carb engine ,,,

Good advice, if you only use a saw once a month you don't need a pro saw. It's also probably not economic. A decent semi pro saw will last you years.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Good advice, if you only use a saw once a month you don't need a pro saw. It's also probably not economic. A decent semi pro saw will last you years.

I dont know why Husky have only used the auto tune on the 550,,560 and 540 top handle ,,Seems like everything above that are bigger heavy powered models are still standard carbs

 

[Frankzy]

I absolutely recommend Husqvarna over stihl.

I usually spend about 5 months every winter with a chainsaw in hand and it has always been a husqvarna.
We have tried a stihl a few times and every one of them has been hated because of the way they designed the front handle.
Compared to husqvarna stihl has a much more straight angled bend which makes it a lot more laborious to switch between an upright stance and tipping the saw on its side...
It might be small but when working with a chainsaw even the little things makes a big difference.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

I absolutely recommend Husqvarna over stihl.

I usually spend about 5 months every winter with a chainsaw in hand and it has always been a husqvarna.
We have tried a stihl a few times and every one of them has been hated because of the way they designed the front handle.
Compared to husqvarna stihl has a much more straight angled bend which makes it a lot more laborious to switch between an upright stance and tipping the saw on its side...
It might be small but when working with a chainsaw even the little things makes a big difference.

What saws do you run? It's good to support your own manufacturers.

 

[casemx 270]

I m quite interested in the husqvarna 555 or even the 365 but I think that might be a bit too heavy !

 

[Frankzy]

What saws do you run? It's good to support your own manufacturers.

Between my father and myself we have 4 346 XPG's and we recently bought 2 550XPG.
Yes we are quite loyal when it comes to their chainsaws, but when it comes to clearing saws we instead have 3 stihls and only 1 Husqvarna, however the Husqvarna is still the one with the most grunt even though it's the oldest saw we have...

 

[ts115]

How does the 550xp compare to the 560xp, it's 0.8kg lighter, what's it like for power with an 18" bar?

 

[Simon Chiles]

How does the 550xp compare to the 560xp, it's 0.8kg lighter, what's it like for power with an 18" bar?

The 550XP is 3.8hp, the 560XP 4.7hp.

 

[Simon Chiles]

I dont know why Husky have only used the auto tune on the 550,,560 and 540 top handle ,,Seems like everything above that are bigger heavy powered models are still standard carbs

I think the 545, 555 and 576XP are also auto tune. Probably more in the range as time goes on until eventually even the hobby saws will have it.