New 540xp Mk III

Firstly, I'm Yeller Feller and I'm new here, so hello! I'm a property owner with some dead trees, and I'm becoming a bit of a chainsaw enthusiast, which is why I found this place. I've been lurking for almost a year, but now that I have a new saw; I finally have something to share.

I bought a 455 Rancher a few years ago for the homestead, and shortly thereafter adopted a dumpster-rescued Poulan Wild Thing. All it needed was a new chain and some TLC, and it didn't take long before it was the one who rescued me - when I got the Rancher pinched in an Ash trunk. *blushes*

Anyhoo, I found that I reached for the Wild Thing more often than for the Rancher, because it was a better size for clearing volunteer green ash and buckthorn, which is a lot of what I do around here. It's also less tiring when delimbing a larger tree that I've dropped.

But it's not a great saw for regular use, and I needed an upgrade.

I wanted something pro-grade of a similar size and weight, and my search quickly narrowed to the Echo 361P, the Stihl 194CE or 201CEM, and this Husqvarna 540xp Mk III. I really liked the Echo; it was the lightest and the least expensive of all my choices, but ultimately I was put-off by the different size scwrench and the locati0n of the spark plug. Spoiler Alert (it's behind the handle). I thought the Stihl 194CE might be nice, until I saw the "dogs" were just plastic nubs that were formed when molding the saw body. That was my first clue that the 194 might not be pro-grade, and the internet concurred that I should look at the 201CEM. Wowsa, the price difference though! It was more than double where I started, and there were a few things I didn't adore about it. For that much money, I had best be enamored.

So I ended up buying this Husqy. It's a couple hundo cheaper than the Stihl, and it has everything that I wanted. I just got home with it, I haven't let it taste any wood yet, but there are storms blowing through tonight, so maybe sooner than later? Enclosed are some pics of my new family member.

TLDR;
Echo $$, but weird
Stihl $$$$, yet wanting
Husqy $$$, and just right

Alongside her older sister


Weight with bar, chain, and fluids

Firewood sized bar

 

Welcome to FHC. I'm a saw enthusiast myself. I don’t even heat with wood nor do I earn a living with a saw. I just like saws and cutting. I'm trying not to buy one of those echo CS-361P saws as I have more saws than I'll ever need now. Lol

 

Welcome to FHC, that’s a good beginning

 

Welcome to FHC.

LOL. Eric VW ……..You hit the nail on the head. And the opening post part classic!!

 

Welcome friend , try to make it to a GTG and we'll shake hands & swap howdy's

 

I'm pretty surprised about this for that size saw...

 

Yeller Feller Welcome to the site. As Eric VW said, there are some real characters here, but it is all in good fun.

 

Characters. Yeah, we'll go with that

Welcome to FHC Yeller Feller !

 

Welcome! Great first post and complete with pictures!! We like pictures.

 

Welcome to FHC Yeller! Now put that saw into some logs and start posting pics!

 

Thanks for the welcomes! What's a GTG? Got To Go?

I don't really know what I'm going to do with the wood I've been cutting. I guess for right now I'm just stacking it. I have a pretty little cord of Bur Oak that's drying (darn it, I keep forgetting to get a moisture meter), but our fireplace isn't safe. Maybe we'll get an insert for it down the road. *shrugs*

Yes, eggshooterist, that's the real weight all topped-up with saw juice. I think the Echo would be even lighter, and $250 cheaper to boot.

I really liked that Husqvarna gave me a 5-year warranty though, and a 10% discount for military service.

 

My surprise is how heavy it is for that size saw. Lol.

 

A GTG is a get together. A gathering of wood cutting enthusiests where firewood making and eating and socializing usually around a first. they happen in the Spring and Fall for the most part over a few days

Oh and welcome to the FHC! We're the dysfunctional family you'll be happy to be a member of!

 

It didn’t go unnoticed that he kept his cooler locked up

 

Welcome to the Club Yeller Feller

Careful, these guys will convince you you need another saw or 3 in no time. Joking aside, this is without a doubt the most respectful internet forum out there. Great first post. I started out with a non-XP when I bought a 450. I was disappointed with it rather quickly. That led me to these forums and I ended up getting a 357XP to replace it. Fast forward about 14 years and I have about 12 saws. Hopefully your 540 meets your needs, for years to come.

 

Is it heavy for a 39cc saw? I wouldn't really know; I only compared its weight to those selected few. Since you mentioned it, I got curious and I weighed my Wild Thing now, too.

Naked and dry:
31.8cc 194CE -- 7.7 lbs
35.2cc 201CEM - 9 lbs
35.8cc 361P -- 8.4 lbs
39.1cc 540XP -- 9 lbs
40cc 4018WT -- 11.5 lbs

Dressed with 18" bar & chain, the Wild Thing moved to 13.3 lbs, but I don't want to refill the tanks since I'm going to shelve that saw for now.

I got a dead Silver Poplar standing in my front yard, so I'll go firewoodize with the new 540 and report later with my first impressions. Cheers!

 

My Stihl MS241 is 12.8 pounds full of fluids with 18".325 bar and chain. 12.3 pounds with a 16" 3/8lp. Its a traditional design 43cc pro saw. That is with the lightest bars I could find available to fit it.

I figured the 540 would have been high 10's for ready to cut weight. I hadn't looked at its dry weight before.