Stihl vs Husqvarna...

Im back. You wanted cutting impressions well, here are some after some pictures of what I did today. All maple. Red I believe. The tree was dead standing and solid except the first 4 feet or so. It had critter holes and carpenter ants in that area.

 

which saw?

 

First, I absolutely HATE this felling spike.


If I can't find an aftermarket version thats suitable, I'll make one. It gets in the way more than being useful. I can tell the saw is not spring anti vibe. My hands, after two tanks, approximately 1 hr 10 minutes, felt different. I was aware they they were there if that makes sense. After being finished running the saw that is. Not numb or tingling but I could feel them. It subsided quickly. I imagine once the rubber "breaks in" it might be less noticable. Part of it is the .325 chain set up. This saw should have 3/8 lp on it as it is pretty lack luster at the beginning. It's very chattery at times. Not smooth at all. Box stock Husqvarna semi chisel. X cut or something it is. Stock for stock the 241 will eat it alive. Both not broken in that is. And I'm sure both broken in as well. I told the guys in my oil PM that if there was a saw I own that don't need porting, its this 241. But im addicted to ported toys. Lol. I know the potential of the 543 / GZ4350 so I'm not going to fret. In fact, check out the difference just a muffler mod makes on one. They are very Echo like in this regard it appears.

 

Pay attention. People are waiting on the 543 xp cutting impressions.

 

I'm fixing to weigh them now. Both full of fuel and oil.

 

Sorry! A.D.D. moment!

 

My 550xp , 455 Rancher and 359 all have this type of spike. Not a big fan either.

 

It should be just straight up and down with teeth. Not angling away from the saw out to an inch away or more. Hate it. Lol

 

Anyway, before the weight pics. I normally use white lithium grease or super lube on the filter bases of anything ope. I do, however, run them some before doing so to see what the filtration is like. This is the 543 after two tanks of actual cutting. I purposely found punky dry rotted stuff, outside of the solid wood pictured earlier, to cut today to make fines. It definitely keeps anything that is visible to the eye out of the intake and I see no reason at this point to chang the filter system or cobble a pre filter over it.

 

I lubed the O ring and filter mating surfaces with this to ensure the Oring isn't damaged by other lubricants.

 

Both saws are full of gas and oil right to the top. The Stihl has a Stihl branded light bar. The Husqvarna has a laminated steel bar.... for now. Both are 16" bars. Stihl is 3/8 lp, Husqvarna is .325. Both saws balance well as is.


Husqvarna 543. ^^^^^


Stihl MS241. ^^^^

 

The Stihl weight was 12.8 on the same scale with original rollermatic bar and 3/8 lp full chisel green label chain.

 

So, I have a pretty regimented break in I adhere to. The first 1/2 tank was all heat cycling at certain time intervals. Everything two strokes I own has this break-in if I bought them new going back 20-25 years. I'm not going to debate break-in processes here as I'm only mentioning it because of what follows. After the heat cycling I filled it and started to run it. Yes, there's a process with that too.... anyway, it was the second tank, near the end, It started to change and it's acting like it wants more fuel in the low speed circuit. I did the whole process with the screws counter clockwise as far as the limiters allowed. I'll need to remove them before going further so I can richen it up more. I'm going to do a compression test and pull the muffler to see what this 2 cycle break in oil, I'm trying for the first time, has done to the piston. I usually just use a quality full mineral oil for the first several tanks. I believe this is also mineral oil.

 

Brad, go sit in the corner.

 

Being as I've never owned a new saw before and have one arriving Wednesday. I'd be interested in your break in procedure. If you don't want to post (start a war ) please pm me. I just want this saw to start our right.

 

I'll get with you later.

 

Ok. Compression...wish Id thought to check it before running it. I'll check the RedMax. It will give us some kind of baseline although a different but identical saw.

 

Even though I usually put this kinda stuff in my oil thread I'll share it here as well. As stated, I use a full mineral oil for break in. Blue marble, Castrol Go, Valvoline universal mineral. I decided to try this Dumonde Tech break-in oil that I found when searching out their race oil from a suggested test oil. I'm very happy with these results and feeling the saw changing for the better this soon in the process is cool. Lots of pictures coming. This is with their recommended 5oz per gallon.

 

Im out after this. Momma is home and we are going riding. Piece errbody. I'll be back.

 

Everyone knows Eggshooterist ain’t quite right & is anal retentive/obsessive compulsive to the nth degree so we just let him carry on without argument…

I wish I could be as detail oriented as he is but that isn’t in my dna. I always enjoy reading about his procedures, input & testing.